Digital Innovations in Oil and Gas with Geoffrey Cann

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 industry thanks to:

• the circular economy and full life cycle monitoring of our assets
• digital twin solutions for optimizing production and operations
• remote control, robots and automation that take out human workers cloud solutions that make everything online all the time
• mobile connectivity to all mobile people and gear
• voice interfaces whereever possible.

The future is coming quicker than we think. Preparing for it costs no more than running a few trials of a small number of innovations.

Additional Tools & Resources:

🎬 Go backstage and check out my studio: 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/resources/ 🎓 Take my one day digital strategy training course for oil and gas: 👉 https://www.udemy.com/course/digital-oil-and-gas/?referralCode=0161D4D49AB75735A185

Connect with Me:

🖥️ Blog series: https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/ 🎧 Podcast: https://geoffreycann.com/broadcast/ 📇 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/training-digital-oil-gas/ 🤬 X: https://twitter.com/geoffreycann

Contact for Lectures and Keynotes:

I speak regularly on these and other topics. Contact me to book a brief call about your upcoming event needs. Click here 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/contact/

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

Download the Transcript!

Want the actual script that this podcast is based on? You can download the transcript for this podcast here: 👉 https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/p/from-crude-to-computation

A brand new digital bludgeon whose nearly sole purpose is to beat up on the oil and gas industry, is about to be launched. As usual, this is both bad and good news. The global oil and gas industry is the single largest source of avoidable methane emissions, emitting 80 million tons per year through venting, flaring, and unintentional losses (fugitive emissions). These Scope 1 emissions represent the fastest pathway for the gas industry to meet pressing climate targets.

MethaneSat will be able to detect emissions at lower concentrations, from smaller sites, more frequently, and with greater accuracy than previous satellites.

And here’s the kicker. The data collected by MethaneSAT will be made publicly available, unlike many other data from satellite sources. Companies have already developed the algorithms to sift through the petabytes of survey data that such satellites produce (and like many algorithms, some will be in the public domain), so that the analysis will be swiftly available.

What could possibly go wrong?

Additional Tools & Resources:

🎬 Go backstage and check out my studio: 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/resources/ 🎓 Take my one day digital strategy training course for oil and gas: 👉 https://www.udemy.com/course/digital-oil-and-gas/?referralCode=0161D4D49AB75735A185

Connect with Me:

🖥️ Blog series: https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/ 🎧 Podcast: https://geoffreycann.com/broadcast/ 📇 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/training-digital-oil-gas/ 🤬 X: https://twitter.com/geoffreycann

Contact for Lectures and Keynotes:

I speak regularly on these and other topics. Contact me to book a brief call about your upcoming event needs. Click here 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/contact/

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

Download the Transcript!

Want the actual script that this podcast is based on? You can download the transcript for this podcast here: 👉 https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/p/the-latest-digital-bludgeon-with

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 upgrades—are genuine Type One decisions requiring caution, many can be structured to minimize risk.

In this episode, I explore practical approaches like pilots, modular designs, and SaaS solutions that help reframe digital investments as low-risk, high-reward opportunities. By distinguishing between true Type One decisions and those that only seem that way, oil and gas companies can accelerate adoption cycles, manage risk effectively, and unlock value faster.

Additional Tools & Resources: 🎬 Go backstage and check out my studio: 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/mystudio/ 🎓 Take my one-day digital strategy training course for oil and gas: 👉 https://www.udemy.com/course/digital-oil-and-gas/?referralCode=0161D4D49AB75735A185

Connect with Me: 🖥️ Blog series: https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/ 🎧 Podcast: https://geoffreycann.com/broadcast/ 📇 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/advocate-digital-innovation-for-energy/ 🤬 X: https://x.com/geoffreycann

Contact for Lectures and Keynotes: I regularly speak on these and related topics. Book a brief call to discuss your upcoming event: 👉 https://geoffreycann.com/contact/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

Download the Transcript! Want the script for this podcast? Download it here: 👉 https://open.substack.com/pub/digitaloilgas/p/unlocking-digital-doors?r=18ohzb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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 in its decades of operational data and began its digital journey with a bold vision. By leveraging advanced tools, such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, the company has revolutionized its approach to reliability, maintenance, and operational performance.

NovaChem’s strategy involved carefully piloting digital solutions on redundant equipment to mitigate risks and build confidence, leading to transformative value—four times the initially estimated impact.

In this episode, I speak with Ahmed Musa, Digital Transformation Leader at Nova Chemicals, who shares insights into how the company has structured its digital initiatives through its Digital Factory and corporate priorities. From overcoming challenges with legacy data systems to fostering a culture of innovation through “Nova Nature,” Ahmed reveals the actionable strategies and lessons learned on NovaChem’s digital journey. What impressed me the most was how digital tools not only reduce costs and emissions but also empower employees, enriching their roles with data-driven insights.

About Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa is an experienced Digital Transformation Leader with a deep background in chemical engineering. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering and has extensive practical experience in reliability, maintenance, and turnaround management. Since joining Nova Chemicals in 2014, Ahmed has been highly involved in the company’s digital transformation initiatives, focusing on leveraging AI, data contextualization, and advanced analytics to enhance plant reliability and operational efficiency.

Contacting the Guest

📎 Ahmed Musa’s LinkedIn: Ahmed Musa’s LinkedIn Profile

🌐 Nova Chemicals Website: https://www.novachem.com

Additional Resources You Might Value

🎥 Explore My Digital Studio: https://geoffreycann.com/mystudio/

🎓 One-Day Digital Strategy Training: https://www.udemy.com/course/digital-oil-and-gas/?referralCode=0161D4D49AB75735A185

📝 Blog Series on Digital Oil and Gas: https://digitaloilgas.substack.com

🎙 Podcast Episodes Archive: https://geoffreycann.com/broadcast/

Connect with Me!

🔗 Connect with Geoffrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/advocate-digital-innovation-for-energy/

🐦 Follow on X (formerly Twitter): @geoffreycann

🌐 Visit the Website: https://geoffreycann.com/resources/

Book Me!

📣 I speak regularly on topics related to digital transformation in the energy sector. Contact me to book a brief call about your upcoming event needs.

📩 Contact Geoffrey

Disclaimer

⚠️ The views expressed in this podcast are my own and do not constitute professional advice.

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 in the workplace. How do we overcome this inertia?

In this latest episode I catch up with Vicki Knott, Co-Founder and CEO of Crux OCM, whose exciting work is transforming pipeline control rooms with analytics and automation tools designed for the modern era. Vicki shares how her team is delivering measurable gains in throughput, emissions reductions, and energy efficiency—without a single piece of new steel.

We cover some of the biggest questions shaping the future of pipeline control systems:

1️⃣ Why have pipeline control systems been left behind by digital innovation?

2️⃣ How does Crux OCM’s technology deliver real results for operators?

3️⃣ What role does trust in cloud-based systems play in accelerating adoption?

4️⃣ How does Microsoft’s involvement amplify Crux OCM’s vision?

5️⃣ What lessons has Vicki learned about driving transformation in a traditional industry?

Crux OCM recently closed a $17M Series A funding led by Microsoft, who recognizes the importance of the shift to zero-trust, cloud-based control room solutions that are reshaping the energy industry.

About the Guest:

Vicki Knott is the Co-Founder and CEO of Crux OCM, a company dedicated to modernizing pipeline control systems. With a background in chemical engineering and a sharp focus on industry needs, Vicki is driving digital transformation for pipeline operators around the globe. She has led Crux OCM through key milestones, including a $17M Series A investment backed by Microsoft’s M12 Fund.

Contacting the Guest

🌐 Visit Crux OCM: cruxocm.com