GE and Noble have introduced the world’s first digital drilling vessel, intended to improve the efficiency of offshore operations.

Known as Digital Rig, the solution is powered by GE’s Predix platform combines data models from a digital replica of physical assets along with advanced analytics.

The solution has been designed to address the drawbacks associated with human-operated offshore drilling industry, including performance inconsistencies and variance.

Through the solution, the partners intend to reduce operational expenditure by 20% across the targeted equipment.

Noble operations senior vice-president Bernie Wolford said: “We are very excited to showcase the launch of the Digital Rig solution and the world’s first digital drilling vessel as we continue to expand data-driven operations support while gaining significant efficiencies in drilling operations.

“The potential of digitalisation will go beyond a single vessel, opening the door to transforming our entire fleet.

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“The data backbone paves the way towards autonomous drilling, and digital technology is facilitating a new era of drilling and asset performance improvements that are unprecedented.”

“Digital technology is facilitating a new era of drilling and asset performance improvements that are unprecedented.”

Deployed on the Noble Globetrotter I drilling vessel, Digital Rig has been connected to all targeted control systems, including the drilling control network, the power management system and the dynamic positioning system.

Individual sensors and control systems collect data and then it is centralised on the vessel.

Data is subsequently transmitted in near real-time to GE’s Industrial Performance & Reliability Centre for predictive analytics.

According to GE, the solution has the ability to capture anomalies and detect potential failures up to two months before they would occur.

Furthermore, the solution enables personnel both on the vessel and onshore to view the entire vessel’s health and equipment real-time performance.

GE noted that it is on track to digitalise the remaining three targeted vessels for operational optimisation early this year.

The partnership between the two firms on the digital rig solution started in March last year.