A large integrated oil and gas company has invited me to address their global center for data excellence. That such an organizational creation is necessary is both telling for some and enlightening for others. Data has been central to my work on digital innovations in oil and gas from the very beginning because digital innovation is almost always about capturing value from a reliable data asset. My simple digital innovation formula includes data at its very core:   Sensors generate data   Analytics (AI and machine learning tools) interpret the data   Semi-autonomous and fully autonomous devices (robots, drones) carry out real work using that data   Cloud computing is where data lives   Trusted ledger services provide confidence in the data.   In hindsight, it’s rather sensible that a center for data excellence is now part of the organization structure of a big oil and gas player. Without better data acumen, oil and gas companies are like street brawlers showing up for a fist fight only to discover the opponent is equipped with a pistol. We’re seriously outgunned in the fight for talent, the battle for capital investment, and the latest race called energy transition (which has a huge data theme to it). The work culture of oil and gas is the basis for why our industry lags other sectors in how we think about and approach data.

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Where Energy meets Facts: Empowering People to Reduce Energy Costs The average western consumer has no idea how much energy they use. It’s not really their fault — the energy system was never designed to give the consumer visibility into their energy consumption. We even measure energy in many different and confusing ways. Gasoline is in gallons. Power is in kilowatt hours. Propane is in pounds.  Structurally, energy companies are not incentivized to provide their consumers with data about their energy use. Collecting the data is a huge exercise in building integrations from various data sources to build up a picture of energy use. Households have many different energy suppliers (power and gas utilities, gasoline retailers), and there are many individual buyers.  It’s not clear consumers will pay for that insight.  Jotson is setting out to challenge that problem and fix it. To quote Mark Little, the CEO and co-founder, it’s baffling that mankind can put people into orbit around the planet, and land astronauts on the moon, but the average household can’t figure out how much they’re spending on energy. By giving consumers real data about their energy use, Jotson hopes to empower people to take charge of their energy consumption and to make better personal choices to reduce their demands on the energy system.  In this interview, I speak with Mark about his start up,  Jotson, and his mission to empower Canadians to manage household energy cost and consumption.  Mark has more than 35 years of leadership experience in the Canadian energy industry, including 23 years at Imperial/Exxon, and most recently as President & CEO at Suncor Energy. During his career, Mark has led large complex organizations working on multi-billion-dollar energy projects, from the conceptual design, development, and project implementation through to operations and maintenance.  Mark has led the startup and operation of large wind, solar, and biogas projects, and is one of the founding CEOs of Pathways Alliance, an initiative that sets the six largest oil sands companies in Canada on a path to reach net-zero CO2 emissions.   He is a board member of General Fusion, and an advisor to both the Coalition for a Better Future and Cycle Capital.  Mark holds two degrees – one in computer science from the University of Calgary, and one in applied petroleum engineering technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. He is also a graduate of the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.  From 2003 to 2007 he served as Honorary Colonel for the 409 and 441 Tactical Fighter Squadrons at 4 Wing Airforce Base in Cold Lake, AB; a role that reflected his commitment to the relationship between the Air Force, the community and industry. Mark was also the Recipient of the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business’ Award for Excellence in Aboriginal Relations 2024. Additional Tools & Resources:  

Where Energy meets Facts

Marketplace Launched! The upstream oil and gas supply chain is about to get a much needed boost in procurement efficiency with the launch of a new e-commerce marketplace. Such marketplaces are very common in the consumer industry (Amazon being an example), but rare to non-existent in oil and gas. Despite years of investment in big enterprise systems, buyers of goods for the upstream industry still have to wrestle with supplier-specific ordering portals and search, complex and out of date company product catalogues, which hampers price discovery, procurement efficiency, and price discovery. Time-pressured oil and gas project managers just bypass the agreed procedures, and order directly using procurement cards, which erodes the value of strategic sourcing agreements.  Imagine the possibilities of a marketplace specific to Canadian upstream oil and gas. Oilfield Marketplace Canada (or OFMP.ca) is a descendent of the very successful Oilfield Marketplace solution in the US but specific for the Canadian marketplace, with items that are certified for use in Canada and with Canadian prices and availability.  Check out this conversation with Steve Copeland, the general manager of the new Canadian Oil Field Marketplace. Steve spent 12 years with Cameron, and later with SLB after their acquisition of Cameron in 2015. Steve is from Calgary, and had an early career in field service gradually progressing to the role of National Sales Manager at Cameron. Additional Tools & Resources:  

Propelling Procurement

Australia is the lucky country when it comes to energy transition. The country is blessed with ample non-renewable energy resources, including gas, coal, uranium, lithium, and oil. In addition, the country is bathed in sunshine, surrounded by coastlines and tides, and is largely empty, suitable for wind farms. The LNG sector is now incredibly important to the national economy. Australia is 20-25% of global LNG production, one of the top 3 largest producers, and operates 10 gigantic plants serving mostly Asian markets. However, the country's energy resources are struggling with energy transition challenges. The historic basins that provided the populous southeast with natural gas are drying up and the country hasn't been able to mobilise a suitable replacement. The demand for Australia's energy products is creating upward price pressure on the domestic market. The country is at risk of not growing its LNG trade past its current size. In this interview, I speak with Jody Rowe, a commercially-focused specialist who has a strategic view of the broader Australian market. Jody has worked in agriculture, mining, and oil and gas industries in roles that span commercial, contracts and procurement at a number of multinationals including Barrick Gold and Rio Tinto, in both Gold and Uranium commodities. Her work has included executive roles on one of Australia's pioneering coal seam gas to LNG projects. Additional Tools & Resources: 

Gas, Growth, and Green: Australia's Energy Transition Dilemma

About the Episode The world of geospatial analytics is transforming how we manage industrial infrastructure. In this interview with Sean Donegan, the CEO of Satelytics, we discuss the use of satellite data to tackle major challenges like methane leaks, water contamination, and infrastructure damage with cutting-edge AI technology.  The traditional methods of inspecting linear infrastructure (pipelines, roads, forestry operations, power lines) by driving around or flying are outdated, costly, and harmful to the environment. Satellite data is a modern solution to quickly and accurately detect problems before they escalate. This not only saves money and prevents environmental damage but also protects companies from regulatory and reputational risks. Algorithms look at satellite images and the sun's reflectance on various surfaces to identify and quantify issues with incredible accuracy and speed (as in 3 hour turn around). This ultra rapid detection and quantification capability allows for near immediate (same day) action, reducing potential fallout from incidents like oil spills, subsurface leaks, and vegetation encroachment. We also discuss the importance of early adoption and the transformative potential of satellite data in managing infrastructure and environmental challenges. For energy and infrastructure companies who are struggling to maintain a daily grasp on their operations and their risks, satellite data and the algorithms that interpret that data present a huge cost saving and a step change in responsiveness. Additional Tools & Resources:  

How Satellites Expose Hidden Dangers

In this interview with David Khani, we discuss pipeline tariff negotiations and how regulatory analytics can help shippers win big. Policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act are reshaping energy infrastructure, along with global events, such as the Ukrainian conflict. Natural gas market dynamics are changing rapidly, and systemically. Dave and EQT leaned heavily on Arbo to help with complex negotiations and understanding the growing demand for natural gas. Dave also covers how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations influence pipeline operations. Another key factor is decarbonization, which has an impact on pipeline throughput. Companies like EQT Corporation navigate tariff increases and negotiations with shippers, with outside specialized help. The future of energy includes coal and nuclear power within our evolving energy mix, and to succeed, companies have an indispensable need for data science in regulatory negotiations. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anyone involved or interested in the energy industry. Listen to the end to stay informed about the shifts shaping our energy future. About Dave: Until recently, Dave was the CFO at EQT Corporation, a big US independent gas producer. Prior to joining EQT Corp., Dave served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CONSOL Energy and as CFO and as a board member of its affiliates, including CNX Midstream Partners LLC and a joint venture with Noble Energy. Dave developed a deep understanding of the commodity markets through almost 2 decades as a financial analyst on Wall Street. He holds a B.A. in biological sciences from State University of New York—Binghamton and an M.B.A. in corporate accounting and finance from the University of Rochester and has been a chartered financial analyst (CFA) for 25 years.

Creating A Data Culture in Oil and Gas

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