From Data to Information to Knowledge

Q: How can Net Brains’ methodologies and technologies help operators raise their well performance, efficiency and productivity?

A: The first important step for companies is to identify the correct technology to improve their reservoirs’ performance, since the technique required differs depending on its specific characteristics. Net Brains offers a methodology that allows its clients to map which technologies will be more applicable to different kinds of reservoirs. Next, the operator selects the best service company to deploy this technology in its reservoir to maximize hydrocarbon recovery. Net Brains can also facilitate this process.

Q: How are real-time data solutions changing operational processes?

A: Everyone wants to measure the heartbeat of an entire operation in under a minute but the key lies not only in collecting reservoir data but also in correctly managing it. Net Brains is well known for its capabilities in transforming the data oil and gas companies gather into useful knowledge. For a long time companies collected data but failed to put it to good use. Net Brains follows a process that sees data transformed into information and information into knowledge. This process is vital for daily operations in any reservoir right now.

Q: What is the difference between data, information and knowledge, and how can this differentiation help companies?

A: Data is simply numbers and often comes in large quantities. It becomes information when the interpretation process begins. When a company takes action on this information, it transforms into knowledge. With this, the interpretation becomes a reality. Even if the initial findings were wrong, it still teaches the company a lesson that it can take forward to improve its operations.

Q: What new methodologies or technologies is Net Brains developing to meet the trend of real-time data collection?

A: We are involved in the development of dashboards, which have been present in the market for a few years. Dashboards are electronic boards where data is conflated to show trends in oil and gas operations, allowing the user to take action over whatever is being communicated by the system. They present data in a user-friendly way, which makes it easier to manage, perhaps through the use of red, yellow and green lights to alert operators to any problems in drilling areas.

Q: How much progress has Net Brains made on its ambitions to develop “on-demand” services?

A: Cloud services and storage are hot topics in the oil and gas industry but none of the big providers such as Google, Microsoft Azure or Amazon offer a truly secure platform for oil and gas companies to host their data. Secure means being able to sign nondisclosure agreements and having the accumulated trust of other oil and gas companies. Net Brains has contacted around 10 ISPs (Internet Service Providers) in Mexico, which are the entities that will host the infrastructure and provide connectivity for companies to host their data. We decided to reach out to these providers in response to the needs of our clients, who no longer want to build their own internet infrastructure or invest in their own software. The services we offer obviously have to match market demand. Net Brains has interacted with new operators like Sierra Oil & Gas, Grupo R and Grupo Diavaz and has seen clear interest in these kinds of technologies.

Q: What are Net Brains' goals going forward?

A: It has been difficult for companies working for PEMEX to adapt to the changes in the oil and gas market, particularly on a price level. Large service companies have borne the brunt of this but Net Brains’ relatively smaller size has actually protected us. We believe one of our people can do the job of many with the right technology. Technology is our key into the market and we take new developments and make them work for whatever the market is facing. One thing we are working on for the future is providing services on iPads and smartphones because this is how people expect to consume data.