Smart Wells, Smarter Fields in the Permian

Automation and remote monitoring spread across basin as operators seek lower costs and greater reliability

8 Nov 2025

The Permian Basin is accelerating its adoption of automation and remote monitoring, as producers and service providers seek to cut costs and improve reliability in the US’s largest oilfield.

Across West Texas and New Mexico, companies are deploying connected systems that allow engineers to oversee wells, pipelines and disposal facilities from central locations. The shift marks a move away from manual inspections and reactive maintenance towards data-driven operations designed to identify faults before they disrupt production.

Operators are increasingly relying on continuous data streams to monitor equipment health and site conditions in real time. Predictive maintenance programmes, supported by analytics, aim to detect early signs of wear or failure. Industry estimates suggest such systems can reduce unplanned downtime by 20 to 30 per cent, depending on the assets and the quality of execution.

Recent deployments in the basin indicate that digital strategies are moving from pilot projects to broader implementation. Direct Midstream, a water midstream operator, has selected SitePro to expand monitoring and control systems across 15 existing saltwater disposal facilities. The project enables remote oversight of critical equipment and digitises operational and compliance workflows.

In drilling and well construction, Tenaris has expanded torque turn monitoring to casing running tools in the Permian. The system collects and analyses connection make-up data in real time, with the aim of improving quality control and reducing operational risk during well completion.

As more operational systems become accessible remotely, cybersecurity and data governance have become central concerns. Companies must secure industrial control systems while ensuring that data flows remain reliable and compliant with regulatory requirements.

Even with these constraints, the basin is emerging as a testing ground for large-scale digital oilfield deployment. If adoption continues at pace, competitive advantage in the Permian may depend not only on production volumes, but also on how effectively operators use data to manage assets and limit disruption.