The oil and gas sector has received much attention lately after the Russia-Ukraine war sent the prices soaring worldwide.
The oil and gas sector has received much attention lately after the Russia-Ukraine war sent the prices soaring worldwide. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Brent crude oil spot price in our forecast averages $98 per barrel in the fourth quarter of 2022 and $97/b in 2023.
Security concerns at oil and gas fields, rigs, refineries, and related sites are at an all-time high, especially as they are remotely located, difficult to monitor, and require specialized equipment. The remote location of these sites is perhaps the biggest challenge in this as it makes everything from infrastructure maintenance to continuous surveillance difficult.
This is where cloud-based solutions and remote monitoring can make a difference. Security footage stored onsite at remote locations is difficult to protect, being vulnerable to theft, sabotage, vandalism, fire, mechanical failures, etc. But on the cloud, your footage is protected. And this is just one advantage. In this article, we look at some of the major benefits cloud-based surveillance solutions bring to the oil and gas sector.
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Efficient monitoring 24/7
Cloud-based storage makes it easier for security operators to monitor sites round the clock remotely. They can ensure that personnel, equipment, operations, and assets are safe and functioning as they should. Remote monitoring ensures that any incident at the site doesn’t affect the security monitoring personnel. Storage of surveillance data on the cloud also allows different stakeholders to access it easily from anywhere. For instance, you can conduct an investigation into a security incident at an offshore facility without actually being there.
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Better use of data
Cloud-based surveillance provides easy access to analytics solutions that can help customers gain better insights into their operations and security. Drawing patterns from data would help them understand areas of improvement with clarity. Since cloud storage is easily scalable, oil and gas companies can store more data than they could onsite, allowing better analysis over time.
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Better analytics for real-time security
Analytics also allow operators to respond to security incidents in real-time. This is crucial in the oil and gas sector, where the actions you take moments after an incident could have a decisive role in limiting the overall damage. Advanced analytics like facial recognition can also allow customers to track personnel at the site and offer alerts when an unauthorized person is detected. Analytics that enable the detection of weapons and aggressive behavior can even help security officers take preemptive action that can prevent an incident.
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Optimized costs
Cloud storage allows organizations to lower the costs associated with on-site storage systems. If the business needs to scale up, there are no concerns about space to store all the massive infrastructure in the form of servers. Cloud-based surveillance solutions also offer flexibility in terms of storage, being able to change between allocated spaces if there is a need. Customers wouldn’t have to worry about maintenance either, as the service providers will take care of it.
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Cybersecurity
Anything connected to the world wide web is vulnerable to cyberattacks. When surveillance data is stored on-site, customers and their integrators have to ensure that the data is protected. This is a cost-intensive activity, requiring sophisticated tools and professional assistance. Cloud-based solution providers often have high-skilled, dedicated teams that work round the clock to ensure your data is protected.
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Environmentally friendly
The oil and gas industry is aware of the impact on the industry and the importance of reducing its carbon footprint. Cloud-based storage would allow them to make use of the efficient systems that modern data centers provide. Although the environmental impact of data centers is also something to be concerned about, they actively invest in reducing energy usage and minimizing carbon footprint.