The Control Room as the Hub in a Changing Oil & Gas Market

"The impact of geopolitics, the energy transition, and increasing security risks are driving major shifts in the global Oil & Gas market," says Mark, who, as Global Sales Consultant at INTER Control Room Specialist, is closely involved in complex projects. "Whether it is FPSOs at sea or tank terminals in the Netherlands, the control room remains the beating heart of operations."

Political Climate and Energy Transition Under Pressure

The challenges facing the global Oil & Gas sector are significant. "The political climate has a huge impact on investment decisions. Think of sanctions, shifting policies around fossil fuels, or the closure of international partnerships. All of this makes strategic decision-making more complex than ever," explains Mark.

Another persistent issue is the structural shortage of skilled personnel. "Finding the right people is increasingly difficult, especially in technical fields. On top of that, there is pressure to accelerate sustainability efforts and develop green energy sources. This combination makes the market particularly dynamic."

Fewer People Offshore, More Data Onshore

One of the most striking developments in offshore Oil & Gas is the rise of FPSOs: floating production units that extract oil and gas from the seabed, process it, store it temporarily, and transfer it to tankers. "Particularly around the equator, for example in the massive oil fields in Guyana, Brazil, and Nigeria, FPSOs are becoming increasingly common. Much of this oil lies two kilometers below the seabed, which is beyond the reach of traditional platforms. FPSOs are the solution."

A clear trend is that fewer people are stationed onboard. "This is mainly about safety. Fewer people means less risk, and also lower costs."

In Guyana, INTER is involved in a global first: the creation of a central onshore control room that remotely monitors and manages multiple FPSOs simultaneously. "That is unique worldwide. It enables operators to manage processes even more safely and efficiently, all from a single location."

Tank Terminals in Transition

Closer to home, the playing field is also changing. Dutch tank terminals fall under critical infrastructure and face increasingly strict regulations, especially in the area of cybersecurity. "With the arrival of NIS2, operators are required to significantly strengthen their digital resilience," Mark explains. "That has a direct impact on the control room."

At the same time, tank terminal systems are becoming more advanced. "This expansion results in an explosion of data. Operators are processing more information than ever, which makes it essential that the control room is designed to be clear, intuitive, and error-proof."

Some terminals also perform oil blending to achieve the required quality. "If that process is interrupted, they have to start all over again. That costs time and money. Which is why a control room must remain operational at all times."

Control Rooms: Maximum Reliability Required

Whether in a terminal or an FPSO, both environments involve flammable or even explosive liquids. "The safety of people and installations comes first. That is why the technology in a control room must always remain operational. Downtime means losses, sometimes tens of millions per day," Mark stresses.

Redundancy, the duplication of critical systems, is therefore essential in this sector. "If something fails, a backup must immediately take over."

Many offshore systems are also subjected to so-called storm tests, exposing networks to extreme peak loads. "This ensures that everything keeps functioning, even under heavy stress."

Another key factor in offshore control rooms is ABS certification. "This involves rigorous testing to determine whether systems may be remotely operated or monitored. Without this certification, you are not allowed to control critical processes from shore."

Operators are also central to system design. "Ergonomics are increasingly important. In a 24/7 environment, operators must be able to work comfortably, focused, and intuitively."

Project in Guyana: Unique Worldwide

One of INTER's flagship projects is in Guyana. "We are involved in setting up both the FPSOs and the central onshore control room. In addition, we designed digital workstations for asset management. This integrated approach, from offshore to onshore, makes the project globally unique."

Similar steps are being taken in the Netherlands. "In Rotterdam, we established a central control room from which multiple terminals are operated simultaneously. That scalability represents the future."

Global Quality, Local Expertise

Mark emphasizes that INTER is more than just a supplier. It provides complete solutions. "We deliver and manage the entire network, from switches and firewalls to visualization and KVM solutions. That end-to-end responsibility ensures seamless integration and gives clients a single point of contact."

INTER also collaborates exclusively with vendors who place reliability at the core of their technology. "Solutions must not only perform well but must also last for years. This is especially important in control rooms where every second counts."

The Future: Globally Connected Assets

Looking ahead, global connectivity will be key. "The technology to operate multiple assets, offshore and onshore, from one location is becoming more accessible. Thanks to improved connections, for example via satellite, the physical location of your control room will soon be irrelevant. Everything can be linked."

This trend is also visible in tank terminals. "We increasingly see multiple sites being interconnected. That creates efficiencies in operations, monitoring, and safety."

Want to Know More?

Curious how we support organizations in the Oil & Gas sector with their control rooms? Feel free to contact me!