Panel Discussion 1: 

Digitalization Programs in O&G – how to ensure delivery and value?

Tuesday, December 1, 2020
 12:25 PM - 13:05 PM (CET)

The changing landscape of the oil and gas industry provides exceptional challenges across the value chain. Energy companies must continue to adapt their business models and practices to remain competitive amidst pressures in pricing and recent short-term demand collapse. Digital transformation provides opportunities for sweeping changes and value creation. In this panel discussion we will focus on the adoption of digitalization programs amongst the industry. How ambitious have we been in scaling digital transformation and what key benefits and value do we experience or see on the horizon? More importantly how do we continue to ensure that digital initiatives generate returns across the entire value chain as we transition to more integrated energy businesses?

Meet the Moderator

Surender Manral is a passionate geophysicist , with 18 years’ experience in seismic interpretation & reservoir characterization workflows. He joined Schlumberger in 2010, and has since held various technical lead positions in Asia, the Middle East and US. Currently, he is responsible for the strategy and technology development of digital geophysical interpretation workflows. He works very closely with the end-users from around the world , to build emerging technologies to shape a new way of working for safer, better and faster subsurface insights. Apart from his experience in oil & gas service companies, he has also worked as an Exploration Geophysicist with Reliance Industries Limited and as a research scientist at the Center for Mathematical Modeling and Simulation in Bangalore, India.

---

David Hicks

Responsible for the global Upstream business, David’s portfolio includes data content, analytical applications, research, and consulting offerings. He leads a global team of over 1000 colleagues from concept to market. By integrating research with technical solutions, the Upstream Energy solutions of IHS Markit drive the informed decisions critical to our customers’ success in the pursuit of energy resources.

David holds in-depth knowledge and a broad background across the Upstream Energy industry. His focus has spanned operations, business development, and technology development and application. Prior to joining IHS Markit, he held numerous senior management positions within the oil and gas services industry, including President of EMGS Americas Inc., Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of geophysical company TGS Inc., and Senior Vice President of Halliburton/Landmark.

He started his career as an exploration geologist with ExxonMobil. He holds a BA from the Colorado College and an MS from the University of Southern California.

---

Trygve Randen

Trygve received a Dr.Ing. degree in 1997 in digital pattern recognition from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He has been with Schlumberger since 1995, the first 10 years in Schlumberger Research working on machine learning for seismic interpretation and model building. In 2005 Trygve became product owner for Ocean, then portfolio manager for Petrel in 2009, and vice president for geoscience and drilling from late 2011 through 2015 for Software Integrated Solutions (SIS). From 2016 Trygve was SIS area vice president for Middle East & Asia and SIS President 2019-20. He is now Business Line Director for Digital Subsurface Solutions. 

Outside the office Trygve is passionate about running, skiing, mountaineering, rock climbing, and other outdoor activities with his wife and four children. 

---

Markus Berghofer

Markus Berghofer leads the Digital Excellence department in OMV Upstream. The newly developed and enhanced organization delivers the approved Digitalization road map with five lighthouses and more than 70 individual projects to develop OMV Upstream to become a digital front runner in the Oil & Gas industry.

Professional Career:

• since 2019: Vice President Digital Excellence
• 2015: Vice President Information Management & Business Projects
• 2013: Head of Inhouse Consulting
• 2011: Head of Corporate Program Office 
• 2009: Head of Project Management Office 
• 2005: Project Manager & PMO Expert
  

---

Sean Mackie

Sean is the Digital Transformation Lead for Exploration at Wintershall Dea, responsible for developing, sustaining, and scaling high value business cases within the company. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc in Geology in 2012 and from Aberdeen University with a MSc in Petroleum Geoscience in 2013. 

Sean started his career on E.ON’s graduate program as a geoscientist before developing into the role as a Senior Geophysicist at DEA working primarily on early exploration activities across the Norwegian Continental Shelf. His passion for new technology led him into the world of digital where he became Project Manager for Wintershall Dea’s Mittelplate Digital Twin project, responsible for implementing new products such as predictive maintenance tools, dashboards and mobile applications for operations. In 2020, Sean then took on his new role as Digital Transformation Lead for Exploration within Wintershall Dea.

---

Technical Programme Sponsors

         

Back to Programme