Aramco and Yokogawa Launch Autonomous AI Control at Major Gas Facility
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841), a global leader in process automation and industrial digital transformation, has announced a historic advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) deployment for industrial operations. In collaboration with Aramco, one of the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals companies, Yokogawa has successfully commissioned multiple autonomous control AI agents at Aramco’s Fadhili Gas Plant in Saudi Arabia. This marks one of the first large-scale deployments of fully autonomous, reinforcement learning-based AI systems for direct process control in the oil and gas sector.
The initiative represents a major step forward in the practical application of industrial AI, particularly in the energy and petrochemical industries, where safety, reliability, and efficiency are critical. The AI solution developed by Yokogawa utilizes multiple coordinated AI agents based on the Factorial Kernel Dynamic Policy Programming (FKDPP) reinforcement learning algorithm. This advanced AI system autonomously manages and optimizes complex process operations in real time, specifically targeting the acid gas removal (AGR) unit at the Fadhili Gas Plant.
A Multi-Phase Implementation for Smarter Process Control
The deployment of Yokogawa’s AI solution at Fadhili was executed in a carefully structured, multi-phase approach. Initially, the company introduced the AI to optimize select subsections of the gas treatment process. Through iterative training, testing, and validation, the system progressively took over more complex operations until it reached full autonomous control of the core process within the AGR unit.
To guarantee safety and reliability—a cornerstone of Aramco’s operational philosophy—Yokogawa first developed a highly accurate digital simulation of the AGR process. This simulated environment enabled the AI agents to undergo extensive training, refining their ability to make safe and efficient control decisions before ever being deployed in the live facility. The AI was then integrated into Yokogawa’s CENTUM VP integrated production control system, a globally trusted industrial automation platform that provides robust safety and operational oversight.
This integration ensured that while the AI operated autonomously, it still functioned within the established safety parameters and operational safeguards of Aramco’s production infrastructure. The dual-layer control structure—combining AI-driven optimization with human-supervised safety systems—ensured both innovation and stability throughout the process.
Tangible Operational Gains
Although the system is still undergoing detailed evaluation, early results from the Fadhili Gas Plant are highly encouraging. Since the AI-driven controls were brought online, the facility has recorded a 10% to 15% reduction in amine and steam consumption, a 5% decrease in power usage, and a notable improvement in overall process stability. These enhancements have also led to a significant reduction in manual interventions by operators, even under varying environmental and operational conditions.
These efficiency gains translate into lower operational costs, reduced emissions, and more consistent output quality—key goals for both Aramco and Yokogawa as they pursue digital transformation and sustainability initiatives across their operations.
Driving Digital Transformation in Energy
For Aramco, this collaboration underscores its broader strategy to unlock new value from data and digital technologies. Khalid Y. Al Qahtani, Senior Vice President of Aramco Engineering Services, highlighted the strategic importance of the project:
“Aramco has embarked on an ambitious plan to unlock value by deploying a wide range of industrial AI applications across our operations. The collaboration with Yokogawa is one of many initiatives that focus on improving efficiency, enhancing sustainability, and generating more value for our shareholders. It reflects how the company is harnessing advanced technology, including AI, to elevate its performance and reinforce its position as a technology leader in the energy sector. We look forward to building on this important milestone as we explore further adoption of cutting-edge solutions that will contribute to a new era of industrial innovation.”
The successful implementation at Fadhili demonstrates how industrial AI can help optimize processes that traditionally depend heavily on human oversight. By continuously learning from process data, the AI system can make micro-adjustments in real time, improving control precision and reducing waste. This type of technology integration plays a vital role in Aramco’s long-term decarbonization and digital transformation efforts, supporting its goals to achieve higher energy efficiency and operational excellence.
Yokogawa’s Vision: From Automation to Autonomy
For Yokogawa, the achievement at Fadhili Gas Plant represents the realization of its strategic vision known as IA2IA — Industrial Automation to Industrial Autonomy. This concept envisions a gradual transition from conventional automation systems to autonomous, self-optimizing operations that can make data-driven decisions with minimal human intervention.
Kunimasa Shigeno, Director, President & CEO of Yokogawa Electric, emphasized the significance of this accomplishment:
“We are honored that Yokogawa was entrusted by Aramco to implement such groundbreaking technology in one of its major facilities. We are very pleased that the results have already exceeded expectations. Yokogawa is advocating the transition from industrial automation to industrial autonomy (IA2IA), and this deployment proves that we are ready to lead the way towards safe and secure autonomous operations for plants in the energy sector.”
The AI deployment at Fadhili not only validates Yokogawa’s leadership in intelligent control systems but also highlights the company’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and innovation. By applying reinforcement learning methods such as FKDPP, Yokogawa enables industrial plants to operate more efficiently under variable conditions, ultimately improving profitability while reducing environmental impact.
Pioneering the Future of Autonomous Energy Operations
The successful commissioning of multiple AI control agents in a complex facility like the Fadhili Gas Plant represents a major leap forward for the global energy industry. It illustrates how artificial intelligence can directly and safely control mission-critical processes in real industrial environments—something long viewed as a challenge due to safety, reliability, and data limitations.
Yokogawa’s FKDPP-based control solution offers a glimpse into the future of smart energy infrastructure, where digital systems not only assist operators but also independently manage key processes to optimize performance and sustainability. This approach could eventually extend beyond gas processing to refineries, petrochemical plants, and renewable energy systems.
As the energy sector continues to evolve toward cleaner, more efficient, and more intelligent operations, collaborations like that between Aramco and Yokogawa are setting new global benchmarks. Their achievement at Fadhili demonstrates that the era of autonomous industrial AI is no longer a distant concept—it is here today, driving measurable results and redefining what’s possible in large-scale energy production.
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