Digital transformation in offshore operations doesn’t begin with most advanced complex solutions —it starts with solving the everyday data access issues engineers face. Aize’s digital twin is doing just that for FPSO operators.
Why Data Alone isn't the Answer
The oil and gas industry has never had a shortage of data. But for the technicians, planners, and engineers responsible for operating critical infrastructure like FPSOs, having data isn’t the same as having access. It’s a daily reality: valuable time is lost not due to poor tools, but due to fragmented ones. When “digitalisation” became the buzzword across the sector, early efforts leaned heavily into the potential of advanced data science and custom-built solutions for niche problems. But while those brought flashes of value, they too often missed the mark because they skipped over the most foundational need of all—finding information when you need it. As an engineer in the industry in the 2010s I felt this pain – a frustration that despite these “digitalisation” efforts, it was still really difficult to get the data I needed to do my job.
Fast forward a decade and for too many this is still the case. Our studies at Aize suggest that the average oil and gas engineer spends upwards of 90 minutes per day searching across various systems for the data they need to simply begin their task. That’s before any decisions are made or any value is delivered. On offshore assets like FPSOs—where bed space is limited, personnel are costly, and the stakes are high—this inefficiency compounds into significant operational drag.
The core issue isn’t a lack of innovation; it’s a lack of integration. Engineers and technicians simply do not have an easy, unified way to access the information they need across maintenance systems, P&IDs, document databases, safety systems, and equipment registers. Solving this doesn’t require a moonshot. It requires a solution built around the way real users think and work. And that’s where Aize enters the picture.
The Case for Contextual Digital Twins
At Aize, we believe the future of oil and gas operations doesn’t start with the most complex solutions —it starts with context. Our approach focuses on giving engineers and planners an intuitive, unified view of the asset they are responsible for managing. This is delivered through a contextual digital twin: a dynamic digital representation of the FPSO that integrates 3D spatial models, engineering data, tag registers, P&IDs, and document repositories.
This isn’t just a “3D viewer” or a fancy interface. It’s a working environment that mirrors how engineering teams think. It allows users to move fluidly from a physical location on the FPSO to the underlying data, or from a tag to associated work orders, documents, and condition reports. It allows remote teams to collaborate as if they were on board. It builds operational confidence, unlocks efficiency, and reduces risk—without asking the workforce to change how they think or retrain how they work.
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Saving Time, Every Day
One of the most immediate and measurable impacts of the contextual twin is time saved. Instead of navigating complex document management systems or sending messages offshore to confirm equipment details, users can go straight to what they need.
An engineer needing the specification of a pump, for instance, can search by tag, pull up the associated documentation, view the component in 3D, and confirm its spatial location—all in a matter of seconds. With Aize, the time required to locate critical equipment has been shown to drop by 50%, saving thousands of engineering hours per year for large operators.
This is not just about convenience. In offshore operations, time saved equals downtime avoided, better planning accuracy, and safer execution. Small changes in efficiency at the individual level quickly scale into operational gains at the asset level.
Start Now, Scale Fast
For many FPSO owners and operators, the biggest question isn’t whether to digitalise—it’s how to get started. The pressure to leap straight into advanced analytics and machine learning can be paralysing. But as Aize’s experience shows, there’s enormous untapped value in simply getting the basics right.
A digital twin helps your teams work smarter, plan faster, and reduce risk. It transforms data from a burden into a resource. And it does so in a way that fits into the way engineers, planners, and technicians already think.
Your data is your competitive advantage. Make it accessible. Put it in the right context. And start now.
Want to see what else Aize can do?
Learn more on our Aize for FPSO Page
