The first Saudi AI model for energy and emissions efficiency

Saudi Arabia

Fakhreddine Mrabet, co-founder and chief technology officer of Digital Petroleum, talks to The Energy Year about developing systems that help companies minimise carbon emissions and water consumption and aligning with Vision 2030 to support Saudi Arabia’s mining sector. Digital Petroleum is a Saudi technology company that develops software products for decarbonisation, energy management and industrial process management.

How is Digital Petroleum supporting decarbonisation efforts in Saudi Arabia?
Digital Petroleum was founded with a focus on leveraging AI and IoT technologies to address key challenges in the energy industry, such as decarbonisation, and we are working to provide practical solutions. Last year, the International Energy Agency indicated that digital technology could reduce carbon emissions by up to 20%.
We have developed a patented AI model – the first from a Saudi company – that helps reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in various industrial environments, including oil and gas. One of our key objectives is to show that decarbonisation doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive and can be achieved efficiently through digital solutions.
Our scope isn’t limited to oil and gas production. We focus on the full lifecycle of the oil industry, from exploration and production to petrochemicals processes and end products. Our work addresses emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 to reduce carbon impact.

What aspects of decarbonisation does your technology address?
After surveying our clients in 2023, we found that while cost-optimisation solutions were well-received, cybersecurity concerns remained a top priority, especially among Saudi Arabia’s massive companies, such as Aramco.
To address this concern, we developed a solution that relies on fewer data points. The approach is simple: less infrastructure, and more AI. Our technology uses a minimal number of sensors to collect data and runs on the edge, which reduces cybersecurity risks. The AI model processes small data sets to create a clear and actionable decarbonisation roadmap. Our method avoids unnecessary sensors or servers, keeping costs and risks low while enabling clients to identify decarbonisation gaps and act quickly.
We’re also collaborating with KFUPM [King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals] to expand these AI models for upstream and downstream applications. A key focus has been on ESPs [electric submersible pumps]. This equipment often faces significant downtime due to failures, which not only disrupt operations but also increase carbon emissions. Our one-sensor technology can predict pump failures before they happen. By avoiding the need to halt production to remove pumps, we hope to achieve a 30% reduction in carbon emissions at drilling and production sites.
Our technology is also being piloted in other sectors. In desalination, we’re working with key players to address the high CO2 emissions associated with water processing. Each plant can produce up to 160 million tonnes of emissions annually. Our pilot project aims to reduce them by 20% by the end of Q1 2025.
Similarly, we’re in talks with players in the mining sector to apply our solutions in mining. The sector has its own set of challenges due to its manufacturing processes, particularly for aluminium and phosphate. We have been invited to the Future Minerals Forum to present our technology.

In what other ways are data and AI reshaping the energy industry?
AI provides some of the most cost-effective and rapid solutions for reducing energy use. Before building new facilities or transitioning existing ones to renewables, it is essential to examine energy efficiency as a first step. AI plays a valuable role in this process by identifying inefficiencies and problems that might go unnoticed by humans.
AI has the capability to learn quickly and predict potential issues, allowing companies to address them before they occur. Once inefficiencies are resolved, organisations can move on to more advanced measures, such as designing new energy models or implementing carbon capture technologies. AI has arrived at an opportune time to guide companies in creating effective decarbonisation roadmaps. It ensures that infrastructure changes are based on a clear understanding of what needs to be improved, avoiding unnecessary investments.

What elements make Digital Petroleum’s approach unique in the market?
Digital Petroleum stands out by offering a comprehensive, integrated solution rather than focusing solely on software or sensors. Ours is a complete package that addresses multiple challenges simultaneously.
First, while many companies focus only on reducing carbon footprints, we also tackle water footprints. Water conservation is critical, especially in a region such as ours that faces water stress. Processes in oil and gas, as well as mining, need to reduce their water utilisation. Our Deep Predict solution monitors both carbon and water content, helping our clients operate more sustainably.
Second, cybersecurity is at the core of our offering. Many companies hesitate to embrace digitalisation due to valid concerns about data security. At Digital Petroleum, we prioritise cybersecurity to ensure our solutions are safe and give clients full control over their systems.
Third, we offer a low-cost, low-infrastructure solution. Our systems don’t require extensive sensors, servers or computing. They are plug-and-play solutions that can be fully installed and operational within a week.
Finally, what sets us apart is our focus. We have one core mission and concentrate fully on delivering targeted, sustainable solutions. This enables us to provide a high level of expertise and commitment.

How is Digital Petroleum planning for future growth and expansion?
Digital Petroleum’s future aligns with Vision 2030, which positions oil and gas as the leading sector but identifies mining as the second most significant growth area. This emphasis on mining is driven by global decarbonisation trends. Minerals enable technologies such as electric vehicles, and mining can be at the root of global sustainability. Vision 2030 reflects this by prioritising its development, and we are keen to offer our support.
We already address sectors that tie into the petroleum cycle and desalination, which is a major energy consumer with significant opportunities for optimisation. Next year, we plan to expand into mining with solutions specifically designed for the industry. We are in formal discussions with Ma’aden and aim to launch a proof of concept in 2025.
At the moment, our operations are centred in Saudi Arabia, but our plans include expanding into Qatar, Libya and the UAE. Ultimately, our vision is to establish Saudi Arabia as a hub for AI-driven sustainable solutions, exporting technology and expertise across the region.

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