Schlumberger, IBM and Red Hat are collaborating on digital transformation across the oil and gas industry. The initiative aims to provide global access to Schlumberger’s exploration and production (E&P) cloud-based environment and cognitive applications through IBM’s hybrid cloud technology. The latter is built on the Red Hat OpenShift container platform. 

Collaborative development will initially focus on two key areas: private, hybrid or multi-cloud deployment of the DELFI cognitive E&P environment employing Red Hat OpenShift to expand access for customers; and delivering a hybrid cloud implementation of the OSDU data platform, the open data platform for the industry.

Schlumberger has committed to an exclusive use of Red Hat OpenShift. Using the container platform will enable the deployment of applications in the DELFI environment across any infrastructure, from traditional data centres to multiple clouds, including private and public.

The DELFI environment incorporates data analytics and artificial intelligence, drawing upon multiple data sources, automating workflows, and facilitating collaboration for domain teams.

The organisations intend to further their collaboration with the creation of a differentiated data management and operations solution for the OSDU data platform, enabling oil and gas operators to build, deploy and transition digital solutions with hybrid-cloud data infrastructures. It is hoped that this will foster wider collaboration and greater efficiency across many professionals in the E&P value chain.

Prior to this announcement, Schlumberger, IBM and Red Hat piloted a new hybrid cloud deployment of the DELFI environment on Red Hat OpenShift, a Kubernetes platform, working with Red Hat and IBM Services.

“By expanding market access to the DELFI environment we take a major step forward on the journey to establishing the open and flexible digital environment our industry needs,” comments Olivier Le Peuch, chief executive officer, Schlumberger. “Our collaboration with IBM and Red Hat complements our established digital partnerships to produce an industry-first solution to overcome our customers’ challenges. Together, we are enabling seamless access to a hybrid cloud platform in all countries across the globe for deployment in any basin, for any operator.”

“The logic, purpose, and differentiation of all businesses can now be rendered in code, which is why digital innovation has become the most powerful way to drive transformation and hybrid cloud is the lever that unleashes it,” said Arvind Krishna, chief executive officer, IBM. “Together with Schlumberger, we are empowering a much broader group of participants to play a role in driving that transformation and helping the energy industry solve some of the world’s toughest challenges to emerge stronger.”

“The energy industry is transforming as organisations look for efficient new ways to power their operations, adopt digital technologies to create a competitive advantage, and innovate and integrate workflows to make faster and better decisions,” said Paul Cormier, president and chief executive officer, Red Hat. “A hybrid cloud foundation built on open source offers the flexibility, acceleration and innovation this digital transformation requires. Schlumberger has long been an industry leader and is bold in its vision for digital transformation in the energy industry. We look forward to working closely with Schlumberger to make the DELFI environment available everywhere with Red Hat OpenShift.”