Among them are “Geodetic support for the construction of oil and gas facilities”, “Protection against corrosion and corrosion”, “SOD control point (chamber for launching and receiving cleaning and diagnostic means)”, “Diagnosis of pipeline transportation facilities and equipment”, “Maintenance and repair of oil and gas pipelines”, “Machinery and equipment for oil and gas facilities”.
Today, all of them are already integrated into the TPU student training system under the Oil and Gas Engineering program. Each simulator contains a technological process identical to that carried out by employees at the Company’s production facilities.
What is a virtual reality simulator? This is a specially created double of production facilities and technologies, in which when working the student is offered virtual interaction with interactive objects in 3D space. These simulators ensure the performance of complex or multidisciplinary tasks using special equipment, allow measurements, assembly and disassembly of components and parts and ensure the execution of technological operations.
How virtual reality was born
Creating a stand-alone virtual module is not an easy task that requires total immersion. At the first stage, a training program script is created. Then programmers and computer graphics begin to visualize it, drawing valve assemblies, tanks, diagnostic instruments and other equipment down to the smallest detail. The duration of the second stage is about three months. During the entire process of creating training simulators, specialists from the Transneft Western Siberia company act as experts.
Innovative virtual reality educational products allow students to gain their own hands-on experience. Photo: Nikita Kudryavtsev
“When we talk about what an oil pumping station is and the student has never seen one, then the use of virtual reality complexes gives him the opportunity to gain his own practical experience, immersing himself in the reality of production,” he says. the senior professor of the University of Petroleum. and gas department of the TPU Vladimir Burkov School of Natural Resources Engineering.
Of course, both the university and the company understand that virtual reality cannot completely replace practical classes in existing facilities. But new digital capabilities help to rapidly develop the professional skills and competencies of future engineers.
They allow students to deepen their practical knowledge, calculate the consequences of incorrect decisions and practice the correct algorithms for production processes. Digital platforms are not just software that is installed on a computer, they are a different vision, an understanding of deep relationships, the life cycles of production processes.
And the use of virtual reality simulators also shows promise for upskilling existing oil transportation workers. Among the advantages of this approach are the reduction of costs of creating real training positions with new types of equipment and tools, as well as the possibility of maximizing the knowledge and skills of employees in the field of industrial safety and labor protection.
By the way, three more virtual simulators are currently being developed: “SIKN Commodity Operator”, “Design of Trunk Oil Pipeline Facilities” and “Dispatch Control of Trunk Oil Pipeline Facilities and
oil pumping stations”. In total, 15 virtual complexes will be created for different specialized disciplines.
digital pulse
TPU students are also interested in integrating digital technology into their training programs. For example, Nikita Vysotin, a fourth-year student and Transneft intern in Western Siberia, presented his own project “Using augmented reality technology when carrying out diagnostic work at Transneft facilities” at the university competition last year. He proposed minimizing operating costs. services due to the possibility of inspecting the pipeline transportation facilities remotely, without traveling to the site.
– While in the office with virtual reality glasses, an employee can see everything that happens on a real object when an employee wearing glasses with a built-in video camera moves towards it. This technology can offer a quick solution to any technical problem,” explains Nikita Vysotin.
This spring, Nikita and the co-authors of the research project Danil Vasiliev and Sergey Chasovskikh will present their development to the competent jury at the final of the International Youth Scientific and Technical Conference of Transneft PJSC in Khabarovsk.
