The Birthplace of New Oil
From September 3 to 5, Orenburg will host the Gas. Oil. Orenburg Region exhibition and forum, an event of both industry-wide and federal significance. The forum, held under the auspices of the regional government and the Ministry of Industry and Energy, will bring together more than 100 companies from across Russia and Kazakhstan.
Focus on Artificial Intelligence
Oil is often called the lifeblood of the economy, and this exhibition-forum is like a stethoscope, gauging the industry’s outlook and overall health. The main trend at this year’s event will be the digitalization of the fuel and energy sector.
Orenburg Region is a major oil and gas hub in Russia. There is no better place—especially in this border region—to host such a high-profile event attracting giants of the energy and engineering sectors. This is particularly relevant now, as digital transformation has moved from pilot projects to a strategic necessity.
The industry’s focus is on artificial intelligence (AI), digital ecosystems, cybersecurity, and digital construction. It is expected that these topics will lead discussions and debates. Conclusions drawn from this triad—AI, digital twins, and cybersecurity—will address challenges of efficiency, safety, and global competitiveness.
AI, like the most dedicated and tireless geologist, analyzes exploration data without ever needing a vacation. A digital twin of an oilfield predicts equipment failures before they happen. Cybersecurity forms an impenetrable shield for critical infrastructure.
Statistics to Back the Conclusions
The upcoming event comes against the backdrop of compelling statistics: according to Rosstat and industry associations, the digital solutions segment for the fuel and energy complex (FEC) is growing at 15–20% annually, outpacing the overall IT market. Currently, AI implementation in extraction and processing operations delivers efficiency gains of 10–15% in certain processes, including drilling optimization and predictive equipment analysis.
The heightened focus on cybersecurity reflects the exponential growth in targeted cyberattacks on FEC facilities, both globally and in Russia. Russian solutions in industrial cybersecurity have become a critical area for import substitution.
The same statistics show that implementing information modeling in FEC facilities reduces construction time by 20% and minimizes design errors.
Reliability Up, Risks Down
Oil and gas are Russia’s economic trump cards. Digitalizing the sector improves energy supply reliability, reduces accident risks through predictive analytics and digital monitoring, and enhances environmental outcomes by optimizing processes and tracking emissions. A digital twin of a pipeline ensures peace of mind for both energy producers and the public.
Technological sovereignty is not a slogan but a mission. The development of domestic AI platforms, cybersecurity systems, and software for digital construction strengthens the safety and competitiveness of this critical sector. A new digital infrastructure is emerging as the foundation for innovation.
With Kazakhstan participating, the forum offers a venue to showcase successful Russian digital solutions for the FEC—solutions in demand in CIS and Asian countries facing similar challenges. This is the building of a bridge for technological cooperation.
Retrospective and Future Direction
The focus of the upcoming forum has been years in the making. A solid foundation was laid by the Digital Energy forums held in 2022 and 2023 at Skolkovo and with support from the Ministry of Energy.
The groundwork was also strengthened by FEC digitalization sessions at major industry exhibitions such as Oil and Gas and Gas. Oil. Technologies in recent years, as well as in-depth discussions at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where in 2024 the topic of digitalization in LNG projects was explored in detail.
Where to Drill the Digital Well?
Gas. Oil. Orenburg Region is a logical continuation, but with a key shift—from discussing concepts to showcasing ready-made solutions and seeking partnerships for scaling them up.
A boom in AI and platforms is expected, along with growing demand for intelligent data analysis systems, optimization, and autonomous control in the FEC, projected to increase by 30–40% over the next two to three years.
Investments in protecting automated process control systems (APCS) and industrial networks will become a mandatory budget line for any major FEC company.
The forum in Orenburg could serve as a catalyst for forming consortia or competence centers for FEC digital technologies involving several Russian regions and Kazakhstan. The erosion of trust in foreign solutions will accelerate this process.
