Source: Getty Images. Technology developed to help paralyzed patients regain movement could help operating companies manage large amounts of data. Battelle’s NeuroLife Neural Bypass Technology creates an electronic neural bypass that circumvents disconnected pathways in the nervous system. Innovation is a hallmark of oil and gas operations. As companies look to survive in the new economy created by the oil price downturn, the need to find new, cost-efficient technology for manufacturing, data processing, or even overall project management, is greater than ever, so much so that the industry is examining other industries for products and processes that may have crossover appeal. That examination was the topic of a panel discussion at the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference in July, where a panel of scientists from firms and laboratories spoke about emerging technologies and new uses for old technologies outside the sphere of traditional petroleum that could have a disruptive impact on the industry. ... This article is reserved for SPE members and JPT subscribers. If you would like to continue reading, please , or
The oil and gas sector is turning to other industries in search of technologies it can adapt for its own uses, according to a discussion at the recent Unconventional Resources Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. For example, a microchip that helps paralysed people control their hands could be useful in managing oil and gas projects that need to process vast amounts of data points. Or clinical software that helps predict kidney failure could be used to monitor operational data such as flow rates. In addition, 3D printing can be used to manufacture parts on site, thus reducing shipping and storage costs.