The oil and gas industry is ripe for AR, considering the role it plays in every aspect of working for an oil company. There are many different ways that AR can be utilized within the industry, from using it to enhance various tasks workers must perform on a daily basis, to automating processes with little human supervision needed. Everyone talks about how AR is going to change our lives, but what does that actually mean? To grasp what kinds of changes we might experience as a result of augmented reality in oil and gas industry, we need to understand its scope and limitations. The article you’re reading now will explain in detail what augmented reality is and how it can be used in the oil & gas industry.

What is Augmented Reality?

AR is a type of technology that creates an experience where digital elements and information are combined seamlessly with the real world to create a new, immersive context. This is done using a variety of digital devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, wearable technology, or a specially designed headset. AR is most often experienced through mobile devices such as smartphones. With AR, a user’s surroundings are overlaid with digital objects, images, text, and video. Depending on the device and application used, an AR experience can offer real benefits to the user, including visual navigation, data input, or even remote control.

How Augmented Reality Works in the Oil & Gas Industry

Oil and gas companies are investing heavily in AR for a lot of reasons, including the fact that it can improve a variety of business processes. From tracking assets and inventory, to improving communication and collaboration between employees, AR has plenty of applications in the oil and gas industry. One of the simplest ways AR can be used in the oil & gas industry is to create an AR-based map that provides users with real-time information. AR maps can be used to display information such as location and performance of assets such as wells, pipelines, storage tanks, and storage tanks. AR also has potential to improve in-person meetings by helping workers visually communicate data and information. An AR solution might overlay information such as the location of team members, or even create an experience where team members can wear virtual avatars to help convey their visual location.

Augmented Reality and the Oilfield Office Workplace

One of the most straightforward ways AR can be used in the oil & gas industry is to improve workplace communication and collaboration. AR can help oil and gas employees work together more efficiently by providing visual communication and collaboration between teams. For example, an AR solution can overlay real-time information about the location of team members in a given workspace, so they can visually collaborate with each other. AR can also be used to track assets, create a digital asset library, or create an instance of equipment with various settings and information. AR can also be used to create a digital training environment, which can be a great way to provide training for employees or provide remote training for field workers. AR can also be used to create virtual walkthroughs of buildings and other structures.

Why is Augmented Reality Important for the Oil & Gas Industry?

AR has the potential to impact a wide range of industries, but it has especially great potential in the oil and gas industry. For one thing, many of the jobs that are available in the oil and gas industry are highly skilled and require advanced technical skills. As such, a large percentage of workers in the industry are also highly educated, and are therefore likely to be interested in using AR in the workplace. Furthermore, the oil and gas industry is likely to be keen on AR, given the level of automation it can introduce. AR might help workers to see the benefits of greater automation, which could be beneficial for an industry that is already embracing automation. Beyond the technical skills needed for an AR workplace in the oil and gas industry, there is also the need for creativity and innovation. These qualities will be crucial for any business that relies on AR to remain competitive.

Limitations of Augmented Reality in the Oil & Garcia Industry

As with any new technology, there are many questions about how long it will take for augmented reality to become standard in the oil & gas industry. It’s not entirely clear yet how soon that will happen, but some experts predict that one of the keys to success will be creating a strong ecosystem of partners and developers. As with any technology, there are also some potential limitations of AR in the oil & gas industry, including the fact that it is currently a bit glitchy and not very user-friendly. This could change over time, but it’s something investors and technology researchers will want to watch closely. Another potential limitation of AR in the oil & gas industry is that it could be difficult to scale up and implement. This could be due to a number of factors, such as the fact that it requires a high level of technician expertise, or that it is also dependent on a high level of investment.

How to Use Augmented Reality in the Oil & Gas Industry

For oil and gas companies that want to implement augmented reality in their workplace, the key will be looking for partners with experience in AR. This could be a specialized company, or even a specialized AR consulting firm. A partner with experience could be a great way to help a company implement AR quickly and successfully. Beyond partnering with an experienced provider, the next step will be to evaluate the best technology for the job. This will depend a lot on the specific business processes that will be impacted by augmented reality in the oil & gas industry. For example, if an oil & gas company wants to create an AR map, the best technology might be ARCore or ARKit. These are two of the most popular AR platforms, and they are also compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

Conclusion

Because it brings digital information and virtual objects into real environments, augmented reality is poised to change the way people interact with their surroundings. oil & gas industry is ripe for augmented reality, considering the role it plays in every aspect of working for an oil company.