Key facts
- UAE oil exports dropped to 1.9 million bpd in March due to regional conflict.
- By mid-September, UAE crude exports recovered to 3.236 million bpd.
- ADNOC uses AIQ's technology to reroute oil flows and optimize production.
- RoboWell system increased production by 5% and reduced well interventions by 50% across over 500 wells.
- Neuron 5 system aims to cut unplanned shutdowns by 50% and extend maintenance intervals by 20%.
- ADNOC awarded AIQ a $340 million contract for its ENERGYai system.
The war in the Middle East has underscored the critical role of artificial intelligence for the UAE's state-run oil giant, ADNOC, in navigating significant disruptions to its export operations. Before the conflict, ADNOC exported approximately 5.1 million barrels per day, but this figure plummeted to about 1.9 million bpd in March.
ADNOC has since implemented an AI-driven export system to maintain crude movement. By mid-September, UAE crude exports had recovered to 3.236 million bpd, up from 2.886 million bpd in August and 2.871 million bpd in July, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters. The company has utilized the Habshan Fujairah pipeline, expanded its tanker operations, and employed ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC has also reportedly become a significant buyer of discounted Iraqi crude, processing it at its Ruwais facility while exporting more of its own crude.
AIQ's technology, developed over six years with ADNOC, provides real-time information across drilling, production, and facilities. CEO Dennis Jol explained that systems can automatically adjust producing wells, predict equipment failures, and reroute flows around disruptions. Projects that once took weeks can now be completed in hours. The RoboWell system, deployed across over 500 wells, has increased production by 5% and reduced well interventions by 50%. The Neuron 5 system analyzes equipment data to predict maintenance needs, with pilot results showing a 50% reduction in unplanned shutdowns and a 20% extension of planned maintenance intervals. ADNOC has awarded AIQ a three-year, $340 million contract to deploy its ENERGYai system across its upstream operations.
AIQ is now seeking to commercialize its technology for other oil companies, developing an operating system called Genesis. The company is also testing its technology internationally in Kuwait, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Egypt, and is considering acquisitions to accelerate its global expansion.