The new normal has transformed major global industries, including oil and gas. Those who have adopted the new normal are shifting towards technological innovation and digitalization to respond to the increasing energy demands. Amidst the transformation, the industry rapidly embraces smart technologies to automate and digitalize key tasks for smooth operations.

Smart glasses have become an emerging technology in the oil and gas industry to revamp on-field inspections. The breakthrough in the sector responds to the ongoing labour shortage challenge, increases worker safety and elevates productivity levels.

What is Remote Inspection?

Initially deployed as a temporary solution to comply with social distancing rules during COVID-19, companies have now realized its long-term potential and begun implementing it as a sustainable solution to drive digitalization.

Remote inspections are technology-enabled visual inspections for off-site employees. Using video calls and augmented reality tools, remote professionals evaluate company assets and facilities.

Why Paper-Based Inspections are Costly

Conventional, paper-based inspections are prone to human error due to harsh working conditions in the oil and gas fields. If an inspection is incomplete or incorrectly performed, companies face financial damages because the inspector has to travel back. It implies significant travelling expenses, costs and time consumption. Moreover, the delay in communication between the inspector and other departments and the inspector’s inability to instantly access and rectify errors will slow down the process and delay operations.

Such a situation raises the need for efficient methods, such as remote inspections, to accelerate uptime, increase productivity and optimize efficiency.

How On-Field Remote Inspection Leads to Organizational Benefit

Cost Optimization and Efficiency

Manual inspections typically involve a professional flying to facilities at different locations for quarterly/annual inspections. These require costs, manpower and time. Remote inspection allows companies to increase efficiency and optimize costs using fewer resources. According to a study by Rystad Energy, remote staff could save approximately up to 40 per cent of costs. Moreover, the ability to inspect remotely allows significant cost savings due to reduced travelling expenses, which ultimately contribute to financials. 

Worker Safety

The on-field work in the oil and gas sector is associated with high-risk environments. In such cases, businesses are liable to ensure the safety of frontline workers because they carry out their jobs at offshore rigs and dangerous plants.

The deployment of smart glasses for remote inspections minimizes human exposure to highly dangerous work environments and alleviates risks associated with manual inspections. Moreover, it eliminates the need for handheld devices, such as laptops, devices and tablets, that might jeopardize a worker’s safety.

Seamless Assessments

Technological advancements are revolutionizing conventional techniques and methods in the oil and gas industry. Remote inspection technologies have paved the way for companies to transform asset assessments and evaluations.

They have also allowed professionals to remotely evaluate and inspect assets that were previously difficult to access.

Revolutionize Workforce with Realwear Navigator 520

Realwear Navigator 520 is the industrial-grade smart glasses that have revolutionized the future of smart wearables. They feature an immersive experience, transforming user efficiency, safety and collaboration. The 520 smart glasses are durable and have versatile connectivity features and extended battery life.

At an affordable price point, makes a significant difference to company operations with these benefits.

• Cost optimization reduces travelling costs in times of breakdowns and on-site inspections
• Increase in productivity amongst frontline workers by allowing virtual and real-time collaboration with remote experts
• Enhanced worker safety by ensuring complete situational awareness
• Increased workforce capacity by allocating resources to critical tasks, arranging remote training sessions and digitizing work instructions

If you belong to an oil and gas company and want to start your digitalization journey today, fill out the form here.