adminKUALA LUMPUR: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the oil and gas industry is now opening up space for smarter structural monitoring methods, especially to ensure the safety of aging offshore oil and gas platforms.
Recognizing the importance of safety and maintenance aspects of industrial assets, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has come up with an innovation known as REDiM (Real-Time Wireless Structural Dynamic Monitoring System), which is a real-time wireless structural dynamic monitoring system.
The innovation was developed to help monitor the structural condition of offshore oil rigs more systematically, thus allowing changes in structural behavior to be identified to support the assessment of their safety level.
According to Assoc. Prof. Ir Ts Dr. Mohd Khairi Abu Husain, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Artificial Intelligence (FAI), UTM, the development of such technology is important given that oil rig structures that have been operating for a long time face various challenges due to age and the marine environment.
“Among the factors that can affect the durability of the structure are wave loads, sea currents, wind and continuous pressure throughout the operational period. These conditions can cause changes in the structural response and require monitoring to detect any unusual conditions.
“REDiM uses a wireless monitoring approach that allows data related to structural dynamics to be collected in real time. This information can help relevant parties understand the condition of the structure without having to rely entirely on conventional physical inspection methods.
Mohd Khairi said the approach also provides advantages in terms of monitoring efficiency because the data obtained can be used to help engineers assess movement patterns, vibrations and structural responses to the surrounding environment.
He explained that the analysis is important to identify possible changes that require further examination.
Meanwhile, Mohd Khairi said the use of AI technology in offshore structural monitoring research also allows data analysis to be carried out more systematically, including exploring damage detection methods based on structural response patterns.
“In addition to helping with safety aspects, such a monitoring system has the potential to support more targeted maintenance planning.
“This is because information on the condition of the structure can be used as a basis for assessing repair needs, thus helping to reduce the risk of damage not being detected early.”
“The development of this technology also has economic significance for the oil and gas industry which requires large investments to build, operate and maintain offshore assets,” he said.
According to him, the ability to extend the life of a rig through more systematic safety assessments has the potential to help optimise operating costs.
In fact, UTM’s research in the field of dynamic monitoring of aged offshore platform structures has also received recognition through the company ACTS Smart Solutions Sdn Bhd which received the Research and Business Partnership Award at the Malaysia Commercialisation Year (MCY) 2022.
Mohd Khairi said hydrodynamic wave load simulations as well as structural reliability and risk assessments, seeing such research as part of efforts to strengthen local expertise in producing technology for industrial needs.
This innovation is the result of UTM research which has a direct impact on the development of innovation in the country in line with the wishes of the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) together with the Putrajaya 2026 Festival Of Ideas (FOI) initiative which will take place from 17 to 19 November at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
-Agency
