Shell leveraging Swiss digital twin technology to optimize global offshore assets

Switzerland-headquartered structural performance management software solutions provider Akselos has signed a strategic enterprise agreement with Shell Information Technology, a subsidiary of the UK-based energy giant Shell, to widen their existing collaboration to encircle the energy major’s worldwide oil and gas portfolio.

Under the deal, Shell will use Akselos’ structural performance management software (SPM) to monitor the structural health of assets described as critical across its portfolio in near real-time, helping enhance their lifecycle by ensuring uninterrupted operations at maximum output. 

“We are thrilled to join forces with Shell,” said Thomas Leurent, CEO of Akselos. “Shell’s expertise in plant operations, new energy discoveries and technical know-how complements our strengths and will enable us to accelerate our growth and enhance the value we provide to our customers.” 

This agreement is set to expand Akselos’ scope of work on projects with Shell’s Pearl GTL in Qatar, Scotford in Canada, the Bonga FPSO offshore Nigeria, for which the Swiss player deployed a structural digital twin in 2020, and multiple assets in the Gulf of Mexico.

The company says the deal will enable it to become Shell’s primary partner for SPM software, extending its reach to the UK major’s entire enterprise. The duo’s collaboration, encompassing a recently completed three-year enterprise framework agreement (EFA), dates back to 2015.

Shell recently made a final investment decision (FID) for the Vito waterflood project in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, aiming to increase the field’s recoverable resource volume by 60 million boe.

The energy giant also disclosed plans for its joint venture (JV) with PetroChina to develop Phase 2 of its Surat gas project in Queensland, Australia, to commercialize most of the Surat Basin gas reserves.