In Oil & Gas Upstream Drilling Well Production Industry what are the disruptive startup technologies introduced to market in 2023 and 2024

The oil and gas upstream drilling and production industry has seen significant technological disruptions introduced by startups in 2023 and 2024. These innovations focus on enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, improving safety, and aligning with sustainability goals. Below are key disruptive technologies:

AI and Automation

1. AI-Driven Drilling Optimization: Norwegian startup Exebenus uses machine learning to analyze real-time drilling data, optimizing the rate of penetration (ROP) and predicting potential stuck-pipe incidents. This reduces non-productive time and enhances safety.

2. Autonomous Directional Drilling: Platforms leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies have enabled autonomous drilling operations, improving precision and reducing human intervention in hazardous environments.

3. RoboWell: SLB's cloud-based AI solution autonomously operates oil wells, continuously monitoring and adjusting operations to maximize production while minimizing emissions.
   

Sensors and Monitoring

1. H2S Management Sensors: SulfiLogger provides sensors for continuous hydrogen sulfide measurement in natural gas streams, optimizing desulfurization processes and reducing pipeline corrosion.

2. Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS): Terra Sound's SafeGuard system uses fiber optic cables to detect acoustic vibrations along pipelines, enabling early detection of leaks or unauthorized activities.
   

Satellite Analytics

1. Fracking Intelligence: SynMax's Hyperion platform utilizes satellite data for near real-time monitoring of frac crews and short-term production forecasting.
   

Advanced Robotics

1. Magnetic Crawler Robots: Octobotics develops robots equipped with modular tools for surface preparation, defect measurement, and augmented reality-based remote inspections of oil infrastructure.

Reservoir Analytics

1. Advanced Flow Analytics (AFA): Predico's software platform offers modules for gas modeling, decline analysis, Monte Carlo simulations, and wellbore modeling to optimize reservoir management.
   

Sustainability-Focused Technologies

1. Flare.IQ: Baker Hughes' flare system technology improves combustion efficiency while reducing emissions at upstream facilities.

2. Zero Emission Power Station (ZEUS): This technology captures 100% of CO₂ emissions during oxyfuel combustion for storage or enhanced oil recovery.

3. Bluenzyme™️ CO₂ Capture: An enzymatic solution targeting small emitters in hard-to-abate sectors.
   

Immersive Technologies

1. AR/VR in Training and Monitoring: Augmented reality is being used for virtual training, downhole imaging, and remote monitoring to improve operational efficiency and safety.
   

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

New EOR techniques inject gases or fluids into aging wells to recover more oil without additional drilling, increasing the lifecycle of reserves.

These innovations are reshaping the upstream sector by integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI, robotics, satellite analytics, and sustainability-focused solutions to address industry challenges while driving operational excellence and environmental responsibility.

Disruptive Startup Technologies Introduced in 2023-2024

Startups have introduced transformative technologies that address efficiency, sustainability, and operational challenges:

1. AI-Driven Solutions:

   • Exebenus: AI-driven drilling optimization for improved penetration rates and reduced downtime.

   • SynMax: Real-time fracking intelligence using satellite data.

   • Neuro Geosteering (SLB): AI-driven geosteering technology autonomously guides drill bits through productive reservoir layers, maximizing efficiency and minimizing carbon footprints.

   • Telemetry Insight: AI-powered oilfield awareness platform for real-time data interpretation.

   • RevSolz: Machine learning-based frac software to optimize hydraulic fracturing operations.

2. IoT Innovations:

   • ATINUM: IoT-based pipeline monitoring for corrosion detection.

   • Hydrotell: Continuous reservoir monitoring with IoT sensors.

   • TWTG Industrial IoT: Wireless automation solutions for pipeline monitoring and asset management.

   • IMI IoT Sensors: Real-time ecological monitoring and emissions tracking for sustainability compliance.

   • Edge Computing Solutions: IoT-enabled edge computing for faster data processing in remote oilfields.
     

3. Robotics:

   • Octobotics Tech: Magnetic crawler robots for infrastructure inspections.

   • Pipein: Robotic predictive pipeline maintenance with autonomous probes. Smart Wearables: Helmets and vests equipped with sensors to improve safety and collect real-time operational data.

   • Autonomous Well Inspection Robots: Robots designed for hazardous well inspections, reducing human risk exposure.
     

4. Sustainability-Focused Tech:

   • 10NetZero: Gas-to-power solutions to reduce methane emissions and flaring.

   • Crbon Labs: Blockchain-enabled well shutdowns for decarbonization.

   • Gravity-Based Energy Storage (Renewell Energy): A solution that repurposes decommissioned wells for renewable energy storage.

   • Green IoT Systems: IoT applications for emissions monitoring and energy optimization, promoting eco-friendly practices.
     

5. Advanced Analytics:

   • Predico: Reservoir analytics using AI for enhanced recovery strategies.

   • Z-Terra North: Seismic data interpretation with machine learning.
     

6. Emergency Response:

   • Agile Spray Response: Modular aerial spray systems for oil spill dispersion.

   • Terra Sound DAS System: Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology for early pipeline leak detection.

   • Seismic IoT Sensors: Geophones integrated with IoT for cost-effective subsurface exploration.
     

These innovations are reshaping the upstream sector by integrating AI, IoT, robotics, and sustainability-focused technologies to address industry challenges while driving operational excellence and environmental responsibility.

20 Oil & Gas Startups to Watch in 2025

The 20 hand-picked startups highlighted in this report are chosen from all over the world and develop solutions for predictive maintenance, pipeline monitoring, maintenance robots, and storage tank monitoring, among others:

• Exebenus – AI-driven Drilling Optimization

• SulfiLogger – Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Management

• RevSolz – ML-based Frac Software

• Z-Terra North – Seismic Data Interpretation

• Telemetry Insight – Oilfield Awareness

• Terra Sound – In-ground Asset Protection

• SynMax – Fracking Intelligence

• 10NetZero – Gas to Power Solution

• Crbon Labs – Oil & Gas Decarbonization

• Red River Hub – Oil & Gas Mineral Rights Marketplace

• Renewell Energy – Gravity-based Energy Storage

• Cortex – Oil Production Forecasts

• Axon4D Technologies – Storage Tank Monitoring

• Pipein – Predictive Pipeline Maintenance

• Agile Spray Response – Oil Spill Dispersion

• ATINUM – IoT-based Pipeline Monitoring

• Octobotics Tech – Magnetic Crawler Robots

• Predico – Reservoir Analytics

• Hydrotell – Continuous Reservoir Monitoring

• MODUS Oilfield – Drilling Equipment

Exebenus provides AI-driven Drilling Optimization Solution

Norwegian startup Exebenus specializes in AI-driven solutions that focus on enhancing drilling operations. Its machine-learning agents analyze real-time drilling data to optimize the rate of penetration (ROP) and predict potential stuck-pipe incidents. This enables drilling teams to adjust parameters promptly and reduce non-productive time. Additionally, Exebenus offers digital operating procedures that standardize best practices and incorporate active risk management. Through these technologies, the company enhances safety and efficiency in drilling operations and delivers tangible value in the field.

SulfiLogger streamlines Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Management

Danish startup SulfiLogger provides H2S sensors for continuous hydrogen sulfide measurement. Its H2S sensor offers cost-optimized desulfurization and improved corrosion control by measuring hydrogen sulfide in natural gas streams. The sensors provide a dynamic overview of H2S levels and enable precise control of scrubbing chemicals like triazines. They measure hydrogen sulfide post the first-stage oil and gas separator or around desulfurization processes.

The sensor eliminates the need for manual H2S tube sampling and ensures long-term monitoring directly in the process stream. It accurately measures gas, multiphase, injection water, and produced water. This precise mapping of H2S levels leads to less pipeline corrosion. The H2S sensors require no preconditioning or system modifications. Moreover, they can be used in hazardous locations like Zone 0 (ATEX) and Class 1 Div 1.

RevSolz builds an ML-based Frac Software

Canadian startup RevSolz makes a machine learning-driven frac software, Fracsol. It analyzes well data, identifies optimal completion parameters, and provides real-time recommendations for stimulation and well interference. The Fracsol OWM (Offset Well Monitoring) integrates various sensor systems for efficient operational surveillance using high-resolution data. This platform includes customizable alarms and interactive dashboards for real-time and historical data analysis.

Fracsol TWM (Treatment Well Monitoring) monitors treatment and offset wells in real time to maximize stimulation while avoiding interference. Finally, Fracsol FDI (Fracture Driven Interactions) enhances the understanding of stimulated rock volume (SRV) that identifies and categorizes fracture interaction events in real-time. This tool provides automated production impairment analysis and detailed insights into fracture interactions.

Z-Terra North simplifies Seismic Data Interpretation

Canadian startup Z-Terra North offers advanced seismic solutions. The company’s proprietary SPRINT 6D Interpolation enhances imaging over the earth’s surface, overcoming limitations of 3D seismic acquisition. This method includes 6D angular weighted MWNI that offers de-aliasing capabilities and AVO friendliness. Thus, improving over conventional 5D MWNI methods.

Z-Terra North’s Diffraction Imaging uses its proprietary Z-XPRO software to preserve the diffracted wave field. This imaging technique, applicable in both time and depth domains, aids in visualizing subsurface structures like fractures and faults. Its Structural solutions provide imaging for complex ray paths that integrate near-surface tomography and advanced anisotropic imaging. Depth Processing involves anisotropic depth imaging, using accurate velocity modeling for imaging complex geological structures.

Telemetry Insight facilitates Oilfield Awareness

USA-based startup Telemetry Insight makes Wellwatcher, an IoT device that enhances pumpjack production through AI-powered analytics. It simplifies oilfield operations by providing immediate notifications of pump outages and performance issues. Wellwatcher detects the pump’s position throughout each run cycle, utilizing this data for production analysis.

The device computes production information and stroke behavior, sending results to a secure cloud infrastructure for easy access. Wellwatcher’s proprietary software algorithms analyze stroke patterns. This way, telemetry Insight reduces downtime and optimizes pumpjack performance, focusing on enhancing field personnel efficiency.

Terra Sound advances In-ground Asset Protection

USA-based startup Terra Sound enables advanced protection for in-ground oil & gas assets like pipelines against third-party intrusions and damages. Its product, SafeGuard, utilizes buried fiber optic cable as a sensor to detect acoustic vibrations signaling potential threats. This system combines distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) hardware with proprietary software, providing detailed monitoring along the asset’s length. Terra Sound thus reduces risks of unauthorized activities like digging or tampering by enabling early detection. It also swiftly identifies high-pressure leaks, allowing for prompt response.

SynMax provides Fracking Intelligence

USA-based startup SynMax enables oil & gas asset monitoring and fracking intelligence through its satellite data analytics. The company’s platform, Hyperion, offers near real-time frac crew monitoring. It utilizes proprietary satellite data to create short-term oil & gas production forecast models.

With over 200 satellites collecting daily images, Hyperion ensures comprehensive and up-to-date data coverage. These models created by SynMax predict near-term changes in oil & gas production, enhancing industry insights.

10NetZero offers a Gas to Power Solution

10NetZero is a USA-based startup that develops a gas-to-power solution to address the issue of natural gas wastage by converting it into electricity. This process not only generates economic value but also significantly reduces methane emissions. The solution offers a flexible, cost-effective approach to managing excess natural gas. It serves as a scalable, plug-and-play option for oil & gas operators to reduce emissions and align with ESG initiatives. Moreover, 10NetZero reduces the intensity of gas flaring, a common practice in the industry.

Crbon Labs promotes Oil & Gas Decarbonization

Based out of Canada, Crbon Labs is a startup that empowers oil & gas corporations to actively reduce GHG emissions. They shut down low-producing oil and gas wells, effectively bringing together various stakeholders to further sustainability. The company ensures a measurable impact by equipping each well with measurement and IoT, providing clear data on the specific impact of each well’s shutdown.

Carbon Labs enables permanent reductions, facilitating the revival of natural ecosystems such as meadows, forests, and agricultural lands by permanently shutting down these wells. Traceability is a key aspect — it utilizes blockchain for the digital recording of data, including well location, emissions details, shutdown processes, restoration efforts, and the quantification of GHG reductions.

Red River Hub develops an Oil & Gas Mineral Rights Marketplace

Red River Hub is a startup from the USA that builds a peer-to-peer online platform for buying, selling, and leasing oil & gas mineral rights. Sellers are able to list their mineral properties with documentation for sale or lease. Whereas, buyers use the platform to search listings, make offers, and complete transactions securely. Both buyers and sellers undergo a verification process, ensuring reliable and secure transactions. This way, Red River Hub increases transparency, liquidity, and efficiency in the oil & gas mineral market.

Renewell Energy offers Gravity-based Energy Storage

US-based startup Renewell Energy repurposes existing oil wells and converts them into renewable energy storage systems. The startup retrofits grid-connected inactive wells with a proprietary gravity-based mechatronic energy conversion system along with smart controls.

Moreover, the solution leverages existing oil well infrastructure including wellbore vertical drop, electrical infrastructure from previous pumpjacks, communications networks, and roads. This reduces the environmental impact of abandoned oil wells while reducing the capital expenditure on energy generation.

Cortex delivers Oil Production Forecasts

Cortex is a Finnish startup that develops an AI-based forecasting platform for the oil and gas industry. The startup’s Cortex NeuralAI platform predicts oil production and optimizes schedules through the identification of trends and patterns in data and operations.

Additionally, it reduces capital and operating expenditures by enabling oil companies to make informed decisions about resource allocation. Moreover, Cortex NeuralAI combines vast amounts of O&G industry data with machine learning (ML) to enable oil companies to better understand and predict their oil production.

Axon4D Technologies simplifies Storage Tank Monitoring

Canadian startup Axon4D Technologies provides a fiberoptic sensor technology to monitor and manage storage tanks. Its Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS) monitors the floating roof level as well as the tilt and fill level of tanks to identify issues with tank structural integrity.

It features wet sensing to identify water or hydrocarbons present on pontoons with all the data available and presented on a web-based portal. The startup’s monitoring solution thus mitigates risks arising from storage tank structural issues through real-time monitoring.

Pipein enables Predictive Pipeline Maintenance

Pipein is an Italian startup that specializes in robotic predictive maintenance to reduce the risk of breakage in oil and gas pipelines. The startup’s robot, Shark4, is an autonomous robotic probe that monitors pipes from within them. It also integrates various sensors according to mission requirements and fully automates standardized testing campaigns.

Besides, the robot inspects a 1km long section of pipelines in under 6 hours while leveraging AI to process the collected data. Together with the SeeHorse data aggregation software, Pipein greatly reduces the cost and effort required for monitoring and maintaining critical pipeline infrastructure.

Agile Spray Response facilitates Oil Spill Dispersion

UK-based startup Agile Spray Response creates an aerial spray solution to disperse oil spills in marine environments. The startup’s Agile Convert Spray System (ACSS) enables a Boeing 737 cargo aircraft to be deployed for spray services without interruption to its revenue-generating cargo flights.

Its modular air cargo palletized aerial spray system features both EASA and FAA approvals and makes aircraft mission capable in three hours. This way, the solution removes the need to maintain single-purpose aircraft whose only function is to control oil spills in marine environments.

ATINUM provides IoT-based Pipeline Monitoring

ANTIUM is a Saudi Arabian startup that specializes in industrial IoT (IIoT)-based asset analytics and management. The startup’s corrosion detection and monitoring solution utilizes ultrasounds to monitor pipeline thickness and corrosion in real time.

Further, the startup’s sound-based solution forecasts equipment failure using an AI engine, which also delivers early warning notifications to schedule maintenance. ANTIUM’s technology enables oil and gas pipeline operators to reduce the risk of disruption while improving safety and regulatory compliance.

Octobotics Tech creates Magnetic Crawler Robots

Indian startup Octobotics manufactures robots equipped with manipulators containing modular surface preparation tools. The data from the robots are sent to a software dashboard that translates the inspection data into comprehensive 3D maps and models.

Besides, measuring defects and taking 360-degree measurements, the robots feature modular non-destructive testing (NDT) payloads and real-time video streaming. Additionally, the robots enable augmented reality (AR)-based inspection, which further improves the capabilities of remote maintenance in critical oil and gas infrastructure.

Predico delivers Reservoir Analytics

Predico is an Australian startup that provides a reservoir and production engineering software platform, Advanced Flow Analytics (AFA). It features a variety of analytics modules for gas modeling (GAZ), decline analysis (SPAD), wellbore modeling (LINIYA), Monte Carlo simulations (KOLDUN), and more.

These modules enable cloud-based reservoir description, production analysis, oil and rate forecasting, and the rapid performance evaluation of conventional and unconventional reservoirs. Predico’s models allow project operators and managers to focus on data interpretation and decision-making rather than data modeling.

Hydrotell ensures Continuous Reservoir Monitoring

Norwegian startup Hydrotell develops a solution to continuously monitor reservoirs by measuring the pressure difference between the hydrocarbon phase and water. The startup’s technology identifies new infill drilling targets reduces production from wells located near oil-water contact (OWC) and controls production from different parts of the borewell.

The solution continuously also measures water pressure in producing wells to determine if a section of a specific well needs to be choked back before the water breaks through.

MODUS Oilfield manufactures Drilling Equipment

MODUS Oilfield is a Saudi Arabian startup that makes equipment to improve oil drilling. The startup’s Advanced Lockin Roller Reamer features redundant and independent locking and pressure compensation mechanisms to minimize the risk of cutter loss in wells.

Some of its other products include a hole cleaner and reopener with a unique blade profile for cutting bed agitation. The startup also offers BitAnalytics, a drill bit life cycle analysis platform. MODUS Oilfield’s solutions make oil and gas drilling operations safer, faster, and more economical.