1. A method of automating an oil & gas process performed by a plurality of process components, the method comprising: deploying a dynamic phase machine in an oil & gas automation system, wherein the dynamic phase machine includes a plurality of phases, and wherein a plurality of agents are registered with the oil & gas automation system and assigned to handle actions and triggers for at least a subset of the plurality of phases; after deploying the dynamic phase machine, executing the dynamic phase machine in the oil & gas automation system to control at least a portion of the plurality of process components and thereby implement the oil & gas process; in response to registration of a new agent in the oil & gas automation system after deploying the dynamic phase machine, modifying the oil & gas process implemented by the dynamic phase machine by dynamically extending the dynamic phase machine to include at least one new phase and assigning the new agent to handle at least one of an action and a trigger for at least one of the phases of the dynamic phase machine; and after dynamically extending the dynamic phase machine, executing the dynamic phase machine to control at least a portion of the plurality of process components and thereby implement the modified oil & gas process.