RGU to Study Monitoring and Management of Subsea Fields

Robert Gordon University (RGU) will open a new Centre for Smart Data Technologies this month, which aims to bring the benefits of analysing and mining vast quantities of data to industry.

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The Centre, which will be launched on Tuesday, September 9, will focus on Big Data Analytics, particularly for the oil and gas sector. It is intended that the industry will secure huge efficiencies from the use of analytics to extract added value for processes such as increasing speed to first oil, enhancing production, improved asset maintenance and reliability, reducing risks in health and safety and the environment, and reducing costs.

‘Big Data’ is a general term relating to datasets that are characterised by the “three Vs” – high volume of data, high velocity of data generation, and high variety from highly heterogeneous data and different sources.

The oil and gas industry has identified a strong business need to make use of the vast data generated by exploration and production operations, with offshore installations providing terabytes of data daily.

The Centre will launch with a core team of up to 10 research staff, alongside business development and administrative support, building on RGU’s expertise in data modelling, smart information systems and knowledge management.

It will provide a collaborative facility involving academic and industry partners, where there will be purpose-driven research aimed at solving key technical challenges in the monitoring and management of subsea fields. This initiative is aligned with the Data Lab, a forthcoming national innovation centre in data science, which will see a hub located at RGU.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, Principal of RGU, said: “As the enormous potential of data analytics is increasingly recognised by industry and by government, RGU intends to play a leadership role in securing the benefits for the oil and gas industry. This will enhance the standing of the university, but will also support Scotland’s plans for economic growth and success.”

Professor Ian Allison, head of the School of Computing Science and Digital Media, said: “Computer science at RGU has an excellent track record of delivering research and development with our commercial partners. The investment RGU is making in this Centre will support our ambition for the city of Aberdeen to be a global leader in the exploitation of smart data technologies for oil and gas.”

Press Release, September 04, 2014; Image: FMC