Tuesday, 20 May, 2025 / Edition 59

It’s snowing at my house right now, you all. It’s 37 degrees out in mid-May 🥶 To try and warm myself up, I hunted down a few hot topics in geoscience tech this week, including ways to fill in some data gaps and a look at some rigs on a fake island. I didn’t even know that was a thing until a few hours ago. I knew about artificial islands. Didn’t know they’d plopped rigs on them. Let’s dig in!

Sarah Compton

Editor, Enspired

Could AI Fill in Data Gaps?

Andrei Armiagov/Shutterstock.com

We geoscientists are used to creating representations of sparse data to help make the sampling appear a bit more continuous. We do this using a combination of different algorithms, choosing the best one for the data spread we have and information we’re trying to display.

The problem: But though we have found ways to work with disparate data, the fact still remains that actually having more data would be better. Satellite remote sensing faces similar issues due to a combination of satellite orbit coverage and clouds.

What’s new: Chinese researchers have developed the Generalized Data Completion Model (GDCM), designed to address persistent data gaps in satellite ocean observations by reconstructing/estimating missing measurements.

How it works: The model leverages deep learning techniques that fill in gaps in spatio-temporal remote sensing data to accurately reconstruct sea surface temperature, wind speed, water vapor, cloud liquid water, precipitation rate, and more.

• The algorithm uses seven consecutive days of observation data as inputs, enabling it to capture change patterns.

Applications in oil and gas: Although this model was built specifically for satellite data, deep learning models are not new in oil and gas. Current use cases include life prediction of oil and gas equipment and geologic fault prediction.

• Oil and gas reservoirs are dynamic systems, so we would need to heavily consider timeframes when attempting to transfer a model like the GDCM to the energy sector.
• Operational events, including drilling new wells, completions, and production events such as shut-ins or turning on wells can all impact reservoir fluids which can impact some petrophysical calculations.

Geoscientists are no strangers to making the best out of what we have while keeping variables in mind, and this data model could be one more tool in the belt to help us clarify what cannot be seen!

For more information on the GDCM used, go here.

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ADNOC Drilling to Expand Reach with Artificial Islands

Marco Curaba/Shutterstock.com

The notion of using AI to improve drilling efficiencies is transitioning from new and innovative to standard practice at many of the world’s big oil and gas players. United Arab Emirates’ ADNOC is among them.

The project: The company has decided to move forward with a phased development plan to expand a giant offshore oil field—the Upper Zakum Field—which will increase output and curb greenhouse gases using new technologies.

Background:

• The Upper Zakum Field is part of the Zakum Field, the world’s second largest offshore field (according to ADNOC). ADNOC began developing the field in 1977.

• Inpex joined ADNOC’s efforts to expand production a year later.

• Exxon joined in 2006, and since then, the three companies have aimed to bolster the asset’s production capacity in phases utilizing artificial islands.

• At the beginning of May, ADNOC Drilling announced it has been awarded a contract to construct three new artificial island rigs with an estimated value of $806 million.

Yes, artificial islands. You read that right, and that’s what really caught my attention with this development.

How it works:

• Artificial islands create ideal conditions for extended reach drilling (ERD).

• The top five longest wells in the world are said to have been delivered from these islands off the coast of Abu Dhabi, with the most recent being over 52,000 feet.

• The new rigs will operate on both existing and new artificial islands. Construction for three similar rigs was announced in July 2024.

• The rigs will use AI and real-time monitoring to optimize efficiency, maintenance, costs, and more. 

Why it matters: For those of you who read this very early in the morning, that’s nearly 10 miles. TEN. MILES. Now…I’m not sure of exact measurement requirements, i.e. where they’re considering their start and end, but I do know U.S. Onshore has been excited about laterals that reach four miles, so I’m not sure how we missed 10-mile wells being drilled, but here’s the reference for it.

What they are saying: “This new generation of island rigs, expected to gradually join the fleet between 2027 and 2028, will be developed through a strategic collaboration between ADNOC Drilling and Honghua Group. The partnership is formed specifically to embed the transformative power of AI, advanced digitalization, and real-time analytics into rig design and operations,” Tayba Abdul Rahim Al Hashemi, CEO, ADNOC Offshore.

Go deeper: For more information on the AI and clean tech that started me down the artificial island rig rabbit hole, read here.

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