Digitalization in OIL
OIL had started its digital journey in the year 2019 to imbibe best of Industry 4.0 technologies and put them in use for enhanced operational efficiency for the company. Accordingly, project DRIVE (Digital Readiness for Innovation & Value in E&P) was initiated. The primary focus of project DRIVE was on addressing the critical pain areas of OIL, like optimizing gas lift, ensuring real-time status monitoring of wells, analytics and AI in possible functional domains, project management issues like time overrun and effective asset management using IoT, predictive maintenance etc. A total of 11 digital initiatives were taken up under project DRIVE 1.0 and 10 digital initiatives are being taken up under Project DRIVE 2.0.
The success of DRIVE 1.0 initiatives with visible value addition testifies company’s visionary digital aspiration fortifying foundation of OIL’s Digital journey.
Real Time Production Monitoring & Analytics
- 140 Field instruments to be deployed for Eastern asset (Hapjan OCS (Oil Collection Station))
- PDMS, network model setup and online simulation s/w to be commissioned for real time and predictive process monitoring
- Faster surface flow line issue detection, reduced production losses, and accurate hydrocarbon allocation through analytics dashboard
Connected Worker
- Digitization of the field operations processes, parameters & operating ranges using industry leading s/w solution.
- Real time data sync b/w s/w solution and Data Management System for improved access to data
- Efficient data collection process with improved operator management opportunities.
AI Based Reservoir Modeling
- AI based “Big Data” solution (Machine Learning and Data Mining) to develop full field reservoir models based on measurements (facts) offering speed of decision making, optimization avenues and process automation.
- Prediction of future performance of existing producers under various scenarios (eg: change of production bottom-hole- pressure, etc.)
CXO Dashboard
CxO Dashboard is a Business Intelligence (BI) Tool comprising a comprehensive web-based and mobile based dashboard that can analyze and provide insights from data which can help the senior officials and competent authority to make data-driven decisions and work more effectively and efficiently. Key objectives of the solution are as follows:
- End to end integrated view of functional key metrics.
- Correlation of right metrics and data sources to present “Single version of truth” across levels.
- Real time update, and notifications
- Impactful visualization to generate strategic insights for business leadership.
- Automation of standard reports being currently generated by functions.
- Generation of ad-hoc reports by users as per requirement
- Multi-stakeholder L1-L4 KPI dashboard with advanced UI/UX using industry leading BI Tool and Cloud based architecture.
Enhanced - Real Time Monitoring & Control Center for Drilling
- Central command center (RTOC) set-up at FHQ
- Sensor & real-time connectivity set up between rig sites and command center for CH rigs.
- Drilling analytics software & visualization dashboard setup leading to faster anomaly detection, NPT reduction, and enhanced drilling performance
Drone Based Security Surveillance
A New Dimension of Security, Powered from the Sky.
- OIL has deployed drone-enabled surveillance for day-and-night, real-time aerial monitoring and wider coverage across its geographically dispersed operational areas.
- It strengthens the protection of critical assets, pipelines and installations, particularly in vulnerable and miscreant-prone areas, through proactive surveillance.
- AI-enabled observations, live monitoring, digital mapping and flight tracking provide actionable intelligence and enhance situational awareness.
- By integrating technology with proactive security operations, OIL enables early threat detection, effective response and safer, smarter and more resilient operations.
Digital Well Planning Platform
- Digitization of the current depth data drilling program process (involving G&R, chemical, drilling, departments)
- Integration with other E&P applications for a coherent drilling program on a shared platform
- Ability to run sensitivity analysis & NPT analysis for multiple design parameters.
HSSE Management
- HSSE event / incident management platform for reporting near miss, injuries, fatalities etc.
- Display HSE dashboard, generate reports, push notifications for improved KPI monitoring and analytics.
Bowser Logistics Digitalization
- Digitization of planning, vehicle allocation, tracking and data entry processes across Assam assets.
- Leveraging IoT and mobility solutions to streamline the bowser management process both on and off field.
Targeted benefits of cost-of-service reduction through asset optimization and productivity improvement.
Invoice to Pay Automation
- Development of unified vendor portal for submission and tracking of invoices.
- Automation of invoice management process through commissioning of VIM s/w solution.
- Targeted benefits of faster invoice processing, improved productivity of AP team and higher vendor satisfaction.
Condition Based Monitoring
- Condition Monitoring Solution for Gas Compressor packages to help engineers and maintenance personnel to do performance monitoring and predictive maintenance of its Gas Engine driven Reciprocating Gas Compressor packages deployed in the region of Assam
Real Time Production Monitoring & Analytics
- Realtime condition monitoring of asset performance parameter for anomaly detection (e.g., vibration, temperature, pressure etc.)
- Maintenance trigger based on bad actor assessment leading to optimal maintenance costs, spares spend and asset downtime.
Oil India Limited commenced its structured digital transformation journey in 2019 through Project DRIVE, an acronym for "Digital Readiness for Innovation & Value in E&P". The programme introduced digital technologies across critical operational areas, including production monitoring, drilling, reservoir modelling, workplace safety, logistics, asset maintenance, enterprise dashboards and process automation. Building on the foundation established under Project DRIVE, OIL has embarked upon DRIVE 2.0 , the next phase of its digital transformation journey having an enterprise wide impact.
DRIVE 2.0 aims to further strengthen data-driven decision-making, improve operational efficiency and safety, enable intelligent asset and workforce management, and establish connected digital platforms across OIL's operational and corporate functions. A key focus of DRIVE 2.0 is the establishment of an integrated Command and Control Centre covering OIL's operational technology and information technology landscape.
The following ten (10) strategic digital initiatives are being undertaken under DRIVE 2.0:
1. Command and Control Centre and OT Data Lake
The initiative envisages the design, implementation and support of an enterprise-level Command and Control Centre and OT Data Lake for OIL showcasing the entire value chain of Oil India Ltd as an integrated company. The platform will bring together operational & business information from OIL's facilities and provide a centralized environment for strategic and business insights along with monitoring, visualization and decision support.
The Command and Control Centre is planned across OIL's Corporate Office, Field Headquarters, Pipeline Headquarters and Rajasthan Fields.
2. Digital Oil Field
The Digital Oil Field initiative is intended to establish an integrated digital environment across OIL's upstream operational areas. The DOF shall use real-time IoT data, AI/ML, digital workflows and advanced analytics to optimize well performance, enable predictive maintenance, and improve hydrocarbon recovery. It will enable better decision-making, enhance efficiency, improve safety, reduce operational costs and improve visibility and coordination across oilfield operations alongside.
The initiative covers extensive sensorization of 380 producing wells, remote wireless wellhead monitoring & control, artificial lift optimization, AI-based well integrity management, virtual flow metering etc. and shall be implemented across OIL's pan-India upstream operational landscape.
3. G&G Analytics using Generative AI
The G&G Analytics using Generative AI initiative will use AI, machine learning, Generative AI and agentic AI capabilities to support subsurface interpretation and decision-making.
The solution will develop AI agents for analysing OIL’s geology and geophysics databases and enable integrated analysis of G&G, reservoir engineering, production, drilling, chemical and GIS datasets. The initiative also covers 3D seismic data processing, production forecasting and generation of recommendations for:
- Infill and development drilling locations
- Appraisal and exploratory locations
- Reservoirs and wells suitable for workover
- Production optimization opportunities
- Reservoir and well prioritization
Interactive dashboards will bring together relevant data and forecast outputs for comparison, visualization and informed decision-making.
4. Intelligent Well Planning, Rig Scheduling and Drill-Bit Performance Management
This initiative consists of two complementary digital solutions for optimised rig allocation, sequencing and logistics using machine learning, constraint optimization, and predictive analytics. It essentially includes drilling simulations, a collaborative well-planning platform, and drill-bit performance management.
(a)Intelligent well planning and rig scheduling
The first solution will automate drilling and workover rig scheduling and provide a collaborative platform for well-planning activities. It will cover workflows from location proposal and approval through statutory clearances, civil readiness, rig allocation and spudding.
The solution will allocate rigs based on well priority, location, and readiness to minimize idle time and maximize utilization. An Integrated well and rig dashboard with GIS maps and timeline views shall facilitate dynamic replanning for emergencies, equipment failures, or weather disruptions. It will use historical data and machine learning to recommend rig deployment, forecast manpower and material needs by integrating ERP and inventory systems.
The platform will provide Gantt-based scheduling, optimization controls, constraint warnings, scenario analysis, workflow approvals, centralized document management and dashboards for tracking well-planning progress and rig utilization. It will also support collaboration among drilling, subsurface, land, civil, logistics, HSE and other stakeholder functions.
(b)AI-enabled drill-bit performance management
The second solution will combine historical drilling information, petrophysical models, surface and downhole data, and AI/ML-based predictive analytics. It will support data-driven drill-bit selection, improve Rate of Penetration (ROP), extend bit life and optimize Pull-Out-of-Hole (POOH) decisions and reduce NPT.
The solution will analyse drilling parameters and historical bit performance, benchmark bit and vendor performance, identify failure patterns, recommend operating parameters and provide decision-support dashboards and mobile access to bit-run information.
5. Engineering and Process Digital Twin for Surface Facilities
The Engineering and Process Digital Twin initiative will create digital representations of selected OIL processing facilities in OCS Makum, FGGS Madhuban & GCS Hebeda.
The solution will consolidate engineering and operational information by connecting asset tags, documents, intelligent drawings, instrumentation databases, 3D models and relevant operational data. It will enable seamless navigation across 1D engineering data, 2D drawings and 3D plant models.
The platform will also support engineering information management, document and tag workflows, change management, collaboration, lifecycle information handover, dashboards and integration with systems such as SAP and plant historians. The initiative includes development of intelligent 3D models, engineering databases, process simulation and analytical models, along with capabilities for operations and maintenance.
6. Enterprise Asset Lifecycle Management and Predictive Maintenance
The Asset Lifecycle Management initiative will establish an enterprise-wide digital solution for managing OIL’s physical assets throughout their lifecycle, from planning, procurement and commissioning to operations, maintenance, modification and decommissioning. The solution will create an integrated analytical view of asset information by connecting engineering, operational and maintenance data, with SAP S/4HANA serving as a principal source for asset and maintenance information. It will support:
- Centralized asset registry and lifecycle mapping
- Asset hierarchies and criticality assessment
- Maintenance planning, scheduling and load balancing
- Reliability-Centred Maintenance and Failure Consequence Analysis
- Asset health, integrity and condition monitoring
- Cost, performance and lifecycle analytics
- Mobile maintenance and inspection processes
- Warranty, materials, safety and permit-to-work information
- Repair, replacement and end-of-life decision support
The initiative also includes installation and commissioning of sensors on identified rotary equipment. AI and machine-learning models will analyse live and historical equipment data to provide early warnings, predict potential failures, support maintenance optimization and improve asset reliability and availability.
7. PPE & Unsafe Act Detection using Video Analytics
This initiative will deploy an AI/ML-based video analytics solution using feeds from OILs existing CCTV surveillance cameras across OIL’s critical operational locations.
The system will provide real-time detection for identified safety scenarios, including:
- Non-compliance with prescribed Personal Protective Equipment
- Unsafe acts, including work-at-height violations, falls and slips
- Unauthorized entry into prohibited or restricted zones
- Fire and smoke events
The solution combines edge processing at operational locations with centralized monitoring and analytics. A web-based dashboard will record incidents, display compliance information, retain supporting images or clips, provide trends, heatmaps & safety compliance statistics and enable notifications to designated personnel for corrective action.
8. AI-Driven Project Performance Monitoring
The AI-Driven Project Performance Monitoring initiative will establish an enterprise-wide digital platform for monitoring project execution and performance.
The solution is intended to provide a consolidated view of project information, improve visibility into project progress and support timely identification of emerging performance issues. It will use AI-assisted analytics, structured project data and role-based dashboards to strengthen project monitoring, reporting and management decision-making across OIL. It will use AI/ML models to forecast completion dates, cost overruns, resource bottlenecks and track KPI such as CPI,SPI, cost variance, resource utilization, risk scores. It will also enable what-if simulations, generate automated reports, early warnings, exception dashboards, decision-support insights, and auditable digital trails
9. Smart and Sustainable Procurement and Analytics
The Smart and Sustainable Procurement and Analytics initiative will introduce a digital solution for strengthening procurement processes by implementing an AI powered PR to PO Automation, Centralized procurement repository, AI based Bid evaluation, SAP S4/HANA & GEM integration & Cost analytics and dashboards for cycle-time, vendor performance, bottlenecks and savings thereby having enhanced visibility, analytics and structured decision support.
The solution will be implemented at across OIL’s spheres on a pan-India basis. The initiative is expected to provide a common procurement analytics environment and support more informed, transparent and sustainable procurement decision-making.
10. Digital Workforce Manager
The Digital Workforce Manager initiative will create a unified digital HR ecosystem to improve employee experience, reduce manual processes, strengthen compliance and provide actionable workforce insights. The programme brings together seven interconnected sub-initiatives:
- Digital Onboarding Platform
- Workforce Analytics and HR AI Chatbot
- Digital Access Control System
- Attendance Tracking and Timesheet Automation
- Automated Employee Benefits Processing and AI-Based Claims System
- Digital Learning and Training Management Platform
- e-Contract Labour Management System
The seven components will be brought together under a unified HRMS framework, supported by centralized HR data, enterprise identity, security and workflow mechanisms. The solution will provide mobile-friendly access for employees and executives and enable real-time workforce analytics.
