Artificial Intelligence Opportunities for Environmental Protection

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence systems utilize a variety of technologies making it possible to produce comprehensive, nonetheless easy-to-use tools, which can be used by Health, Safety and Environment professionals in oil and gas industry. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of AI opportunities for constantly evolving oil and gas business in addressing such issues as environmental protection. This paper examines a variety of AI applications aimed to provide support to HSE professionals in reviewing big batches of random data and identify important patterns for further planning; develop viable models to assist examination of various event scenarios, predict and mitigate emergencies. As with any data-driven AI tool, the type and amount of data available are perhaps the decisive factors when selecting the AI agent environment. The HSE fields with ample amounts of workable data for machine learning will be reviewed. AI systems utilize a variety of technologies making it possible to produce comprehensive, nonetheless easy-to-use tools, which can be used by HSE professionals in their daily activities. Artificial intelligence technologies today offer a pool of decision-making models for oil and gas industry. The tools developed based on the AI technologies and machine learning can help specialists working in the fields of HSE to advance their efforts in environmental protection, and contribute to mitigating climate change and weather disaster issues, biodiversity conservation, waste reduction, water security, healthy oceans, and clean air. There are over 80 areas in environmental protection initiatives where the AI and ML models are actively used. These tools prove to be more effective in executing routine tasks with higher accuracy and faster completion rates. The AI is also progressing in unsupervised decision-making, which however, raises concerns among the scientists and law-makers as algorithms using historical data may not only incorporate previous discriminations and biases, but reinforce them. Artificial intelligent systems using machine learning are constantly improving in accuracy, presenting an opportunity for constantly growing oil and gas business in improving their environmental compliance activity, and developing a well-praised image of a sustainable community partner.