Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the oil and gas industry, speeding up drilling processes, reducing costs, and enabling companies to explore previously unfeasible sites, executives highlighted at the CERAWeek conference in Houston. As oil prices continue to fluctuate and global demand faces potential challenges, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, oil producers are turning to AI to remain competitive.
Leading oil companies are increasingly deploying AI to optimize their operations. BP, for example, is using AI to steer drill bits and predict potential problems in wells, allowing them to drill more efficiently and improve capital allocation. Ann Davies, BP’s Senior Vice President of Wells, noted that AI has enabled the company to increase the number of wells drilled per year.
Devon Energy is also leveraging AI to drill in areas previously deemed unfeasible. Trey Lowe, Devon’s Chief Technology Officer, explained that AI helps the company gather critical data about geological faults, allowing them to drill on the other side to avoid complications.
Chevron has implemented AI-powered drones to monitor shale operations in Texas and Colorado. These drones help detect potential issues such as emissions leaks and alert field workers in real time. After using drones for three months in partnership with Percepto, Chevron reported a reduction in production downtime for repairs, which contributes to more efficient oil and gas production.
Additionally, Devon Energy has applied machine learning models to monitor oil rigs across the U.S., resulting in a 25% improvement in the productive life of its oil and gas wells. BP is also using AI to expedite offshore drilling, analyzing seismic data in the Gulf of Mexico in weeks instead of months, enabling quicker decision-making on where to drill.
AI’s ability to analyze large data sets quickly is revolutionizing the sector, according to Chicheng Xu, founder of OpenPetro AI. AI can create three-dimensional visualizations of underwater features in record time, offering insights that would otherwise take humans much longer to achieve.
These AI advancements not only improve operational efficiency but also give companies a competitive edge. As Trey Lowe of Devon Energy emphasized, companies that fail to adopt AI risk falling behind in the industry.