The oil & gas industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by government regulations, the need to decrease costs and increase safety, and digitalization, and growing importance of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and robotics. In the last three years alone, there have been over 327,000 patents filed and granted in the oil & gas industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Artificial intelligence in oil & gas: oil exploration AI. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 201,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the oil & gas industry, there are 65+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Oil exploration AI is a key innovation area in artificial intelligence
Oil exploration AI refers to the application of AI techniques and technologies in the field of oil and gas exploration. It involves utilizing advanced algorithms and machine learning (ML) to analyze geological, geophysical, and seismic data to predict potential oil and gas reservoirs, optimize drilling locations, and enhance decision-making processes throughout the exploration and drilling phases.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 50+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established oil & gas companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of oil exploration AI.
Key players in oil exploration AI – a disruptive innovation in the oil & gas industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to oil exploration AI
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Halliburton is one of the leading patent filers in oil exploration AI. The company’s DS365.ai.software helps to improve underground, drilling and production workflows through AI and ML. The company entered an agreement with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in 2022 to develop solutions using the DS365.ai.software. It also offers the LOGIX Autonomous Drilling Platform that uses AI and ML to redevelop declining brownfield oil wells. Some of the other key patent filers in the oil exploration AI space include Schlumberger and Saudi Arabian Oil.
In terms of application diversity, Halliburton leads the pack, while Schlumberger and Saudi Arabian Oil stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, DataInfoCom USA held the top position, followed by Equinor and BP.
Oil exploration AI has the potential to emerge as one of the key tools for more targeted exploration of oil and gas by increasing efficiency and safety, reducing costs, and optimizing operations. It helps to transform massive amounts of data produced by oil & gas companies during their exploration and production (E&P) operations into actionable insights.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the oil & gas industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Oil and Gas.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
