Captain Mohammed Al Ali - Photo by RMM
ADNOC Aims to Produce 5 Million Barrels Per Day.. How Will Artificial Intelligence Support It?
The UAE's ADNOC aims to produce 5 million barrels per day of crude oil, starting in 2027, as part of its efforts to meet domestic demand and increase exports.
ADNOC Logistics & Services, a subsidiary of the group, has taken on the responsibility of providing the mechanisms to support this goal, through several approaches that heavily utilize modern technologies.
The company's Senior Vice President, Captain Mohamed Al Ali, revealed some of these tools, noting the enhancement of oil fields with AI-based solutions for logistics services, according to statements he made to the specialized energy platform.
He said that the technologies tested by the company have proven efficient, highlighting a unique operating system that provides a model for protection against the volatility of the shipping market and establishes medium-term contracts.
A Leading Operating Model
Mohamed Al Ali stated that his company operates a model that reinforces the ADNOC Group's efforts to raise the country's oil production to 5 million barrels per day. ADNOC Logistics & Services' operating model relies on the application of "AI" and its technologies to provide logistics services to its oil fields.
According to Mohammed Al Ali, this is achieved through "vessel consolidation" at a single, smartly equipped location. This facilitates better management of vessel deployment, route planning, and cargo consolidation.
The model has demonstrated a significant increase in operational efficiency, ranging between 15% and 20%, enhancing ADNOC Logistics & Services' competitiveness in operating offshore support vessels compared to its peers.
The model's concept is based on providing the necessary service vessels close to upstream assets and processing facilities. Through artificial intelligence tools, the company can control the transport of a larger number of shipments with a smaller number of tankers.
[Image caption: A support vessel belonging to the ADNOC fleet - Logistics Gulf News]
Reducing the number of vessels used.
Providing charter allowances, especially after increasing them by $5,000 to $6,000 per day for DP2 vessels equipped with an intelligent positioning system capable of adjusting engines to weather conditions.
Protection against daily charter rate fluctuations.
Opens the door to pooled charter contracts rather than individual ones.
Ensures the stability of supply chains for both the owner and the charterer.
Strengthens the company's negotiating position for vessel contract renewals of up to five years.
Digitalization and Smart Technologies
In addition to the AI-powered vessel operation model, the logistics and services company supports the ADNOC Group's goal of increasing crude oil production through several avenues:
1. Data Center Investment: Mohammed Al Ali emphasized that ADNOC Logistics and Services is committed to continuing its significant investments in data centers and communications systems.
Al Ali views modern data centers as the "biggest digital transformation gap" in the offshore oil and gas sector. He revealed that the fleet had been subjected to jamming during recent geopolitical events and regional instability, negatively impacting navigation and positioning systems.
2. Equipping the ships with advanced technologies: This was achieved through the signing of a contract for two remotely operated landing craft, a first of its kind to support the country's offshore fields.
Al-Ali anticipated delivery of the two vessels by the second and third quarters of 2027, featuring distinctive specifications including:
Each vessel is 60 meters long with a deck area of 800 square meters.
Their design incorporates ramps at both ends for vehicle transport.
They are equipped with a hybrid propulsion system.
They are classified as smart vessels (DB2).
3. Supporting digitalization: This involves connecting the ships to VAST and Starlink communication systems for real-time data transmission.
These systems provide three key advantages for the vessels:
Monitoring engine performance to ensure immediate maintenance upon detection of faults, thus preventing vessel downtime.
Track fuel consumption to reduce emissions.
Ensure optimal routes by integrating forecasting and measurement tools, monitoring weather fluctuations, and weather data.
4. Securing Competencies: The company's operational fleet currently includes four hybrid crew transport vessels and a platform supply vessel (currently being converted to DB2 technology). Al Ali revealed that the company faces a challenge in securing the necessary expertise to operate the DB2 system.
2026 Outlook
Mohammed Al Ali views the fleet's ability to operate on methanol fuel as an "ambitious goal," despite not having received any orders for this purpose so far. He expressed flexibility regarding the possibility of converting existing vessels to use alternative fuels in the future.
He addressed the outlook for 2026, predicting stable demand for drilling and production vessels, while demand for construction vessels is expected to increase, according to statements he made at an event held in Dubai this month, as reported by Riviera Maritime Media.
ADNOC Logistics & Services owns 14 vessels, including crew accommodation, transport, supply, landing, and rescue vessels.
The company's fleet of offshore service vessels ranges in age from 8 to 9 years, while its chartered vessels are up to 12 years old. The company has a vessel evaluation program that allows for the extension of 20-year lifespans for an additional 5 years, depending on the condition of the vessels.
The company is currently deploying some of its vessels in the Hail and Ghasha development projects, and is also expected to expand the Al-Amirah project in Lower Zakum to cover an area of 800,000 square meters.
The project is preparing to begin drilling within six months, while construction of a processing facility continues, with production expected to commence by 2028. These developments are part of the ADNOC Group's adoption of smart artificial island projects.
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