Digital Innovations in Oil and Gas with Geoffrey Cann

AI is transforming oil and gas, but not all AI is created equal. Many companies have wasted millions on failed AI projects, chasing optimization without real breakthroughs. But what if AI could think like a scientist —applying physics and chemistry to accelerate decision-making and innovation? In this episode, TC Zoboroski , Head of Sales for Energy at NobleAI , explains how their science-based AI...

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome. In oil and gas, we do the same thing over and over, knowing the outcome will vary—but believing we're optimizing it . With billions at stake, the industry needs better ways to react in real time. As capital market pressures rise and companies consolidate , optimization is no longer optional—it's...

Energy markets are undergoing a profound transformation. With demand shifting, new energy sources emerging, and digital infrastructure consuming more power than ever, the need for accurate, data-driven decision-making has never been greater. Companies must now navigate uncertainty with smarter forecasting tools , leveraging AI and real-time analytics to stay ahead. However, traditional forecasting...

Oil and gas workers operate in extreme conditions, such as the Gulf and the Permian Basin, where the intense heat and high humidity create very hazardous conditions. You lose a lot of body moisture just surviving in those settings.    Most of us know to take a drink of water when we're thirsty , but in those places, by the time you're thirsty, you're already at risk . Is there a better way to meas...

The oil and gas industry has long relied on surface data and the expertise of seasoned operators to manage the complexities of downhole operations. However, as wells become deeper , laterals longer , and conditions more extreme , the human expert can struggle to address the expanded downhole complexity . Consistency, efficiency, and precision have become increasingly difficult to achieve. This gro...

Direct air carbon capture will be required to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere while we wind down fossil fuel combustion , and a new technology based on graphene and amine coated ceramic pearls or spheres may be the missing link. The direct air capture methods deployed to date struggle with their enormous scale , their energy intensity , and operating costs . They can require hundreds of doll...

Pipelines are often thought of as simple logistics channels, but in reality, they operate more like sprawling processing plants . This complexity has long been underserved by outdated control systems that lack the sophistication of modern software. The challenge is clear: legacy systems are hindering efficiency , sustainability, and even talent retention as younger generations expect better tools...

The  petrochemical industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies, often hindered by legacy systems , risk-averse cultures , and scattered data . However, as global competition and sustainability pressures mount, companies like Nova Chemicals are turning to digital transformation to drive operational efficiency and sustainability. Nova Chemicals recognized the  untapped potential i...

The fuel products supply chain is long and complicated, handling the movement of massive volumes of fungible , dangerous, and valuable products in millions of small lots. Despite its criticality, this part of the industry is often overlooked , but can benefit from the  modern tools that are finding their way into many industries. I was curious just how deeply our modern digital tools have penetrat...

The energy industry faces a dual challenge: addressing the growing skills gap as experienced workers retire , and attracting a tech-savvy younger workforce. Meanwhile, digital transformation is reshaping the landscape, introducing complex tools like AI and automation into traditional workflows. In this episode, I interview Ron Crabtree , CEO of MetaOps and MetaExperts, about bridging the workforce...

Safe operations in industries like oil and gas , water utilities , and construction are a non-negotiable priority. However, achieving these high safety standards often creates inefficiencies , as organizations adopt low-error tolerance systems and time-intensive compliance processes .   Field teams face growing pressure to balance safety , productivity , and quality , while adapting to emerging ch...

The energy sector is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by advancements in geospatial technology and the unrelenting evolution of digital innovation . Traditional geotech methods are giving way to LiDAR , GPS , drone and  satellite imagery , and the industry now collects more data than ever before. But how do you make sense of this crazy data-rich landscape while holding to the oil and gas ideals...

#ETRM #CTRM One of the last remaining domains of energy yet to fully embrace the cloud is Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM).  Despite the key role it plays, the broader oil and gas sector (producers, supply houses, traders, agents) cling to old legacy ETRM  systems —clunky, costly, and a pain to integrate into complex application portfolios. Trading is a high stakes game with few users, an...

SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) has a critical mission : producing the frontline workers that keep the energy industry running. But as the sector evolves—shaped by  decarbonization , digital technologies, shifting demographics , and immigration rules—so too must the workforce . A ccording to Dale Hansen, dean of SAIT's MacPhail School of Energy, the institution's role is to stay se...

Oil and gas managers often view every decision as high-stakes and irreversible , but in the digital world , not all choices carry that weight. Jeff Bezos's concept of " Type One " (irreversible) and " Type Two " (reversible) decisions offers a powerful framework for rethinking decision-making in the energy sector . While some digital investments—like SCADA integrations or major cybersecurity upgra...

With your company being acquired, what happens to the digital innovation you helped pioneer? Sadly, its days may be numbered. The unfortunate fate of digital innovations in the oil and gas industry following acquisitions is really depressing. Even groundbreaking technologies—despite their proven value—are often tossed to the curb by acquiring companies and their old-guard leaders. The structural a...

Stitching a new energy trading and risk management (ETRM) system into a modern systems environment is a substantial and risky undertaking. ETRM as a business function is notably complicated and the challenges an integrator faces are legion. Energy trading is perhaps the most complicated of all of the various functional areas one encounters in the oil and gas industry. It is a high risk , high stak...

Are you curious how the  European Union's Deforestation Regulation  (EUDR) might impact the  global oil and gas industry ? It will indirectly, thankfully, but in a specific instance and for a specific fuel type,  very   directly .  The fuels industry is on a mad rush to  decarbonize  its fuel products, under pressure from  regulators  and  customers  both of whom are seeking fuels that produce far...

#private5G #smartfactory #energy #petrochemicals Market-leading companies with complex plant operations , such as oil refineries and petrochemical plants, are turning to private 5G network technology to gain an industrial edge. In the oil refining and petrochemical sectors,  inadequate connectivity  is a growing challenge that hampers further drives to improve operational efficiency, safety, and c...

Suicide is a significant and overlooked issue in various industries. Among the sectors most affected are construction and trades, installation, maintenance and repairs, and agriculture, particularly for men. These fields face high stress, long hours, and job insecurity, which can contribute to mental health struggles. Within oil and gas, the reliance on construction and skilled trades to build inf...

Successful change management in oil and gas is dependent on having the right mindset about the change. Many years ago, I was involved in implementing a new computer system for a remote field office. The managers assured us that all they needed to do to guarantee a successful implementation was to order the employees by memo to use the system. Change management? Tick. We dutifully couriered to the...

It's never been easy for energy products to demonstrate they are sustainable because such products are not easily traceable through the supply chain. Commodity products such as energy, plastics, carbon, and fuels are fungible , voluminous, and blended with each other. The supply chains are not segregated, leading to possible cross contamination when a sustainable fuel passes through infrastructure...

    Managers in oil and gas rely on various  rules of thumb to accelerate decision making, but at times these biases get in the way of making better decisions. Biases that were at one time helpful are now a kind of risk. Examples include the emphasis on production above all else, the preference for proven over novel solutions, and the preference for those innovations that originate in the industry...

Imagine that the year is 2034. How will the world of oil be digitally different from the way things are in 2024? Some things won't have changed much. Demand will still be strong. We will still be consuming a lot of oil. This is baked in. There is plenty of supply. Costs will have crept up but productivity will more than make up for that. Digital will have utterly transformed how we run the industr...

Digital entrepreneurs face many worrisome perils, and oil and gas poses its own unique set. In my view, the single greatest challenge facing technology companies when dealing with oil and gas is the lack of a clear pathway from the outset of the relationship to scaling up or gaining an enterprise commitment to adoption. The level of fragmentation of decision making inside oil and gas means that a...