February 2026

The January/February 2026 issue of Oilfield Technology focuses on how the oil and gas industry is navigating a period of capital discipline, digital acceleration, and operational complexity by extracting more value from existing assets. With a strong focus on digitalisation, AI, and advanced analytics, the articles examine how operators are optimising performance, improving safety, and extending field life, while also addressing the risks that come with increased reliance on intelligent systems. Alongside digital strategy, the issue covers practical engineering challenges – from corrosion protection and water treatment to lifting, logistics, and pumping technologies – reflecting an industry balancing innovation, resilience, and energy security in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

This month's front cover is brought to you by Superior Energy Services.

Contents

Guest comment
Ram Narayanan Sambasivan, Vice President, Sulzer.

Operational optimisation under capital discipline
Shola Adekeye and Rolando Gabarron, KBC (A Yokogawa Company) argue that capital-constrained upstream operators are using integrated digital tools to maximise performance and value from existing assets rather than investing in new infrastructure.

The cornerstone of a digital future
Gino Hernandez, Head of Global Digital Business for ABB’s Energy Industries division, debates that digital intelligence is the cornerstone of future oilfield operations.

Using AI to find additional resources in existing oilfields
Josh Dixon, Senior Research Analyst, Upstream, and Kevin Swann, Senior Research Analyst, Upstream, at Wood Mackenzie, argue that AI can help the oil industry unlock up to a trillion barrels from existing fields to meet future demand.

The key to the energy sector’s digitalisation ambition
Mark Kelly, head of digital and innovation at Bilfinger, UK, discusses how infrastructure is the key to the energy sector’s digitisation ambitions.

The unseen risks of AI
Graham Faiz, Head of Digital Energy at DNV, explores the risks that exist in offshore safety mechanisms and proposes a template for systemic AI safety.

External pipe corrosion protection on FPSOs
Hani Almufti, Cogbill Construction, discusses corrosion under pipe supports (CUPS) on FPSOs, focusing on the challenges, mechanisms, and a novel mitigation solution.

Smarter water treatment
Dave Sheldrake, Veolia – Water Tech, addresses securing offshore resilience with smarter water treatment.

Securing Europe’s energy transition
Kleopatra Kyrimi, Sarens Group Marketing & Communications Manager, Sarens, Spain, discusses how Europe is responding to geopolitical disruptions in gas supply by accelerating the energy transition, investing in domestic gas production and cleaner alternatives, and relying on logistics and heavy-lifting operations to ensure energy security and infrastructure development.

Rod lift optimisation in the horizontal well era
Peter Westerkamp, Vice President of Automation – Global Sales, LUFKIN Industries, highlights why the industry must adopt new, physics-based algorithms designed specifically for modern well trajectories.

Standout solutions
Michael Coburn, Director of Engineering and Project Management, Blackmer (PSG Grand Rapids), USA, analyses the challenges of pumping liquids in the oil and gas industry, and explains why magnetically driven sliding vane pumps are emerging as a superior solution.