Optimizing Operations with Exception-Based Procedures: Insights from Denis Drolet

SPEAKERS

Denis Drolet Senior Operations Engineer, Vermilion Energy Inc.

ABOUT THE SESSION

At the Oil & Gas Automation and Digitalization Conference 2023, Denis Drolet, Senior Operations Engineer at Vermilion Energy, brought to light the evolving role of automation and workforce optimization in the oil and gas industry. His focus on “Operating by Exception” presents a transformative strategy that is reshaping operations in the sector. As the industry moves toward greater automation, Denis’s insights emphasize the importance of optimizing operations by addressing exceptions, rather than manually managing every operational aspect. With a shrinking workforce, this strategy becomes essential to enhancing efficiency, resource allocation, and decision-making precision. 
 

The Power of Operating by Exception: 
Denis highlighted how exception-based operating procedures are driving innovation in the oil and gas sector, particularly in the context of diminishing workforce availability. By focusing on the exceptions—those anomalies or issues that deviate from normal operating conditions—organizations can optimize resource utilization, manage risks more effectively, and streamline operations. This approach enables automation to handle routine tasks, while human intervention is reserved for exceptional situations that require expert judgment. Denis’s session provided a deep dive into the practical benefits of exception-based operations, particularly within exploration and production (E&P). 
 

Implementing Exception-Based Procedures in the Field: 
One of Denis’s key areas of focus was the real-world application of exception-based operating procedures at well sites. He explored how organizations like Vermilion Energy have successfully implemented these strategies, from defining exception parameters to creating seamless communication systems between automation technologies and personnel. By streamlining decision-making and enabling human expertise to be focused on strategic tasks, these procedures offer significant advantages in risk management and workforce optimization. 
 

Denis’s insights offer a fresh perspective on the intersection of technology and human expertise, highlighting the ways in which the oil and gas sector can adapt and thrive in an era of digital transformation. 
 

Key Topics: 

• The significance of operating by exception in an automated age, especially with a shrinking workforce. 
• A comprehensive exploration of deploying exception-based operating procedures at well sites. 
• Analyzing E&P strategies that embrace automation and exception-based procedures to optimize operations. 

For more on this conference or to access the session, reach out to us at info@ptnevents.com. 

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