BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 2. The energy industry
must actively integrate digitalization, cybersecurity, and data
management at the early stages of projects to facilitate the
transition toward more autonomous operations, Christopher Wiig,
Vice President for Energy Transition at ABB Energy Industries, said
during a panel session at the 31st International Caspian Oil & Gas
Exhibition held in Baku, Trend reports.
According to him, the advancement of digital solutions in the
oil, gas, and energy sectors is directly linked to data
utilization, which serves as the foundation for analytics,
automation, and the implementation of artificial intelligence
technologies.
"Digital progress, driven by data, is leading us toward
autonomous operations," he noted.
Wiig emphasized that the true value of data is unlocked only
through comprehensive collection and integration - encompassing
operational, engineering, and project data - which significantly
enhances the efficiency of asset management.
He paid special attention to cybersecurity, pointing out that it
must be approached comprehensively, including physical, personal,
and digital security, right from the engineering and design
phase.
According to the vice president, the key approach is to
incorporate security requirements from the very inception of
project planning rather than during the operational stage.
He also stressed the importance of unifying all digital
platforms, IT systems, and communication networks to effectively
manage interfaces and ensure the stable operation of
infrastructure.
Wiig emphasized that the integration of data and digital systems
boosts facility efficiency after commissioning and accelerates the
transition to more manageable and autonomous digital operations
across the energy sector.
