BDO Global predicts that the digital oilfield market, which comprises analytics, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, will surpass US$20 billion by 2025.
New technologies can help oil and gas companies to overcome disruptions and remain competitive in an ever-changing industry. They can optimize maintenance processes and transition smoothly towards net zero. Today, we’re looking at the top trends that will dominate the oil and gas technology and industry in 2026.
What Is Oil and Gas Technology Today?
Oil and gas technology refers to the integrated systems, digital tools, and automation platforms that enable exploration, production, refining, and distribution operations across the energy value chain. Modern technology in the oil and gas industry spans two critical domains:
- Information Technology (IT): Enterprise systems managing data, analytics, financials, and business workflows
- Operational Technology (OT): Field-level systems controlling equipment, sensors, pipelines, and physical processes
Today's oil and gas technology connects these domains through digital workflows that streamline permit approvals, vendor management, maintenance scheduling, and regulatory reporting. This convergence addresses three persistent industry challenges: compliance with evolving environmental and safety regulations, operational safety across hazardous environments, and the need for human-in-the-loop automation—where critical decisions require expert judgment before execution.
Unlike fully autonomous systems, human-in-the-loop automation ensures that field engineers, safety officers, and compliance teams retain oversight of high-stakes processes while eliminating manual bottlenecks. This balance between speed and control defines the current state of technology in the oil and gas industry.
Top technology trends in oil and gas industry
1. Low-code and No-code App Development
The rush to digitize and undergo a digital transformation has forced oil and gas companies to adopt a digital-first business strategy. Low code/no code (LCNC) platforms will dominate companies’ IT stack in 2025 and beyond. Gartner reports that by 2025, 70% of new apps will be built using LCNC tools.
Companies that are quick to use LCNC platforms such as Kissflow Low Code and Kissflow No Code will be leaders in the oil and gas technology and industry. LCNC tools enable faster application deployment and reduce process completion time. To stay competitive, organizations must rethink their oil and gas business process by embracing automation, data-driven insights, and agile workflows.
2. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
According to Statista, the market value of automation technology in oil and gas will be around $42 billion by 2030. One of the highly adopted automation technologies is Robotic Process Automation. The technology automates repetitive and rule-based tasks such as document processing, data entry, and reporting.
When an oil and gas well is being closed, RPA significantly reduces closing time and minimizes human errors. The technology also automates supply chains such as procurement transactions, improving cycle times and boosting overall efficiency.
In 2026 and beyond, more oil and gas technology companies will use drones and submersible bots in offshore drilling to inspect inaccessible areas. Bots enhance worker safety and minimize errors while installing or repairing parts in dangerous locations.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
AI provides powerful benefits across the value chain in energy production. Oil and gas companies use the technology to assess the value of reservoirs and customize drilling plans according to an area’s geology. It also helps them assess the risks of each well.
AI is also used during location search for oil drilling to analyze seismic data and provide risk insights. The data can be combined with historical data to help oil and gas companies determine oil levels in reservoirs. AI can enhance predictive maintenance of assets by analyzing the data from machines on offshore drilling platforms.
Machine Learning gives oil and gas companies powerful insights from the data generated during oil and gas operations. They can use the data to improve operational efficiency and decision-making. The two technologies will continue to provide powerful insights for improved efficiency, reducing disruptions across the supply chain.
4. Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT has created a new era of connectivity; devices and machines now communicate easily to create a more efficient and productive environment. The technology has significantly impacted the oil and gas sector, enabling businesses to optimize processes, increase safety and security, and cut costs. IoT devices such as sensors enable remote monitoring, real-time data collection, and better resource management.
In 2026, more oil and gas companies will use IoT devices to monitor pumps, pipes, and filters to avoid costly leaks. No one will have to check systems manually, so workers will only be deployed when anomalies occur. IoT sensors will provide real-time data around the clock to give workers better control of performance parameters.
5. Advanced Analytics and Big Data
Predictive analytics like variable analysis and condition-based monitoring allows oil and gas companies to design scenario-based simulations and predict future maintenance requirements. That way, they can perform required maintenance before equipment gets damaged.
The use of big data and advanced analytics will only increase from here on out. Oil and gas companies will use the two to customize predictive models and optimize drilling processes. Customized predictive models can help companies to optimize processes and improve decision-making.
It’s usually hard to verify data in the oil and gas industry as data mainly comes from subsurface facilities. Some data is also collected by human operators and may be inaccurate. Data analytics tools can pinpoint patterns among hundreds of variables in constant flux. They can enhance production efficiency, risk assessment, and operational excellence and decrease production costs.
6. Cloud Computing and Edge Computing
Cloud computing puts data control in the hands of oil and gas companies. They have better analytic insights, more efficient production, and safer drilling. The technology enables companies to scale at speed and accelerate innovation, streamline operations, and become agile. Edge computing, on the other hand, enables real-time analysis of data. Oil and gas companies can use the technology for faster data processing at remote exploration, drilling sites, and distribution pipelines. They can make quick and more profitable business decisions.
7. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
A McKinsey research on the oil and gas sector revealed that oil and gas companies could cut costs by up to 25 percent per barrel if they used digital solutions like Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The application of AR in the oil and gas sector has shown a lot of promise. For example, AR overlays such as smart glass hardware provide visual indicators and clues to workers, helping improve their effectiveness. They also provide operation instructions for machinery and process steps. AR headsets provide hands-free instructions and display tools and parts, increasing maintenance efficiency. VR technology is equally important in oil and gas as it accelerates product design, reducing the development time of critical oil and gas equipment. It eliminates the need to manufacture different prototypes for testing. Virtual Reality enhances training, simulation, visualization, inspections, and remote assistance.
Oil and gas companies can create digital twins to replicate refinery and oilfield operations. VR headsets offer practical training, providing a safer, more efficient way to apply theoretical knowledge. Enabling developer mode on VR headsets like the Quest 2 unlocks features such as sideloading apps and customizing settings, enhancing functionality for tailored training applications."
8. Blockchain technology
Blockchain secures and simplifies complex oil and gas supply chain processes and introduces transparency. Processes such as oil and gas trading, inventory control, shipment tracking, and billing and payments become easier to manage.
The USA now uses a platform based on blockchain to manage crude oil deals securely. In 2025 and beyond, the technology will continue to increase transparency, security, and efficiency in transactions, supply chain management, and royalty distribution in oil and gas.
How Enterprise Oil & Gas Leaders Should Approach Technology Adoption
Technology adoption in oil and gas isn't about chasing every innovation—it's about solving the right problems in the right sequence.
Enterprise leaders should evaluate new technologies against three criteria: integration with existing systems (SAP, SCADA, historians), time-to-value for field operations, and governance requirements for IT oversight. The most successful digital initiatives start with workflow automation—the connective tissue between IT and OT systems—before layering on advanced capabilities like AI or predictive analytics.
A practical adoption framework:
- Start with process visibility. Map existing workflows across permitting, maintenance, vendor management, and compliance. Identify where manual handoffs create delays or compliance gaps.
- Prioritize quick wins. Target processes with high volume, clear rules, and measurable outcomes. Field ticketing, MOC (Management of Change) requests, and safety incident reporting typically deliver ROI within weeks.
- Build for flexibility, not perfection. Regulatory requirements shift. Operational needs evolve. Choose platforms that business users can modify without IT bottlenecks—this is where low-code delivers lasting value.
- Maintain human oversight. Automation should accelerate decisions, not replace judgment. Safety-critical and compliance-sensitive processes require human-in-the-loop checkpoints.
The gap between digital leaders and laggards in oil and gas is widening. Companies that treat technology as an operational enabler—not a standalone IT project—will capture efficiency gains while competitors remain stuck in pilot programs.
Kissflow – the perfect Low-code/No-code platform for oil and gas companies
Technology is constantly changing, and oil and gas companies must keep up to stay competitive. Through process automation, they can enhance operational efficiency and achieve competitive advantage. Kissflow Low Code and Kissflow No Code help oil and gas companies to streamline their operations, lower energy costs, and reduce waste. Sign up today and start leveraging new technology trends.
Get started with the Kissflow Platform and learn how to leverage its features to drive better results
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the latest technology trends in the oil and gas industry?
The oil and gas industry is embracing digital twins for virtual asset management, IoT sensors for equipment monitoring, autonomous drilling systems, advanced analytics for predictive maintenance, edge computing for remote operations, blockchain for supply chain transparency, augmented reality for field worker support, and AI-driven exploration techniques that identify promising drilling locations with greater accuracy.
2. How is AI being used in oil and gas operations?
AI is transforming oil and gas operations through predictive maintenance that prevents equipment failures, intelligent drilling systems that optimize well placement and extraction, automated visual inspection of pipelines and infrastructure, production optimization algorithms that maximize output while minimizing costs, enhanced seismic data interpretation for exploration, and smart energy management reducing operational carbon footprints.
3. What role does blockchain play in energy sector innovation?
Blockchain in the energy sector enables peer-to-peer energy trading in microgrids, transparent carbon credit tracking and trading, streamlined supply chain management with provenance verification, automated contract execution through smart contracts, decentralized financing for renewable energy projects, and immutable record-keeping for regulatory compliance. These innovations are making energy systems more distributed, efficient, and transparent.
4. What sustainability trends are shaping the oil and gas industry?
Sustainability trends shaping oil and gas include carbon capture and storage technologies, methane leak detection and prevention, water conservation and recycling in operations, renewable energy integration into operations, green hydrogen production, circular economy approaches to waste management, and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting standards driving investment and operational decisions.
5. How does automation improve oil extraction and processing?
Automation improves oil extraction and processing through predictive maintenance reducing equipment downtime, automated drilling systems optimizing well placement and extraction rates, computer vision for continuous infrastructure inspection, robotic process automation handling reporting and compliance documentation, digital twins modeling reservoir behavior for optimization, and AI-powered analytics maximizing production while minimizing environmental impact.
Related Topics:
- Accelerate Digital Transformation in Oil and Gas Industry.
- Achieving Internal Operational Excellence in the Oil and Gas Industry Using Low-code Platforms.
- Modernizing oil and gas field service with low-code automation.
- Oil and gas business process transformation using low-code/no-code technology.
- Ultimate Guide to Oil and Gas Industry Application Development.
- Simplifying oil and gas exploration workflows with AI-powered process automation.
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