Abyss: Transforming the Oil and Gas industry

Image 14-4-2023 at 3.45 pm.jpeg

One of the critical challenges in the oil and gas industry is the enormous amount of data generated from the thousands of unique instances of corrosion that occur on these platforms. Traditional maintenance schedules process this data area by area on a three to five-year scale, resulting in a cumbersome and inefficient process. Abyss, a proud Stone & Chalk’s Scaleup Hub community member, is disrupting traditional maintenance approaches using data analytics.

Abyss then uses a digital solution that prioritises the maintenance needs of an entire platform, providing a consolidated report that directs attention to the highest-risk issues. This approach allows operators to target critical areas and reduce risks while optimising maintenance efforts.

"The contextualisation that we're able to bring adds all the value," explains Adam Pond, Head of Engineering. "Knowing the context of the corrosion, such as its location on a critical gas line versus a freshwater pipe, makes all the difference in risk reduction." 

With Abyss's digital solution, operators now have a three-dimensional digital model of their assets that they can navigate through, similar to Google Street View. This contextualised view enables operators to identify and address critical issues that have gone unnoticed for years, minimising the risk of catastrophic failures.

The choice of the Stone & Chalk Scaleup Hub as a base for Abyss's operations has proven to be strategic. "When our HR guy suggested the co-working space at Stone & Chalk, it seemed like a fallback plan at first," recalls Adam Pond. "But then we realised it's perfect for what we need." 

Stone & Chalk's flexible and collaborative community that brings together like-minded scaling technology businesses has allowed Abyss to accommodate its growing team and unique requirements, such as face-to-face planning sessions with team members worldwide.

Abyss's innovative approach to maintenance goes beyond the oil and gas industry. The company has also partnered with Scottish Water to transform the inspection process of aqueducts. Previously, manual inspections required shutting off the water supply and sending personnel to inspect the aqueducts. Abyss has introduced an autonomous robot that digitally checks the entire system and provides a comprehensive model for easy repairs.

With the Stone & Chalk Scaleup Hub as its launchpad, Abyss has been able to scale its business and redefine maintenance practices in the oil and gas industry. Their digital solutions have brought unprecedented efficiency, accuracy, and risk reduction to the maintenance processes, enabling operators to extend the lifespan of assets and optimise operations. As the world transitions to a more sustainable future, Abyss is at the forefront of leveraging technology to impact the oil and gas industry and beyond positively.