AI monitoring system works offline at remote drilling sites in China

(ECNS) -- A self-reliant AI monitoring system that operates without external internet access has been deployed at remote coalbed methane drilling sites in Shanxi Province, effectively resolving safety supervision bottlenecks in low-connectivity frontier areas.

Developed by the Third Exploration Team of Shandong Coalfield Geologic Bureau and its partners, the system analyzes video and behavioral data locally instead of sending large video streams to the cloud. When a connection is available, it can transmit streamlined warning information to remote managers.

At a drilling project in the Qinshui Basin, the system provides round-the-clock monitoring and real-time voice alerts. According to the team, it has cut emergency response times from hours to minutes and increased hazard inspection efficiency by 80%.

The system also monitors equipment conditions and drilling parameters. At one coalbed methane project in Shanxi, the team said it helped save about 25 hours of drilling time, shortening the drilling cycle from 12 days to nine days and reducing overall costs by 5% to 12%.

The technology has so far been deployed at four coalbed methane projects in Shanxi.

(By Intern Yang Hongran, Zhang Dongfang)