Akselos, a Swiss provider of structural performance management software, has signed a strategic enterprise agreement with Shell that will see the two companies work on more projects together.

The global oil giant has been working with Akselos since 2015 and currently uses its structural performance management (SPM) software to monitor the performance of assets across its portfolio.

Projects using the technology include Shell Pearl GTL in Qatar, one of the largest gas-to-liquid plants in the world; Shell Scotford in Canada, which includes a carbon capture and storage facility; the Bonga floating production storage and offloading unit off the coast of Nigeria; and various deployments in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to Akselos, the new agreement will further enable Shell to extend the life of its assets through closer monitoring; in other words, the assets will continue to operate for longer at maximum output.

Thomas Leurent, CEO of Akselos, said in a press statement that Shell’s expertise “in plant operations, new energy discoveries and technical know-how complements our own strengths”.

Other agreements between the two companies include an enterprise framework agreement, under which Shell agreed to use Akselos’ digital twin technology.

A structural digital twin is a digital model of an asset that reflects its exact physical composition. The model is regularly updated with loading conditions and inspection data, allowing Shell to carry out assessments based on near real-time conditions from remote locations.

The digital twin monitoring also enables Shell to improve the design of its assets, according to Akselos.

The agreements with Akselos are part of Shell’s ongoing efforts to modernise its operations.

Earlier this month, it signed a long-term framework agreement with L&T Technology Services, under which the latter will provide digital engineering services, data governance for capital projects and digital project management consultancy across Shell’s global assets.