How VR is revolutionising site turnarounds

A site turnaround is a planned shutdown of operations at a facility, like a refinery, processing plant, or mine site, to carry out essential maintenance, inspections, and upgrades. These shutdowns are important for ensuring the facility operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with regulations. 

During a turnaround, teams inspect and repair equipment, replace worn-out components, clean machinery, and address any issues that could impact performance or safety. Since operations are completely halted, these turnarounds are meticulously planned to minimise downtime and control costs. 

They often involve coordinating multiple teams, contractors, and suppliers within a strict timeline. While expensive and time-consuming, turnarounds are essential for avoiding unplanned outages and maintaining long-term productivity.

In industries like conventional energy and mining, it can be difficult to fully grasp the complexities of depth and lighting in a space without physically being there. VR changes this by creating accessible 3D environments that allow stakeholders to experience and evaluate these aspects firsthand. This improves decision-making when planning or assessing the feasibility of a project. 

Experiencing a project in VR gives stakeholders a clearer understanding of its potential strengths and weaknesses. Whether it's assessing the layout of an oil rig, a mining operation, or equipment placement in a refinery, VR helps identify potential issues early on, enabling adjustments before actual construction begins. This proactive approach can save time and reduce expensive delays.

Automated modelling and analysis technologies in VR are transforming how companies in the oil, gas and mining sectors assess equipment and operations. For instance, advanced scientific image analysis can be used to visualise processes such as lubricant deposits on pistons. By offering 3D visualisations of this data, companies can make more informed decisions, optimise performance and reduce wear on machinery.

Training in industries like conventional energy and mining often involves complex, high-risk operations. VR offers a safe and effective way to train employees for potentially dangerous situations without putting them in harm's way:

• Safety training: VR simulations help workers prepare for emergency scenarios, such as oil rig fires, gas leaks, or mining accidents. These lifelike experiences build confidence and improve safety preparedness.
• Equipment familiarisation: VR allows workers to virtually interact with complex machinery, such as drilling rigs or mining equipment. This hands-on experience is safer, more convenient, and reduces the need for physical downtime.
• Emergency response drills: VR provides realistic environments for practicing emergency response procedures, including evacuation drills or first aid scenarios. These virtual exercises are more accessible and efficient than traditional training methods.

• Headsets: The core of any VR system, headsets fully immerse users with enclosed screens and adjustable straps for balance.
• Lenses and screens: These create the 3D effect, offering lifelike virtual experiences.
• Latency and frame rate: To maintain immersion, low latency and high frame rates (60fps or more) are needed for smooth, realistic visuals.
• 3D spatial audio: Realistic audio adds to the immersion by mimicking how sound behaves in the real world.
• Tracking: VR systems track user movements with depth-sensing cameras and sensors.
• Motion controllers: They allow users to interact with the virtual environment, giving them a sense of presence and control.

Augmented reality (AR) is making its way into the oil, gas and mining industries, making fieldwork more efficient. For starters, it helps with remote assistance, allowing experts to guide workers in real time. They can share instructions, documents, and even draw on the screen to solve problems quickly. 

AR also boosts operational efficiency by overlaying real-time data, like maintenance info and equipment status, directly onto a worker’s view. This makes tasks like maintenance, repairs, and troubleshooting smoother and cuts down on downtime. 

Plus, it’s a great training tool, helping technicians with complex procedures and offering extra visual details to make sure everything’s done accurately and safely.

Another use case for VR should be mentioned: virtual onboarding. Virtual onboarding is an efficient way to integrate new employees into the workforce. Through video calls, webinars, and online courses, workers can quickly familiarise themselves with company policies, safety protocols, and job-specific training, all from a remote location. This is particularly useful in large-scale operations where staff are spread across multiple locations.