Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Asset Integrity Management

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. Imagine a world where machines think and anticipate needs and solve problems before they arise. Now, consider this power applied to managing assets—the backbone of industries worldwide. That’s where AI meets Asset Integrity Management (AIM), offering a blend of predictive capabilities and strategic insight that promises to redefine how we safeguard and optimize our assets. Join us as we uncover how AI and Asset Integrity Management (AIM) work together to improve asset management.

To delve into the intricacies of this subject, we tapped into the expertise of Dan Jeavons, the VP of Computational Science & Digital Innovation & IT CTO at Shell. We sat Dan down with Cenosco’s Director of Engineering, Josip Hrvatin, and Solutions Engineer, Luiz Curado, to dig deep into their extensive experience and insights to offer a profound understanding of the transformative journey of AI within asset management. The conversation delved into the challenges of limited data accessibility hindering widespread AI applications, driving the imperative for digitization. Continue reading to explore the insights brought to light during this conversation, or click here to watch the webinar.

Shell embarked on its digital transformation journey a decade ago with the establishment of an Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence. Today, Shell boasts over a hundred AI applications in production, with a formidable team of over 600 data scientists and more than 12000 Members in their Shell.AI Network. Through this, Shell stands at the forefront of harnessing AI’s potential to optimize operations, partnering with various companies, including Cenosco.

The exponential growth in data volumes and computational capabilities due to digitalization has revolutionized what is achievable, fueling this surge in innovation. As data becomes more abundant and processing power continues to improve, Shell has seized the opportunity to extract actionable insights from this wealth of information. These insights, powered by AI algorithms, have proven instrumental in enhancing decision-making processes, predicting maintenance needs, and optimizing asset performance.

Cenosco’s Digital Maturity Framework is a guiding framework for organizations navigating digital transformation journeys. Advancing through this maturity model is a gradual journey, necessitating strategic planning and integration. Organizations aspiring to reach the “Digital Strategic” phase must recognize the importance of integrated solutions, leveraging data and AI to drive innovation effectively. Request a demo to learn more about this framework.

When working with AI or any other emerging technology, thinking about being digitally purposeful is crucial. What this means is that you must have purpose and goals aligned with your pursuit, as digital tools enable innovation rather than being ends in themselves. Getting the technology is only one part of the journey. As we aim to make assets safer and more reliable, the integration of AI into asset management becomes crucial. However, this integration does not entail a complete overhaul of existing processes; rather, it involves adapting and enhancing current practices to harness the potential of AI effectively. While AI will not replace inspectors or corrosion engineers in the foreseeable future, it can augment their capabilities by offering valuable insights derived from extensive datasets and predictive analytics.

Aligning digital expertise with a deep understanding of robust work processes is paramount. Technology in itself will not replace the processes we work with but rather change the way in which we carry out these processes. Learn more about this first-hand in our webinar, where Dan Jeavons shares an example from Shell, where the utilization of AI for proactive technical monitoring and optimization has yielded tangible benefits, ranging from averting reliability issues to optimizing production and reducing emissions. 

The Open AI Energy Initiative is a collaborative endeavor led by Shell and other industry leaders, such as Microsoft, Baker Hughes and Cenosco. It utilizes AI solutions for energy sector challenges. This strategic initiative aims to revolutionize operations by seamlessly integrating digital technologies and prioritizing open data standards and interoperability to foster innovation. The emphasis lies in breaking down data silos, highlighting the accessibility and collaborative potential of open-source software.

Cenosco has been actively involved in three significant projects within the Open AI Energy Initiative. One of these projects, named AIR (Autonomous Integrity Recognition), utilizes drones for remote inspections. These drones capture images, which are then subjected to analysis by AI and machine learning algorithms to identify integrity issues. The insights gleaned from these analyses are seamlessly integrated into Cenosco’s IMS platform through point clouds and 3D models.

Another initiative, CARMA (Corrosion Advanced Risk Modelling and Analytics), focuses on predicting corrosion rates for various degradation mechanisms. Leveraging data from IMS, an AI system correlates wall thickness measurements and renewal thickness with process conditions to forecast corrosion rates accurately. The third project is a synthesis of key components from previous endeavors—AIR, corrosion calculation data, and field inspections—to forecast the likelihood of CUI (Corrosion Under Insulation). This amalgamation promises a comprehensive approach to addressing corrosion-related challenges within the energy sector. These projects underscore the importance of defining clear use cases and adapting solutions to meet evolving needs.

These projects serve as stepping stones toward a future where AI-powered assistants, often referred to as “virtual corrosion engineers,” play a pivotal role in revolutionizing industrial operations. The vision is to integrate AI, data insights, NLP (natural language processing), and physics-based models to enable real-time decision-making.

In exploring the future of AI within the IMS Suite, optimism is evident, particularly with another initiative at Cenosco focusing on integrating artificial intelligence expertise into the company. Cenosco’s collaboration with the Croatian University of Pula has led to the generation of numerous potential applications, such as leak prediction, automated scheduling, voice-command report generation, and more. The most promising AI concepts will be chosen for implementation, driving innovation within Cenosco. 

In exploring the potential of AI in data cleaning, our experts emphasized the ability to handle legacy data and optimize processes like ticketing systems. Anticipation is high for AI-powered tools to efficiently sift through historical data, thereby enhancing summarization and overall efficiency. A similar vision regarding AI’s evolution beyond predictive maintenance to revolutionize data management is echoed. The significance of structured data in integrity management is highlighted, alongside AI’s capacity to extract, summarize, and organize unstructured information effectively. This transformation holds the promise of unlocking valuable insights from historical data, with significant impacts on safety and reliability. Despite challenges, there’s excitement and anticipation for the prospect of AI-driven data management, marking a transformative era in asset management processes.

Data will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of asset management. With the abundance of sensors across assets, processes are bound to evolve, leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline inspections and enhance efficiency. However, this does not signal the end of inspectors; rather, it calls for a shift in their roles towards utilizing AI as a valuable tool. We stand at the cusp of a transformative era, where technology challenges existing paradigms and necessitates collaboration across companies and individuals. Embracing this change collectively is key to unlocking the full potential of AI and achieving our desired outcomes. 

If you’d like to learn more about AI in asset integrity management, check out the full webinar, where you can hear more about these topics from our expert speakers.