3 answers
Raymond
Student
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
1
Question
Updated
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What are some of the opertunities for petroleum refining engineers? How do we incooperate Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in our field of work?
I'm currently a petroleum refining and petrochemical engineering student in the University Of Mines And Technology, who has a big interest in the field of petroleum, chemistry and robotics
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3 answers
Sandeep Khandelwal
Software Engineer
131
Answers
San Ramon, California
Updated
Sandeep’s Answer
Hello Raymond,
Petroleum refining engineers can work in areas like refinery operations, process optimization and safety engineering. As the industry becomes more technology driven, there is also growing demand for engineers who understand both process engineering and digital systems.
Robotics and AI can be used for predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, process automation, and analyzing refinery data to improve efficiency.
With skills in automation, AI, and data analysis can make you very valuable in the future energy industry.
Petroleum refining engineers can work in areas like refinery operations, process optimization and safety engineering. As the industry becomes more technology driven, there is also growing demand for engineers who understand both process engineering and digital systems.
Robotics and AI can be used for predictive maintenance, safety monitoring, process automation, and analyzing refinery data to improve efficiency.
With skills in automation, AI, and data analysis can make you very valuable in the future energy industry.
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Software Engineer and Career Mentor
654
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
As a petroleum refining engineer, you have many exciting career options. You can work in places like oil refineries, petrochemical plants, energy companies, and technology firms. You might take on roles in operations, project management, or technical sales.
Robotics plays a big part in making your job safer and more efficient. Drones (UAVs) and robotic crawlers inspect tanks, pipelines, and towers in risky areas, keeping people out of harm's way. These robots use cameras and thermal imaging to spot leaks and corrosion. AI helps by using plant data to predict maintenance needs and improve processes, leading to better product quality and energy use.
Robotics plays a big part in making your job safer and more efficient. Drones (UAVs) and robotic crawlers inspect tanks, pipelines, and towers in risky areas, keeping people out of harm's way. These robots use cameras and thermal imaging to spot leaks and corrosion. AI helps by using plant data to predict maintenance needs and improve processes, leading to better product quality and energy use.
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
180
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
Mirroring the other answers here: there is a real need for inspection drones that are able to get into dangerous areas. Any task that you can replace a person from accessing or getting exposed to a high, small, or hazardous area, that is your field. Any time you can add distance or a barrier between an inspector, engineer, or repair tech from a high energy source the better it is for everyone.
I used to open up primary power electrical cameras while they were live and point a thermal camera at the bus and OCPD (over current protection devices, ie fuses and breakers) in order to check wear and tear on the components. This was extremely dangerous even while wearing protective equipment required for the task. I never had an accident but I know many people that did and those are never good stories. Right now switchgear and panel manufacturers are making tiny thermal cameras that can be installed directly in the panel that allow someone to view thermal images at a very low resolution and find major issues. These cameras are like a 16x16 pixel resolution, enough to see if something is too hot and needs intervention. Creating this barrier is a major step up because technicians and engineers no longer need to be exposed to dangerous components in order to do tests. Your career will be to use AI and robotics to achieve something similar.
I worked at a couple of natural gas storage facilities and I noted that there are a lot of monitoring systems all working together to ensure safety on site. While these places don't usually get affected by many dangerous situations, they need to be prepared to deal with anything that can happen if something critical occurs. There is no question in my mind that unattended drones and AI monitoring will be the next big upgrade these kind of facilities will receive.
I used to open up primary power electrical cameras while they were live and point a thermal camera at the bus and OCPD (over current protection devices, ie fuses and breakers) in order to check wear and tear on the components. This was extremely dangerous even while wearing protective equipment required for the task. I never had an accident but I know many people that did and those are never good stories. Right now switchgear and panel manufacturers are making tiny thermal cameras that can be installed directly in the panel that allow someone to view thermal images at a very low resolution and find major issues. These cameras are like a 16x16 pixel resolution, enough to see if something is too hot and needs intervention. Creating this barrier is a major step up because technicians and engineers no longer need to be exposed to dangerous components in order to do tests. Your career will be to use AI and robotics to achieve something similar.
I worked at a couple of natural gas storage facilities and I noted that there are a lot of monitoring systems all working together to ensure safety on site. While these places don't usually get affected by many dangerous situations, they need to be prepared to deal with anything that can happen if something critical occurs. There is no question in my mind that unattended drones and AI monitoring will be the next big upgrade these kind of facilities will receive.