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<\/p>\nAs energy companies seek to strengthen supply and improve reliability, the industry discussion surrounding ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi is looking closely at infrastructure already in operation. New developments will expand future capacity, but facilities that have been producing for decades remain central to today\u2019s supply. Improving their performance, managing deterioration and planning upgrades are immediate priorities.<\/p>\n
For Nick Shorten, Chief Operating Officer of Projects at Wood, some of the Middle East\u2019s most significant opportunities lie in those existing assets. In \u201cThe Middle East\u2019s Next Mega Energy Asset Is Already Built,\u201d he argues that targeted upgrades, debottlenecking and life-extension programmes can help operators increase production, improve reliability and reduce emissions while making better use of invested capital.<\/p>\n
His assessment connects asset condition with commercial performance. Shorter shutdowns or modest improvements in reliability can generate meaningful returns across large operations. As operators pursue additional production and greater efficiency, the condition of existing infrastructure\u2014and the ability to carry out improvements effectively\u2014becomes increasingly important.<\/p>\n
Digital twins, advanced analytics, AI-enabled tools and predictive maintenance are giving operators greater visibility of asset performance. Shorten describes a move towards approaches that provide earlier insight into asset health and help teams address developing problems. The strongest results, he argues, come from combining those insights with engineering knowledge and operational experience.<\/p>\n
That connection remains essential when projects reach the field. Data may identify where performance could improve, but engineering design, modification and execution ultimately deliver additional capacity, better reliability or longer asset life. Digital investment creates value through how it is applied across the operating asset.<\/p>\n
The question of how new information should change maintenance decisions also features in \u201cDynamic RBI Needs More Than AI,\u201d by Cenosco CEO Rahul Kejriwal. He describes the next step in risk-based inspection as updating equipment risk and inspection intervals when operating conditions change or new inspection results become available, rather than waiting for a fixed review cycle.<\/p>\n
Kejriwal identifies four foundations for that approach. Historical inspection reports and equipment measurements establish a verifiable condition baseline. Operating parameters, including temperature and pressure, help reveal changes that may affect deterioration. An approved risk assessment provides the reference against which recommendations are considered, while maintenance system records show whether repairs have been completed, deferred or temporarily addressed.<\/p>\n
Bringing these sources together gives engineers a more current basis for deciding where attention is needed. A delayed repair or a change in operating conditions can then inform the assessment alongside inspection findings. Kejriwal emphasises that qualified engineers must remain responsible for reviewing recommendations and determining whether inspection intervals should be extended or tightened.<\/p>\n
Taken together, these perspectives connect the value of existing infrastructure with the quality of the information used to manage it. For tank farms, processing facilities and connecting pipelines, a fuller understanding of asset condition also requires attention to the site itself. Equipment records describe one part of the picture; observations of the ground beneath and around a facility can add evidence of where movement is occurring and how it develops over time.<\/p>\n
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Assessing existing energy infrastructure involves several layers of information. Equipment inspections examine tanks, pipelines and other components, while site surveys provide additional evidence about foundations and surrounding ground. Across large tank farms or dispersed facilities, placing these findings in a common geographical context can help teams plan further investigations.<\/p>\n
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, or InSAR, compares radar images acquired at different times to measure surface displacement along the satellite\u2019s radar line of sight. Under suitable conditions, it can provide millimetre-scale observations of ground movement over large areas, supporting long-term trend analysis. Actual results depend on the data, observation conditions and processing quality.<\/p>\n
For energy infrastructure, its value lies in providing context beyond an individual asset: whether an anomaly is localised, whether nearby roads and pipeline corridors show similar trends, and whether the movement persists over time.<\/p>\n
At a tank farm, a monitoring programme can assess suitable observation points around tank foundations, connecting pipelines, site roads and surrounding areas, then establish displacement time series. Once sufficiently reliable data are available, overlaying deformation trends with asset locations can help engineers identify areas for closer examination.<\/p>\n
Where persistent movement is detected, ground surveys, geological information and site inspections are needed to investigate further. Nearby construction, site modifications or changes in operations should also be compared with the monitoring timeline.<\/p>\n
The purpose is to progressively narrow the investigation. A deformation map provides spatial evidence, a time series shows how movement develops, and field measurements and engineering records help explain its significance. Observation points on tank roofs or other components also require interpretation according to their actual locations; their movement cannot automatically be treated as foundation settlement.<\/p>\n
As asset conditions and site circumstances evolve, deformation observations can add information to risk reviews. Their specific role should be determined by the asset\u2019s characteristics, existing inspection procedures and engineering requirements.<\/p>\n
For example, when a new displacement trend appears around a facility, the operations team can first review data quality, then arrange levelling surveys, GNSS observations or other field checks. Verified findings can be assessed by engineers alongside maintenance, construction and asset records to determine whether additional monitoring or changes to planned work are appropriate.<\/p>\n
Deliverables should clearly state the observation period, reference baseline, displacement direction, quality information and coverage. InSAR generally relies on a series of acquisitions and is suited to analysing gradual movement. Priority locations requiring more frequent observations can be equipped with ground instruments appropriate to the task.<\/p>\n