An Award-Winning Automation Strategy Taking PDO To Top Quartile Performance

Abstract The global demand for energy continues to rise, with hydrocarbons remaining the primary source until renewable technologies mature. The upstream oil and gas industry faces increasing complexity due to depleting traditional fields and stricter regulations, necessitating sophisticated operations. Despite significant investments in automation, many plants underperform due to deficiencies in process control performance. In 2020, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) launched a transformative automation strategy to enhance control performance, reduce process upsets, alarms, and interventions, and ensure sustainable remote operations. This manuscript provides an overview of PDO's strategy, detailing the methodology, implementation phases, and the significant value realized. Key steps included establishing KPIs for controller uptime and compliance, setting performance targets, and deploying digital tools for real-time monitoring. By 2021, 100% of PDO facilities were covered, with controller uptime improving from 78% in 2019 to 95% in 2024, and compliance from 73% to 91%. These improvements led to a 30% reduction in alarm rates and a 90% reduction in operator interventions. PDO's strategy demonstrates how a structured, data-driven approach can optimize automation investments, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve significant financial benefits. The insights gained provide a benchmark for other organizations seeking to improve their automation performance.