BRU21 Conference
BRU21 Conference 2025
The offshore energy industry is undergoing rapid transformation. It requires sustainable solutions not only from an environmental perspective but also in terms of technology, economics, and competence.
These challenges require a holistic approach that integrates multidisciplinary research, innovation, and competence development—an approach embraced by the NTNU BRU21 program. Digitalization and automation, including AI, combined with offshore energy expertise, play a central role in addressing these challenges.
These topics will be covered at the 4th BRU21 Conference - a platform for academic and industry experts to share their latest achievements and discuss future research challenges.
Conference scope
Conference venue: Trondheim, Scandic Nidelven Hotel (day 1) and NTNU Gløshaugen campus (day 2).
Date: May 26-27, 2025
DAY 1 May 26: Scandic Nidelven Hotel
09:00 – 10:00 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION & COFFEE
10:00 – 11:30 CONFERENCE OPENING AND STRATEGIC KEYNOTES
► 10:00 – 10:10 Conference Opening
► 10:10 – 10:40 Keynote speaker (to be announced)
► 10:40 – 11:10 Arne Jacobsen, Assistant Director Offshore Development and Technology, Norwegian Offshore Directorate
► 11:10 – 11:30 BRU21 Program Overview, Alexey Pavlov, BRU21 Program Manager, NTNU
11:30 – 12:30 LUNCH
12:30 – 14:00 PARALLEL SESSIONS:
Chair: Behzad Elahifar, Associate Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Eric Cayeux, Chief Researcher, NORCE
12:30 – 12:50 Model for Casing Failure Prognosis and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) Prediction
► David Semwogerere, PhD Candidate, NTNU
12:50 – 13:10 Digital Twins for Real-Time Drilling Data Analytics
► Behzad Elahifar and Sigve Hovda, Professors, NTNU
13:10 – 13:30 Interoperability Between Drilling Systems at the Rig Site to Improve the Drilling Process (DWIS)
► Eric Cayeux, Chief Researcher, NORCE
13:30 – 13:50 “One Day I Woke Up, and the Driller’s Control Cabin Was Full of Screens”
► Svein Harald Gabrielsen, Advisor Digital Solutions DW, Equinor
13:50 – 14:00 Presentation of Electronic Posters & Exhibition Stands
Chair: Lars Imsland, Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Olav Slupphaug, Head of Efficiency Services, ABB
12:30 – 12:50 Automated Optimization of Uncertain Industrial Processes through Perturb and Observe
► Leontine Aarnoudse, PostDoc, NTNU
12:50 – 13:10 Control Architectures Using Simple Tools for Coordinated Decision-Making
► Dinesh Krishnamoorthy, Associate Professor, NTNU
13:10 – 13:30 An Open-Source Library for Automatically Analyzing Dynamic Systems
► Steinar Elgsæter, Task Lead/Tech Lead, Advanced Analytics, Equinor
13:30 – 13:50 The Process Control Discipline - Real-Life Examples and Tools
► Olav Slupphaug, Head of Efficiency Services, and Andreas Berg, Principal Designer, ABB
13:50 – 14:00 Presentation of Electronic Posters & Exhibition Stands
14:00 – 15:00 ELECTRONIC POSTER/EXHIBITION AND NETWORKING SESSION
Petronas Innovation Portfolio
Dr Mahpuzah Abai, CEO, Petronas Technology Ventures
ProDecs – Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Semyon Fedorov and Verena Hagspiel-Janssen, ProDecs/NTNU
ComputerWell – High-Performance Digital Twin for Real-Time Analysis of the Drilling Process
Sigve Hovda, ComputerWell/NTNU
DigiWellData – Real-Time Drilling Data Dnalytics for Wired Pipe Drilling Data
Behzad Elahifar, DigiWellData/NTNU
DrillFeel – Increasing Driller’s Situational Awareness through Haptic Feedback
Stefan James Fidje and Alexey Pavlov, NTNU
Fuel Consumption Optimization for an Offshore Power Plant Using Markov Decision Process
Mario Marcondes Machado, Petrobras
Feedback Optimization and Learning for Gas Lift Allocation
Tore Gude, NTNU
Research Project Application: Sustainable Energy and Production Optimization in the Petroleum Industry
Roshan Sharma and Håkon W. Viumdal, University of South-Eastern Norway
Optimizing Well Placement Design for CO₂ Storage and EOR Using Machine Learning-Based Surrogate Models
Jinjie Mao, NTNU
Model-Based Derivative-Free Optimization Methods in Complex Systems with Uncertainty
Muhammad Iffan Hannanu, NTNU
Controlling Flow Systems with Physics-Informed Neural Networks
Luis Kin Miyatake, Petrobras/UFSC/NTNU
From Data to Decision: Wearable Sensors Transforming Workplace Health
Roya Doshmanziari, NTNU
15:00-16:30 PARALLEL SESSIONS
Chair: Verena Hagspiel-Janssen, Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Arne Jacobsen, Assistant Director Offshore Development & Technology, Norwegian Offshore Directorate
15:00 – 15:20 Optimal Project Portfolio Selection
► Verena Hagspiel-Janssen, Professor, NTNU
15:20 – 15:40 Data-Driven Decision Making in Multi-Asset Field Optimization
► Dinesh Krishnamoorthy, Associate professor, NTNU
15:40 – 16:00 ManyWells: an Open-Source Project for Simulating Multiphase Flow in Thousands of Wells
► Henrik Andersson, Professor, NTNU/Solution Seeker
16:00 – 16:20 Presentation to be announced
16:20-16:30 Discussion
Chair: Eric Monteiro, Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Marta Græter, Data manager, Norwegian Offshore Directorate
15:00 – 15:20 The OSDU® Data Platform in the Age of Data Sharing – Why Standardization is Needed
► Einar Landre, Lead Digital Architect, Equinor
15:20 – 15:40 Diskos Project Management
► Marta Græter and Guttorm Vigeland, Data Managers DISKOS, Norwegian Offshore Directorate
15:40 – 16:00 SLB Exploration and Production Workflow Integration with OSDU Data Platform Learning & Possible Way(s) Forward
► Kjetil Vatland Johansen, Software Program Manager, SLB
16:00 – 16:20 Empowering Drilling & Well in Equinor with the OSDU Data Platform
► Marius Skadberg, Architect, Subhashree Bal, Lead Architect, Equinor
16:20-16:30 Discussion
16:30 – 16:40 CONCLUSION OF DAY 1
18:30 – 21:00 DINNER AT SCANDIC NIDELVEN HOTEL
DAY 2 May 27: NTNU Gløshaugen, Gamle Elektro
08:30 – 09:00 COFFEE & NETWORKING
09:00 – 09:15 WELCOME FROM NTNU MANAGEMENT
09:15 – 10:15 KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS
► 09:15 – 09:45 Peter Eilsø Nielsen, Leader of the OSDU Program, Equinor
► 09:45 – 10:15 Patricia Jaspers, Managing Director, Eindhoven AI Systems Institute, The Netherlands
10:15 – 10:30 COFFEE BREAK
10:30-12:00 TECHNICAL SESSIONS
Chair: Lars Imsland, Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Kjetil Westeng, Lead Petrophysicist, AkerBP
10:30 – 10:50 Auto-adaptive Machine Learning for Well Placement Optimization
► Kheireddine Redouane, PostDoc, NTNU
10:50 – 11:10 Automated Depth Alignment of Well Logs Using Siamese Neural Networks
► Sushil Acharya, PhD Candidate, NTNU
11:10 – 11:30 Bio-Based Fluid-Friction Modifier for Well Intervention Applications
► Fadhli Wong, Head of Fluid Technology Solutions, PRSB Petronas
11:30 – 11:50 Exposing the Hidden Earth: Data Science-Driven Subsurface Intelligence
► Kjetil Westeng, Lead Petrophysicist, AkerBP
11:50-12:00 Discussion
Chair: Eric Monteiro, Professor, NTNU
Co-chair: Jasmine Lilleby, Senior Risk Professional, AkerBP
10:30 – 10:50 Digital Hype in the Oil and Gas Industry: A Double-Edged Sword for Effective Knowledge Collaboration
► Nataliia Korotkova, Researcher, NTNU
10:50 – 11:10 Humans and AI. Achieving the Mythical Human Oversight
► Jasmine Lilleby, Senior Risk Professional, AkerBP
11:10 – 11:30 From Data to Decision: Wearable Sensors Transforming Workplace Health
► Åsmund Andersen, Digitalization Expert and Claudio Paliotta, Digital Transformation Specialist, Aker Solutions
11:30 – 11:50 Testing and Monitoring Well Barrier Equipment: Substituting Human Interpretation with High-Efficiency Digital Solutions
► Bogdan Cristian Nitoiu, Manager DW Data Analytics, Equinor
11:50-12:00 Discussion
12:00-12:40 PANEL DISCUSSION 1
Participants:
► Geir Egil Dahle Øien, Prorector Education, NTNU
► Gunleiv Skofteland, Chief Researcher, Equinor
► Cathrine Eliassen, Head of Reservoir Management & Subsurface Operations, Harbour Energy
► Målfrid Rønnevik, Manager Expertise Development, Offshore Norge
Moderator: Egil Tjåland, Leader of TEKNA’s Expert Committee and Associate Professor at NTNU
12:40 – 14:00 LUNCH - Kjelhuset NTNU
14:00-14:50 PANEL DISCUSSION 2
Participants:
► Jon Atle Gulla, Director, Norwegian AI Research Center, NTNU
► Patricia Jaspers, Managing Director, Eindhoven AI Systems Institute, The Netherlands
► Kjetil Westeng, Lead Petrophysicist, AkerBP
Moderator: Chiara Caccamo, Research Manager, Sintef Energy
14:50-15:00 CONCLUDING REMARKS AND CLOSING OF THE CONFERENCE
15:00 END OF THE BRU21 CONFERENCE
Previous Conrefences
BRU21 Conference 2024
BRU21 Conference 2023
BRU21 Conference 2022
Anders Opedal: "I was impressed by the BRU21 program!"
Knut Sandvik on Aker BP cooperation with BRU21
