innovation

Anyone selling something new for offshore exploration and production has to be able to answer a simple question from customers, “How can we save some money?” For Norwegian oil companies, change is coming in many forms: steel, sensors, software, and standards.

The upstream industry is undergoing a transformation. Operators and service providers alike are not just tweaking or fine-­tuning, they are completely rethinking the way they work.

Low prices require doing things differently. It is a hopeful sign for the future for innovators who have been struggling to keep going and have potential customers with little to spend and a lot to worry about.

Imagine a machine that could make an automaker competitive by speeding product development, help a jet engine maker create unique parts for more efficient turbines, and allow a baker to quickly create a picture-perfect 3D replica of a flower made of sugar.