SLB has announced the opening of the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) Ahmadi Innovation Valley (AiV), a collaborative technology centre designed to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies across KOC's upstream operations.
The facility will serve as a hub where SLB and KOC specialists work together to develop, test and deploy AI-enabled workflows aimed at improving exploration, drilling, reservoir management and production optimisation. By combining operational expertise with advanced digital tools, the centre is intended to shorten the path from technology development to field implementation.
Beyond individual applications, the Innovation Valley demonstrates how operators are moving towards integrated digital ecosystems where multidisciplinary teams can collaborate on AI-driven solutions. Such environments enable faster evaluation of geological uncertainty, more efficient reservoir surveillance and improved decision-making across the asset lifecycle.
The launch also highlights the continuing importance of partnerships between operators and technology providers in developing practical AI applications that address real operational challenges rather than focusing solely on proof-of-concept demonstrations.
As national oil companies continue to invest in digital capabilities, initiatives such as the Ahmadi Innovation Valley illustrate how AI is becoming an increasingly important component of the modern upstream technology landscape, complementing traditional geoscience expertise with data-driven decision support.
