Data Science and Engineering Analytics Technical Section

Hello SPE Community,

I am Kings, a recent graduate in Petroleum Engineering from Ghana particularly Kwame  Nkrumah University of Science and Technology with additional expertise in Data Science, and I am passionate about finding ways to apply my knowledge to produce innovative solutions for the oil and gas industry.

I am particularly interested in:

1. Using Data Science to Improve Industry Operations: Exploring how data analytics, machine learning, and AI can optimize processes like reservoir characterization, drilling efficiency, and production forecasting.
2. Developing Novel Products: Creating cutting-edge tools, technologies, or methodologies to address challenges in exploration, production, and sustainability.

I am seeking guidance on the following:

• Skill Improvement: What areas should I focus on to enhance my value in the industry? For example, should I dive deeper into Python, machine learning, or AI applications specific to petroleum engineering?
• Career Pathway: What roles or departments in the oil and gas industry would best suit a professional with expertise in both petroleum engineering and data science? Are there emerging fields like digital transformation or energy transition where I can excel?
• Geographical Opportunities: Which countries or regions currently offer the best opportunities for someone with my skill set? Should I look into countries with advanced energy tech sectors like the US, Canada, or Norway, or explore growing markets in Africa or the Middle East?

I would also appreciate insights on practical steps to get started. Should I focus on internships in data-heavy oil and gas roles, pursue certifications (e.g., AWS for cloud computing or advanced machine learning), or participate in industry-focused innovation competitions?

Any advice, resources, or personal experiences would be immensely valuable to help me align my skills and aspirations with the needs of the industry. I am committed to contributing to the advancement of sustainable and efficient practices in the energy sector and would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you in advance for your guidance and support.

Victory Kings,

May I suggest that you focus on learning more about industry operations than data science. There are many people trying to apply data science to streams of data that have no idea what the signals mean. They rely on subject matter experts to guide their work and often go down unfruitful paths. The more engineering you know about the subject, the better you will be at stating the problem and then solving the problem. Data science is just a tool, not the end product.

A good paper to read on this subject is: 

Payette, G. S., Bailey, J. R., Pastusek, P. E., Witt-Doerring, Y., Kostov, N., Shukla, K., and S. G. Haugen. "Well Construction in the Era of Big Data: It's not Data Analytics, It's Engineering with Data." Paper presented at the IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference and Exhibition, Galveston, Texas, USA, March 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/217665-MS

The SPE OnePetro Library and SPE Training Classes are great ways to find more information about most any topic in the oilfield. Pick a topic and start reading. Look at the references and read them; repeat until you have some seriously good questions that need answering. Then go about finding the answer.

------------------------------
Paul Pastusek, P.E.
Chief Technology Officer
Pastusek and Associates, LLC
paul@pastusek.com
------------------------------

Thanks a lot Mr Paul, you've given me a lot to think a lot. Thank you for the advice and guidance.

Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2024 07:59 AM
From: Paul Pastusek
Subject: Seeking Guidance: Applying Petroleum Knowledge with Data Science Capabilities

Victory Kings,

May I suggest that you focus on learning more about industry operations than data science. There are many people trying to apply data science to streams of data that have no idea what the signals mean. They rely on subject matter experts to guide their work and often go down unfruitful paths. The more engineering you know about the subject, the better you will be at stating the problem and then solving the problem. Data science is just a tool, not the end product.

A good paper to read on this subject is: 

Payette, G. S., Bailey, J. R., Pastusek, P. E., Witt-Doerring, Y., Kostov, N., Shukla, K., and S. G. Haugen. "Well Construction in the Era of Big Data: It's not Data Analytics, It's Engineering with Data." Paper presented at the IADC/SPE International Drilling Conference and Exhibition, Galveston, Texas, USA, March 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/217665-MS

The SPE OnePetro Library and SPE Training Classes are great ways to find more information about most any topic in the oilfield. Pick a topic and start reading. Look at the references and read them; repeat until you have some seriously good questions that need answering. Then go about finding the answer.

------------------------------
Paul Pastusek, P.E.
Chief Technology Officer
Pastusek and Associates, LLC
paul@pastusek.com
------------------------------

Hi Kings,

Reading your questions reminds me of myself about five years ago. At that time, I was confident in my expertise in the oil and gas field (Surface Process Engineering) and just starting to learn machine learning. Within a few years, I earned another master's degree in data field and published seven papers in OnePetro, five of which are data projects related to oil and gas operations. Here's my advice:

Knowledge and Skills

You need extensive knowledge in both data science and the oil and gas field. Understanding data science techniques and selecting the right ones for business problems is crucial. Equally important is defining business problems in the oil and gas sector that can effectively utilize these techniques.

Industry Opportunities

From my experience, the advancement of data applications in the oil and gas industry is still lagging compared to fields like manufacturing. However, this gap presents numerous opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Addressing Your Questions

• Skills: You need to excel in both data science and your specific field in oil and gas.
• Career Path: Good companies often rotate employees through different roles. As a beginner, either path is fine.
• Geographical Considerations: There isn't much difference geographically. Choose a location close to your residence and focus on getting into a reputable company.

Additional Suggestions

I honed my skills through various data science challenges and hackathons, including Kaggle and SPE hackathons like SPE GoTech AI Hackathon. Having a strong project portfolio on GitHub can significantly set you apart from other candidates.

Try your best, and I hope you achieve your goals!

Best regards, 

Suradech K.

Senior Process Engineer

Chevron Thailand E&P

Hello Victory Kings,

Besides to what Mr. Paul and Suradech very relevant comments and suggestions. I did a little research and found out that there are services companies like SLB that  provide very attractive opportunities for fresh outs via their INTERNSHIPS  which provides an Early Careers hire system (https://careers.slb.com/early-careers). They have introducing programs for graduates like you with such a good and enthusiastic potential willing. I am sure that not only SLB, but other companies (Chevron; Shell; Halliburton, etc) have their own hiring resources that can offer good chances for you.

Once you get into one of those companies you will get the career orientation and push up that you are requesting to apply all your knowledge and capabilities.

Best of luck to you Victory,

José Antonio Rodríguez Pimentel

SLB Retiree

Mr Rodriguez , I highly appreciate your advice. I hope to learn more from you as SLB is actually one of the most active of the service companies within my geographical area.

Original Message:
Sent: 12-10-2024 01:48 PM
From: Jose Rodriguez Pimentel
Subject: Seeking Guidance: Applying Petroleum Knowledge with Data Science Capabilities

Hello Victory Kings,

Besides to what Mr. Paul and Suradech very relevant comments and suggestions. I did a little research and found out that there are services companies like SLB that  provide very attractive opportunities for fresh outs via their INTERNSHIPS  which provides an Early Careers hire system (https://careers.slb.com/early-careers). They have introducing programs for graduates like you with such a good and enthusiastic potential willing. I am sure that not only SLB, but other companies (Chevron; Shell; Halliburton, etc) have their own hiring resources that can offer good chances for you.

Once you get into one of those companies you will get the career orientation and push up that you are requesting to apply all your knowledge and capabilities.

Best of luck to you Victory,

José Antonio Rodríguez Pimentel

SLB Retiree