The exploration and production of oil and natural gas are probably not seen by people outside of the industry as a very high tech business. However, a closer look at modern approaches to finding and producing hydrocarbons will reveal an industry with massive data volumes, a variety of data types and a very significant opportunity to create greater value through deeper business insight into operations. From seismic surveys which can create an image of the subsurface geology, to measurement while drilling complex deepwater wells, to near real time analysis and optimization of producing and injecting wells in an oil field, the challenges of measurement, instrumentation, data management, visualization, integration and analysis are growing in magnitude and importance.
Similar to other industries, the amount of data throughout the value chain is increasing. The opportunities to create value from more predictive and proactive interventions are growing. The challenges of managing asset operations to higher standards of reliability, safety and environment performance are becoming more critical. It will take more than just one technology break through to unlock the value from collecting large amounts of data. A full systems view and an information lifecycle mindset are required to turn data, to clearer insights, to better decision, and ultimately to greater value.
Speaker
Jim Crompton
im currently holds the position of Senior Advisor in the Global Upstream IT organization and works on topics related to the Future of the Upstream IT function including the data foundation and integration framework needed for the Digital Oil Field and development of organization capability to meet the requirements of the emerging world of the digital engineer.
Jim graduated from the Colorado School of Mines before joining Chevron in Denver, Colorado. He later earned an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Crompton served as a study team leader for the reorganization of the IT function in Chevron's North America Upstream company which led to his assignment as the IT Manager for the Gulf of Mexico Business Unit in 1993. Crompton led one of the earliest desktop standardization projects and leveraged that initiative to the entire North American Upstream operating company. Jim joined ITC in 1997 as the Principal Technical Advisor where he was responsible assessment of emerging technology.
In 1999, Crompton was elected to the position of chair of the general committee of PIDX (Petroleum Industry Data Exchange, the API electronic commerce sub committee. Jim was able to influence the direction of the standards setting activities towards emerging technologies, such as XML, and new electronic business models to complement the established EDI practices.
In acknowledgement of his contributions in applications of information technology to business problems and in working to develop industry standards in electronic data exchange, Jim was named a Chevron Fellow in 2002.