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Thoughstream

For OE magazine, October, 2014 [556 words] [actable links] Photo of Schotman Graphic [ed index links] www.Shell.com [byline] . [images] Thoughstream-1 – Gerald Schotman

Pull quote

Opinion

Thought Thought Thought Thought ThoughtStream

Gerald Schotman, Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM)

An invasion of innovation deferred was in fact produced.

too. They will understand the meaning of

Speeding up the rate of change our habits and moods, our way of speak- Shell has started using optic ? bers not in the oil and gas industry ing and behaving – and they will react only to transmit data but also as sen- accordingly. sors. Strung from top to bottom in a well,

All these examples I’ve cited have ur industry has a big question to they make it possible to keep tabs on the

O something in common. They enable answer: Can it innovate fast enough temperatures, pressures and ? ow rates faster, well-informed decision-making to meet the global energy challenge? I all along the well. Our wells are also believe the answer is yes – but only if it being equipped with automated control is never satis? ed with its achievements systems. As a result, multiple stacked and constantly seeks outside inspiration. reservoirs can be concurrently produced “To accelerate the

Our industry has made its share of through one wellbore. rate of change, I

Like the latest model cars, which technological breakthroughs over the have internet-enabled dashboards and years, many of them enabled by collabo- strongly believe driver-assisting systems based on a ration across company boundaries: oil that we need to look combination of sensors, Shell’s of? ces companies working with service compa- and control rooms enable engineers to nies, for instance, or specialist technol- beyond our industry’s display real-time reservoir data and ogy boutiques working with established their analysis on screens. This instant equipment manufacturers. But to boundaries. I’m connectivity to assets gives the engi- accelerate the rate of change, I strongly extremely interested neers far more insight into reservoir believe that we need to look beyond our behavior and enables them to optimize industry’s boundaries. So I’m extremely in innovations that production.

interested in innovations that seem to seem to have nothing have nothing to do with oil and gas. To sum up, I see a friendly invasion of “Smart everything” is a good example. innovation into our industry delivering to do with oil and gas.”

The term describes the growing phenom- the technologies we need. The big ques- enon of everyday objects that can sense tion now is not “will it work?” or “will and communicate. Thermostats, refrig- it work at scale?” but “how fast can we erators, eyewear and even clothes now make this work?” inform their owners of conditions to save – which is something the oil and gas industry urgently needs. So we need to time, money and energy – even when the Gerald Schotman is formerly the execu- welcome these innovations and embrace owners are far from home. tive vice president, innovation, R&D and them. Shell certainly is. There’s also a lot we could learn from chief technology of? cer, Royal Dutch

Last year, Shell opened a center in the medical sector in this regard. Contact Shell. He now serves as director of the the Netherlands where experienced lenses can now monitor the glucose Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij engineers can diagnose the operating levels in tears, and bracelets can monitor (NAM), as of October 1. Gerald condition of key rotating equipment, our physiological functions. These inno- Schotman was appointed chief technol- such as compressors and pumps, with vations are helping doctors and patients ogy of? cer at Shell in 2009. Schotman a system called SmartConnect. The alike to manage their healthcare. was also appointed Executive Vice equipment under examination, how-

With “cognitive computing” objects President Innovation/R&D during the will even sense our subjective states, will even sense our subjective states, same year, making him