GETI 2024 Analyzes AI’s Footprint in the Oil and Gas Industry

Initially launched in 2017, Airswift’s Global Talent Index is a compilation of data outlining trends across the energy industry. In addition to renewables, petrochemicals, and nuclear, the report covers the latest oil and gas industry trends. Besides comparing job roles and salaries, this year’s report spotlights artificial intelligence (AI). It discusses where it is used and in what fashion and investigates its acceptance within the industry.

While the oil and gas industry’s activity for 2024 has been predicted to be “flat,” it comes as little surprise that the adoption of AI within the sector lags behind the other arenas like renewables and nuclear. Of all surveyed, oil and gas are finished last when analyzing the implementation of AI in job roles. Only 24 percent harness AI technology in their current job roles.

Although it appears AI is still attempting to overcome opposition, the GETI report indicates that only one-third of the industry possesses an AI policy, with many employees failing to realize it exists. With cyber security and lack of training serving as AI risks, the oil and gas industry remains vulnerable to cyber-attacks and the effects of less-than-stellar operating practices. As a result, companies are bolstering AI policies to protect data, integrity, and security.

“As a mature sector with significant skills and sunk costs in traditional technologies, AI uptake will be slower than newer, nimbler sectors such as renewables,” said Ian Langley, Chairman of Airswift, in the GETI 2024 report. “AI could help power the latest technologies from carbon capture usage and storage to green hydrogen, but these are still nascent and attract a small share of investment.”

The GETI 2024 did not indicate inconsistencies with AI’s security implementation. It concluded that the oil and gas workforce displayed the least favor in utilizing AI tools individually. Machine learning tools such as ChatGPT and Artificial General Intelligence gained only 15 percent and 12 percent support and usage, respectively.

“With unique hazards such as dangerous chemicals, high pressure/temperature systems, etc., oil and gas prioritizes safety and worker wellbeing,” said Langley. “Given that many areas of oil and gas field development still require human intervention, fully automated platforms are rare. In the future, AI will play a major part in enabling lower carbon oil and gas production and optimizing systems for carbon capture.”

Although AI’s current acceptance levels rank last in oil and gas, the GETI 2024 points to 58 percent, believing the tool could initiate an influx in career opportunities and boost job satisfaction. Additionally, an indication surfaced that 50 percent of the individuals surveyed can foresee AI’s ability to enable more time spent on soft skills or with friends and family.

Within the next two years, 71 percent believe AI will increase productivity, but many envision the transition to be based upon increased pressure to study and learn new skill sets. While that notion might be hard to endure, over 40 percent feel the utilization of AI in the oil and gas workplace will positively impact salaries.

With AI’s ability to enact benefits from multiple vantage points, the GETI 2024 identifies three specific areas where AI will make the most significant impact. Ease and consistency can be improved through AI’s automation of workflow and as well as workplace collaboration tools. Safety and inspection improvements are also predicted to improve through AI implementation. Although many fear the “rise of the machines” when discussing AI and its ability to “replace humans,” it will further enhance remote monitoring and automation throughout the industry.

“Increasing adoption will create ‘AI skills gaps’ in areas from prompt engineering to robotics maintenance, forging new job opportunities,” said Langley. “Marrying training with in-demand skills will help bridge the gap between human and machine, reducing the risks from adoption and ensuring AI compliments rather than conflicts with human skills.”