Three local oil and gas companies have shown a keen interest in purchasing a virtual reality training system from Invesys, provider of technology systems to the manufacture and infrastructure operations industries.

The company has developed a three-dimension (3D) simulation training program called Eyesim. “It is the next generation of training. It uses computer gaming technology in a practical application, simulating a physical environment,” says Ken Fox, vice president of sales and marketing at Invensys.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) is one of the three interested companies.  The firm identified the use of the technology in providing female engineers with a realistic experience of working in plant. As yet, women are not allowed to enter plants or oil rigs.

 “It is a safe way of training and you can train a workforce before a plant is built which is a big advantage in the Middle East where there are a lot of new facilities planned. This type of technology will be the norm over the next five to ten years,” adds Fox. Initial estimates indicate the virtual training market in the Middle East is worth $40m with a potential to exceed $100m over the next ten years.

The company has also developed an iphone application that can be used to track each user’s progress and to control the atmosphere of the simulation from a remote location.

Fox suggests the program can be used alongside higher education facilities to encourage graduates into the engineering field.

The technology took over seven years to develop in collaboration with Eni Refining and Marketing, Italy’s largest international refiner.