Michelle ThompsonThe largest organization in the world devoted to industrial automation and digital transformation, Rockwell Automation, Inc., has announced the opening of its Digital Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Al-Khobar (Saudi Arabia), demonstrating its continued commitment to the country and fostering the growth of the local workforce and economy.
The CoE will assist both big and small local businesses, as well as the government, in upskilling their workforces, which fits with the Saudi 2030 Vision of accelerated economic growth, advancement of technology, and sustainability.
The CoE is focused on accelerating the rate of the digital transformation that the Saudi Arabian government is encouraging and optimizing maintenance operations for industry. These process industries include oil and gas, mining, metals, and water.
On September 26, 2023, at the Mövenpick Hotel Al Khobar (Saudi Arabia), Rockwell Automation will host a decarbonization conference to coincide with the center’s launch. During this seminar, experts in the field of decarbonization will discuss their experiences with carbon capture and storage, electrification, managing emissions using measurement and control technology, and digitalization approaches.
The CoE opening ceremony will be attended by government representatives, corporate partners, industrial leaders, and top academics from all around the Kingdom. Rockwell Automation has supported local businesses in Saudi Arabia with automation and control technologies for many years, according to Hussain Al Khater, managing director of Rockwell Automation (Saudi Arabia). “With the CoE’s opening, we will strengthen our support for Saudi Arabia’s goal of attracting more tech firms to the country. We will be present in person to assist our clients as they transition to new technology; they are welcome to stop by the center to find out how Rockwell Automation can help them.
Two interactive zones will be present in the CoE. In the first, using a pump as an example, the visitor is taken on a digital tour that explains how technology might improve maintenance procedures. Visitors will be led through a seamless experience of fixing and maintaining a pump using a smartphone and Microsoft HoloLens. This experience will make use of the ERP system as well as the augmented reality platform Vuforia®, the internet of things platform ThingWorx, the sensor connection platform Kepware, and the computerized maintenance management system Fiix.
With three interactive displays that show the production increases possible through intelligent automation and how Sensia’s products enable higher operational efficiency and asset productivity, the second zone, devoted to the oil and gas industry, brings the connected oilfield to life. Sensia is the result of a partnership between Rockwell Automation and Schlumberger. It combines Schlumberger’s measurement and instrumentation, software, and analytics capabilities with Rockwell Automation’s cutting-edge process automation, real-time control, and IoT technologies.
The initial demonstration focuses on forecasting, testing, and diagnostics for electric submersible pumps (ESP). Visitors will be able to see how data from five wells is gathered, analyzed, and crucial insights are gained using Avocet, production operation software that offers a field-level decision support system, and OFM, the well and reservoir analysis software. Avalon is the open technology platform that supports Sensia’s new breed of autonomic, automated, and connected solutions.
The second demonstration shows how to regulate waterfloods and allocate production back for naturally flowing wells. Before demonstrating how Avocet uses this data and runs workflows, it uses Avalon for dataset visualisation and monitoring. The final section will demonstrate how OFM can be used to successfully control water flood management. In the last demonstration, it will be demonstrated how to manage live uncertainty on the platform and transfer custody using Avalon and Eye Met.
“Digital transformation and automation technology offer solutions that will enable the oil and gas value chain to drive efficiency and reduce costs while carefully navigating the transition terrain,” said Ediz Eren, regional vice president for Rockwell Automation’s Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region. “This Digital CoE demonstrates how solutions from Rockwell Automation and its partners can boost efficiency all throughout the region’s oil and gas value chain. The CoE will help local businesses and employees better comprehend what digital technologies are capable of by cooperating with government, business, and academia.
