Projects in the oil and gas sector are complex and often pivot throughout their completion. To be successful, oil and gas projects require careful planning, meticulous documentation, clear expectations, and a well-defined scope.

If you’re using paper and pen to analyze and track these challenging projects, you’re unnecessarily missing out on greater operational efficiency and invaluable data that can be used to inform future project decisions.

Consider this your guide to project management software for the oil and gas industry, including its benefits and features to look for.

What Is Project Management in the Oil and Gas Industry?

Project management in the oil and gas industry involves defining a realistic scope, managing costs, and allocating resources in a way that can improve efficiency. Whether you’re looking to expand an oil refinery or construct a new gas pipeline, increased productivity and time management can save you a lot of money in resource costs.

Project managers are already skilled in process tracking and holding project teams accountable. When you arm them with a wealth of real-time data, they can manage risks or delays before they manifest.

Oil and Gas Project Management Phases: How Software Can Help

Oil and gas projects are often completed in four stages – all of which can be tracked using gas and oil project management software.

1. Project Initiation

This stage in the project management process involves identifying long-term goals, key stakeholders, and how the project aligns with your company’s overall strategic plan. File sharing and communication tools built into project management software can enable easy, collaborative brainstorming before a project even begins.

2. Project Planning

The project planning process involves forecasting and solidifying timelines, milestones, budgets, and resources. Project management software for oil and gas companies enables you to create a single dashboard outlining all of the project’s requirements so no assumptions are made throughout the process.

Project management systems can also increase visibility into the project’s progress so all teams remain on the same page.

3. Execution & Monitoring

Physical work on the project starts during the project execution phase. Coordination is crucial to ensure a smooth, aligned workflow and project success. Project management software allows teams to stay up to date on project progress and tasks that may impact their own timeline.

Consistent monitoring is also crucial to execute projects successfully, as it’s pivotal to identifying and addressing any problems as they arise. This data can be accessed any time with real-time reporting features and shared dashboards.

4. Project Completion

After the execution phase has been completed, the project data will need to be handed over to the client via documentation and proof of final testing results. These reports can be exported as PDFs from project management software and shared with ease.

Benefits of Project Management Software for Oil and Gas Companies

Aside from guiding your company through every phase of the project lifecycle, oil and gas project management software comes with additional advantages that could give you a competitive edge.

Organized Project Planning

Project management software for the oil and gas industry often includes tools to easily organize planning documents and project requirements. By creating your plan in advance, you can identify challenge areas or room for more efficient processes before investing in expensive and scarce resources.

These systems enable you to set objectives, timelines, and scope parameters that can be seen by all stakeholders.

Efficient Cost and Control Programs

To control project costs and changes, materials need to be carefully procured and workers strategically allocated. The best way to stay on top of any potential changes in scope is to document all purchases and schedules to create a well-managed, up-to-date cost control program.

Some project management systems offer comprehensive project controls to automatically help you stay within scope and avoid cost overruns.

Easier Project Tracking

Oil and gas operations may involve different teams working across multiple locations. When project tasks are tracked on paper, they aren’t immediately visible to other stakeholders who may need to be informed.

Project management systems automate this process by immediately sharing any updates across the board. This includes everything from audit logs to task assignments and more. Using this system can eliminate time wasted going back and forth over the phone or email for status updates.

Simplified Collaboration for Project Performance

Improve collaboration on any project by giving teams complete visibility into all current tasks and responsibilities. Teams can share data and work together to stay on track when the project is at risk of falling behind. This may mean reassigning certain jobs or increasing communication with internal stakeholders and contractors.

These digital tools can also facilitate communication directly through the platform.

Smarter, Data-Backed Decisions

Project management systems continually update data as you go, giving you access to real-time insights on:

• Project metrics
• Key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Project health
• Areas requiring attention
• Productivity levels

This can help you make more informed decisions based on calculated trends, risks, and opportunities.

One Central Source of Truth

Using project management software for oil and gas projects means having only one platform that tracks and manages certification requirements, tasks, and costs. These systems can closely track your progress against energy industry regulations to help you stay compliant.

Technical Features to Look For

When choosing a project management software for the energy sector, capabilities aren’t the only factors that matter. Here are a few other technical features that can benefit your organization.

Ease of Use

The software you choose should be easy to learn to avoid losing time from extensive training or technical queries during performance. Look for a user-friendly interface that’s intuitive and comes with a library of quick-access guides and tutorials.

Mobile App Version

Since many oil and gas projects are completed on site rather than in an office setting, mobile app versions of the software can be a huge plus. Field team members from any location can update tasks and communicate without internet or immediate access to a computer.

Integrations

Companies these days use a lot of systems for different work functions. The last thing you need is another solution that doesn’t “talk” to your existing applications. Make sure the software you choose has open API accessibility and access to industry-leading integration partners.

Scalability

Your work may range from small-scale endeavors to large and complex projects, and your project management software should adapt to all sizes of scope. Look for a software that is highly customizable and has a flexible architecture to manage complex needs without having to switch systems as you grow.

Improve Accuracy and Efficiency With Project Management Software

Oil and gas project management software eases the administrative burden on both your project managers and field workers by streamlining updates, data collection, and communication. By using automation features, your organization can also reduce manual process errors and improve resource management.

TrackerCheck’s EPC project management software has all of the capabilities mentioned and more. Better yet, it was designed with oil and gas companies in mind.

Elevate your project performance today. Request a demo!