AI Applications in Oil and Gas at CERAWeek 2026

SLB (Schlumberger) AI Strategy

AI described as a “once-in-a-generation” transformation for the energy sector that enhances (not replaces) human expertise by improving decision-making, automating workflows, and increasing operational speed.

Source: SLB at CERAWeek 2026

Delfi platform is used by 85 of the top 100 global oil producers; leverages AI to reduce drilling costs and improve reservoir recovery rates.

Source: SLB

In early 2026, SLB announced a breakthrough in “Autonomous Directional Drilling,” which uses AI to adjust drilling paths in real-time without human intervention, reducing drilling time by up to 30%.

Source: SLB

Industry shifting from experimenting with AI to scaling it for real business impact (productivity, cost, performance).

Source: SLB

BP AI Applications

BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before issues occur, allowing the company to drill more wells each year and have better capital allocation.

Source: World Oil

BP executives at CERAWeek noted AI allows them to “drill more wells per year and have better capital allocation.”

Source: Domestic Operating

Chevron AI Strategy

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth emphasized that competition between the US and China for AI leadership is increasing energy demand.

Source: Hexagroup

Chevron uses AI-powered drones to fly over its shale oil and gas operations to monitor and detect potential problems such as emissions leaks.

Source: Klover.ai

Chevron adopts a pragmatic, value-driven approach with focus on digital twins.

Source: Hexagroup

Exploration Revival

AI is increasingly embedded in decision-making processes, improving data interpretation and reducing uncertainty in exploration outcomes.

New geological modeling tools and supercomputing capabilities enable companies to analyze more complex subsurface environments.

Early-stage production data can further refine reservoir understanding through AI.

Source: Oil & Gas Journal

Digital Twins in Oil and Gas

CERAWeek featured a session titled “From data to decisions: scaling digital twin for safer, more reliable energy operations.”

Session explored how agentic AI, copilots, and natural language interfaces are transforming decision-making in industrial environments.

The digital twin is highlighted as a foundational element, with emerging regulatory frameworks in Europe beginning to mandate structured data sharing.

Source: Kongsberg Digital
Source: CERAWeek AI and Digital Theme

SLB (Schlumberger) AI Strategy

AI described as a “once-in-a-generation” transformation for the energy sector that enhances (not replaces) human expertise by improving decision-making, automating workflows, and increasing operational speed.
- Source: SLB at CERAWeek 2026
Delfi platform is used by 85 of the top 100 global oil producers; leverages AI to reduce drilling costs and improve reservoir recovery rates.
- Source: SLB
In early 2026, SLB announced a breakthrough in “Autonomous Directional Drilling,” which uses AI to adjust drilling paths in real-time without human intervention, reducing drilling time by up to 30%.
- Source: SLB
Industry shifting from experimenting with AI to scaling it for real business impact (productivity, cost, performance).
- Source: SLB

BP AI Applications

BP uses AI to predict problems and steer drill bits before issues occur, allowing the company to drill more wells each year and have better capital allocation.
- Source: World Oil
BP executives at CERAWeek noted AI allows them to “drill more wells per year and have better capital allocation.”
- Source: Domestic Operating

Shell AI Results

Shell has achieved 20% fewer unscheduled downtimes and 15% lower maintenance costs through AI implementation.
- Source: Domestic Operating
Shell pursues a broad, partner-centric “AI-first” vision.
- Source: Hexagroup

Chevron AI Strategy

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth emphasized that competition between the US and China for AI leadership is increasing energy demand.
- Source: Hexagroup
Chevron uses AI-powered drones to fly over its shale oil and gas operations to monitor and detect potential problems such as emissions leaks.
- Source: Klover.ai
Chevron adopts a pragmatic, value-driven approach with focus on digital twins.
- Source: Hexagroup

ExxonMobil AI Strategy

ExxonMobil’s strategy focused on developing proprietary, computationally intensive AI for its core upstream business.
Characterized by massive investment in foundational data infrastructure and high-performance computing models.
- Source: Klover.ai

Exploration Revival

AI is increasingly embedded in decision-making processes, improving data interpretation and reducing uncertainty in exploration outcomes.
New geological modeling tools and supercomputing capabilities enable companies to analyze more complex subsurface environments.
Early-stage production data can further refine reservoir understanding through AI.
- Source: Oil & Gas Journal

Digital Twins in Oil and Gas

CERAWeek featured a session titled “From data to decisions: scaling digital twin for safer, more reliable energy operations.”
Session explored how agentic AI, copilots, and natural language interfaces are transforming decision-making in industrial environments.
The digital twin is highlighted as a foundational element, with emerging regulatory frameworks in Europe beginning to mandate structured data sharing.
- Source: Kongsberg Digital
- Source: CERAWeek AI and Digital Theme

Broader Industry Context

AI is improving operational safety across upstream activities.
- Source: CCarbon
The oil and gas AI market, currently valued at $5.31 billion, is expected to reach $15.01 billion by 2029.
- Source: Domestic Operating

Kongsberg Digital at CERAWeek

Kongsberg Digital presented at CERAWeek 2026 with a focus on scaling digital twins for safer, more reliable energy operations.
- Source: Kongsberg Digital