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Mark: Hey, folks let’s learn something new about the oil and gas industry.

All right. Today, we’re sitting here with Randy with Microsoft.

How are you doing today, Randy?

Randy: I’m doing very well, Mark.

Mark: Yeah. And we have the Data Driven Production Conference coming up and I have heard through the rumor mill that y’all are actually speaking there?

Randy: We are. We are. We will be talking about digital transformation in the oil and gas industry and how our customers are looking for to leverage digital to better empower their employees, optimize their operations, and improve the overall profitability of their business.

Mark: Yeah. And so, don’t just think that Randy is some geek from Microsoft, you actually have an oil and gas background?

Randy: I do. I’m an engineer by training. I started my career in downstream in a little chemical plant and from there worked in the automation and control space. So, I consider myself an expert more or less in the OT side of the business versus IT in helping our customers actually apply technology in their business.

Mark: Yeah. And if you don’t know what he’s saying, OT is operational technology, IT is information technology. OT is the business side of technology and it’s vitally important and it’s becoming more important in this low crude price environment which is we think a very long term thing because we’re in hydrocarbon abundant world for a very long time.

So, companies like Microsoft are helping operators or anybody in the industry basically you do more with less.

Randy: That’s correct. Our customers have had a challenging time over the past couple of years with the downturn in the oil and gas industry and they’re asking the question of how do we achieve more with less. We have fewer engineers, fewer technicians on staff, fewer field operators in the field and so, our customers are increasingly more now looking at technology as the way to close that gap in order to drive – drive production, drive optimization across the well sites in midstream and also in downstream.

So, technology is where Microsoft sits and we’re very happy to have those conversations to enable them to transform their business.

Mark: Yeah. And the other thing Randy that we didn’t actually talk about, but when you start driving efficiency, you inherently drive safety metrics, right? Which is a huge driver in this industry.

Randy: That’s correct. Safety is a paramount importance to our customers and anything they do any programs they put in place has safety at the top of the list. And so, having more data to understand how the process is under operation, how can they use data to reduce inherent safety risk to reduce the risk of incidents is of high importance to our customers.

So, we’re using technology such as predictive analytics technologies to take in data to evaluate risk scenarios and then allow our customers to predict risk levels in that process whether that’d be at a well site or on a pipeline, our customers are using technology more and more to help them on their HSE metrics.

Mark: Yeah. So, this  Data Driven Production Conference coming up June 6th and 7th, we’re going to be there, Randy’s going to be there, Microsoft is speaking. We can’t wait to hear y’all speak. A bunch of good technology vendors are going to be out there as well. This is the place to go if you’re looking to drive efficiencies in your production, this is where you need to be.

So, Randy if people want to learn about more about what you and your group does at Microsoft, what – where should they go?

Randy: They should – on the website, they can go to www.microsoft.com/industry. Houston is the center of excellence for Microsoft’s oil and gas business, so we’re very happy to have a conversation with you and understand what your requirements are and help you out in your digital transformation journey.

Mark: Yeah. So, we’ll stick a link in the show notes, so you don’t have to be writing anything down.

Randy, thank you so much for your time today.

Randy: Very welcome and we look forward to seeing everybody at the digital DDP Conference. Thank you very much, Mark.

Mark: So, folks I hope this helped. We will see you next time.

 

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