According to a report by Rystad Energy, automation could save the US oil industry $ 7 billion in wages.

According to a Rystad Energy report, the US oil industry could save more than US $ 7 billion in wages by replacing humans with robots on platforms.

The report indicates that at least two in 10 oil workers globally in drilling, operational support and maintenance jobs could be replaced by on-site automation over the next decade. That would translate to more than 100,000 total jobs replaced in the US, for example.

“Even when the COVID-19 slowdown has finally passed, operators will have to continue exploring new avenues for cost reduction. However, there are obstacles to overcome, including regulatory approvals and resistance from labor organizations, ”wrote Sumit Yadav, an analyst at Rystad.

The downsizing in the US by robots would be a further blow to an industry that has struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Rigs used in both the shale patch and the Gulf of Mexico continue to decline by almost half compared to the start of last year.