Norwegian-based Statoil is developing software to support oil trading and operations management, using the JACK intelligent agent development toolkit from Agent Oriented Software (AOS), with additional application development support from Cambridge Consultants.

Intelligent agents will be applied to help solve optimisation, planning and process control issues in Statoil's trading and operations areas. 
Among the expected benefits in the trading area is the timely provision of the most up-to-date information, enabling the company to rapidly respond to changes in the market. 
This speed of operation will allow Statoil to improve effectiveness and continually modify ongoing business tactics, giving the company ample opportunity to further maximise revenues, while reducing the number of decisions made on out-dated information. 
The first applications are scheduled to start going live in April.
Statoil also plans to explore the use of intelligent agents in other areas including gas operation and remote monitoring of production facilities.