From the Wellbore to the Neural Network: How the World’s Biggest Oil Companies Are Betting on AI

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) ITS SC held a guest lecture program called SPEak Up! Guest Lecture in collaboration with SPE UTM SC from Malaysia and SPE PSU SC from the Philippines. The program aimed to increase the understanding of the members of the three SPE’s regarding the perspective of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition era.  SPEak Up! Guest Lecture is an annual event that developed by Academia and Competency Development Department SPE  ITS SC. This year, SPEak Up! brought the theme regarding the perspective of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition era. One interesting topic was "CCUS as a Remarkable Solution to Support Emission Reduction" presented by Mutia Khairunnisa Mardhatillah.Mutia Khairunnisa Mardhatillah is a graduate student from the PETRONAS University of Technology majoring in Petroleum Engineering at the master's degree. Currently she is a Researcher Assistant in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at PETRONAS University of Technology. Also, currently she is working on his dissertation focused on the CO2-Brine-Rock Interactions during sequestration in Saline Aquifer. The observations are on the near-wellbore vicinity and the consequences from the interactions are analyzed.In her presentation, Mutia said that currently, our world is experiencing a significant increase in the earth's temperature from year to year which is experienced by the large number of greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2 that rises into the atmosphere. That way, there needs to be a step to prevent it.there are many ways that can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as the use of renewable energy, methane reduction, alternative fuels, etc. However, in this case there is one way that is often discussed at this time, that is CCUS.CCUS stands for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. It refers to a set of technologies and processes aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and power generation. Carbon capture involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources such as power plants, factories, and other industrial processes. Utilization involves finding ways to use the captured carbon dioxide, for example, in the production of chemicals, fuels, or building materials. Storage involves storing the captured carbon dioxide in underground geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers, so that it does not enter the atmosphere. CCUS is seen as a promising approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, as it allows for continued use of fossil fuels while reducing their environmental impact.“CCUS consists of 4 stages, namely Carbon Capture, Transport, Utilization, and Storage. In the carbon capture stage, CO2 released into the atmosphere will be captured from fuel combustion or industrial processes. Furthermore, at the transport stage, CO2 will be transported via a ship or pipeline. After CO2 is transported, there is a utilization stage where it can either be used as a resource to create valuable products or services, but it doesn't stop at that stage, CO2 can also be injected into underground geological formations for the storage stage.” Mutia said. However, there are still several obstacles in its application, such as high cost, regulatory framework, and public acceptance. For this reason, Mutia hopes that companies that will later apply this technology and the government can work together with the surrounding community for the implementation of this CCUS technology.

The need for effective scientific writing and paper review skills cannot be understated in the digital age, when information is generated at an unprecedented rate. In response to this, The Research and Information Division of SPE ITS SC held a Scientific Writing Mastery event that took place at Menara Sains TW1-301 on Friday, December 1, 2023 from 17.30–21.00. The purpose of the event is to provide participants with an understanding of paper reviews, ethical issues, and scientific writing techniques. Apart from that, a paper review simulation was conducted at the end of the event to increase participants' understanding of the materials presented. Especially for those aiming to succeed in competitions that require paper writing and review.Participants were not only university students, but there were also high school students who participated enthusiastically in the event. “Despite the limited promotion of our event due to unforeseen circumstances, we're pleasantly surprised that it still went smoothly, was well-attended, and received a positive turnout among the participants” said Daffa Hibatullah as the PIC of the event.Gemala Tri Hita Kirana and Valerie Anargya Gayatri,  from Ocean Engineering ITS, as the champions of the PROTECT 2023 paper and poster competition, kicked off the event with insights into the technical aspects of scientific writing and an overview of paper competitions. Their presentations aimed to give the participants a solid grasp of what goes into crafting a good scientific paper. In the end, the speakers also encourage participants to take part in competitions as a means of improving their writing and analytical skills.The guest reviewer of IRRODL (Top 2 Canadian Open Access Education Journals), indexed by Scopus Q1, Aidatul Fitriyah from English Language and Literature Universitas Airlangga, presented the following session and gave an explanation of paper review and conducted a simulation. During her presentation, she not only discussed the academic components of paper reviewing; but also discussed her personal experiences, providing insight into the complexities of evaluating scholarly work for a prestigious journal.A paper review simulation was being conducted to take the learning experience a step further. One of the participant's papers was selected for a real-time review. This hands-on approach allowed participants to see how the principles discussed earlier in the session were applied in practice, the thought process, and attention to detail required for a thorough review. Also to identify strengths & weaknesses and provide constructive reviews for the participant.The event's success highlights the need for increased understanding and proficiency in scientific writing. In an era of rapid knowledge exchange, events such as these are crucial to maintain the quality and integrity of research as the scientific community continues to develop. "Our goal in organizing this event is for participants to improve their writing and research skills, and ultimately making valuable contributions to the advancement of research." ended Daffa.Written By: Arya Nugraha Aulia Rahman Yusup

In 2026, the oil and gas industry’s AI revolution is no longer a forecast, it is an operational reality. The world’s largest energy companies have moved past experimentation, embedding AI into drill floors, control rooms, and thousands of kilometers of pipeline. The results are tangible: fewer equipment failures, lower costs, faster drilling cycles, and tighter emissions control.ExxonMobil was the first in the industry to deploy AI-driven closed-loop drilling automation in a deepwater setting, operating in Guyana where AI systems adjust drilling parameters in real time without human input. In the Permian Basin, machine learning has lifted shale well output by more than 5% and cut data preparation time by roughly 40%.BP has wired over two million sensors across assets in the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea, and Oman, feeding data into digital twins and its in-house AURA system that simultaneously tracks operational inefficiencies and monitors carbon and methane emissions. The company reports drilling more wells annually as a direct result. Chevron, meanwhile, deploys AI-enabled drones over its Permian operations to detect methane leaks and equipment failures without putting personnel in hazardous zones. Shell applies machine learning to forecast equipment failures before they occur, while Saudi Aramco uses computer vision to monitor thousands of kilometers of pipelines for anomalies.The financial case is well-documented. Boston Consulting Group reports AI has cut operating costs by 15–20% and reduced key cycle times from months to weeks. McKinsey estimates predictive analytics alone lowers maintenance costs by up to 25%. At the field level, AI systems have prevented over 140 hours of unplanned downtime, protecting 1.6% of production uptime figures that translate directly into revenue.The global AI in oil and gas market was valued at USD 7.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass USD 25 billion by 2034, growing at 14.2% annually. Upstream operations account for over half of all AI deployment, driven by the data-intensive nature of exploration and production. North America leads adoption, while Asia-Pacific is forecast as the fastest-growing region through 2031.The companies advancing fastest are not doing so simply to cut costs. They are responding to growing complexity: volatile markets, tightening emissions rules, aging infrastructure, and the sheer volume of real-time data across global assets. Managing all of that with human judgment alone has become impractical. In 2026, AI is not the future of oil and gas. It is the present. Writer: Akhirian Taka

PetroChina International Jabung Ltd. (PCJL) has successfully completed the initial production test of the Gemah-81 development well in the Jabung Working Area, Jambi, marking another milestone for Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas sector. The drilling activity was conducted under the supervision of SKK Migas, the country’s upstream oil and gas regulator.Head of SKK Migas Djoko Siswanto confirmed the positive test results, highlighting the well’s strong production performance following completion on February 11, 2026.Based on well test analysis conducted at a 32/64-inch choke, Gemah-81 produced 4.8 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas at a wellhead pressure (WHP) of 1,080 psig, along with approximately 400 barrels per day (bpd) of condensate. The well targets three reservoirs, with the primary zone located at a depth interval of 7,259–7,281 feet measured depth (MD). The results indicate promising hydrocarbon potential within the Gemah field.To accelerate production, PetroChina plans to connect the well to the existing Gemah Station production facility within approximately two weeks. The tie-in will involve the installation of around 300 meters of pipeline, enabling the well to commence regular production promptly.Building on this success, the company is scheduled to drill two additional wells — Gemah-85 and NEB-85 ST — within the next month. SKK Migas expressed hope that these wells will deliver even higher production rates, further strengthening output from the Jabung Block.Looking ahead, PetroChina reaffirmed its commitment to expanding exploration activities and optimizing existing assets in the block through technology deployment, cost efficiency, and collaborative efforts, supporting sustained production growth in the years to come.