Shell, C3 AI, Baker Hughes, and Microsoft have teamed up to create the Open AI Energy Initiative (OAI), a platform they are calling an open ecosystem of artificial-intelligence-based solutions. The OAI framework is designed to present artificial intelligence and physics-based models to operators, service providers, equipment providers, and independent software vendors. The platform uses the BHC3 AI Suite and Microsoft Azure.
“Taking energy forward requires new approaches to technology that leverage collaboration, open data standards, and cutting-edge AI capabilities,” said Uwem Ukpong, executive vice president of regions, alliances, and enterprise sales at Baker Hughes. “Working alongside our alliance partners at C3 AI and together with industry leaders at Shell and Microsoft, the OAI will help address the persistent industry challenge of nonproductive downtime.”
The first modules from OAI, provided by Shell and Baker Hughes, are focused on reliability and are designed to improve uptime and performance of energy assets and processes, serving as extensions to BHC3’s current Reliability application. The application uses the ability of BHC3’s AI Suite to integrate data from disparate sources and train AI reliability models.
The first offerings also are expected to connect BHC3’s Reliability and the OAI modules with existing industry efforts, including equipment- and process-specific modules with pretrained AI models, codified subject-matter expertise, low-latency data connectors, thermodynamic and operating-parameter libraries, global health monitoring services, and failure-prevention efforts.
“Digital technologies and AI are helping us improve our core business today and build the energy businesses of the future,” said Yuri Sebregts, Shell’s chief technology officer. “Over the last few years, we have been working with C3 AI to scale our AI-based predictive-maintenance solutions to reduce costs and improve the productivity, reliability, and performance of our assets. We are monitoring more than 5,200 pieces of equipment using machine learning across upstream and downstream manufacturing as well as integrated gas assets.”
“The Open AI Energy Initiative is an early but clear reflection of the direction the market is heading,” said Kevin Prouty, IDC group vice president for energy and manufacturing insights. “With this already-established alliance of leading organizations, including C3 AI, Shell, Baker Hughes, and Microsoft, the OAI is poised to single-handedly establish the ecosystem of enterprise AI for the energy industry.”