Oil & Gas Operations and Decision-Making in the Cloud Era

KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite housed on the Yokogawa Cloud platform

Recently, KBC AcuityTM Industrial Cloud Suite was launched to consolidate its simulation software solutions under one umbrella. It aims to align KBC’s diverse portfolio of technology and services with solving challenges related to energy transition, process optimization, value chain optimization, and asset management.

To learn more about KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite, we interviewed Rolando Gabarron, product management senior consultant.

Q1. Where does the name Acuity originate from?

A. We have carefully chosen the name KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite.” As a solution, it reflects the concept of seeing, hearing, and understanding something easily whether mentally or visually. It not only provides users data, but it also gives users insight to make good decisions. All of our products share a common purpose: to consistently help you understand, add value, and visually interpret data to make informed decisions that drive business growth.

This product is designed to perfectly align with our customer’s needs. Our goal is to provide them with advanced software solutions that focus on delivering sharp and keen outcomes.

Q2. Which solutions are part of the industrial cloud suite? 

A. Our initial release focuses on the Operations Monitoring, specifically tailored for upstream operations within the oil and gas sector. KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite provides an array of functionalities, including remote monitoring, validation of production data, and digital twin delivery.

One of the standout features of this product is its ability to streamline the collection of real-time data, all without the need for additional IT infrastructure, shown in Figure 1. Through its user-friendly portal, stakeholders gain access to crucial data, allowing them to analyze trends and production reports at various levels.

Figure 1. Operations Monitoring Upstream Data Chart

Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite goes a step further by proactively configuring performance alerts, as shown in Figure 2. These alerts serve as early indicators, notifying stakeholders of potential production impacts well in advance.

Figure 2. Operations Monitor Upstream Active Alerts

Overall, our goal with KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite is to provide a comprehensive solution that enhances operational efficiency and decision-making within the oil and gas industry.

Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite | KBC

Q3. For which users is KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite developed?

A. "KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite is empowering organizations across different levels of decision-making. It's designed to accommodate a diverse range of stakeholders:

From IT Engineers who need to leverage cutting-edge technology for seamless integration, or System Analysts who utilize intuitive analytics to drive data-driven insights and decision-making, to Operations Technicians who need to enhance efficiency and streamline operational processes with precision.

For Executives, KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite will help gain access to high-level overviews and strategic insights, enabling informed decisions, while our technology partners can collaborate seamlessly and securely share data for joint success.

Q4. What problems does KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite solve?

A. Let's break it down. One significant challenge is production losses due to asset failure and downtime, amounting billions of dollars in losses annually. Through KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite, we prioritize the early identification of production anomalies, enhancing asset uptime and maintenance efficiency. Notably, our solution has proven to be effective in helping refiners reduce production costs, resulting in savings exceeding 1%.

Another critical area we tackle is complex data management.  It simplifies and consolidates secure production data sharing, thereby reducing both capital investment and operational costs associated with IT infrastructure.

Additionally, KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite plays a pivotal role in improving productivity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by significantly reducing the time spent searching and manipulating data. This is particularly crucial as data-related tasks can consume up to 70% of their time.

Q5. What do you think sets KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite apart?

A. KBC has been a leader in secure cloud services since 1995, positioning us at the forefront of this evolving field. The widespread adoption of public and private clouds worldwide underscores the increasing significance of cloud technology.

Our Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite, powered by the Yokogawa Cloud Platform, stands out for several reasons. It provides secure and efficient industrial cloud-based solutions, ensuring a resilient platform for industrial operations. Moreover, the suite's analytics leverage KBC's own simulation software solutions such as Petro-SIM, Visual MESA, Maximus, and Multiflash to ensure precise and reliable data analysis.

What truly sets KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite apart is its comprehensive approach to industrial operations. It addresses automation, telemetry, data collection, and visualization through a unified interface, offering both simple and advanced analytics. This holistic solution streamlines processes and enhances decision-making for our clients.

Q6. Does Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite integrate with other products on the market?

A. It supports flexible and secure data management, seamless integration with third-party applications, a unified user interface for easy access, professionally monitored API's, and the ability to make better decisions throughout the organization. Currently, our solution’s integration capabilities are demonstrated via partnership with C3.ai for downstream use cases and our use outlines plans to extend capability by integrating with other simulation tools such as Prosper and Gap, particularly focusing on upstream simulation. We are committed to ensure that Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite easily communicates with a diverse range of products on the market.

Q7. What is the rationale behind having KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite apps based in the cloud?

A.      The oil and gas industry is embracing cloud technology, driven by the desire to solve more complex, integrated problems, and make analytics results accessible to a wider range of users and processes. KBC's simulation software tools, covering applications from reservoir to refinery gate, play a pivotal role in facilitating these advancements.

KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite is powered by the Yokogawa Cloud Platform which offers several benefits that enhance business operations, including:

• Scalability – allowing our customers to effortlessly expand resources as needed, ensuring optimal performance.

• Accessibility enables users to access data and applications from anywhere, promoting collaboration and flexibility.

• Security measures, including encryption and access controls, add an extra layer of protection to safeguard data.

• Cost advantages eliminate the need for upfront infrastructure investments with pay-as-you-go models to streamline costs.

• SaaS Delivery Models minimize installation and maintenance hassles

• Interoperability provided by application programming interfaces (API) facilitate seamless integration with other systems, promoting smooth data flow and functionality.

Conclusion

KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suiteoffers a powerful solution for companies seeking industrial excellence. With a dedicated global team, we are equipped to meet your specific needs. Taking the next step with KBC Acuity Industrial Cloud Suite can elevate your operations and bring transformative results. Contact us today at sales@kbc.global to schedule an appointment and explore the possibilities with a free demo.

Author: Rolando Gabarron

Rolando Gabarron, Senior DX Product Manager has over 20 years of product management and project management experience in SaaS and on-premise digital transformation experience. He focuses on managing projects for the next generation of IIOT solutions applied to the oil and gas industry in the upstream and midstream space. His passion for designing and optimizing digital solutions stems from the satisfaction he receives from helping clients at every level, from external stakeholders to the c-suite. Throughout his career, he has delivered numerous on-premise and cloud-based solutions such as automation, specialized analytics, and telemetry to improve operations for clients operating in North America, South America, Mexico, and Indonesia. Owning projects from inception to completion in oil and gas has enabled him to understand diverse pain points from customers worldwide and offer viable solutions tailored to each company's needs.