Instrumentation and controls training is expected to grow rapidly in the oil and gas sector, particularly at the entry and middle level, according to a new report from Technavio, a global technology research firm.
The report analyses the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2017-2021. Jhansi Mary, a lead analyst from Technavio, said “the increasing awareness of digital oil fields and rising use of automation systems in the production and exploration of oil and gas have resulted in high demand for instrumentation and controls courses.”
The top three emerging trends driving the training market, according to Technavio research analysts, are:
- Growing popularity of IIoT
- Increasing focus on Big Data and cloud-enabled solutions
- Introduction of augmented and virtual reality
The Industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, has applications in the oil and gas industry, where instruments and control systems are synchronized with the Internet and a real-time network.
This increases the uptime of processes, boosts performance and drives innovation while reducing operational costs. Data analytics and optimization of information from sensory equipment and instruments stored in cloud-based solutions allows companies to drive value and reduce costs.
IT multinational Infosys is helping oil and gas majors through predictive analytics, decision trees and equipment sensor data that can be leveraged to identify potential failures, transform work processes and track maintenance requirements.
Augmented and virtual reality in training modules provide real-time, immersive learning experiences to workers, especially those deployed in fields. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) allow instructors to train candidates to tackle various occupational hazards.
An example is EYESim -- a technology from engineering firm Invensys that creates a link between control room technicians, maintenance professionals and field operators using a process simulation and virtual walkthrough plant environment.