Energy Connect Virtual Oil & Gas Conference Expo - Official Program

ECON

ENERGY CONNECT VIRTUAL OIL & GAS CONFERENCE EXPO

THE

DIGITAL

TRANSFORMATION

OF OIL AND GAS

OFFICIAL PROGRAM

MAY 21 TO 22 2019 MEDIA PARTNERS

CONTENT

28 32

36

CONTENT

4

40

48 44

54

64

CONTENT

5

06 08 10 12 14 22 24 26 28

Message From Your Hosts

44

Meet Our Sponsors

48 52

Company Spotlight: Axis Torque Torque Tool Specialists in Western Canada

Meet Our Speakers

54

Who Should Attend

Frequently Asked Questions

The Digital Transformation of Oil and Gas

by Geoffrey Cann

60

Company Spotlight: KPMG Cost Optimization for Energy Companies is Key

How It Works

64

Company Spotlight: Amalto Lower Your DSO by 5 Days

32

Company Spotlight: Vista Projects Industrial Project Engineering Faces Inflection Point—Are You Ready?

Presenting Companies

Agenda

You Tell Us: ELM Inc.

Company Spotlight: Wolseley Industrial

Company Spotlight:Headwind Solutions Peace of Mind in the Oil Patch

68

Company Spotlight: AUTOSOL Data in Motion

Trust Earned Through Performance

36

Company Spotlight: 5 Star Media

70

In Mineral Buying, Innovation Wins

Taking Your Business to New Heights

40

Company Spotlight: Northern Mat & Bridge Canada’s Largest Provider of Industrail Access Structures

Company Spotlight:Oilman Connect

76

Company Spotlight:Blockchain Guru Leaders in Blockchain Training

publisher: 5 Star Media Group manager: Wade Pringle marketing: Kelsey Hepples art direction and design: Headwater Consulting Ltd. • www.headwaterconsulting.ca editor: Julie McManus

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR HOSTS

6

A Message

From Your Hosts Welcome to the 2019 Energy Connect Virtual Oil & Gas Conference Expo Emerging Energy Technologies & Industry Solutions Powered by Industry Connect I’m so pleased to welcome you all to the Energy Connect – a place where oil and gas professionals will be convening to engage in dialogue, create partnerships, do business and identify the solutions and strategies that will shape the industry for years ahead. With a great variety of exhibitors presenting their technologies, we have a full two days planned for you, and the best part is you can experience everything on your own schedule, completely from your computer, laptop, or phone!

WHO’S HERE? Energy Connect is pleased to welcome over 50 exhibiting companies, 25 speakers, and more than 2,000 preregistered attendees representing the Oil & Gas Industry.

This event brings together worldwide operators, EPCs, regulators, technology providers, presidents and CEOs, and all other major stakeholders who will share their insights on capitalizing on IIoT and spearheading the industry back into optimal business growth.

continue to educate industry members on the benefits of adopting technologies.

There is a shift in thinking that this technological era has forced; from the technology itself, all the way down to how we sell the technology. Whether you are the service provider or the tech lead at the operator level, the job is to sell the solution. The question then becomes, if we shift our approach in selling, will the adoption of technology execrate? It all comes down to education, and the Energy Connect Virtual Conference & Expo offers the perfect platform to do just that!

At the Energy Connect VIRTUAL Conference, you will hear from business leaders from producers, engineering firms, technology associations and start-ups all discussing what digital means to oil and gas, the key leverage points, the leading technologies, and the size of the opportunities. You will learn where your organization can find upside from these new industry solutions.

OUR HISTORY Energy Connect was established in 2017 to address the shortfalls of traditional trade shows. The Oil & Gas Energy Connect is completely virtual, allowing attendees to effortlessly attend this show without ANY inconvenience to their professional schedule, and without any COSTS!

WHAT IS IN STORE AT THE ENERGY CONNECT?

NEW FOR 2019

Emerging technologies are vital to the progress and success of the Energy Industry. For many within the Energy sector, technology is still met with a level of skepticism. Together, we must work as a community to

• More exhibitors

• More speakers • More ways to engage • Improved lead generation

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR HOSTS

7 NEW TO VIRTUAL CONFERENCES? If it’s your first time joining us for a virtual conference, we are confident you will enjoy exploring new companies all in one place, on your own time. The platform is so easy to use. Once you register, you will be sent credentials gaining you access to our virtual platform. It doesn’t require you to download anything, you simply log-in using your credentials, and you’re immediately entered into our virtual showroom.

Upon arrival, you will be able to start networking and attending speaker sessions. Our innovative trade show platform offers all the same business development opportunities as traditional trade shows, but on a modern, digital networking platform that is available 24/7. All trade show activity is done 100% online using your desktop or mobile device.

Through Energy Connect, you can connect with exhibitors in real-time, view and download their key documents, and stream webinars that showcase costsaving solutions to common industry problems.

Learn more about how Energy Connect works Still need to Register?

REGISTER NOW MEDIA PARTNERS

We also wish to thank all our exhibitors, webinar hosts, and attendees for coming together to network and explore the future of Oil & Gas together.

To learn more about our exhibitors, we invite you to explore this program, visit their virtual booths, explore their videos, download their materials, and reach out to exhibitors in real-time. Exhibitors will be available in realtime from May 21-22, but materials, including webinars, will be accessible long after our scheduled event.

Photo by 5 Star Media Group

Energy Connect would not be possible without the help of our show media partners who have worked tirelessly in promoting our revolutionary event:

SPONSORS

8

MEET OUR SPONSORS PLATINUM

SPONSORS

9

GOLD

SILVER

MEDIA

PRESENTING COMPANIES

10

PRESENTING COMPANIES

PRESENTING COMPANIES

11

AGENDA

12

AGENDA

May 21-22, 2019

Tuesday, May 21, 2019 8:00 AM MST Panel Discussion Moderated by Geoffrey Cann (Discussion: The Digitalization Of the Oil and Gas Industry) Panelists include: • Joy Romero VP Technologies, CNRL • Terry Chmelyk Vice President, Spartan Controls

10:00 AM MST • Stina Brock SVP North America at Electron Presentation Topic: Using Blockchain to Unlock the Value of Distributed Energy Resources This presentation will explain how blockchain can be used to create a shared digital infrastructure for the grid, which allows distributed energy resources to provide energy services to the electric grid, benefiting both consumers and utilities / grid operators.

11:00 AM MST

• Vicki Knott P,Eng CEO and Co-founder of Crux OCM

• Mark Sombach Digital Innovation Specialist/Group Lead

• Dr. Soheil Asgarpour Ph.D, P.Eng.

Presentation Topic: Panel Discussion (Digital Transformation of Oil and Gas)

9:00 AM MST • Akram Ahmad Principal Software Engineer, Dell Technologies Presentation Topic: The IoT market is inherently heterogeneous, and the majority of the challenges are at the Edge (Edge computing essentially pushes applications, data and computing power (services) away from centralized points to the logical extremes of a network.) Learn about an approach to taming (1) Hundreds of protocols, (2) Mix of IP and non-IP connectivity, (3) Widely distributed computing nodes, often in unsecured areas, and (4) Need for real-time response, regardless of backend connectivity.

9:30 AM MST

Digital Innovations in asset tracking and monitoring Cenovus Energy has been researching and experimenting with new digital technologies to assist in tracking billions of dollars in equipment.

Mark will also touch on other experiments with Image Recognition and Connected worker.

12:00 PM MST Break

12:30 PM MST • Ken Anderson CD ICS Architect, Operational Cyber Security ATCO Group

1:00 PM MST

• Dave Lafferty President Scientific Technical Services

• Dr. Claudio Lima Global CTO, VP of Innovation

Presentation Topic: How IIoT & Edge Computing Brings Value To The Oil & Gas Industry.

Presentation Topic: Blockchain-Enabled Oil and Gas Services and Operation

AGENDA

13

2:00 PM MST • David Whitten Senior Executive Consultant with Prestonwood Energy Presentation Topic: IOT 101: Foundation for the Future

3:00 PM MST • Jon Trask Blockchain Guru Presentation Topic: Blockchain & IoT: The Key to Unlocking Logistics Performance • Enhanced Visibility • Blockchain & ERP/Transportation Management Systems • IoT Sensor Integration

Wednesday, May 22, 2019 8:00 AM MST Panel Discussion Moderated by Geoffrey Cann (Discussion: The Digitalization of the Oil and Gas Industry) Panelists include: • Chris Leonard (Director Strategy and Digital Transformation) • Miryah Scott Account Executive, VizWorx • Mark Sombach Digital Innovation Specialist/Group Lead • Dan Giurescu Visionary. Strategizer. Idea Accelerator.

Serial Entrepreneur.

9:00 AM MST • Greg Bollella, Ph.D. CTO, Internet-of-Things VMware, Inc.

10:00 AM MST • Patrick Reilly Managing Partner – Technology, Vista Projects Presentation Topic: The Benefits of a Data-centric Approach in Facility Engineering

11:00 AM MST • James Graham GuildOne Presentation Topic: Monitoring Hydrocarbons Throughout the Value Chain with Blockchain

12:00 PM MST Break

1:00 PM MST • Abhishek Goswami Snr Commercial Advisor/ Production Geosciences, Shell UK

2:00 PM MST • Bryan Pederson Executive VP - Amalto Technologies North America Presentation Topic: WFT?! (Why Field Tickets?!)

3:00 PM MST • Zach Parston Manager, Global Infrastructure Advisory KPMG in Canada • Helen Mott Director, Global Infrastructure Advisory KPMG in Canada Positive Disruption in infrastructure, asset management and capital projects: To maximize return on investment (ROI), digital transformation and technology implementations for major projects, or infrastructure asset management need to be aligned to business priorities, guided by strategy, and sensitive to the capacity and culture of the organization. This presentation will outline preparation strategies to set your organization up for positive digital disruption.

SPEAKERS

14

MEET OUR SPEAKERS At the Energy Connect Virtual Conference, you will hear business leaders from producers, engineering firms, technology associations and start-ups all discussing what digital means to oil and gas, the key leverage points, the leading technologies, and the size of the opportunities.

The following speakers will be presenting during the conference, and recordings of their sessions will be available for viewing long after the event.

All sessions are free to attend. Registration is required.

JOY ROMERO Vice President Technology & Innovation, Canadian Natural Resources Limited Joy Romero, P.Eng, MBA PM, ICD.D has worked in steel, iron ore, coal and oil and gas. She has served as a School Trustee, Chair of the Governing Council of Athabasca University, and advisor to several NSERC chairs. Joy is currently Chair of the Clean Resource Innovation Network, Board Chair of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, and Vice Chair of the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada. She is a member of the Business Leaders Advisory Council for Athabasca University and the Faculty of Science Dean’s Circle for the University of Calgary. Joy is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers, an inductee of the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame and a past member of the Science, Technology & Innovation Council for Canada.

AKRAM AHMAD Principal Software Engineer Dell Technologies Akram Ahmad is a Principal Software Engineer at Dell Technologies (in the IoT Solutions Division), based in Austin (Texas). His presentation will be on the loT market. He says: “The IoT market is inherently heterogeneous, and the majority of the challenges are at the Edge (Edge computing essentially pushes applications, data and computing power (services) away from centralized points to the logical extremes of a network.) Learn about an approach to taming (1) Hundreds of protocols, (2) Mix of IP and non-IP connectivity, (3) Widely distributed computing nodes, often in unsecured areas, and (4) Need for real-time response, regardless of backend connectivity.”

MARK SOMBACH Digital Innovation Specialist/Group Lead Mark Sombach is at Cenovus as the Digital Innovation Specialist/Group Lead. Mark’s role includes evaluating technologies such as IoT devices, Image & Voice Recognition, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Drones and Robotics to enhance our business work flows.

Prior to Cenovus Mark held positions at Talisman Energy (GIS Program Manager) and ESRI (District Manager). Mark graduated from the University of Regina in the Engineering program and currently is a member (P.Eng) of APEGA.

15

GREG BOLLELLA, Ph.D. CTO, Internet-of-Things VMware, Inc. Dr. Greg Bollella, CTO, Internet-of-Things, VMware, Inc., has been interested in algorithms and software architectures that support the deterministic execution of logic within general-purpose operating systems and virtual machines since 1992. At VMware he is investigating infrastructure management for the Internet-of- Things. While a Senior Engineer at IBM, he was fundamental to the industry effort that spurred the creation of the Java Community Process and established JSR-01 the first activity under the JCP and led the JSR-01 Expert Group that defined the Real-Time Specification for Java. During his work on the Golden Gate project at Sun he concurrently held a position, for four years, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, as Distinguished Visiting Scientist. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His dissertation research is in real-time scheduling theory and real-time systems implementation.

CLAUDIO LIMA, Ph.D Blockchain Engineering Council, BEC - Co-Founder IEEE Blockchain in Energy, Chair* Dr. Claudio Lima is a seasoned executive, Global CTO, VP of Innovation and thought leader in advanced energy (utilities, oil and gas) and telecom/IT working with advanced technologies, new businesses and digital transformation. He received his Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering in 1995 at UKC (England) and has Fortune 500 industry and high tech start-up experience as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and VP of Innovation, including R&D Labs, leading teams in advanced energy systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Enterprise Blockchain and AI, Smart Grid, Microgrid and Distributed and Intelligent Energy Resources (DER). He served as Vice Chair of the IEEE 2030 Smart Grid Standards, where he made significant contributions to the development of global smart grid. Previously, Dr. Lima worked as Global Smart Grid CTO of Huawei Technologies in Europe-Asia-Pacific and as Distinguished Member of Technical Staff (DMTS)/ Sr Research Scientist at Sprint Advanced Technology Labs (Sprint ATL), in Silicon Valley-CA. (Houston Texas) Presentation Topic: Blockchain-Enabled Oil & Gas Services and Operation

DAVID WHITTEN Senior Executive Consultant with Prestonwood Energy David is a leading expert in the emerging Digital Oilfield and Internet of Things (IOT) for the Oil & Gas sector. He is experienced in setting up the required infrastructure and processes needed to scale your Digital and IOT solutions to keep you competitive now and in the future. His disruptive and innovative philosophy provides the insider knowledge with the outsider objectivity to drive large scale Digital projects for leading Oil & Gas organizations.

When he is not disrupting the O & G sector, you’ll find him in Dallas, Texas, where he enjoys active adventures with his family and friends.

Presentation Topic: IOT 101: Foundation for the Future.

SPEAKERS

16

JON TRASK Chief Guru Blockchain Guru Jon Trask brings 25 years of experience leading & transforming corporations operating in the Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Automotive & Government sectors. He has also executed several Blockchain projects throughout North America. Jon’s Blockchain experience has been supplemented through completion of the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Program, MIT Artificial Intelligence Program, Blockchain Training Alliance’s Certified Blockchain Solution Architect, Blockchain Security Course & Ethereum Developer Course. Further education has included Graduate research on Open Digital Innovation, the completion of a master’s degree in Supply Chain and now culminates with Ph.D. research focused on Business Applications of Blockchain. Jon is Chief Guru at Blockchain Guru - one of Canada’s Leading Blockchain Training Companies; Jon also leads Crypto Systems - a blockchain development company; and DigitalSCM - a supply chain/ERP technology consulting company. He currently partners with the world’s most recognized consulting firms as a blockchain & supply chain thought-leader and subject matter expert.

Presentation Topic: Blockchain & IoT: The Key to Unlocking Logistics Performance

DR. SOHEIL ASGARPOUR President Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada Dr. Asgarpour has over 30 years of diversified technical, business, and operations experience in the oil and gas industry marked by providing strong leadership as: President of Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC), President of Innovative Oil & Gas Inc. and business leader of Oil Sands Development for Alberta Department of Energy, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Canadian 88 Energy Corp., Director of Corporate Strategic Planning for Gulf Canada Resources Limited (“Gulf”), Director of Exploitation for Gulf, and Chief Engineer of Gulf. Dr. Asgarpour graduated from Rice University with a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed the Executive Management Program at Western Business School, the University of Western Ontario, and the Leadership Program at Yale School of Management, Yale University. His commitment to the future of oil and gas industry has been demonstrated through the numerous awards he has received over the course of his career.

DAVE LAFFERTY President Scientific Technical Services With over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, David provides business development and technology insights for the oil and gas segment – with special emphasize in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). David has presented and published on a number of O&G related IIoT topics. Prior to starting Scientific Technical Services, David was at the BP Chief Technology Office (CTO) where he spearheaded a wide range of innovative projects including: Developing the “Digital Umbrella” concept, wireless measurements systems, predictive analytics, and mobility projects. David has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

SPEAKERS

17

JAMES GRAHAM President and CEO GuildOne James Graham serves as President & CEO at GuildOne. James co-founded the company in 2001 and has since been innovating the Energy industry by delivering complex data management and business intelligence solutions to the market. He has led GuildOne’s progress into emerging technologies including blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to capitalize on these trends and position the company as a pioneer.

Presentation Abstract & Topic: Monitoring Hydrocarbons Throughout the Value Chain with Blockchain Hydrocarbon Measurement Ledger, a blockchain application on GuildOne’s Energy Block Exchange (EBX) blockchain business network platform, allows contractual parties to measure and track hydrocarbon volume on a shared, immutable ledger throughout the value chain. It records the volume and ownership at each custody transfer point, executing value exchange immediately upon custody transfer. This proof-of-concept (PoC) project will demonstrate the ledger in a real-world Directive 17 measurement application, proving the capabilities of blockchain to reduce data- and contract-driven disputes, G&A costs, transaction costs and transaction times, thereby significantly increasing transactional efficiencies. While blockchain PoCs have been conducted for other O&G use cases, this is the first known PoC for tracking hydrocarbons along the value chain using blockchain.

GEOFFREY CANN Former partner with one of the Big 4 consulting firms, Geoffrey Cann has 30 years of experience advising the oil and gas, energy and technology companies to help create lasting value.

Throughout his career, he has conducted, led or advised hundreds of project and management teams who were driving change in their companies, and is widely versed in the issues facing oil and gas. Geoffrey Cann teaches regularly at the MBA level on energy issues and is widely sought after as a public speaker and commentator on issues facing the industry. He also publishes the #1 ranked website and podcast on digital oil and gas.

CHRIS LEONARD Director Strategy and Digital Transformation at Plains Midstream Chris Leonard immigrated to Canada with his family in 2012 after a very successful 20 year career as a commissioned Officer in the British Army. His aim was to join Corporate Calgary where he hoped to employ his previous strategic planning and operations experience. A brief spell working at the main Syncrude site in Alberta’s oil sands was a prelude to working for the strategic planning team at Brion Energy back in Calgary. Chris subsequently joined Plains Midstream Canada in the Summer of 2015 to lead the Strategy and Digital Transformation team within IS, working directly to the CIO. Over the past 3 years he and a growing team have helped establish a comprehensive Digital Transformation Roadmap which will lead Plains Midstream into the Digital era. As he openly admits, he is not a Technologist by background, but is finding the challenge of matching new technologies to business problems fascinating and an area of long term interest.

SPEAKERS

18

NAJO IFIELD PATTESON ICS Cyber Security/ Event Producer/ Women in Cyber Security/ Global Advisory Board (CS)²AI With more than 20 years of technology experience, Najo has been focused on cybersecurity with a specific passion for Industrial Control Systems and critical infrastructure. Najo champions relationships within the industry bringing cybersecurity professionals, researchers, law enforcement and academia around the globe together and is dedicated to ensuring safe drinking water, electricity, and pipeline operations remain uninterrupted and available in North America.

STINA BROCK SVP North America at Electron Stina Brock is the Senior Vice President of North America for Electron. She is focused on working with industry partners, utilities, and grid operators to bring Electron’s innovative solutions to energy markets to enable a more efficient and sustainable grid. Previously, Stina was the Senior Director of Global Utility & Grid Solutions at Sunverge, leading Sunverge’s Solutions Engineering team. At Sunverge, Stina was responsible for developing Sunverge’s product offerings for utilities. She led Sunverge’s efforts to use blockchain technology to improve how distributed resources at the grid edge can provide value to utilities and energy markets. Prior to Sunverge, Stina led product marketing activities at Primus Power, an energy storage start-up based on advanced flow battery technology, and managed utility operations at EnerNOC (acquired by Enel), a demand response and smart grid industry leader. She started her career at Accenture as a strategy consultant in the technology sector. She has an MSEE degree in electrical power engineering from the University of Washington.

PATRICK REILLY Managing Partner – Technology, Vista Projects A member of Vista’s Board of Directors, Patrick Reilly is a business and technology innovator with 16 years of experience providing solutions within the financial, oil and gas, communications, electric utility, and airline industries. Patrick uses his breadth of knowledge across diverse industries as well as ten years of oil and gas experience to identify opportunities to improve project execution and reduce overall project costs. He leads Vista’s transformation from conventional engineering methods to a digital data-centric approach to project execution, a model which has significantly improved productivity and efficiency. Patrick currently leads a Vista business unit that consults and implements this approach. Under his leadership, the unit brings significant and tangible results for major clients. He regularly presents at international conferences throughout North America to share his knowledge on the advantages of digital project execution.

Presentation Topic: The Benefits of a Data-centric Approach in Facility Engineering

SPEAKERS

19

MIRYAH SCOTT VizworX, Account Executive Miryah Scott began her career in the energy sector 13 years ago as a Mineral Landman at Suncor. As a respected negotiator with extensive industry knowledge, she works with executive teams to develop and deliver strategic marketing initiatives that drive sales growth.

Throughout her career she has worked closely with highly technical teams including engineers, geologists, and more recently developers focusing on the use of advanced data visualization technology for industrial applications. She excels at understanding the market, and the needs of various stakeholders within complex situations and creating valuable solutions for end users.

ZACH PARSTON Manager, Global Infrastructure Advisory KPMG in Canada Zach Parston is a Manager within KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory practice with fifteen years’ experience working in the Oil & Gas sector. Throughout his career, Zach has helped organizations to identify, plan and implement digital strategies and emerging technologies. Zach balances the disruptive potential of digital technology with the stability of business strategy, organizational capacity, and workable implementations – helping organizations to realize broad and sustainable, technology enabled, value.

VICKI KNOTT P,Eng CEO and Co-founder of Crux OCM Vicki comes from an operational background at TransCanada Pipelines where she worked in commercial operation, process control engineering, and most importantly, spent significant time in the control room. She is a chemical engineer with a special interest in system wide operations and control. She sees midstream assets as a single operational process to be optimized in real time by providing the control room operators with the best tools possible. Utilizing her tenacious spirit, she is excited to provide engineered software solutions to ensure that the industries front line people (control room operators) can operate midstream assets in the safest, most profitable way.

HELEN MOTT Director in KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory practice Helen Mott is a Director in KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory practice. As a chemical engineer, she started her career in the oil & gas sector, and over the course of 20 years designed and delivered major capital projects for both the upstream and downstream sides of the business. Since joining KPMG in 2013, she has worked with her clients to help them implement sound project management and controls processes and practices backed by practical technology applications, with the end goal of improving project and program outcomes.

SPEAKERS

20

KEVIN KRAUSERT CEO Beaver Drilling Kevin Krausert is the President & CEO of Beaver Drilling, one of Canada’s largest privately-owned drilling contractors. Kevin has pioneered and championed the marketing and construction of some of the first fully computerized drilling rigs in Canada, launched one of the first autonomous drilling projects in 2017, and led the first long-reach horizontal drilling project in the Canadian arctic in 2011. Kevin is the co-founder of The Avatar Program – an industry wide collaboration between E&P’s, tech companies and the University of Calgary bringing new technology and AI into the drilling industry. Kevin is also the Drilling Executive Chair of the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC). Kevin completed his MBA at the University of Calgary in the Global Energy Executive MBA and holds a Bachelor of Science from McGill University in Neurosciences.

BRYAN PEDERSON Executive VP - Amalto Technologies North America Bryan Pederson has been in the electronic invoicing and e-field ticketing space for 10 years both on the operator and supplier side of the business. He has worked in the Oil & Gas industry for the last 20 years, where he has held leadership roles in Global Business Process Optimization and Operations Management. He continues to drive optimization and cash collection in industries that support Oil & Gas by leveraging agnostic, open source solutions.

Presentation Topic & Abstract: WFT?! (Why Field Tickets?!). For years, the Oil and Gas (and other industries) have been bogged down with the manual (and painful) nature of field tickets. Why do we need field tickets? Why can’t we get rid of field tickets? This presentation will take a look at answering those two questions and explore the history of why our industry continues to lag behind other industries in this pre-invoicing process. We will look at the barriers to truly disrupting this archaic process, and how simple they really are to overcome. We will close with the exploring innovation leaders in the industry and how we are continuing to lead the industry in digitizing our daily transactions.

TERRY CHMELYK Vice President, Spartan Controls Terrance Chmelyk has over 27 years experience in the industrial automation, control systems and IT/OT infrastructure. He has held various leadership roles in operating companies, including roles of managing both Operational Technology (OT) and IT Technology. His passion continues to be generating sustainable business results for industrial customers through the innovative application of advanced technologies. The foundation of his experience is the proven ability to solve business problems in the industrial sector through the management of people, processes and technology. He has been focused on all aspects of Digitalization, linking IT and OT worlds to solve problems and generate ROI. Terrance is currently the Vice President of Operational Excellence and Solutions at Spartan Controls Ltd. and is based in Calgary. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Technology degree, as well as been involved with executive development through the Queen’s School of Business and the Global Institute of Leadership Development (GILD).

SPEAKERS

21

DAN GIURESCU Visionary. Strategizer. Idea Accelerator. Serial Entrepreneur.

Dan is the Founder and CEO of TerraHub. Dan created TerraHub after his own attempt to build a blockchain product and struggling to find realistic, knowledgeable sources. Dan saw the need for a company to help cut through the myths and provide real world advice, guidance and product development. He’s designed TerraHub to be a trusted advisor to enterprises and start-ups and as a result, TerraHub has directly enabled the rollout of blockchain projects in oil and gas. Prior to TerraHub, Dan leveraged his industry and regulatory knowledge, financial acumen and technology expertise to co-found Caledonia Solutions, a supply chain software for the dangerous goods industry, moving the industry away from paper and into digital innovation. Dan supports numerous local charities and is a member in good standing with The A100, the Alberta Rainforest Group and a Mentor with IBM District Ventures and Technovation International, a youth program for girls wanting to learn code.

ABHISHEK GOSWAMI Snr Commercial Advisor/Production Geosciences, Shell UK Abhishek Goswami works for Shell, UK and lives in Aberdeen, Scotland with his wife and children. In his day job as a Geophysicist, he continues to enjoy staying abreast of technological breakthroughs and future challenges faced by the upstream E&P industry in order to continuously improve are some of the key drivers that motivate me. Chairing the Future Energy network at Shell, his current interests include developing a better understanding of how to lower CO2 footprint of existing operations and promote low carbon energy solutions that are scalable within the business. Goswami is a keen follower of the subject of carbon pricing and analysis of potential impact of climate change policies on investment portfolios, changes to investment strategies and reallocation of capital toward low-carbon or climate-resilient activities.

KEN ANDERSON CD ICS Architect, Operational Cyber Security Ken Anderson is a Senior Technology professional with over 30 years of experience in designing, managing and implementing cyber environments; He has specialized in Cyber Security for over 20 years. Ken is thoroughly experienced in Telecom network systems planning and evaluation, architecting secure networks and implementing network security for corporate and public-sector clients. Ken has extensive experience assessing and architecting a variety of technologies, including; Industrial Security environments, Cloud Computing for securing Enterprise Networks, Smart grid Technologies (AMR and Smart meter), Telecommunications systems design, Health Care standards (HIA) and Regulatory standards (NERC CIP, FOIP, PIPA, CSOX).

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

22

WHO SHOULD ATTEND Energy Connect is intended for: Upstream E&P operators, midstream companies, petrochemical, lubricant, refinery and processing plants in addition to EPC and Oilfield Service Companies with the following job titles: VPs, Directors, Heads, Major Project Managers, and Leads of: • Supply Chain • • • • • • • •

Procurement Strategic Sourcing Category Materials Logistics/Transportation Purchasing Buyer IT

In addition to: • Consultancy and Training Firms • Drilling Companies • IT Software Developers • Freight, Transportation and Logistics Providers • eBusiness Partners ​ virtual platform allows attendees to A effortlessly attend this show without ANY inconvenience to their professional schedule.

REGISTER NOW

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

23

FAQS

24

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Do I need to download or install any information to be able to attend this event?

No. You do not need to download or install any software to participate. You only need to have access to the internet.

Where will the event be held?

This is an online event. You do not have to travel to any specific location. You can participate anywhere that you have Internet access. The event is accessible from desktop, mobile and tablet devices.

How do I chat (text, audio and video) with the exhibitors?

To interact with a representative, visit their booth and click the “Chat tab”. Once the chat window opens, you will see a box with the representative’s name (Rep-Name). Click IM “Instant Messaging” to start interacting with the representative.

Is a webcam required?

No. Some may have the ability to request a video chat, it is not required in order to participate.

How do I log in on day-of?

Your login details will be emailed to you ahead of the event. You can use these details to access the online event.

Who do I contact if I have troubleshooting issues on day-of?

Send an email to tech@vfairs.com for any technical assistance.

Will I be able to take away information or brochures from the event?

Yes. Like any physical event, we will have a swag bag for you! You can add all of the documents available to the online swag bag in your account and then email them to yourself or share items with friends and family by simply entering their email.

The times for the live events are not convenient for me. Can I still participate in the event?

The event will remain open 24/7 for five days. Therefore, you can attend whenever it’s convenient for you during this period of time. We understand your schedule may not allow you to attend all of the live sessions of the event.

REGISTER NOW

HOW IT WORKS

26

HOW IT WORKS PARTICIPATING IN ENERGY CONNECT’S VIRTUAL OIL & GAS EXPO CONFERENCE IS EASY! Just take a look: ON THE DAY OF ENERGY CONNECT, you will receive exclusive access to the virtual trade show.

Use your unique login credentials provided to you to instantly enter the virtual lobby. There will be thousands of other attendees and exhibitors waiting to network with you.

From the Lobby, you will be free to explore the show!

Why not start with browsing the Exhibitor Hall? From here you will be able to “walk the trade show floor” by scrolling through the exhibitor list.

HOW IT WORKS

27

At any time, simply stop on an exhibitor’s name, and either browse their materials at their booth, or strike up a conversation with the Chat. You’ll be able to see who else is also at that exhibitor’s trade show booth with you.

There is also a Networking space where you can join a general Chat, and a Video Vault.

In the Auditorium is where you’ll find all the event’s Keynote Speakers and on-demand Webinars.

The entire Energy Connect experience is meant to emulate a real live trade show experience using virtual reality and maximizing digital technology.

If you can’t make it to every exhibitor during the trade show, resources will be available from each exhibitor after the show ends.

To get the most from this virtual trade show experience, we encourage you to interact with your fellow industry professionals who will be on hand throughout the event ready to network and do business.

The future of oil and gas is here.

REGISTER NOW

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

28

LOWER YOUR DSO BY 5 DAYS The Article Your Competition Doesn’t Want You to Read

By Nick Roquefort-Villeneuve, Global Marketing Director, Amalto Technologies

LET’S GO STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. How much cash flow is currently trapped in your receivables? If your organization were to lower its DSO by 5 days, how much cash flow would then be released?

Actually, an essential question to ask is, how do you get to lower your DSO by 5 days? Now, I must warn you. To write this down on your to-do list and stick it on your fridge won’t cut it. A bit more is required, like making sure you select a potent AR automation solution that not only will release trapped cash flow from your accounts receivable but will also provide you with additional savings associated to the elimination of a few headcounts allocated to collection.

So, what’s the recipe?

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

29

PEACE OF MINDÂ CAN BECOME YOUR NEW NORMAL

Enterprise-Class Digital Automation for Your Receivables

Bring intelligence to AR collection and get paid faster with our fully-managed, secure, cloud-based, and workflows-powered receivables automation solution amalto.com

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

30 So, you can sleep soundly at night and your IT folks can work on IT projects that truly matter to them and the company. Furthermore, those same AR solutions top-vendors store all your data inside private, dedicated clouds, which ensures enhanced security and agility.

Or maybe is it a price issue? Fact: The cheapest solutions are never the best ones. A robust tool is an investment. Having said that, it represents an investment that’s only a small fraction of the cash flow you’ll release from your AR once it’s up and running. The ROI is undeniable.

STEP 2: CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOLUTION Anything less than the few features below wouldn’t be acceptable:

IF YOU’VE ALREADY AUTOMATED YOUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND YOUR DSO HAS NOT DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED, THERE IS A PROBLEM. STEP 1: OVERCOME YOUR FEAR(S) Golden rule: What feels familiar certainly doesn’t mean it’s good for you and your ecosystem. So, if you’ve already automated your accounts receivable and your DSO has not dramatically improved, there is a problem. Moreover, if manual tasks are still involved in the processing of purchase orders and invoices, there is an even greater problem. Let’s do a quick recap: Your DSO is not up to par and/or processes are still (partly) manually handled, and you haven’t looked into a stateof-the-art automation solution yet?

What are you afraid of exactly?

Could it be a control issue? Does the fear of losing control to an automation solution deter you and your organization from changing durably? Reality check: To breathe over a clerk who processes a PO manually is not being in control. To find out later that the same clerk made a typo while processing the same PO, and the mistake ends up delaying payment due to an arising dispute is not being in control either. It’s just bad business. Automation eliminates such risks.

Are you fearful that you do not have the proper IT resources to implement and maintain the AR automation application fully functional? Let me reassure you.

The best solutions do not need the intervention of your IT department once the application is in production.

• User-Friendly Processes. Automated accounts receivable technology allows both employees and customers to easily view bill closing dates and payment amounts.

• Invoicing. All statements and bills should be housed in a secure online portal. Users receive a notification when there is a new invoice, which they can view conveniently in digital form.

• Increased Data Security. Paper invoices are actually far less secure than automated digital solutions.

They are at risk of being stolen and viewed by unauthorized third parties, whereas robust accounts receivable solutions feature stringent security measures to protect data from theft or fraud.

• Fast, Easy Payments. Electronic payment allows all invoices to be settled via numerous convenient options including e-check, bank transfers, credit card, debit card and more.

• Effective Reporting. Accounts receivable solutions need to include a full suite of reporting features to give you insights into customer payment patterns, past-due account and much more.

• Seamless Integration. An accounts receivable solution must integrate seamlessly with legacy systems, enterprise resource platforms, and other existing technologies for easy adoption.

Ultimately, mission… Possible?

A two-step decision process is not that complex to manage. Like with anything else, the goal first lies in eliminating whichever pre-conceived ideas you have around what AR automation is like or supposed to look like. Only then are you truly able to assess which product will optimally work for your organization.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

31 If you’re an insomniac, the infomercial tagline “Set it, and forget it!” must ring a bell. It’s actually the same with a potent AR automation solution. If you don’t have to interact with the application, it means you’ve made the right choice. Now, what does the right choice truly look like?

THE IDEA BEHIND OFFERING A FULLY MANAGED APPLICATION IS THAT PROBLEMS ARE ANTICIPATED AND THEN FIXED, BEFORE THEY CAN CREATE DISRUPTION IN THE USER’S ECOSYSTEM. Have you ever dreamed of buying an enterprise-class AR automation solution that the Software as a Service provider implements and then manages on your behalf, therefore without requiring your intervention? Do you remember those dark times, during which your department was stuck because of sudden changes in the connections to one of your customers? Fortunately, after the dark there is light… You never have to find yourself in this same precarious position.

Fully-Managed AR Automation Solution A fully managed SaaS (Software as a Service) is an application offered by a software company that takes care of all associated issues on behalf of the client. In other words, as the customer you never need to monitor the system or fix a problem when one arises. The solution provider proactively does so, without your having to be aware of their actions. The idea behind offering a fully managed application is that problems are anticipated and then fixed, before they can create disruption in the user’s ecosystem. Consequently, the latter does not need to allocate any resources to monitor the solution, which allows them to avoid technology-related downtimes that always disrupt productivity.

Top 3 Benefits Here are the 3 things you should consider, if you’re thinking of embracing a fully managed enterprise-class AR automation SaaS: • Stability: Since the AR software provider systematically makes sure that all associated systems and flows work optimally, you and

your department never have to fear that the entire order-to-cash ecosystem that allows you and your customers to transact seamlessly spirals down.

Performing routine maintenance and automatic upgrades are also part of the deal.

• Security: Embracing a fully managed service infers the certainty that all systems pertaining to your e-invoicing solution will be updated to the latest security patches, among other procedures, which will always and seamlessly keep you ahead of hackers and viruses.

• Scalability: As you add more clients, your e-invoicing solution needs to connect to more customer portals. When fully managed, the software provider promptly handles all these new tasks for you.

IN CONCLUSION At Amalto, we provide our clients with a fully managed AR automation solution, which is hosted on a dedicated private cloud. Naturally, there is a cost associated to the extra level of service that a fully managed application represents. Of course, peace of mind has no price. Actually, it does when you need to work within the scope of a budget and defend your choices before a bunch of Executives. Having said that, numbers don’t lie, ROI’s can easily be computed, and they tend to speak in favor of proceeding with such an investment.

A fully managed service will indeed allow you to cut costs that pertain to HR (by eliminating or assigning headcounts to more significant tasks) and annual interests on cash invested in excess receivables. •

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

32

TRUST EARNED THROUGH PERFORMANCE. Wolseley Industrial Inc. Canada is the total solution for manual and automated valves. For projects of all sizes, our experienced technicians, automation facility, extensive inventory, and high-quality standards allow us to quickly meet requirements and provide exceptional service. We provide the industrial pipe, valves, and fittings (PVF) services our customers need. Whether it’s valve automation or engineered products, our experienced associates are ready to help.

This is important to Wolseley which is why we have superior technical expertise in products and applications compared to the competition.

We maintain engineers on staff to continuously improve our product lines and resolve all quality concerns with proficiency and expediency. We have a very large network of PVF manufacturers to source the right products, with the correct specifications.

With 18 locations across Canada, our knowledgeable team is able to meet and exceed customers needs by understanding the industry demands, providing the right products on time while implementing their expertise.

Having developed strong relationships with suppliers guarantees inventory and service levels, and in turn grows their footprint. We also source products from the international supply chain network to find the best quality at the best price.

Wolseley Industrial has successfully developed strong customer relationships and provided training and knowledge on products that we supply in order to keep the customer involved and in control.

The Meridian trunnion ball valves are the best selling product we carry. Our engineers have performed rigorous due diligence in ensuring industry standards and end-user feedback is incorporated into the product

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

33

design, and that any quality issues are drilled down to isolate the root cause to ensure continuous improvement. Our vastly experienced sales teams have efficiently identified applications for these products with end-users, explaining the nuances between the various configurations of the trunnion ball valves in our industry.

We strive to expand our product range beyond an industrial valve focus. We have recently added wellhead BOP and frac flowback manifold capabilities to strengthen our presence in upstream oil and gas. We are also supplying specialized HF acid products to refineries.

Wolseley Industrial and Wolseley Canada understands its responsibilities towards the environment and is committed to environmental protection on a local and a global scale. We are committed to the continual improvement of our environmental performance and to the prevention of pollution. We believe this also sets our business apart from our competitors, attracting and maintaining customers, suppliers, employees and other stakeholders who want to partner with an environmentally responsible business.

One of our objectives is providing products that last, so there is less need to replace or repair. One of these products is the BRC Engineering Black ArmourTM line.

To ensure we deliver against our commitment, Wolseley Canada has brought together a new Environmental Committee. Our 5-year targets (established in April 2016): • Carbon emissions from buildings and equipment - 7% decrease • Carbon emissions from transport 5% decrease • Total waste (tonnes) - 10% decrease • % Recycled waste - 10% increase As we have continued to grow our business, so has our environmental footprint, we partner with manufacturers that are complying with the latest revisions of industry fugitive emissions standards. This includes API 641 for quarter-turn valves, and API 624 for multi-turn valves.

Having multiple tight knit branches across the country we act with the personableness of a small business with all the benefits and capabilities of a large one.

Please stop by our booth to get a better understanding of the capabilities of Wolseley Industrial Canada including the product lines we distribute, and the services that are performed. •

WOLSELEY INDUSTRIAL AND WOLSELEY CANADA UNDERSTANDS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT AND IS COMMITTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON A LOCAL AND A GLOBAL SCALE.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

34

VALVES & VALVE AUTOMATION

MERIDIAN - QUALITY, CONSISTENCY, ECONOMY Established in the late ‘90s, products bearing the Meridian™ name are recognized as cost effective, consistent high quality range of valves and actuators that demonstrate an ability to meet or exceed customer and industry specifications.

Large and small businesses in oil and gas, petrochemical, pulp and paper, mining, water and waste management, and power generation industries count on Meridian™ products to provide a high-quality, yet economical products.

Meridian™ produces a wide range of commodity and special service valves and valve actuation products to best meet its customers’ needs.

Meridian™ branded products include: • Trunnion ball valves • 3 piece forged end entry • 2 piece cast end entry • Top entry, welded body, cryogenic, metal seated • Floating ball valves • 2 piece cast or forged, end entry • API 6D check valves • WOG design small threaded ball valves • ASME rated threaded ball valves • Quarter turn rack and pinion actuators • Scotch Yoke - Pneumatic & Hydraulic Actuators

Through ongoing feedback from customers in operations, engineering, procurement and maintenance, Meridian™ products have been developed with today’s requirements in mind. Since its early offerings, the Meridian brand has extended from threaded and socket weld ball valves to flanged floater and trunnion ball valves, API 6D check valves and actuators.

Meridian™ products are used in a wide range of markets and industries around the world including: • Oil & Gas • Mining & Metals • Transmission & Pipelines • Petrochemical, Chemical and Refining • Power & Utilities • Pulp & Paper Today, the Meridian™ brand exemplifies attributes expected of a top-tier provider – safety, quality, operation, and long service life.

Meridian™ provides technical and commercial sales support through its dedicated team of focused experts.

Our high standards of excellence, trained staff, problem solving expertise and large product inventory allow us to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information about how we supply your specific market, please call us at 1-800-661-6997.

Please stop by our booth to view an educational webinar on the often confused Double Block and Bleed and Double Isolation and Bleed valves, and review the product lines that are available. Thank you!•

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

35

MERIDIAN VALVES & VALVE AUTOMATION

Industry Leading WARRANTY Providing quality and consistency for the energy markets for over 2 decades.

VALVES & VALVE AUTOMATION

TRUST THROUGH PERFORMANCE Meridian™ brand exemplifies attributes expected of a top-tier provider – safety, quality, operation, and long service life.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

36

Taking Your Business

TO NEW HEIGHTS 5 STAR MEDIA GROUP, based in Calgary, Alberta, is the leading visual media marketing firm for the Oil and Gas Industry throughout Western Canada. CEO and co-founder Kelsey Hepples shares how the company has become a burgeoning business serving the needs of the Oil and Gas industry.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

37 It’s been five busy years in business for the 5 Star Media Group. In addition to developing and hosting Industry Connect – Canada’s first Virtual Oil & Gas Expo – the company offers a vast array of valuable services to take care of all your marketing needs. Their team does it all, from virtual trade shows, video production, professional photography, website development, ​​ Google ad word campaigns, graphic design, and social media marketing. Their full-service offerings provide a complete, streamlined approach to promoting your business from start to finish.

“Our strength is branding and marketing your business to make it stand out in this highly competitive market,” says CEO and co-founder Kelsey Hepples.

HOW IT ALL STARTED Before helping establish 5 Star Media Group, Kelsey worked for one of the largest gardening magazines and gardening trade show hosts in the world as a Senior Sales Executive. “It was during that time that I learned what was needed to effectively market a company’s business,” she recalls.

“We also hosted enormous trade shows that would unite gardening distributors, wholesalers, and retailers. These shows were highly attended and wildly successful in their heyday. However, things changed, and it suddenly wasn’t economical for the industry to travel to the numerous shows to conduct business. And over time the attendance dropped. That was when I learned about virtual trade shows.”

IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUAL TRADE SHOW, 5 STAR MEDIA GROUP IS BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR INDUSTRY VIDEOS THAT PROMOTE BUSINESSES. After Kelsey left the gardening industry, she partnered up with Wade Pringle, who had been working in Fort McMurray for more than 15 years at Syncrude and left to pursue his passions in visual media and marketing in Oil and Gas. Together, the pair took their idea for Industry Connect and ran with it, turning it into Canada’s first virtual trade show for the industry.

“I saw there was some very distinct parallels between the industry oil and gas trade shows with the lack of attendance,” Kelsey explains. “After approaching our Canadian media partners BOE Report, Riggertalk, and Camtrader, and presenting this concept of a virtual trade show to them, we decided it was time we

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

38

IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUAL TRADE SHOW, 5 STAR MEDIA GROUP IS BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR INDUSTRY VIDEOS THAT PROMOTE BUSINESSES. brought this innovative, effective, modern platform to our industry.”

In addition to the virtual trade show, 5 Star Media group is best known for their industry videos that promote businesses. Their production partners all have oil and gas backgrounds and have all their safety tickets and training, which allow them to travel virtually anywhere in the industry and film hard to reach areas.

“Our team is extremely talented,” Kelsey boasts. “From making this magazine from the ground up, selling out a virtual trade show, and producing dozens of compelling videos – we do it all so well. The best part is that although we look extremely high end, we are extremely affordable. You don’t have to break the bank to effectively market your business.”

SEIZING THE MOMENT Along with the high-quality work they produce, another element of 5 Star’s success is seizing every moment.

“We established our company at a time when the price of oil was at the lowest it had been in a long time and companies who were used to not competing for work were desperately looking for a way to market themselves and stand out,” shares co-founder Wade Pringle.

“We didn’t enter at this time because we are opportunists – we entered at this time because this is our industry, and we knew we had the ability to really help some companies stand out and gain traction, and it just grew from there.”

Back in their earlier days, 5 Star Media simply allowed the quality of their work to speak for itself and then began to offer additional digital marketing services where needed, such as digital marketing via Google ad word campaigns, photography, and eventually the Industry Connect virtual trade show. It’s all being delivered at a time when today’s Oil and Gas industry members are truly seeing the value in such marketing support.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

39 “There is a saying that I love,” says Kelsey. ”‘Cutting your marketing budget to save money is like stopping your watch to save time.’ The key is not throwing your dollars in a marketing black hole,” she adds.

“Today you can truly track your marketing dollars down to the penny, targeting your key demographic and knowing exactly who has clicked on what, where they are from, what industry they are from, and what services they are interested in. Technology has truly changed the game in terms of marketing and it’s such an incredible tool to use! You need to always be thinking about how your business is going to continue competing, and ask yourself, how are you going to market yourself so that your business stands out?”

One such way companies are standing out is during 5 Star Media’s inaugural Industry Connect event. For the sold-out May 8-9 event, 5 Star Media is excited for exhibitors and attendees to network and see the many informative webinars and that exhibitors will be presenting.

“Our exhibitors will be showcasing their many cost-saving solutions to industry wide problems,” says Wade. “In addition, attendees will be able to chat with exhibitors in real time, as well as download their informational documents all with the simple click of a button.”

LOOKING AHEAD It’s been a whirlwind for 5 Star Media these last few years, but the company is not about to slow down.

There’s already a lot in the works for the growing team of 15, including more virtual trade shows. “We are excited to announce that Energy Connect will be hosting many more shows in the years to come,” says Kelsey.

“The response from the industry has been overwhelming and we are so excited to continue serving the industry with our virtual platform. Anyone interested in booking into our future shows (dates are TBA) can contact us at any time.”

With so many accomplishments under their belt already, 5 Star Media is truly in a league of its own when it comes to compelling, industry-specific marketing companies. “We want to have meaningful relationships with our clients and provide the best service we possibly can,” says Kelsey. “We want to help grow this amazing industry and help businesses succeed. We are so incredibly proud to be a part of Canada’s oil and gas sector and are so grateful to work with the hard-working Canadians that bring so much to the Canadian economy,” adds Wade.

VIEW THE VIDEO GALLERY Apart from developing and hosting Canada’s first virtual trade show, 5 Star Media’s videos are their top seller.

Videographers aim to capture what makes each client unique, their staff, their companies culture and turn into a video that makes clients look high-end and professional.

Just look at some of their amazing results: • Thyssen Mining • Living Sky Industrial • Northern Mat and Bridge • Green Energy Services • NMB Teaser • North West Fabricators • Chanelle’s Oil Field Services • Blue Line Energy Group

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

40

CANADA’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCESS STRUCTURES Celebrating 20 years, Northern Mat & Bridge (NMB) provides complete turn-key solutions, environmental stewardship, and a supportive workplace for all employees.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

41 As a leading industrial service provider, Northern Mat & Bridge (NMB) provides wooden access mats, crane mats, and rig mats, and temporary wooden or steel bridge structures for access to difficult terrain and sites for any industry including: Power Transmission & Distribution; Pipeline; Oil & Gas; Emergency Response; Renewable Energy; Forestry; and Mining & General Construction.

We are Canada’s largest provider, headquartered in Grande Prairie, Alberta, with operations from British Columbia to Newfoundland. Our service model provides confidence to our customers that their access needs will be met.

We are united in our mission to safely deliver the most cost-effective site access solutions, and this mission is driven by a passion to serve our customers’ needs in a safe, responsive and reliable fashion, from initial planning and consultation, to ensuring minimal ecological disturbance in environmentally sensitive areas.

With internal manufacturing and a fleet of equipment combined with 50+ yards across Canada, NMB is well positioned to serve our customers with turn-key ser-

OUR COMPANY HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, FROM JUST A FEW EMPLOYEES IN ONE PROVINCE TO HUNDREDS OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT CANADA. vices from start to finish, including 24/7 deployment and support and emergency response through our Northern Environmental Access Services (NEAS) unit.

2019 marks Northern Mat & Bridge’s 20th year of providing quality access products and services. Throughout our history, NMB has held a well-earned reputation for unwavering commitment to health and safety, high-quality products and best-in-class service.

Our company has grown exponentially over the last two decades, from just a few employees in one province to hundreds of dedicated professionals through-

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

42

OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET AND OUR DEVELOPMENT OF A CHALLENGING YET SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE FACILITATES OUR PEOPLE TO NURTURE AND GROW THEIR TALENTS. out Canada, and we are extremely proud of where we’ve come from, where we are and where we are going. Our commitment to continuous improvement ensures we’re embracing industry best practices, and we strongly believe in conducting business with the highest level of integrity and ethics.

Our goal is simply to continue to be the best at what we do.

The protection of the environment has always been a cornerstone of our business – it’s what our products are designed for. With a commitment to conservation, minimizing waste, and working to reduce carbon emis-

sions, we also practice environmental stewardship by working with wood suppliers that are actively engaged in re-forestation initiatives.

Our primary wood suppliers are committed to sustainable forest management and re-forestation by planting 3.5 seedlings for every tree harvested, ensuring the preservation of this renewable resource for generations to come.

Our employees are our greatest asset and our development of a challenging yet supportive workplace facilitates our people to nurture and grow their talents.

The safety, growth and development of our people are foundations of our business and the resulting success over the past 20 years is a testament to this commitment.

We welcome you to explore becoming a valued member of our team.

For more information, visit our website at www.northernmat.ca

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

43

THE INDUSTRIAL SITE ACCESS EXPERTS MINIMIZING THE INDUSTRY'S FOOTPRINT Access remote sensitive areas while protecting the environment

PORTABLE MAT WASHING Enabling proper protection of land during industrial activity

24 HOUR RAPID RESPONSE Expedited Access services ensure faster containment & cleanup

ACCESS MAT RECYCLING Minimizing environmental impacts with cradle to grave access products

NORTHERNMAT.CA

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

44

YOU TELL US WITH ELM INC. (ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY MANAGEMENT)

ELM Inc., based in Calgary, Alberta, offers singlesource environmental liability management service in the areas of abandonment, decommissioning, remediation, reclamation, and water and waste solutions. With 30 years of direct industry experience, when considering ELM’s legacy company, Abandonrite – and a broad range of services offered, ELM is an industry-leading service company, backed by a highly experienced technical team with seasoned leadership, safely delivering tailored solutions to clients. Company COO Tammi Price tells Energy Connect more about how the company has solidified its spot in the industry.

45

WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY BEST KNOWN FOR? ELM is best known for its experience in environmental assessment and liability management. Our services include in-depth environmental assessments; abandonment and decommissioning of wells, pipelines, and facilities; remediation and reclamation; water and waste treatment; and liability advisory services.

WHAT WERE YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS PARTNERS UP TO BEFORE ESTABLISHING YOUR COMPANY? Most of our employees joined our company right out of school with anywhere from 10 to more than 25 years with ELM Inc., or its predecessor company, Abandonrite. Our leadership worked as executives with a large transportation logistics company and mid-stream, financial, oil & gas and resource companies.

WHAT STRUGGLES DID YOU EXPERIENCE IN THE EARLY YEARS? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM? One of the big challenges we faced early on, which continues to be a challenge for our company and our segment of the industry, centers around the issue of accountability. Governments and lenders at all levels need to take a more assertive position in holding oil & gas companies accountable for cleaning up old wells,

pipelines, and facilities. We have worked to overcome this by diversifying our value-add services, such as, a unique cost cap over-run insurance product for our downhole clients that we have recently made available.

HOW DID YOU GAIN MARKET SHARE IN THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY? Two key factors continue to drive our ability to grow market share. The first involves the breadth of our service offering. By offering a broad range of services we simplify the number of suppliers our customers have to deal with to get the job done. By offering a wider range of services ELM is able to offer a complete end-to-end solution which produces overall cost savings for our clients. The second major factor contributing to our ability to grow market share comes from the depth of experience we have in our employees. That experience allows us to be more creative when it comes to designing solutions, as well as better equipped to deal with any operational challenges that might arise during implementation of our solutions.

HOW DO YOU STAND OUT FROM THE COMPETITION? One of the biggest things we do better than the competition is provide our customers with an in-depth environmental assessment prior to starting to design and implement a solution. Our team consists of many

YOU TELL US

46

well-known experts in the field of environmental liability management. Another item that separates us from the competition is our ELM Guarantee, which involves our exclusive cost cap over-run product designed to reduce our customers’ risks during implementation. The “cost cap” eliminates runaway costs and costly budget over-runs which can significantly hurt a company’s performance.

HOW ARE YOU REVOLUTIONIZING THE WAY YOU OPERATE? One of the ways in which we are attempting to revolutionize our business is by offering a state-of-the-art water and waste treatment solution. With the implementation of this solution, customers are able to avoid costly disposal costs while at the same time reusing their need for water. This, in turn, reduces the amount of fresh water constantly being drawn from rivers and lakes to run our customers’ operations.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON THESE DAYS? One of our current projects in focused on reducing the cost of the “cut and cap” of well heads which we hope to launch later this spring. In addition, we are working on an exciting project involving First Nations.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR COMPANY DEMONSTRATE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP? ELM demonstrates environmental stewardship by supporting the resource sector at the end of the life of their operations with the collective goal to leave the environment the way they found it. ELM can also help reduce the impact on the environment during operations, an example of this is by optimizing the water usage during operations… the costly One and Done water use!

WHAT IS ONE THING OIL & GAS INDUSTRY MEMBERS MUST ALWAYS BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF? The field of abandonment and decommissioning is an “outdoor sport” and as such, can be very dangerous at times. At ELM, our 30-year experience, with our established in-house Health & Safety department drives a safety culture throughout our company starting with the executive team and extending throughout our field operations personnel and our service providers.

YOU TELL US

47

WHAT ARE THE FUTURE GOALS FOR YOUR COMPANY? One of our goals is to grow our company through the introduction of new services, as well as extending our reach into new geographic regions. Primarily a western Canadian focused company, we are in the process of establishing a strong presence in eastern Canada with a further eye on the US market in the future.

TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR PROUDEST MOMENTS SO FAR. About two years ago we underwent a successful transition from Abandonrite, our legacy company, to become ELM Inc. In addition, we received national recognition for our contribution to the completion of the negotiation of the largest Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA), related to a mine and First Nation in Canada. We have an awesome COR rating of 99% and we are a member of the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA).

WHAT CAN TRADE SHOW ATTENDEES EXPECT WHEN THEY CHECK YOU OUT DURING ENERGY CONNECT? When attendees visit our booth, they will find a company that offers: • Comprehensive environmental liability management services • Innovative solutions • Significant cost savings • Quality operational execution • An exceptionally experienced team • Superior risk management • Outstanding communication Attendees should visit our booth to further educate themselves on the importance of understanding environmental liabilities and how the changing regulatory landscape might impact them. ELM is an industry leading service company in this field, and we are here to assist in creating that understanding. • To learn more about ELM, visit www.elminc.ca

48

INDUSTRIAL PROJECT ENGINEERING FACES INFLECTION POINT – ARE YOU READY? LARGE-SCALE FACILITY ENGINEERING OVERDUE FOR A CHANGE.

By Tyler Elchuk, Business Development Director, Vista Projects

Engineering is the ever-important starting line for most major projects.

The decisions made in engineering not only dictate design and guide the construction, they can also greatly impact capital and operations expenditures related to how the facility is operated, maintained, and eventually decommissioned.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

49 Not preparing a project’s engineering data for life after construction is as costly as it is preventable, and to avoid such a scenario requires thinking about the total cost of ownership (TCO) from the onset of an industrial facility project, rather than after a project has begun or is nearly finished.

That’s the challenge facing industrial facility engineering teams.

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

Every country has ageing facilities and infrastructure that need revamping, new technologies that need developing, and pilot projects that need field testing. In short, the world needs large-scale industrial projects, but these projects need to be more efficient and as cost-effective as possible to provide maximum benefits.

“THERE IS A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT IN TRADITIONAL ENGINEERING, PROCUREMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION (EPC) PROJECT EXECUTION AND VISTA PROJECTS HAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED TO A NEW MODEL.” But, while demand for industrial facilities increases, so does the capital investment required to get these projects off the ground, and depending on the local investment landscape, it may be difficult to attract investors. Canada’s energy industry, for example, faces several growing challenges.

Engineering has a critical role to play.

Construction costs represent a major investment hurdle for any industrial project. This includes the cost of engineering, which varies depending on the type of facility or infrastructure and whether it’s a greenfield or brownfield project.

On these large projects, even small cost implications represent big money. Two recent examples:

In fact, it is a widely accepted trend that capital projects will cost more than initially expected. In its 2017 report, “Reinventing Construction: A Route To Higher Productivity”, Management Consultants McKinsey & Company estimates that $1.6 trillion is wasted annually on capital project inefficiencies. In fact, construction costs and inefficient labour productivity account for the bulk of this estimate. Among other things, the report identifies design & engineering, procurement & supply chain, and onsite execution as three areas of capital project execution that need to improve.

There is a major opportunity for improvement in traditional Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) project execution and Vista Projects has successfully transitioned to a new model.

CAD DESIGN – A BRIEF HISTORY

Industrial engineering was analog until the mid-1900s, and while computer-aided design (CAD) software was developed as part of a PhD thesis at MIT in the early 1960s, commercial adoption didn’t begin until the mid1970s and due mainly to the cost and size of computers at the time, CAD was slow to catch on.

In fact, when Vista was founded in 1985, Alex Campbell and his partner Don Nygaard were still using a traditional drafting board.

As computer technology evolved, CAD equipment became more accessible and cost-effective and the software became more powerful. By the early 2000s, CAD software was the standard for engineering design.

Vista was an early adopter and, with our team of over 100 drafters and designers, we developed the models for what would become some of the most successful central processing facilities in Canada’s oil market.

The major problem of capital projects engineering is that this adoption of CAD programs nearly 20 years ago was the last major industry-wide process efficiency improvement to be implemented. While computers and software are now faster at processing information and display interfaces have improved, these changes haven’t significantly improved how capital projects are executed.

Let’s use a comparison to put this in perspective.

• LNG Canada, the proposed natural gas liquefaction plant in Kitimat, B.C., has been pegged as the most expensive private-sector project in Canadian history. It is expected to exceed its estimated cost of CAD $40 billion.

Today’s mobile technology is light years ahead of where it was 20 years ago. Now we have near-live access to just about anything we want to learn or watch, which has changed how we interact with others, consume information, and navigate our daily routines.

• The Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project.

Purchased by the Government of Canada in 2018, it too is expected to exceed its estimated cost of Cad $4.5 billion.

In the facilities engineering world, CAD technology has certainly improved over the last 20 years, but the way engineers work together on large capital projects has not kept pace. Though digital engineering design tech-

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

50 nology exists, the industry has not adopted it into project governance nor has it changed how projects and data are managed from an owner-client perspective.

The change, however, is coming.

At Vista, we’ve dedicated the last five years to revamping our work processes with a data-centric approach to project execution.

DUMB DIGITAL VS. SMART DIGITAL

In short, the data-centric approach is the management of engineering metadata in an intelligent manner.

Data-centric architecture calls for the engineering metadata to be available in an easy-to-consume and easy-to-find fashion that is linked to all parts of the design, from 1D (lists) to 2D (P&IDs, plot plans) to 3D (model, laser scans). This changes an organization’s focus from document production to one that produces and manages data.

At Vista, we focus on intelligent data and use a variety of engineering tools to populate databases, as opposed to hundreds of Excel files that would normally feed a project’s document-based deliverables.

Traditional execution systems weren’t designed to take advantage of intelligent data. For example, engineering designs are done digitally, but the associated drawings are printed for review, mark-ups, and eventual scanning and storage. What began as a digital design that is linked with other documents, collaborated on with other disciplines, and modified on-the-fly, loses all its

benefits once it’s printed and scanned as a PDF with limited searchability or interoperability.

This is digital, but it is dumb digital and for large facility projects, this focus on documentation makes the engineering process rigid with inefficient execution. Any execution process that calls for thousands of documents to printed and stored in a warehouse shouldn’t be the norm in 2019. At Vista, our data-centric approach has enabled a paperless execution workflow and we do everything digitally, from stamping to squad checks. More importantly, focusing on data over documents fosters a more collaborative approach with other disciplines and client representatives and allows: • Efficient issuance of document deliverables.

Stakeholders can view and provide feedback on the design in a shared digital environment.

• Management of revision history and document requests. Team members simultaneously work on the design in real-time, alongside the owner and the construction team.

• Reviews are concurrent and live. This reduces the back-and-forth cycle on documents and streamlines the design process.

The efficiency implications of this change in approach cannot be overstated.

We can compare it to how we now consume daily news as opposed to 20 years ago. Where news was once focused on the deliverable (scheduled newspapers and

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

51 broadcasts), it now follows a data-centric approach, in which instant, mobile access to endless information has changed how we live, enabling us to make more informed decisions.

These same benefits apply in a digital engineering environment. We’ve experienced them first-hand at Vista, whether it’s on a smaller scale, where project admins no longer run around the office to retrieve a physically initialled drawing, or in a larger scope, where a collaborative design environment reduces cycle time as a whole and provides the client with full transparency into how their project is progressing. This is a giant leap forward from traditional engineering.

Not only does this collaborative, transparent design process reduce cost and yield higher quality work in a shorter time frame, it also catches errors earlier in the development process. Engineers can quickly look at alternative design solutions that would have otherwise been too costly to consider once the project reached a certain phase.

That’s smart digital, powered by intelligent data.

COST BENEFIT

It is conservatively estimated that a data-centric approach can reduce an average project’s total installation cost (TIC) by 10%. And the savings aren’t just within engineering – they come at every phase of a capital project. A task like populating commissioning systems is no longer a manual process. Handover activities are

replaced by instant access to accurate data: No more searching thousands of unorganized documents while a construction crew waits.

Long-term operation and maintenance also benefit from a data-centric approach. As new contractors become involved with a project, they have access to all of the project’s metadata, and the same digital environment, rather than a plot plan, P&IDs, and a bunch of PDFs. Consider a pump replacement project where all 500 attributes of the pump and surrounding area are instantly available without placing requests that can take days to process.

A facility’s entire lifecycle data can be stored in a central project portal, including original engineering drawings, procurement history, manufacturer information, operations data, accurate as-built scans, construction verification results, and much more.

Historically, industrial facility engineering has been overly focused on the immediate deliverable to optimize data for future use. The result is billions of dollars wasted annually on capital project execution and growing hesitation from the investment community. An industry-wide change is upon the facility engineering world, and a data-centric approach can reduce project risk by improving execution. It is easy to see how the cost efficiencies from a data-centric approach can compound over time.

All it takes is intelligent data and that starts with engineering. •

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

52

TORQUE TOOL SPECIALISTS IN WESTERN CANADA

Servicing British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan Based out of Spruce Grove, Alberta, Axis Torque Ltd. provides Canadian industries in Western Canada with all their torque tool and torque tool accessory needs with superior service. Founded by Darren Goerz, Axis Torque offers quality rentals, sales, repair service, calibrations, and certifications of hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, battery powered, mechanical torque wrenches, multipliers, flange and lifting equipment as well as air and hydraulic pressure gauge certifications.

Application Specialists are waiting for your call to help you get set up with the right equipment for your job 24/7 for your convenience. The Axis Torque team will always strive to solve any customer bolting issues through sourcing out or custom building new and innovative tools and equipment to make the job easier and safer for the customer. No tool application is too big or too small, and Axis Torque continues to add the best new products available on the market.

SALES AND RENTALS Axis Torque is able to offer many tools for any application, whether you’re looking to buy or rent a variety of torque wrenches and torque-related products. All tools will always come with a new certificate of calibration upon ordering to ensure when the tools arrive at your jobsite, they are 100% ready to get your job done.

Axis Torque offers the following equipment for rent or sale: • Hydraulic Torque Wrenches - All ft/lb Ranges • Hydraulic Torque Wrench Pumps - Electric and Air Driven • Back Up Wrenches - All Sizes Available • Pneumatic Torque Wrenches - Various ft/lb Ranges

• Electric Torque Wrenches - Various ft/lb Ranges • Battery Powered Torque Wrenches Various ft/lb Ranges • Mechanical Torque Wrenches - All ft/lb Ranges • Mechanical Torque Multipliers Various ft/lb Ranges • Flange Working Tools - Lifting Wedges Flange Spreaders • Lifting Cylinders – Various types and sizes • Nut Splitters - Various Sizes Available • Hydraulic Pressure Gauges Various PSI/BAR Ranges • Air Pressure Gauges - Various PSI/BAR Ranges • Calibration and Torque Verification Systems Upon Request • Accessories - Sockets - Various Torque and Torque Related Products • Torque Wrench Parts and Repair Services Axis Torque also repairs and services not only their own products, but many other brands of torque tools and torque-related products. The company carries multiple part lines for all industry popular brands. Their manufacturer-trained technicians have many years of experience on site.

TORQUE WRENCH AND GAUGE CERTIFICATION Axis Torque offers a full range of high-quality and accurate certification services to keep your tools up to date and working on the jobsite. They also offer certification up to 35,000 ft/lb on most hydraulic and pneumatic tools and can also certify hydraulic pressure gauges up to 15,000 psi. • For more information on the torque wrench products and services offered by Axis Torque, visit www.axistorque.com.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

53

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

54

A CLOSER LOOK: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

OF OIL AND GAS

By Geoffrey Cann

Oil and gas industry advisor, Geoffrey Cann, shares his advice on how companies can get started with digitization in his new book “Bits, Bytes, and Barrels: The Digital Transformation of Oil and Gas”.

YOUR MAGAZINE NAME

“This is a timely, well-researched, practical and insightful book that plugs a much-needed 55 gap in the market. If you are looking for a one-stop shop that brings together key digital themes and ideas in Oil and Gas in one place, then this is it—highly recommended.”

DR. JOHN PILL AY — GLOBAL DIGITAL TRANSFORM ATION DIRECTOR, WORLEY PARSONS

#1 NEW RELEASE Canada

#1 BEST SELLER Canada

#1 NEW RELEASE USA

#1 BEST SELLER Canada

Natural Resources Extraction Industry

Natural Gas Energy

Energy and Mining Industry Extraction and Processing

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

56 For the past two years, I’ve been researching, studying and puzzling over the business model shifts created by digital innovation and their relationships to the oil and gas industry. The result is my new book, “Bits, Bytes, and Barrels: The Digital Transformation of Oil and Gas”.

This effort began in 2012 when I was based in Brisbane, Australia for the start of a four-year tour in the country’s new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry.

In my role, I had a front-row seat to the impacts that digital innovation was having on Australia’s relatively isolated economy, including the mining sector, commodity logistics, health and safety, and capital projects.

Over the next four years, I helped Australia’s gas industry slowly begin to explore some of the earliest digital technologies.

The early adopters quickly concluded that digital innovations would eventually make their presence felt in the oil and gas industry, and indeed, I perceived little sparks of innovation lighting up across the industrial landscape. I was curious if some kinds of innovation held greater promise than others.

But the oil and gas industry is unique, characterized by its scale, its outsized value, its geopolitical impacts, and its complexity. Petroleum is needed everywhere, from farmers fields to airports to factories to cars. Any truly thoughtful discussion of the impacts of digital on the industry must consider the whole of the industry and not just a part, the full range of digital innovations and not just one or two, and the risks, rewards and challenges from adoption, not just the upside.

KEY QUESTIONS I posed 5 key questions to unpack this knotty problem: 1. What exactly is “digital”?

2. What business problems in oil and gas could be solved using digital technologies?

3. When will digital innovations come to oil and gas, and what will be the impacts?

4. What are the oil and gas industry’s specific risks and barriers to adoption of digital innovations?

5. How can a company get started with digitization?

DEFINING DIGITAL Despite the near universal use of the term “digital” to represent features of our modern economy, there is no shared definition of what digital actually is.

To an engineer, digital is an alternative to analog. To a millennial, digital is an integral part of everyday life. To a banker, digital is a weapon wielded by a Fintech start up to target a rich margin business.

Here’s my definition, borrowed from the IEA. Something digital incorporates three building blocks (or the digital trinity): Data—data is the lifeblood of digital. A digital device, solution, or service produces and uses data.

Analytics or computational ability—a digital device, solution, or service has the ability to carry out calculations and computations on the data.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

57

“OUR BUILDINGS CAN BE USED FOR A SHORT-TERM PROJECT ON A TEMPORARY WORK SITE OR USED FOR A PERMANENT SOLUTION THAT WILL LAST FOR 25-PLUS YEARS.” Connectivity—a digital device, solution, or service uses a telecommunications network that allow digital devices to connect with one another to exchange or share data, or computations.

Where the oil and gas industry has always worked in a world of constraint (one of its orthodoxies), digital is creating a world of abundance—abundant data, analytics and networking—at a cost curve that approaches zero.

The digital market giants (Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tencent), have perfected their skills at bringing digital innovation to multiple industry sectors and are investing to bring their know-how to energy and transportation.

THE DIGITAL FRAMEWORK Which digital technologies actually matter, and how do they relate to one another? I have found descriptions of the landscape of digital technologies overly complicated, made so by those selling ever more finely defined solutions with their own names and brands and seeking to carve out their own monopoly niche.

But there are a number of broad categories of digital

innovations that have made an impact on the fortunes of other industries, and these innovations look well situated, because of their relevance, rapid growth rates and maturity, to migrate in some fashion to the oil and gas industry.

Here is a framework that connects the digital technologies to each other and presents a model for thinking about, and planning for, digital investment.

• Data will be the fuel for digital innovation • Sensors, or the internet of things, will generate the data • Artificial intelligence will interpret the data • Robots will apply the data to do real work • Cloud computing will be the platform on which data, sensors, AI and robots live • Blockchain will create trust across the digital landscape conferring agency on digital things • ERP systems will remain the foundation for business processes, tracking and reporting • Agile and a focus on the user will be the development model • Change management, talent, leadership will be key to adoption The world of digital innovation is changing rapidly, and beyond these key technologies, a number of more niche innovations —gamification, 3D printing and digital reality—look well placed to have an outsized future impact on the industry.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

58 LONG FUSE, BIG BANG Growing up, I learned to appreciate the comic antics of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, and Yosemite Sam. One frequent gag involved a powder keg and an absurdly long trail of gunpowder, usually lit, which the hapless Elmer or Sam tried to outrun. It didn’t seem to occur to either of them to simply throw the keg away; instead, they always ended up on the wrong side of an epic, non-terminal explosion.

The size and timing of digital’s impact is analogous to a keg of gunpowder and the length of the fuse. The bigger the keg, the bigger the bang, and the shorter the fuse, the more quickly the bang will happen.

While no part of the industry will be spared the impacts of digital, some participants in the supply chain will be impacted more and sooner than others.

Suppliers to the industry are first to digitize, driven by their need to remain competitive, and their short capital cycle.

In the upstream, particularly in unconventional resources, digital innovation will expand supply dramatically, and will enable cost reductions and productivity gains.

Innovations in the transportation sector from connected, autonomous and shared vehicles in Asian markets will trigger demand destruction, at first imperceptibly and then suddenly as the manufacturing supply chain shifts over to new drivetrain technology.

The demand impacts will be biggest in fuel retail, which is the most dynamic due to low barriers to entry and broader retail industry changes.

Slowest to embrace digital will be the midstream (pipelines, plants, refineries) because of their long capital cycle, 24/7 operations, and structural disincentives to innovate.

MANAGING DIGITAL CHANGE About an hour into a conversation about digital, the discussion always turns to “how do we get started”.

Getting started is far more critical than starting in the exact right place because the goal posts in digital are constantly moving.

Digital is a significant change for an industry focused on safe, secure, and reliable processes. No matter which group manages the initiative, change must be driven by the Board and executives.

Brownfield assets will adapt to digital much more slowly, if at all, than greenfield assets will. Take aim first in a green pasture.

Digital technology is actually the easy part. Managing change in the workplace is the hard part. Human workers will need to be agile and embrace learning and continuous self-improvement. This is easy to say, but much harder to put into practice.

NOSE IN, HANDS OFF Boards have a special role to play in creating the right context for digital to succeed, which is why an entire chapter is devoted to Board-level questions. There is a digital deficit at the Board level—few board members have sufficient depth of exposure and experience in digital to be truly sensitive to the opportunity and the threat. Think back to Blockbuster Video, ToysRUs, Kodak, and many other companies laid low by missing the signals from the digital march forward.

Boards are at risk of not being ambitious enough in an exponentially shifting world. The bar for management is set too low. The opportunities and the risks inherent in digital innovation vary by business. A one-size digital answer does not fit all. In the main, the economics of digital innovation are compelling.

59 With a few adjustments, existing strategic planning can accommodate digital innovation. For successful execution, oil and gas needs to nurture a new and unfamiliar ecosystem to be able to exploit digital innovation.

CONCLUSION A mindset shift is needed to move the industry to a place of readiness to embrace digital innovation, beginning with management and Boards. That’s before considering the potential for entirely new and disruptive business models to emerge. Meanwhile, the industry could wait for more data to come to light, for someone else to make the first move, for digital innovation to be fully de-risked, and for governments to create the right tax policy. But that’s a strategy destined to fail. It’s time to get on with it. I like Richard Branson’s ethos for the Virgin Group: “Screw it, let’s do it.”

Bits, Bytes, and Barrels is available in ebook and paperback formats from Amazon, Indigo and many other online book shops. Bulk pricing is available for larger corporate orders. I also offer a one-day workshop for companies that brings the book’s concepts to life.

Paperback:www.amazon.com/dp/1999514904 E-book: www.amazon.ca/dp/B07N8K5NR4 Visit geoffreycann.com for more information. •

ABOUT GEOFFREY CANN Geoffrey has been presenting to audiences large and small, from 700+ business leaders drawn from across industry to intimate gatherings of 20 professionals in the energy industry.

His engaging style and sense of humour, combined with his depth of experience from 30 years in the energy industry and most recently with digital technologies, will move your audience to action. He has several ready-to-go presentations on such topics as blockchain, digital innovations in oil and gas, and the future of work, however, he can also create brand new and bespoke presentations on the these and emerging topics based on your needs.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

60

COST OPTIMIZATION

FOR ENERGY COMPANIES IS KEY

By Helen Mott, Director, Global Infrastructure Advisory for KPMG

Capital investment in Western Canada related to oil and gas has been cyclical over recent years. KPMG brings extensive experience in the upstream, midstream and downstream processes of oil and gas capital development and can assist project owners in this time of challenging markets. Leading up to the Energy Connect event, we asked Helen Mott, Director, Global Infrastructure Advisory for KPMG: What is one thing Oil & Gas Industry members must always be conscientious of? Here’s what she told us:

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

61

For the past decade, owners, contractors, designers, and other stakeholders responsible for planning and delivering capital projects or managing assets have been focused on improving their processes and controls. With recent commodity price pressures and shrinking investment, cost optimization for energy companies is key. Fortunately, numerous productivity improvements and cost reduction opportunities can be found.

“WITH RECENT COMMODITY PRICE PRESSURES AND SHRINKING INVESTMENT, COST OPTIMIZATION FOR ENERGY COMPANIES IS KEY. “ ASSET MANAGEMENT Energy companies need to ensure they deploy capital effectively and reduce lifecycle costs by applying robust asset management processes. These optimize the use of capital by focusing on value-based maintenance (as opposed to periodical maintenance), and scheduling right-sized maintenance interventions, asset upgrades, or replacement projects, at the right time, to minimize lifecycle costs while ensuring reliability of service.

If asset failure events can be predicted before they occur, and repair or upgrade work schedules for critical systems and components can be advanced, labour overtime will be lower, emergency repairs will be minimized, and overall costs can be reduced. Many examples can be provided where capital and maintenance expenditures by energy companies have been reduced by up to 20-25% or more through implementing rigorous asset management processes.

HARNESSING DATA OVER THE ASSET LIFE CYCLE Maintaining a systematic record of individual assets or an asset inventory is the starting point for optimizing capital allocation to help minimize risks and maximize value to the organization and to stakeholders. Asset-intensive organizations typically have deployed enterprise asset management (EAM) solutions to manage the maintenance requirements of assets. Often, the asset-related data which resides in these systems may not fully meet the needs of managing the asset over the entire life cycle.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

62 Other typical key sources of asset information could be present in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or other systems. In order to reconcile the disparate asset data sources, it is critical to organize the data and determine the system of record for the key data elements through a master data management (MDM) initiative. By doing this, the key data elements needed to support asset lifecycle management and capital investment decisions can be identified, cleansed if need be, catalogued, and presented in a data store for analytical purposes.

“MAINTAINING A SYSTEMATIC RECORD OF INDIVIDUAL ASSETS OR AN ASSET INVENTORY IS THE STARTING POINT FOR OPTIMIZING CAPITAL ALLOCATION TO HELP MINIMIZE RISKS AND MAXIMIZE VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION AND TO STAKEHOLDERS.” As with any analysis, the quality of the results is largely dependent on the quality of data available. Data quality does not haphazardly happen on its own; rather, it is achieved through vigorous management of the data as a key “asset” within the organization, with its own set of data quality standards, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, governance, processes, and supporting technology. Then there is the challenge of turning data into information and interpreting it correctly. To accomplish this, it is important to start with the end results in mind.

PMOS AND PMIS Many efforts in this space - such as formalizing and streamlining project controls, implementing project management information systems (PMISs) and improving professional development and training opportunities - have yielded positive benefits, there are still many areas needing continued improvement.

Until recently, energy companies have been reluctant to use project management offices (PMOs) on a consistent basis. Most PMOs are established to help comply with regulatory requirements or to help manage and mitigate risk on many energy projects. While PMOs can be effective in improving project performance on

major construction projects, they can also be effective in helping energy companies manage and mitigate risk through improving consistency, accuracy, and competency across business units in areas such as records risk management, safety and integrity, project cost reporting and tracking, and procurement.

WHO IS KPMG? KPMG is a Canadian leader in delivering audit, tax, and advisory services to a range of industries. With more than 40 locations across the country, the firm’s more than 700 partners and more than 6,500 employees provide crucial services to many of the top business, notfor-profit, and government organizations in Canada.

“Our infrastructure advisory practice advises clients on their capital asset portfolios,” says Helen. “We work closely with our clients, helping them to manage risks and take advantage of opportunities. We help our clients to reduce costs, improve performance, reduce risk, and increase certainty of outcomes. We support their efforts to strategize, develop, deliver, proactively manage, and invest in their physical infrastructure.”

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE BEHIND KMPG IN CANADA? KPMG has 90 national infrastructure practitioners located across Canada. The company brings together a diverse range of educational backgrounds, credentials, and industry experiences – as professional engineers, project controls professionals, supply chain professionals, business analysts, finance professionals, accountants, lawyers, and economists. “We assemble customized teams drawn from the smartest, most insightful and experienced infrastructure problem solvers in Canada,” shares Helen, adding that the company supplements its teams with a global network of over 3,000 infrastructure colleagues.

“Industry focus is fundamental to KPMG’s business approach,” says Helen. “We believe that we add value for our clients by having a thorough understanding of their industries, and we invest continuously to build our knowledge of the industries we serve. Every day, KPMG people play a vital role in helping client organizations create value.”

AWARDS & RECOGNITION KPMG’s people-centred strategy, together with its open and constructive relationships with clients, has resulted in external recognition and independent endorsements

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

63 of our work environment, culture and values. “The company’s stakeholders—from clients, to governments and regulators, to employees, to the public—have very high expectations of us,” shares Helen. “We respond by recruiting truly outstanding people and providing them with the quality of assignments, training, support, and international opportunities they need to flourish professionally and personally.”

Recently, KPMG has earned its way onto an impressive number of Top Employers lists, including: • Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2019 • Canada’s Best Diversity Employers 2019 • Greater Toronto’s Top Employers 2019 • Canada’s Greenest Employers 2018 • Canada’s Top Employers for Young People 2019 • Top Companies 2018 (LinkedIn, #5) • Best Places to Work in Ontario (Indeed, #1)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR KPMG IN CANADA? Just recently, KPMG in Canada entered into a strategic alliance with Agentis Capital, a leading infrastructure advisory firm specializing in infrastructure finance and mergers and acquisitions, to better serve clients involved in complex infrastructure deals and other large-scale capital projects.

By combining the collective market-leading experience in financial advisory and tax services, this alliance will solidify an existing relationship between both firms in order to provide multidisciplinary, end-to-end infrastructure advisory services in areas of mutual interest.

This includes private equity funds and public pension plans, public-private partnerships (PPP) and infrastructure development and investment organizations in Canada, and internationally.

KPGM AT ENERGY CONNECT During Energy Connect, attendees will find a broad selection of articles and videos about KPMG, covering topics such as the 2019 KPMG Global Construction Survey, emerging trends in infrastructure, and perspectives on how technology, data and analytics will start to revolutionize the infrastructure sector. • Learn more about KPMG: www.home.kpmg/ca/en/home/about.html

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

64

PEACE OF MIND

in the Oil Patch The Shocker PASS is a mechanical device attached to a diesel engine’s air intake system to address the problematic issue of diesel engine runaway events that can lead to explosive and tragic results.

Learn more about the creators of such a device: Headwind Solutions.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

65

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

66

“IF THE DEEPWATER HORIZON ENGINES HAD OUR SYSTEMS ON THEM, THE RIG WOULDN’T HAVE BLOWN UP.”

Solutions decided to address the problematic issue of diesel engine runaway events that can lead to explosive and tragic results – the movie Deepwater Horizon is a great example of this sort of scenario – and the Shocker Positive Air Shutoff System (Shocker PASS) is the result of their labours.

When it comes to the oil and gas industry, there is no concern more paramount than the safety of those who work in it. Making a living in the oil patch isn’t for the faint of heart, and there are plenty of opportunities to run into trouble at any moment if a critical piece of equipment were to fail, or a problem were to occur in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s of the utmost importance that these types of situations are considered and planned for, in order to keep each site accident-free, and to protect the wellbeing of those individuals who work out in the field. If you’re looking for peace of mind and want to ensure that your site is one that is safe for all those working it, Headwind Solutions is here to help.

The Shocker PASS is a mechanical device attached to the diesel engine’s air intake system. It monitors engine speed and activates the valve portion to close the air flow off to the engine, which in turn will shut the diesel engine down immediately. This only occurs in the event of an engine overspeed or runaway situation.

Established in early 2009 by Galen Schacher, Headwind Solutions operates out of Camrose, Alberta, and has since established a distribution center in Hastings, Nebraska. Built from the ground up by individuals who have paid their dues working out in the oil patch themselves, Headwind Solutions understands the ins and outs of the industry through first-hand, boots-onthe-ground experience, and is driven to provide safety solutions and accountability through real-world, firsthand experience. It was in this manner that Headwind

“If the Deepwater Horizon engines had our systems on them, the rig wouldn’t have blown up,” Steve Podolski, sales manager at Headwind Solutions explains. “You would have just had an oil and gas leak. You would not have had the explosion.” For anyone who saw Mark Wahlberg’s 2016 film featuring the events that took place out on that rig, we imagine this notion on its own is reason enough to give the Shocker PASS some very serious consideration! The notion that this catastrophe could have been averted by the installation of a positive air shutdown system is a powerful one – especially considering the individuals who lost their lives as a result of that explosion.

“Of course, it doesn’t have to be that dramatic,” Podolski continues. “There are incidences where diesel runaways have taken out storage facilities or just simply destroyed a diesel engine.” These sorts of situations

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

67 have unfortunately become a common occurrence – and while these accidents are often kept as quiet as possible, people are starting to take notice. As of 2018, new legislation from Transport Canada stipulates that every fuel hauler (Class 2 & 3) in operation must now be fitted with an automatic positive shutoff system.

This move was inspired by the number of runaway events that have occurred in recent years. While it’s a shame that it’s taken injuries and accidents to see change put into place, the team at Headwind Solutions is happy to see that the industry is starting to head in the right direction, and are onboard to help usher in this positive new direction as best they can, with their Alberta-designed and built products.

With a staff of 18 employees, Headwind Solutions manufactures all their own materials, from the decals they use to the electronic components onboard each of their systems. More than that, everyone at Headwind Solutions is dedicated to ensuring clients receive VIP treatment each time a customer interacts with them.

With a tech department that’s always available, a deep stock of products and parts, shipping that’s typically same-day, and two in-house 3D printers ready to draw up a model of anything that might be needed within

minutes, Headwind Solutions strives to ensure that your needs are met as quickly, efficiently, and painlessly as possible. For these efforts and more, it’s easy to see how the company was awarded the Canadian Rental Association 2017 Supplier of the Year Award.

“It’s the oil patch,” Podolski said, when asked what sets Headwind Solutions ahead of the crowd. “It’s very service-orientated, and we do that, because we come from the patch, and we know what it’s like. Our technology is new and modern, and it fits the new and modern equipment and electronics. It’s smaller, compact, lightweight, more efficient, easier to service and install, plus more reliable. That old workhorse might still do the job, but it’s time to make the change to something newer and better.” •

If you’re looking to remove the concern of disaster-like events on your site, contact the Headwind Solutions sales staff at 780-672-2775 or steve@headwindsolutions.ca.

Discover a company that’s excited to work with you to make your day better – and safer!

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

68

Automation Solutions Inc., better known as AUTOSOL, is a global award-winning company based in Houston, Texas, specializing in providing reliable, flexible solutions for the automation and data delivery needs for mission-critical infrastructure. Suzzette Rainey, VP of AUTOSOL Canada, shares with Energy Connect how their products are helping the Oil & Gas industry – and how the parent company continues to innovate after 32 years in business.

Those who are familiar with the AUTOSOL name know the company for its software products, mainly its OPC Servers, which help solve communication challenges out in the field. Since the beginning, AUTOSOL has never stopped building on their solid foundation. The Autosol Communication Manager (ACM) is a “middleware” software product, putting AUTOSOL between SCADA & Measurement systems and field assets, many of which can be thousands of miles apart, using legacy protocols and spotty communication methods.

STARTING OUT AUTOSOL started out in 1987 as a system integrator in the Gulf Coast region in Houston providing solutions to integrate office and industrial automation hardware and software challenges in a variety of industrial facilities, primarily in oil and gas production, transmission, and distribution. Solving these challenges is what led AUTOSOL to develop the original multi-protocol communication software, which combined several protocol drivers into a single host able to communication to a large number of client applications. The development

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

69 of the company’s current communication manager dates back to 1994, with the development of the Autosol Universal Communication Server (AUCS), which evolved into the Autosol Enterprise Server (AES) in the early 2000s.

“Our solid reputation for being reliable has allowed us to become the de facto standard in the remote data acquisition marketplace. In addition, our company has built our reputation on customer service and support,” says Rainey. “AUTOSOL’s core capabilities have become an integral part of North America’s critical infrastructure, providing the communication layer for more than 1,200 systems that communicate with more than 325,000 devices performing various automation missions.”

As a testament to their role in the industry, AUTOSOL recently took home the award for Corporate Achievement in the Field of Automation at the International Society of Automation Calgary 2018 — North America’s leading event in Instrumentation, Systems & Automation. And they aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

MOVING FORWARD Currently, AUTOSOL is building on its Autosol Communication Manager foundation by developing a new edge application called eACM, which fits on edge computing devices to convert native protocols to MQTT and MQTT Sparkplug B. eACM communicates to RTUs and PLCs and converts their native protocols to MQTT. “Essentially, an MQTT-enabled ACM would allow customers to get data from existing legacy proprietary devices and publish via MQTT to a broker,” explains Rainey.

“We can support both multiple protocols and devices simultaneously,” she adds. “ACM and eACM are built on the shoulders of our continuous innovation. AUTOSOL is excited to introduce eACM or Edge ACM – the next phase in a digital transformation, allowing customers to move their data collection to the field. eACM’s lightweight software solution works in tandem with almost any edge Linux box, such as cell modem, radio, smart switch or smart router. Using MQTT in this application enables high-resolution data acquisition.”

Since the beginning, AUTOSOL has constantly been innovating. “We are transforming our proven-reliable SCADA & Measurement products to help our client’s evolution to Industry 4.0,” explains Rainey. “As more devices become IIoT-enabled, security concerns become more prevalent and since AUTOSOL has been providing communication to these devices for more than 30 years, we wanted to also begin providing a

“OUR SOLID REPUTATION FOR BEING RELIABLE HAS ALLOWED US TO BECOME THE DE FACTO STANDARD IN THE REMOTE DATA ACQUISITION MARKETPLACE.” secure communication path.” In 2014, AUTOSOL introduced the CryptoMod to provide OT security for legacy field assets. This patented communication appliance secures geographically remote field devices used for control, surveillance, data acquisition and metering allowing for end-to-end security and encryption.

But it’s not just protection from digital threats AUTOSOL delivers – it is protection from physical safety hazards as well. For instance, its real-time Alarm Manager can alert control room operators to elevated pressures or temperatures, enabling a quicker response that ensures mission-critical infrastructures are closely monitored and helping to expedite a fast response when necessary.

AUTOSOL representatives are looking forward to representing their flagship software during Energy Connect, May 21-22, 2019 where you’ll have the opportunity to check out David Blanco’s webinar, Introducing AUTOSOL’s eACM, an MQTT-Enabled Edge Gateway, and watch a demonstration of AUTOSOL’s application. • To learn more about AUTOSOL, visit www.autosoln.com.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

70

IN MINERAL BUYING, INNOVATION WINS

By Matt Chamberlain and Ashley Gilmore

Mineral buyers want to be special.

Unfortunately, most know that aside from the strength of their network, there isn’t a lot to differentiate one group from the next. That, of course, doesn’t stop them from trying.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

71

November 5-6, 2019 OILMAN CONNECT is a two-day virtual trade show dedicated to connecting businesses in the Oil and Gas Industry.

Feature your products, services, and technologies while you network with other industry experts, attend educational seminars, and track all your leads and data.

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL Book a Virtual Booth by May 31 and receive 10% OFF!

Visit www.OilmanConnect.com for more information 800-562-2340 Ext 4 • info@OilmanConnect.com

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

72 Nearly every mineral buyer has an obligatory website offering “fast and fair offers” telling potential sellers that they will give them more for their minerals than the other guy. They battle for inbound leads, focus on creating sleeker websites, tweak keywords to perfection and spend on geo-targeted digital advertising. In the end, there is no definable special sauce separating one from the next.

“IN A MARKET WHERE EVERYONE IS SELLING THEMSELVES THE SAME WAY AND USING THE SAME DATA, THE ONLY WAY TO GAIN A MEANINGFUL ADVANTAGE IS TO INNOVATE IN WAYS OTHERS ARE NOT. “ The more ambitious and well-funded invest heavily in hiring the most talented negotiators and researchers in an attempt to drum up leads in targeted AOI (areas of interest). Others focus on developing proprietary software solutions. Although intelligent land professionals help create these, land professionals are not developers and the solutions are usually customized Excel spreadsheets.

So, while mineral buyers want to be unique, most of them act on similar principles - “fast, fair offers with a focus on integrity.” Are they better negotiators and researchers? Maybe. Does this provide a substantial advantage? Most likely not. Do they have access to public data that no one else does?

Obviously no, most often leads come from tax rolls, lease records, forced pooling agreements, company reports or other similar publicly available data.

In a market where everyone is selling themselves the same way and using the same data, the only way to gain a meaningful advantage is to innovate in ways others are not. Those who fail to adopt new technologies and reimagine processes will tread water and eventually fall behind. The mineral buyers that uncover and implement solutions to quickly and accurately process reams of mineral ownership data will win by a landslide.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

73

HOW CAN A MINERAL BUYER TRULY GAIN AN EDGE? A good option is “buying in front of the bit,” or attempting to buy in front of operators. E&Ps do this all the time to improve NRI (net revenue interest), diversify their portfolio and become more resilient to market swings. If a mineral buyer wants to buy in front of a drill bit they don’t own they have four options: 1. Partner with an operator and agree on cost + fee per acre 2. Predict the future 3. Get lucky 4. Leverage inside information Partnering is the only option proven to work consistently enough to bank on, while the others can be considered gambling, illegal or both. Getting

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Get the Oil & Gas news and data you need in a magazine you’ll be proud to read.

To subscribe, complete a quick form online:

OilmanMagazine.com/subscribe

Editor@OilmanMagazine.com

(800) 562-2340 Ex. 5

“IN ORDER TO PARTNER, A MINERAL BUYER MUST FIRST FIND A COMPANY WILLING TO TRUST THEM WITH THEIR SENSITIVE INFORMATION.” lucky is only a plan for fools and we’ll leave inside information to the sharks. In order to partner, a mineral buyer must first find a company willing to trust them with their sensitive information. If they do, partnering is a safe, risk-averse bet for those who are content with small wins and limited upside. But the oil and gas industry, with its rich history of wildcatters and tycoons, has never been a place for those looking to win small. This leaves mineral buyers with a single option – predicting the future which, if you squint, looks very similar to getting lucky.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

74 BLANKET TITLE AS A MINERAL BUYING STRATEGY Over the last decade, data companies have started offering tools that make it possible to predict future production with impressive accuracy, and they are becoming increasingly popular. So much so that it seems like everyone is using them. But when everyone uses the same data services, custom spreadsheets, and CRMs, it is no longer an advantage, it is the minimum requirement to stay competitive. Predicting the future only has value if a company is able to execute on it before someone else. Answers make you smart, actions get things done, but neither hold much value without the other.

ficing speed and accuracy to close transactions.

In the end, success in this environment relies heavily on luck and brute force. Mineral buyers must find a way to accurately value a mineral owner’s assets fast enough to take action while competition is limited.

Running out title conventionally can cost thousands of dollars for a single owner. Current economics dictate that in order to invest capital into confirming ownership mineral owners first must commit to selling by signing a LOI (letter of intent).

Without a commitment, it is cost prohibitive to prerun title. When capital is deployed to research a single lead, a company is essentially placing a binary bet with limited upside.

THE NEED FOR “ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE”

THE AGRARIAN AGE FOR MINERAL BUYERS

Prices can soar overnight when an operator takes a lease, beginning a rush to gain position.

The rush forces buyers to cut corners by sacri-

The approach to date resembles a hunter/gatherer mentality. To survive requires being opportunistic, adaptable and expertly skilled. The best have been

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

75

able to survive and even thrive, but even then, outdated tools and a resource intensive approach limit the size and stability of the opportunities.

Just as early humans transitioned from “hunter/ gatherers” to farmers in the Agrarian Age, mineral buyers need to evolve and begin “farming” opportunities. Systematically running blanket title is the way to accomplish this.

Blanket title generates a list of all current mineral owners for an AOI with pre-confirmed interest calculations. Mineral buyers taking this approach acquire actionable intelligence that allows them to bypass the step of signing an LOI. Offers can be sent out en masse and close rates skyrocket when an owner is approached with a deed and a check they can sign and cash on the spot. There are two

“TODAY, SUCCESSFUL MINERAL BUYERS KNOW “WHERE” THEY WANT TO BUY; THE WINNERS OF THE NEXT HALF DECADE WILL BE THE FASTEST TO FIND THE “WHO.” ways to run blanket title. The first is reactively by waiting for a potential seller, getting an LOI signed and then running out all of the names and owners in the same tract, section, or AOI, rather than just the single signed owner. The second is to proactively run an area of interest (AOI) to identify all owners before having a potential seller.

USING TITLE MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS TO WIN Today, successful mineral buyers know “where” they want to buy; the winners of the next half decade will be the fastest to find the “who.” Title Management Platforms (TMP) like Tracts use common title to identify all leads surrounding the initial target. Features like automatic interest calculation eliminate math while document interpretation libraries store deed interpretations for repeated use.

Hungry, young, PE backed mineral buyers are entering the space and building their processes using a technology first strategy. By removing the most time-consuming steps involved in title research they are able to run entire sections for what it used to cost to run out a single name. As these companies continue to adjust, auto calculation of interest and interpretation libraries are turning one lead into 20 and cutting required investments into a fraction of what they have been historically.

Leveraging TMPs is providing immediate returns, exponentially increasing upside while vastly reducing the opportunity for a complete loss. Today, TMPs offer a massive competitive advantage for those early to adopt; soon they will be a requirement just to stay competitive. We’ve seen this story before. • Matt Chamberlain is VP of Growth at Tracts having lead efforts in business development, client relations and strategic planning. He has a breadth of experience bringing new technology and processes to the energy sector and environmental industries.

Ashley Gilmore is CEO and co-founder of Tracts where he applies an extensive background in launching and managing startup companies. Drawing on a deep knowledge of land title law and information technology, Gilmore pioneered a new approach to title processing in the oil & gas industry. Gilmore has been awarded numerous patents for title processing and visualization technologies.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

76

Blockchain Guru is one of Canada’s leading Blockchain, IoT and innovation consulting and project development firms. Blockchain Guru is on a mission to deliver the most up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible training and consulting services to Canadian corporations, developers, architects and business professionals.

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

77

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

78

A Canadian leader in Blockchain training and certification, we also offer online and offline training on major disrupting technologies.

BLOCKCHAIN / IOT / RPA

Some of the classes we offer:

Nationally distributed team of consultants with Big 4 consulting experience, leading technology & strategy projects in virtually every industry.

• Blockchain Business Foundations;

• Oil & Gas

• Blockchain Solution Architecture;

• Telecom

• Blockchain security and development in Hyperledger or Ethereum.

• Shipping, Logistics & Maritime Transport

Our core focus areas are: • Blockchain • Robotic Process Automation • IoT Devices Our team is made up of leading Digital Transformation professionals with a background in Blockchain application development, system architecture and business advisory services.

THE BLOCKCHAIN JOURNEY

• Automotive Manufacturing • Retail • Consumer Goods & Manufacturing • Power Generation, Distribution & Transmission • Banking & Finance • Mining • Agriculture

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

79

Technology evaluation, design, project management, change management, integration & interfaces in all core business areas: • IT • Supply Chain • Accounting & Finance • Maintenance • Major Project Construction & Management • Engineering • Product Development and R&D

POC DELIVERY APPROACH 1. Define PoC (Weeks 1 - 2) Define Blockchain PoC Use Case in alignment with organizational goals 2. Technical Design (Weeks 2 - 6) Design PoC by detailing architectural/technical solution protocol & attributes 3. PoC Build (Weeks 4 - 12) Build PoC leveraging agile methodologies to iterate MVP

TRAINING Blockchain, AI, IoT Devices and Data science are making business transformation a possibility. Advances in technology have improved our ability to capture, apply and create value, unseen in any other decade in history.

TRAINING IS OFFERED IN THREE FORMATS: Instructor Led – At your site I nstructor Led – WebEx, instructor-student interaction during and after course n Demand – Training is pre-recorded and O available online for 60 days for review CURRENT TRAINING PROGRAMS: • Blockchain Training – Overview for Business Professionals*

In a recent survey, 94% of Canadian companies indicated that they would spend more than $500,000 on Blockchain in 2019. 28% of those companies indicated that lack of in-house skills and understanding is a barrier to applying Blockchain.

• Blockchain Solution Architecture*

When’re considering the role of Blockchain in your organization it’s critical to examine whether your team has the knowledge and experience to successfully implement this rapidly evolving technology..

• Corda Distributed Ledger Architecture

At Blockchain Guru we offer customized training to ensure immediate value to your organization. The curriculum is updated with the latest trends, industry specific case studies and other data to help your staff understand how the technology can be utilized.

We also offer a full continuum of education through proof of concept build if your organization wishes to advance from the learning stage to ideation and build.

• Blockchain Developer Ethereum* • Blockchain Developer Hyperledger Fabric* • Blockchain Security* • Blockchain Developer Sawtooth • IoT and Blockchain • Blockchain Strategy Workshop • Blockchain for Healthcare Professionals and the Patient Empowered Blockchain • Blockchain for Supply Chain Professionals • Blockchain for Finance Professionals • Data Science and Blockchain *Professional Certification Program available for this training program

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

80

CERTIFICATIONS

GURU LEADERSHIP

After completing the associated training, students can register for the Blockchain Training Alliance Certification Exam being offered at over 7000 Pearson VUE testing centers worldwide.

AVAILABLE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS • Certified Blockchain Business Foundations (CBBF) • Certified Blockchain Solution Architect (CBSA) • Certified Blockchain Developer – Ethereum (CBDE) • Certified Blockchain Developer – Hyperledger Fabric (CBDH)

Jon Trask - CEO

David Bambuck - Montreal

Amber Hayes - Vancouver

Ryan Darbyson - Toronto

Adev Ahluwalia - Calgary

Tony Flath - Edmonton

Marc Andre Sarazin - Ottawa

Barry Spruce - Hamilton

Jon@BlockchainGuru.ca

David@BlockchainGuru.ca

• Certified Blockchain Security Professional (CBSP)

KEY PARTNERS Blockchain Guru has established critical partnerships that enable delivery of the best possible technology solutions. “ We are proud to have entered into a partnership with Blockchain Guru. Their team has a strong presence throughout Canada and a thorough understanding in this emerging space. This partnership will provide great opportunity to spread Blockchain education throughout Canada and ensure students are receiving a great learning experience from the best instructors in the industry.”

Amber@BlockchainGuru.ca

Ryan@BlockchainGuru.ca

-Chad Decker, CEO, Blockchain Training Alliance

Adev@BlockchainGuru.ca

MarcAndre@BlockchainGuru.ca

Tman@BlockchainGuru.ca

Barry@BlockchainGuru.ca

Rig Mats and Access Mats that MOVE

IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION

Gone are the days when it was socially acceptable to stabilize the ground with our forests to advance our oil and gas resource development.

A

s an Alberta-based company with strong ties to the SE Asia manufacturing industry, we found ourselves in a unique position to help the socioeconomic status of a region that was struggling and also eliminate an unnecessary use of North American timber, just by redesigning a common product used every day in the Oil & Gas Industry.

We consulted with structural engineers, fabrication and construction experts, and set out to design a new solution for temporary matting.

With bamboo and recycled material on the market, we can provide the same Access and Rig Mat functionality with environmentally responsible products that are Stronger, Lighter and Last Longer.

Crocodile Products manufactures and distributes temporary road and portable platform solutions which are used to support equipment in resource-based activities including construction, oil drilling, remote camp projects and to provide passage over unstable ground.

OUR MATS Throwaway products are not solutions. We have developed a range of mats that exceed our customers requirements. Whether it’s steel walkways to get through the wetlands, or our trademark bamboo mats to provide a durable and eco-friendly work site, Crocodile Products are built to last.

Our mats were originally designed for the brutal and ever-changing conditions in the Northern Canada oil sands. We developed a strict manufacturing process from the start, to ensure that our product would always stand up to the original test.

Around the world — from oil sands to muddy swamps, bridging gaps in forest roads and providing access through tough terrain - Crocodile Products are proven to work in extreme climates and under the most rigorous conditions.

We have used third party researchers to extensively test and validate our products.

These tests have occurred both in the lab and in the field under real world conditions, from Australia to Canada.

The results of these tests prove the superior performance of our mats.

Our meticulous quality control and monitoring systems ensure that every shipment of mats meets our standards.

All of Crocodile Products mats have undergone rigorous testing to ensure maximum durability, strength and longevity.

1 (403) 606 5190 info@crocodileproducts.com www.crocodileproducts.com

COMPANY SPOTLIGHT

82

BLOCKCHAIN TRAINING AND CONSULTING TECHNOLOGY FOR THE FUTURE.

VISIT US AT WWW.BLOCKCHAINGURU.CA