Companies will implement an unprecedented artificial intelligence system on a Petrobras drillship, with a focus on operational safety

A pilot project that aims to integrate machine learning concepts and high resolution cameras for vessels in offshore operations is being developed by Petrobras in partnership with Microsoft. This project is financed equally by both companies and the state-owned company expects to implement the mechanism in all its vessels in the medium and long term. See also that Petrobras will start drilling the first wells in phase I of Campo de Mero.

The system, which is unprecedented in Brazil, will be able to automatically identify, through algorithms, operational security risks in the images recorded by the cameras, being able to capture deviations and incidents, such as the obstruction of escape routes. “The objective is to allow the machine to understand situations that may result in accidents so that we can work on solutions to mitigate these risks”, informs Petrobras technical consultant, Hardy Pereira Pinto.

As stated by Hardy, the emergence of demand was in the area of ​​construction of wells in drillships. “Today, we have a good safety standard compared to the rest of the industry. But our value is the constant search for improvement in this index and artificial intelligence can help a lot”, says the technical consultant of Petrobras.

The director of advanced technology laboratories at Microsoft Brazil, Luiz Sérgio Pires, informs that in September the first implementation stage of the pilot project on the NS-38 drillship was completed. It is estimated that 20 to 24 cameras will be installed on this vessel. “Petrobras is a pioneer in this project with us. This is an area of ​​great interest to us, even more so in an unprecedented partnership in Brazil”, explains Pires.

The Microsoft director also adds that the artificial intelligence system that is under development will always need the analysis of a specialized employee, who must analyze the situation captured and determine the best procedure to perform in that particular case. “We do not see the replacement of human beings by artificial intelligence, but rather mutual help”, emphasizes Pires.

Currently, the decision is producing automatic risk alerts when identifying access to restricted areas and inappropriate use of safety equipment, benefiting around 180 workers and a total of 300 people on board offshore drillships.

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