ADNOC has deployed an AI-enabled Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) across more than 120 drilling rigs, using technology from SLB to monitor, analyze, and manage drilling activity in real time. The platform consolidates multiple existing tools into a single system, cutting engineering effort by 30-40% and allowing engineers to oversee two to three times more rigs simultaneously.
The system, powered by SLB's DrillOps intelligent well delivery and insights solutions, processes large volumes of real-time drilling data through automated dashboards and AI-driven analytics.ADNOC said tasks that previously took days can now be completed within hours, while some analytical work has been reduced from a full day to a few minutes.
Reducing downtime and operational risk
The platform helps identify potential operational issues before they escalate, shortening incident response times by four to 12 hours and helping avoid up to two days of rig downtime, according to ADNOC. For operations teams, this means fewer unplanned interruptions and more predictable drilling schedules.
"The Real-Time Operations Center creates value across ADNOC's drilling operations every minute by embedding AI into the heart of our drilling operations, helping our teams make faster, smarter decisions at scale," said Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO of ADNOC Upstream.
Operations teams tracking how AI for Operations is being deployed in heavy industry can point to ADNOC's implementation as a case study in scale and efficiency. The system integrates AI into core workflows rather than treating it as a standalone tool.
Built on a secure cloud environment
ADNOC deployed the platform within a "sovereign cloud environment" in the UAE, meaning all data remains under national jurisdiction. The company said this strengthens data security and operational resilience while supporting the region's push toward autonomous drilling operations and long-term digital independence.
"DrillOps transforms real-time drilling data into operational intelligence that helps teams make faster, more informed decisions," said Rakesh Jaggi, President, Digital, SLB. "Deployed within ADNOC's sovereign cloud environment, the technology provides the scalable digital foundation for AI-enabled workflows across one of the industry's largest rig fleets."
Why this matters for operations professionals
ADNOC's RTOC deployment shows how AI platforms can directly reduce engineering workload and improve rig oversight capacity. For operations teams, the 30-40% reduction in engineering effort and the ability to manage more rigs per engineer translate into measurable efficiency gains and lower operational risk. The system also demonstrates the value of consolidating tools into a unified operations center - a model that operations professionals across industries can study.Operations professionals looking to deepen their understanding of these techniques can follow an AI Learning Path for Operations Managers focused on AI-driven process optimization and operational excellence.
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