Artificial intelligence AI is changing the way the energy sector operates, and even oil and gas prospecting is getting a major upgrade. What was once a slow, painstaking, manual process is now becoming faster, smarter and far more streamlined. In the past, deciding whether a new site was worth drilling meant digging through mountains of information seismic surveys, well logs, old maps, satellite images, subsurface studies and technical reports. Teams often spent days or weeks just collecting and comparing this data before they could even begin analysing it. Chevron is one energy company that is shifting that reality with an in-house generative AI platform, which gives exploration teams quick access to information that previously took some time to find. By removing many of the manual steps, it speeds up early decision-making and helps geologists and engineers focus on interpretation rather than administration. For those in the freight and project logistics space, this faster pace matters. When exploration moves more quickly, project planning, mobilisation and equipment scheduling can move more quickly too, making timelines clearer and giving the supply chain far more visibility. According to a Chevron spokesperson, access to richer, previously hard-to-reach data creates clear competitive advantages. Exploration is competitive. Companies often secure rights to available land through bidding rounds. Knowing as much as possible about the available acreage and knowing it quickly helps companies make smarter decisions about where to invest. Chevron Australia president Balaji Krishnamurthy has also noted that AI could be the breakthrough needed to help deliver an affordable, reliable and cleaner energy system. The company is extending its tech-driven approach beyond exploration. Robotics are now being used to clean and inspect Chevrons large storage tanks. Since 2024, robotic tank inspections have saved more than 25 million and roughly 43 000 working hours. Robotic tank cleaning has added another 6m in savings. LV
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But the government remains hopeful that it will yet be included to benefit from duty-free access to the US market.
