Research and innovation in robotics in the offshore oil and gas industry operations and technologies sector has stagnated in the last quarter. The most recent figures show that the number of robotics-related patent applications in the industry stood at 24 in the three months ending February – the same number as in the same period in 2021.
Figures for patent grants related to robotics followed a similar pattern to filings – stagnating at seven for the three months ending February 2021 to the same period in 2022.
The figures are compiled by GlobalData, which tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Using textual analysis, as well as official patent classifications, these patents are grouped into key thematic areas, and linked to key companies across various industries.
Robotics is one of the key areas tracked by GlobalData. It has been identified as being a key disruptive force facing companies in the coming years, and is one of the areas that companies investing resources in now are expected to reap rewards from. The figures also provide an insight into the largest innovators in the sector.
3M was the top robotics innovator in the offshore oil and gas industry operations and technologies sector in the latest quarter. The company, which has its headquarters in the US, filed seven robotics related patents in the three months ending February. That was up from zero over the same period in 2021.
It was followed by the US-based Halliburton with five robotics patent applications, Japan-based ENEOS (2 applications), and Saudi Arabia-based Saudi Arabian Oil Co (2 applications).
