Mumbai: AI (artificial intelligence) is all set to transform the Energy sector. Four companies Shell, C3 AI, Baker Hughes and Microsoft have joined hands to launch the Open AI Energy Initiative (OAI).
The OAI is one of a kind open ecosystem of AI-based solutions for the energy and process industries. It provides a framework for energy operators, service and equipment providers, and software vendors for energy services.
The framework offers interoperable solutions including AI and physics-based models, monitoring, diagnostics, prescriptive actions, and services. It leverages BHC3AI suite and Microsoft Azure to offer these solutions.
“This initiative is about combining the efforts of global leaders to accelerate the digital transformation of the energy industry to new, safe, and secure energy and to ensure climate security,” said Thomas M. Siebel, CEO – C3 AI.
The first set of OAI solutions from Shell and Baker Hughes are focused on reliability, improve the uptime, performance of energy assets and processes.
These reliability solutions will serve as extensions to the current BHC3 Reliability application. The artificial intelligence-based application provides reliability and process. The maintenance engineers with AI-enabled insights to predict process and equipment performance risks for the energy industry.
The application leverages the BHC3 AI Suite’s ability to integrate enterprise-scale data from disparate data sources and train artificial intelligence reliability models covering full plant operations. Also, it runs with Microsoft Azure – a scalable, enterprise-class cloud infrastructure.
The OAI augments BHC3 applications with partner-led, domain-specific solutions that accelerate deployment of artificial intelligence-based reliability solutions. It helps to unlock economic value across the energy industry and make energy production cleaner, safer, and more efficient.
The initial OAI reliability solutions offered from Shell and Baker Hughes enable interoperability between BHC3 Reliability, OAI modules, and existing industry solutions.
Solutions available today include proven and tested equipment- and process-specific modules with pre-trained artificial intelligence models.
Shell is making modules available through the OAI, including Shell Predictive Maintenance for Control Valves, Shell Predictive Maintenance for Rotating Equipment and Shell Predictive Maintenance for Subsea Electrical Submersible Pumps.
Baker Hughes will offer OAI interoperability with a range of existing technologies in the energy industry. Including iCenter – Turbomachinery Advanced Digital Services, Bently Nevada System Condition Monitoring Software and Baker Hughes Valve Lifecycle Management
The Open AI Energy Initiative will augment Baker Hughes and C3 AI Applications. Including BHC3 Reliability, BHC3 Production Optimization, BHC3 Inventory Optimization and C3 AI CRM.
“Over the last few years, we have been working with C3 AI to scale our artificial intelligence-based predictive maintenance solutions. To reduce costs, improve the productivity, reliability, and performance of our assets,” said Shell CTO Yuri Sebregts.
“We are monitoring over 5,200 pieces of equipment using machine learning across upstream and downstream manufacturing and integrated gas assets,” added Sebregts.
“Taking energy forward requires new approaches to technology that leverage collaboration, open data standards and artificial intelligence capabilities,” said Uwem Ukpong, EVP – Regions, Alliances and Enterprise sales, Baker Hughes.
“Working alongside our alliance partners at C3 AI and together with industry leaders at Shell and Microsoft, the OAI will help address the persistent industry challenge of nonproductive downtime,” added Ukpong.
“Microsoft is committed to the transformation of the energy sector and supporting solutions like the Open AI Energy Initiative,” said Darryl Willis, VP – Energy, Microsft.
“Digital technology is helping key industry areas such as plant reliability and maintenance and Microsoft’s participation in the Open AI Energy Initiative will further advance the transition to a net-zero emissions future,” added Willis.
“The Open AI Energy Initiative is an early but clear reflection of the direction the market is heading,” said Kevin Prouty, Group VP – President, Energy and Manufacturing Insights, IDC.
“The OAI is poised to single-handedly establish the ecosystem of enterprise AI for the energy industry,” added Prouty.