• Oil and gas

'Digital twin' simulation streamlines offshore surveys

James Fisher Asset Information Services (JF AIS) has been working closely with global energy services company Petrofac to improve the use of ‘digital twin’ technology for its offshore assets.

The team has been using sophisticated photogrammetry techniques to capture detailed data of Petrofac’s oil platforms which has been turned into a digital model for engineering purposes.

This enables the customer to reduce costs by improving workflows, reducing onshore-to-offshore staff transfers, and improving the ability to remotely manage complex assets.

The model allows Petrofac to identify any portion of an asset in the North Sea that might need replacing, define the requirements of the replacement, and allow the work to be undertaken without having to incur the cost of mobilising a survey team. The creation of this highly efficient workflow is a first for the UK energy industry.

JF AIS’s digital twin capability has been definitively proven to reduce costs, enhance collaboration, and drive productivity and Petrofac is confident that it represents the future of managing offshore assets.