Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2021 - 23

Executive
Viewpoint

CORIE ALLEMAND, GLOBAL LEADER FOR OIL AND GAS
Stratus Technologies

Edge computing in the COVID-19 recovery period
Allemand: Yes, I do think technology
will be one of the main drivers in leading
the oil and gas industry back to profitability. This is the third downturn I have
experienced in my career, and each time
technology has played a role in redefining normal operations. As the industry
returns to providing the energy our world
requires to function, technology will be
engaged in new ways to explore how and
where the industry can optimize processes, reduce recurring costs and increase
visibility of existing complex operations.

CORIE ALLEMAND is the Global Leader for Oil and
Gas with Stratus Technologies. He is responsible
for the go-to-market strategy and driving the
global business. For more than 25 yr, he has held
various roles, including maintenance technician
and services lead for electrical and automation
assets on multiple onshore and offshore
pipelines, prior to moving into various sales and
leadership roles. He spent the last 9 yr as part of
the Siemens Oil and Gas Solutions Team, where
he supplied power electronics to global drilling
companies, topside power solutions for offshore
production, subsea connectivity solutions, as well
as various pipeline solutions and applications to
the midstream market. Mr. Allemand holds a
BS degree in business management and an MBA.

As the COVID-19 pandemic forces
businesses to rethink standard operations,
many are considering how technologies can
help in the upcoming period of recovery.
Looking ahead, edge computing will play a
significant role in helping organizations foster a nimbler and more efficient operating
environment. Hydrocarbon Processing was
pleased to discuss these subjects with Corie
Allemand, Director of Oil and Gas Business Development at Stratus Technologies.
HP: Do you predict that the
increased adoption of technology
will last beyond the pandemic?

HP: As the oil and gas industry
grapples with COVID-19, what role
does edge computing play
in helping these players through
this " survival mode " phase?

Allemand: Edge infrastructure plays
a critical role in the movement toward
a nimbler and more efficient operating
environment in oil and gas. The industry
is dealing with historical events that are
forcing businesses to rethink standard
operations. The ability to expand the vision of employees into remote resources
through real-time applications can enhance asset management and efficiency.
These tools are designed to create increased visibility and insight into operations and require reliable edge infrastructure to ensure data is always available.
Edge computing creates the platform for
an increased view into asset performance
and the ability of analytical tools to assist
with predicting asset behavior.
HP: How can edge computing
increase plant/rig safety, especially
as facilities face staff shortages and
limitations due to the pandemic?

Allemand: Edge computing can play
an important role in safety and the protection of people and the environment
by supporting real-time data collection
and processing of measurements where
they are created. The ability to process
data with more speed creates an environ-

ment that can reduce equipment failures
and the resulting maintenance requirements when facing the dilemma of limited personnel.
HP: How does edge computing
increase the reliability of systems?

Allemand: Edge computing enables
real-time analysis of operations data to
designed simulation, which is the basis for
the digital twin. These real-time simulations running comparatively to actual operating conditions can reveal issues such
as inefficiencies, early indication of degraded process performance of assets, or
potential risks related to equipment or the
environment. The use of data captured
in real time and processed at the edge is
critical to the performance of predictive
maintenance tools. These tools can help
to minimize unplanned downtime, which
equates to millions of dollars in savings
over the course of a given year.
HP: How can oil and gas
organizations move forward
with planned DX initiatives as
they now face financial hardship?

Allemand: Oil and gas organizations
should increase their focus on digital
as they reassess their current operating
profile. Digitalization in the oil and gas
space is focused on doing more with less.
As the industry finds itself in a low-cost
environment having to assess G and A
costs, they should look at what the expansion of digital technologies can do to
expand the capabilities and view of their
personnel. Digital tools to increase efficiencies through real-time data analysis
of operating conditions can enhance the
capabilities of operations personnel. Edge
platforms enable predictive maintenance
of critical equipment, allowing for optimization of routine maintenance costs.
Real-time analysis of expensive assets can
prevent unexpected downtime of critical
assets-a multimillion-dollar unplanned
expense for oil and gas organizations.
Hydrocarbon Processing | FEBRUARY 2021 23

Hydrocarbon Processing - February 2021

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