PDO launches AI drive to automate production

BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, OCT 26
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) on Monday launched a programme to introduce increasingly autonomous production operations, alongside new artificial intelligence tools and digital partnerships aimed at improving efficiency, strengthening safety and reducing operating costs.
The Autonomous Production Programme will combine AI, advanced process control, real-time data analytics, drones and robotics to help manage production assets, PDO said.
The company also launched a Digital Twin project and announced a five-year strategic partnership with SLB and Halliburton to advance digital well construction.
The initiatives were unveiled at PDO’s Autonomous and Digital Transformation Day, held under the auspices of Abdullah bin Salim al Harthy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Finance.
The production programme aims to move operations from reactive problem-solving towards predicting potential faults and taking earlier action. PDO said this would support faster interventions and improve the performance of its assets.
As the technology develops, the company plans to progressively introduce autonomous decision-making and actions within established operational controls and under human oversight.
PDO expects the programme to improve operational reliability and safety, optimise production performance and lower operating costs. The announcement did not provide investment figures, an implementation timetable or estimates of potential savings.
The Digital Twin project will link physical assets with digital models, live operational data and advanced analytics. It is intended to give operators greater visibility into asset performance, help predict problems and support faster operational decisions.

PDO also announced its first agentic AI initiatives, building on ADAM, its internal generative AI assistant. The new tools will extend AI use beyond retrieving information to supporting decisions and carrying out defined tasks within governance and control frameworks.
For employees, the company introduced Wisal, a digital platform intended to provide a more connected and integrated workplace experience.
The partnership with SLB and Halliburton will cover seven integrated digital capabilities linking subsurface planning with well execution. PDO said the arrangement would help standardise engineering workflows, improve collaboration between teams and raise productivity through more consistent use of data in decision-making.
It will also support the development of Omani talent through specialised training, graduate opportunities and knowledge transfer. The announcement did not detail the seven capabilities or disclose the financial terms of the partnership.
Separately, PDO signed a memorandum of collaboration with Onsor Technology, an Omani technology company, to support the adoption of locally developed computing devices across its operations.
The collaboration is intended to create opportunities to deploy Omani technology in an industrial environment, while supporting local innovation, product development and national technology capabilities.
The announcements form part of PDO’s Journey of Transformation and Ignite Digital initiative, following its Hackathon 2.0 in June.
PDO said its digital transformation efforts span the hydrocarbon value chain, from exploration and field development to well construction, production and export, as well as corporate functions.
The company is seeking to connect operational information, decisions and actions more closely through AI and other digital technologies, with the aim of improving efficiency, resilience and competitiveness.
PDO said the initiatives also support Oman Vision 2040 and the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts to develop a competitive economy driven by innovation and digital technology.