Applied Computing Aims to Provide Oil and Gas Operators with a Comprehensive AI Solution for Plant Management
Applied Computing, a startup based in London focused on developing foundational AI models for the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors, has successfully secured $20 million in a Series A funding round. The investment was primarily led by KBR, a major engineering firm, with additional backing from Databricks Ventures.
Established in 2023, the company aims to address the complexities within oil, gas, refining, and petrochemical systems, where vast facilities may have thousands of sensors tracking various metrics like temperature, pressure, velocity, and viscosity. The energy sector presents significant opportunities for improving data tracking; however, the fragmented nature of the industry complicates these efforts.
According to Callum Adamson, co-founder and CEO of Applied Computing, operators often rely on less than 8% of the data they collect for decision-making. While they gather substantial data, the challenge lies in effectively integrating sensor data, engineering documents, and scientific concepts for timely analysis and prediction.
“The essential task is ensuring these three data sources can communicate in real-time,” Adamson stated in a recent interview.
Unlike traditional large language models that mainly predict subsequent words, Applied Computing’s foundation model named Orbital integrates a time series model, a physics-driven model, and a language model to forecast a facility’s operational state. It does this by considering sensor data, along with physical and chemical principles, while also acknowledging equipment limitations and operator behaviors. Additionally, it enables technicians to simulate potential impacts of alterations in one area of the facility on overall operations.
Applied Computing emphasizes its speed advantage, asserting that Orbital can identify anomalies, analyze their causes, and simulate whether corrective actions might lead to further issues, all within a matter of minutes. Adamson claims the technology can reduce investigative timelines from days or weeks to just seconds, enabling operators to decrease energy consumption while maintaining productivity.
This promise of quick results appears to have resonated well within the sector. The company reports achieving double-digit millions in annual recurring revenue within just 18 months of its launch. Adamson noted that Orbital is currently being utilized by several “large, publicly traded” companies in the upstream oil and gas, as well as downstream refining and petrochemicals, though he did not disclose specific client numbers.
Partnerships have also been a key aspect of Applied Computing’s growth strategy. Collaborations include Indian energy firm Wipro, and KBR, which has integrated Orbital into its INSITE 3.0 platform for energy projects, applying the technology in ammonia production. Furthermore, the company is engaged with a significant U.S. upstream operator and plans to announce a new partnership with a leading European oil company soon.
Nevertheless, Applied Computing is entering an industry already populated with established software vendors as well as specialized AI startups. Notable competitors include AspenTech, which provides AI-powered simulation software for various operations, and AVEVA, which focuses on physics-based process modeling and optimization. Other companies like Cognite and Seeq work on enabling facilities to analyze industrial data and apply AI to refine workflows.
Adamson contends that the startup’s competitive edge lies not in having access to data or industrial know-how, but in assembling a team of elite AI researchers capable of developing a model that rivals Orbital. “The crux of the issue is AI rather than data or energy,” he stated. “If you’re a top-tier AI researcher, where would you want to work? I doubt Shell would make that list.”
He also noted the unique operational data that Orbital acquires through its deployments. Much of this data from refineries and energy facilities is proprietary and not publicly accessible, while simulated data often fails to accurately reflect real plant operations.
The partnership with KBR may further bolster the company’s capabilities. Adamson indicated that this collaboration grants Applied Computing access to valuable operational insights, industry expertise, and potential customer connections.
The startup intends to utilize the funds raised to expand its international presence, recruit talent in research and engineering, and explore new deployments with energy companies.
Recently, the company announced the opening of a new office in Houston, complementing its headquarters in London and operational center in Bengaluru. Adamson mentioned that the U.S. location brings the startup closer to two existing North American clients, and plans for expansion into the Middle East are also underway.
