Schneider Electric CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire said that augmented reality technology can help virtually prepare operators for leaks and fires at refineries and offshore platforms
Digitisation and augmented reality can help prepare employees for many hazards present in oil refineries and offshore platforms and significantly improve safety levels, according to Jean-Pascal Tricoire, the global chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric.
Speaking to Arabian Business in a recent interview, Tricoire – whose company is working with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to help digitise its operations – said that over the last five years augmented reality has advanced to the point in which it can help negate the need for potentially dangerous on-site training.
“When you send operators to things as complicated as a refinery or an offshore platform, or downstream facilities, you need to train people,” he said. “In the old world, which is not digitised, you train people at existing sites, which takes a lot of time. Very often you do training on-site, with people actually at work.”
The solution, Tricoire explained, is to create “digital twins” of installations.
“Before dispatching someone offshore, to a platform, which by nature is potentially very risky, you can train people on major accidents or incidents that could happen,” he said. “You can train people in a completely virtual environment, trigger a leak or a fire, and give them very clear indications on what can happen.”
Additionally, Tricoire said that digitisation allows operators to identify problems in particular machines or systems without necessarily having to open or physically examine them.
“As it is all connected, the system will break down the issue, and say, for example, that you need this [particular] spare part, or to switch off a particular circuit,” he said.
Last year, Schneider and ADNOC announced that the two had worked together to form a “Panorama Command Centre’ to provide real-time insights on the global operations of 16 different ADNOC operating companies.
According to a January 2017 report from the World Economic Forum, energy digitisation has the potential to unlock $1.6 trillion in value by 2025.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management – Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.
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