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Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Sense, Insight, Action – Woodside’s Intelligent Asset Journey

Leon Burgin A * and Lauchlan Wallace A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Woodside Energy Ltd, Perth, WA, Australia.

* Correspondence to: Leon.Burgin@woodside.com.au

The APPEA Journal 63 S159-S163 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22262
Accepted: 17 March 2023   Published: 11 May 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.

Abstract

Intelligent Assets, sometimes referred to as digital twins, have gained attention for their ability to optimise operations and enhance decision-making in an increasingly complex and data-driven world. These assets are equipped with sensors and advanced analytics capabilities for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and process automation. By creating a virtual replica of the physical asset or system, organisations can gain real-time insights and data-driven decision support for operations and maintenance. Woodside has advanced its vision for Intelligent Assets through its digital platform, Fuse, which was created to improve decision-making and optimise operations of its assets. The development of Fuse has been guided by the principles of sensing, insight, and action, ensuring safer, higher-performance operations. Fuse brings together multiple data sources, including process control information, sensor data, weather data, and historical performance data, for real-time monitoring of the asset. The platform provides a single pane of glass into the operation of the asset with advanced analytics for a deeper understanding of the performance and enabling action. Woodside provides use cases where sense, insight, and action have come together using their Fuse platform to deliver business outcomes, including enabling virtual operator rounds and condition-based maintenance. However, the implementation of Intelligent Assets can uncover several obstacles, such as data integration, scalability, and user adoption. Woodside seeks to shed light on these challenges and offers valuable insights for organisations striving to achieve successful digital outcomes.

Keywords: advanced analytics, data science, digital twin, intelligent asset, IoT devices, machine learning, predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, simulation.

Leon Burgin is the Digital Platforms and Software Engineering Manager for Woodside Energy. He has over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, having held leadership roles across engineering, projects, business development and operations. His most recent roles include Remote Operations Project Manager and Integrated Activity Planning Manager. Leon holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from the University of Western Australia. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and Investment.

Lauchlan Wallace has an extensive career in the energy industry in both technical engineering and leading the development of an innovative digital capability. He is a graduate from the University of Western Australia with a Master’s degree in Engineering. Lauchlan is currently employed by Woodside Energy and is focussed on commercialising key components of Woodside’s digital portfolio. His previous roles within Woodside include, Chief Data Officer, General Manager of data science, Team Leader for the start-up of the Pluto LNG facility, and as an Engineer in Subsea and Production Operations.


References

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