VIRTUAL REALITY AND THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

There are many challenges those working in the oil and gas industry face and VR has
proven to be an effective tool to tackle some of these challenges. VR has made the oil
and gas industry safer, more efficient and cost effective as it’s proven to be a flexible tool

to deal with a wide range of problems.

Virtual Reality has the ability to transport you anywhere almost instantly. Bringing users

into new worlds that were only previously imaginable.

APPLICATIONS OF VR IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

1. Training new employees and contract workers to improve compliance with safety

standards

Contingent workers comprise much of the workforce in the oil and gas industry, and
these workers must be properly trained and certified before they enter plants or perform
maintenance and repair tasks. Traditionally, this is done through classroom training or
video tools. Using software to create virtual models of plants, refinery units, and work
areas would be a simple and effective way for newly hired employees and contingent
workers to assess safety requirements and get a “first-hand view.” The 3D model and
virtual view of a facility will improve general understanding, making it easier for workers
to practice safety requirements in plants and work areas and better able to respond to

potentially unsafe situations.

 2. Training maintenance technicians to improve first-time fix rates

Oil and gas installations, especially in upstream segments, are usually found in remote or
offshore locations, and many of these facilities are difficult and expensive to access. To
help address the cost and ensure that maintenance is done in a timely manner,
technicians can use VR technology to familiarize themselves with facilities prior to
physically going there. Improving first-time fix rates and reducing maintenance times can
easily offset the cost of creating virtual 3D models that clearly highlight the complex

assemblies and sections within facilities.

3. Geoscientists and operators can also leverage VR to visualize seismic data

and get a better idea of where to drill. Drilling sites can be virtually drilled and tested
before actual operations are performed to test feasibility that can result in huge cost

savings and reduce the likelihood of failure.

MAXIMIZING THE BENEFITS OF VR IN THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY

The key to driving adoption and maximizing the benefits of VR is to move beyond the
“virtual view” to a “data-led virtual view.” This enriched virtual view should provide access
to both historical information, which can be accessed from enterprise systems, and real-
time IoT-based systems, which provides historical inputs (date of installation, part details,
etc.) and a real-time view of key parameters (temperature, vibration, etc.) associated with

the equipment.

BENEFITS OF VR

1. Enhancing Retention

Research shows that memory retention after a VR experience is 2x higher than after
viewing video- or text-based learning materials. UPS has seen their retention rate

climb to 75% since adding VR.

One of the reasons is that human memory is anchored and made stronger by multi-
sensory and emotional input. In VR people are “present” in the moment which

increases emotional responsiveness and therefore memory retention.

2. Effectively Training

The reason why VR is such an effective training tool is because VR enables companies
to stimulate real-life scenarios with immersive video and audio. This helps new
employees to become familiar and comfortable within the environment prior to being

thrown into it.

3. Contextual knowledge provision in real -time

Learning is not only about practice. Theoretical knowledge is also

important, especially when it concerns the complex machinery and
sophisticated processes. A VR-based training can be built so that to display

the related information during the practice.

 4. Safety

We should mention this as one of the significant benefits of training in

virtual reality. A professionally built VR training application may recreate
the actual oil rig environment except for one thing – the hazards associated
with the job. In virtual reality, the trainees can master their skills without

being exposed to any risks both to themselves and to the equipment.

5. Cost
Imagine an offshore facility, where oil and natural gas is being extracted. These
facilities are often in remote areas and difficult and expensive to access. If a
company were to hire new people or plan maintenance for that facility, only so
much training and preparation could be on land, before people would need to be
sent out to the rig to get hands-on experience. But using virtual reality
technology, companies can leverage software to recreate the rig exactly, and have
recruits and maintenance teams familiarize themselves with the facility before
even stepping foot on it surface.
The potential savings of this method of working are clear. The cost to plug
employees into virtual reality is much cheaper than to constantly ferry them to

remote facilities.

COMPANIES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY EMPLOYING VR

Siemens is using a VR training simulator for various purposes – practicing
emergency responses to different accidents and testing new facilities in the

early stages of construction.

In the latter case, virtual reality helps to evaluate the convenience and

accessibility of the premises to be built.

Kuwait Oil Company is also using virtual reality training for its employees. The
company management believes that such VR training increases the employees’

confidence and, therefore, the quality of their work.

How much does it cost to create VR training simulator?

To estimate the approximate cost of building a virtual reality application, we

have divided the development process into separate components.

Project planning and estimation

1. Here they describe the functionality that needs to be implemented.

2. Wireframes and design prototypes. Wireframes are necessary to show

the layout of the app UI, the interaction between its elements, and the
user experience that is expected to be achieved.
 3. Project plan with sprints and functional components to be delivered at
the end of each sprint.

4. Technology stack. The type of VR app calls for the necessary tools that
are to be used by the development team.

Selection of the VR platform and content

The type of the VR application requires, on the one hand, the specific
equipment that will be used to view and use it, and, on the other hand, the
content that will be included in the creation of the application.

VR application development
At this stage, the project passes into the hands of VR designers who create the
UI and the set of VR features required for the application.

Post-launch activities
If your agreement with the development company includes post -launch
support and maintenance, this, on the one hand, gives you better assurance
and security, as your product will be maintained by the same team that built it.

The required starting price for development is at $24,000

Health Risks involved in using VR

Loss of Spatial Awareness

This one is super obvious and seems a simple fix: just be aware of the space around you
before you put on the goggles. The problem is, however, that once you’ve been in VR for
to long (more than 30 minutes), a lot of people tend to forget about these little objects
that might cause them to fall over or wack a hand against a ceiling fan. Out of sight, out
of mind, sort of thing.

This is going to vary, just as it would with any sort of anything in life. People prone to
motion sickness and veritgo are not going to be on a good foundation going into the
world of VR, but even if you aren’t prone to these unpleasantries, they might still come
about if you are in VR too long. If you do find yourself feeling under the weather, simply
take off your headset.

Nausea

“Cybersickness” is supposedly super common with the technology. Cybersickness, as

explained in a New York Times Article is

“In traditional motion sickness, the mismatch occurs because you feel movement in your

muscles and joints as well as in the intricate coils of your inner ear, but you do not see it.

That is why getting up on the deck of a ship and looking at the horizon helps you feel

better. But with digital motion sickness, it is the opposite. You see movement — like the
turns and twists shown in a movie or video game car chase — that you do not feel. The

result is the same: You may have sensory conflict that can make you feel qu easy.”

Seizures

If you are prone to seizures then you should probably just stay away because the
technology may invoke a response. The average person, however, who doesn’t suffer
from epileptic conditions, doesn’t need to worry–at least as far as current experiences are
concerned, though there have been cases of it happening.

Eye Soreness

Just as watching too much television or staring at a computer screen, short-term eye
strain is normal in VR. However, tweaking the settings in your system can help alleviate
this problem. As far as long term effects on vision go, the the technology just hasn’t been
around long enough to see any significant results.