AI-powered drilling continues to establish itself as one of the technologies with the greatest impact on the digital transformation of the energy industry. The growing complexity of drilling programs, the need to optimize execution times, and the pursuit of safer operations are accelerating the adoption of platforms capable of integrating real-time data, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence to support decision-making.
This evolution is reflected in ADNOC’s implementation of a Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) equipped with advanced analytics capabilities and built on SLB’s DrillOps™ solutions. The platform is already supporting a fleet of more than 120 onshore and offshore rigs, enabling the centralization of operational information, the early detection of risks, and improved coordination among teams responsible for well operations.
AI-powered drilling transforms operations management
For years, drilling operations relied on multiple independent systems in which data from each rig was analyzed separately. Although this approach enabled increasingly complex projects to be executed, it also created challenges related to data availability, coordination among specialists, and the speed of responding to operational events.
The adoption of advanced digital platforms is transforming this model. Today, it is possible to integrate information from dozens or even hundreds of rigs into a single digital environment, where advanced algorithms continuously process millions of operational data points to identify trends, generate alerts, and support decision-making in near real time.
Rather than simply automating specific processes, these intelligent digital solutions are enabling the evolution toward connected operations, where engineers, supervisors, and asset managers have a comprehensive view of the performance of the entire fleet.
ADNOC expands the digitalization of more than 120 drilling rigs
As part of its digital transformation strategy, ADNOC deployed a Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) on a sovereign cloud infrastructure developed in the United Arab Emirates. The platform uses SLB’s DrillOps™ solutions to integrate drilling data from more than 120 onshore and offshore rigs into a single operational environment.
The solution provides continuous access to operational information, automated dashboards, advanced analytics, and AI-powered tools that enable the early identification of deviations during well execution.
By keeping critical data and workflows within the national digital infrastructure, the system also strengthens ADNOC’s objectives for information security, operational resilience, and technological independence for its future operations.
The initiative represents one of the largest deployments of intelligent technologies applied to drilling operations ever implemented across an integrated fleet of rigs.
This intelligent technology improves operational efficiency
One of the main benefits of this type of platform is its ability to transform large volumes of data into actionable information that supports day-to-day operations.
Instead of spending hours processing information manually, engineers can focus on technical evaluation and decision-making, while the platform automates routine monitoring processes, report generation, and operational analysis.
According to information released by ADNOC, the system reduces engineering effort by 30% to 40%, while increasing each specialist’s capacity to supervise two to three times more drilling rigs simultaneously without losing visibility over operations. In addition, analyses that previously required an entire working day can now be completed in minutes, while reporting cycles have been reduced from several days to just a few hours.
The platform also incorporates capabilities to identify potential operational issues before they develop into major incidents, helping reduce response times and minimize equipment downtime.
Sovereign cloud infrastructure takes on a strategic role
One of the project’s most significant features is the use of a sovereign cloud, a model that keeps the storage and processing of critical data within the country’s own borders.
As oil and gas operations generate ever-increasing volumes of operational information, operators are seeking to balance the benefits of digitalization with higher levels of cybersecurity and greater control over strategic data.
The infrastructure implemented by ADNOC addresses this need by enabling artificial intelligence to process sensitive information without allowing the data to leave the national digital environment, thereby strengthening the protection of critical assets and ensuring compliance with corporate security policies.
This approach also facilitates the scalability of future artificial intelligence applications across other exploration, drilling, and production activities.
Smart fields evolve with new digital technologies
ADNOC’s implementation demonstrates that artificial intelligence is no longer an experimental tool but is becoming a core component of operational management within the energy industry.
The integration of digital platforms, advanced analytics, and predictive models enables operators to optimize resources, reduce response times, and improve coordination among the different teams responsible for executing drilling projects.
As operators continue adopting technologies capable of automating complex analyses and anticipating operational risks, these digital capabilities will play an increasingly important role in the development of smart fields, where decisions will be supported by real-time information and algorithms capable of continuously improving operational performance.
The ADNOC–SLB collaboration demonstrates how digitalization, advanced analytics, and centralized data management are redefining standards of efficiency, safety, and productivity for the next generation of drilling operations.
Sources: SLB
