Utilizing Remote Collaboration and Visualization Technologies in a Collaborative Work Environment to Connect Indian Experts With Worldwide Operations

Abstract

Abstract In a world where oil & gas technical expertise is in increasingly short supply companies which can tap pools of centrally located experts, to remotely and proactively support their distributed asset portfolio, will gain competitive advantage. Making maximum use of a diminishing technical skillpool is critical to ensuring sufficient expertise in assets where the workforce can not always include all the necessary specializations. Shell Technology India plan to utilize advanced remote collaboration and visualization technologies as an enabler for ensuring connectivity between our Technology Centre in Bangalore and our operations globally, both upstream and downstream. These technologies will be housed in a purpose built Collaborative Work Environment, unique in India, which is linked to a network of such environments in our assets and other Technical centres worldwide. This close connectivity, with Shell Technology India forming part of a "virtual" asset team, is allowing us to develop new business models involving redistribution of key operational and project-based tasks to Bangalore. The Collaborative Work Environment allows us to view real-time operational data from our worldwide production; drilling; refining and manufacturing operations, in surveillance rooms in Bangalore. Subject Matter Experts in Bangalore can then offer technical advice directly to asset teams during operational activities. Other functionality includes virtual reality viewing of subsurface & facilities 3D models, and "information walls" where multiple sources of information can be displayed simultaneously to support multidisciplinary decision-making. Future developments are planned to include the offering of 24/7 Operational Support Services to assets in areas such as ensuring the availability of the technical infrastructure (communication networks, real-time data management systems), or routine surveillance tasks. Also "bringing operational work experience to Bangalore" by offer state-of-the-art experiential training in drilling, facilities and process control.