Ali Ghafarinajad, at the second national conference on data governance and artificial intelligence held at the University of Tehran, emphasized the necessity of utilizing data-driven capacities to enhance productivity and create economic value in Iran's oil refining and distribution industry. He stated: "Various aspects of daily life, from personal and road transportation to energy supply and electricity generation, depend on petroleum products, which highlights the strategic importance of the refining and distribution industry."
Changing Approach in Asset Management of the Industry
Ghafarinajad pointed out the need for a change in the approach to asset management in this industry, stating: "The refining and distribution industry has primarily been reliant on physical assets in the past, but data, as valuable non-physical assets, have significant potential for optimizing management and creating economic value." For this purpose, targeting in the field of information technology to convert data into knowledge and using artificial intelligence for implementing digital transformation projects is on the agenda.
Establishing Connection Between Operational Technology and Information Technology
The IT and Communications Manager of the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company discussed one of the company's important projects, stating: "Establishing a secure connection between Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) has been prioritized. Following recent incidents involving smart fuel systems, restrictions were placed on the communication between these two areas, but operational data has significant value creation potential."
Ghafarinajad announced collaboration with the country's Passive Defense Organization to design the necessary architecture for establishing this connection and added: "This architecture has been implemented in 7 out of the 10 targeted refineries, and real-time data transfer is being conducted in these refineries." He further referred to similar actions in the dispatching sector, stating: "Transferring information on tank levels and loading arms is among the actions taken in this sector. Additionally, the connection of the SCADA system to the company's data infrastructure is in the final stages."
Emphasizing the value of operational information, Ghafarinajad said: "Data such as equipment temperature, product flow rates in pipelines, and information related to the performance of fuel stations create significant capacities for analyzing operational status and improving the management of the refining and distribution chain."
Real-Time Monitoring of the Refining and Distribution Chain
Ghafarinajad considered the next step after developing data communications to be the implementation of a real-time monitoring project for the refining and distribution chain, adding: "This chain includes 37 regions of the National Distribution Company, fuel stations, over 15,000 kilometers of pipeline, and export terminals in various parts of the country." The aim of this project is to transfer real-time information to the monitoring and data analysis center for integrated oversight and identifying issues such as leaks and smuggling of petroleum products.
In conclusion, he highlighted the project's capacities for utilizing artificial intelligence and new data analysis tools, emphasizing: "Aggregating and analyzing chain information can provide extensive opportunities for identifying anomalies and optimizing operations."
Read more: Development of monitoring technologies for underground batteries by Ultralife · Mentor AI from Mintra introduced as a finalist for the Crew Connect Innovation and Technology Awards
