Our business has long benefited from the widespread use of digital technology in the oil and gas industry. In recent years, cutting-edge digital technology has made data processing faster and more sophisticated, enabling us to utilize large volumes of diverse data. INPEX is actively working to transform the energy landscape to help achieve a net-zero carbon society by 2050, while meeting the energy demands of Japan and the world. The use of digital technology is positioned as an important pillar of these efforts.

Our DX strategy aims to promote the resilience and sustainability of our oil and natural gas business by digitalizing operations in accordance with our medium-term business plan and technical strategies. Furthermore, as part of our ongoing efforts to improve our operational structure, we have formulated a plan to increase efficiency and create new value by establishing a digital data infrastructure and accelerating the adoption of digital technology. The DX strategy focuses on the following five items.

1. 1.Efficiency & automation: Thorough improvement of workforce efficiency using integrated digital technologies and promoting unmanned/de-manned business areas.
2. 2.Technology sophistication: Enhance INPEX technology through effective utilization and analysis of both internal and external technical data.
3. 3.Extension to decarbonization: Application of E&P's digital technology to improve efficiency and sophistication in decarbonization fields (e.g. CCUS, hydrogen/ammonia, renewable energy, methanation).
4. 4.Strengthen data management/analysis and infrastructure: The development of technical data infrastructure and technical study tools to effectively support technical operations.
5. 5.Development of Human Resources for Digital: Strengthening company-wide digital capabilities and promoting internal transformation and business operation enhancement.

An organization dedicated to DX, led by the DX Head, have been established at the Headquarters of the Technical Division, which oversees and promotes activities related to DX.
In addition, a cross-organizational taskforce has been formed, comprising members from business divisions and domestic/overseas departments, and functions as a hub for planning digital projects and knowledge-sharing.
Each DX project is executed by a project team comprising the responsible business department and DX Group members.

Developing human resources for digital is one of the crucial initiatives under DX Vision. By identifying the required knowledge and skills along with conducting practical training programs, we aim to develop digital human resources that can create new business value and customer experiences.

INPEX has defined the prerequisite of two skill categories and separately implements the training programs for basic and advanced levels.

1. 1.Human resources for planning and execution of DX projects.
2. 2.Human resources for data utilization, management, and analysis.

To enhance the digital literacy of employees, we provided basic programming courses and posted various DX information through the groupwide portal. In addition, we set up a data science course to develop special skillsets. We intend to continuously conduct training courses focused on digital literacy, programming, and data science throughout the company.

• Unmanned/De-manned and robots
• Optimized maintenance scheduling tool: SPOT

• *We are actively promoting the use of digital technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in the geological and geophysical fields of oil & gas. Click here for the link.

Unmanned/De-manned and Robots

With the aim of ensuring safety and maintaining/improving the competitiveness of production and operations, we are working toward comprehensively implementing the integrated DX measures at the existing production facilities. Based on the following three concepts, we are executing a small-scale pilot project since spring 2022 prior to full-scale deployment.

Concept

Integrated operation center: Integrated control and monitoring of multiple facilities assisted by AI monitoring, collaboration center, etc.
Smart facilities: Improving the automation level of field work, various sensing technologies, and data transfer with integrated operation center.
Plant Digital Platform: Seamless integration among multiple system platforms supporting the operation processes

Concept of unmanned/de-manned DX

In the feasibility study phase, we established an organization and business improvement plan along with the DX implementation plan based on the applications of effective automation methods and robots determined from diverse analyses of the existing facilities. In addition, certain improvement measures have been identified for operational business processes to facilitate effective decision-making in operation, maintenance, and safety management.