The strength of the PPDM Association has always been grounded in the contributions of hard-working individuals like Pam Koscinski. In her quiet and unassuming way, Pam has been a stalwart supporter of PPDM as a volunteer and then as staff when, in 2012, Pam joined the PPDM team to provide hands on leadership and support for PPDM communities in local, regional and international events. At the end of August 2023, Pam concludes her service as a member of the PPDM team. “Pam’s involvement in PPDM has strengthened us in countless ways. Her wisdom, expertise and unpretentious mentorship have been instrumental in the recognition of PPDM as the global energy data professionals. Although Pam will leave her role on PPDM staff, we are looking forward to continuing our relationship in new ways”, said Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association. Al Huber, current Chair of the PPDM Board of Directors added, “Pam has been a passionate advocate for the PPDM Association for longer than I can remember. For the past 11 years, she has been our boots on the ground in the US, and for our American members the local face of the organization. As knowledgeable as she is passionate, the PPDM Association, and global energy data community are simply richer for her engagement. Pam leaves an amazing legacy.” Pam’s illustrious career has (so far) spanned over 38 years. In addition to her 11 years as US Representative for PPDM, Pam has served as National Director at IHS Energy (1985 – 2001), Senior Director of Well and Facility Information Management at Chesapeake Energy (2004 – 2012), Principal at Noah Consulting (2012-2013), Director of Information Management at Stonebridge Consulting (2020-2021) and is now Director of Data Operations for WellDatabase. Pam has served on the PPDM Board of Directors. As an expert in well data in operator and regulatory practices, Pam supported and participated in many of PPDM’s technical programs such as What is a Well, Global Well Identification Best Practices, the Well Identification US and Global Standards, and Well Status and Classification. Pam has also supported the development or technical review of many PPDM learning programs. In sincere appreciation for her efforts on behalf of the PPDM Association, the PPDM Association Board of Directors has granted Pam an Honorary Lifetime Membership. Happily, we will continue to see Pam at PPDM activities in her new role with WellDatabase.
Stand out from the crowd and join the global community of CPDA champions, leading the way in petroleum data management. Sign up Today.
The reference value work group developed and published 34 New reference lists and evergreened 8 in various subject areas. Don’t see a reference list you need use the request a reference list option. The group is currently focusing on areas such as Rig, Seismic, Reservoirs and Petrophysics. If you are interested in participating, please email us at projects@ppdm.org.
In accordance with the PPDM Association Bylaws, nominations are now open for the PPDM Association Board of Directors. The Board is looking for experienced executive thinkers who will provide strategic leadership and governance for the PPDM Association and act in the best interests of all the members of the PPDM Association by promoting the PPDM Association’s goals. Click here to read more.
“It isn’t the company with the most data that wins, it’s the company that makes better decisions because of the data they have that gives them an advantage – if we could put that on a bumper sticker and make sure that every senior leader across industry sees that, it’s such a big statement.” Join the Three Data Wise Guys for their Season Finale episode, including Margaret Barron, Chief of Professional Development at the PPDM Association and producer of the Three Data Wise Guys. Check out the podcast now.
The PPDM Association Nominations Committee is accepting applications for a position on the committee. This committee has the role of vetting and endorsing candidates most qualified for the PPDM Association Board of Directors and is comprised of between three to five members in good standing of the PPDM community with established leadership capabilities. The committee is primarily active in the third quarter, before the Annual General Meeting, at which time it meets internally and with prospective Board of Director candidates to prepare advice to voting members. You can read more about the committee here.
If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Trudy Curtis at Board_Nominations@PPDM.org.
The Data objects committee has been developing objects in various categories. Recently, 12 new data objects were published about Survey Systems. The Committee is calling on volunteers to continue expanding this valuable platform. If you are interested in participating, please email us at projects@ppdm.org.
Are you curious about the Certified Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA™) credentialed exam? Watch the latest CPDA Information Session recorded by Alex Ross (EDMCC Co-Chair) and Antonie du Toit (EDMCC) online.
The Reference Values Site is a growing set of lists that is maintained by a PPDM Association work group. Recently the group has published lists in Seismic and Petrophysics. To contribute a list or participate contact us.
The agenda for the 2023 Perth Energy Data Workshop on August 16 is coming soon. The theme for this year's event is "Energy Data, AI & ML." Join our Australia West Leadership Team but saving your seat now.
“Your data represents your asset. If your data’s not right, your asset’s not going to be utilized and maximized as much as you can.” Sue Carr, Katalyst Data Management. Join the Three Data Wise Guys Plus One in Season 2 Episode 4, featuring Sue Carr from Katalyst Data Management. This episode is now available on our website – www.ppdm.org/podcasts.
The Reference Values Committee wants to hear from you. Please take a minute to share your thoughts on this program and your wish list to help this team continue to grow.
Register now to join the 2023 Oklahoma City Energy Data Workshop on “Data Innovations.” Talks include "The Long-Term Impact of Generative AI on the Oil and Gas Industry" by Scott Klososky (Future Point of View). The agenda is now available, and the regular rate ends on May 30.
The Professional Development Committee has launched the 2023 biennial survey. This important body of information provides a snapshot of the health of our professional discipline, so it’s important to hear from you. This is an anonymous survey that takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Access the survey at here or scan following QR code!.
The Houston Expo is nearly here. We recently announced our Keynote Speaker, Shaun Azimi from NASA. There’s still time to register to join all our Leadership Team, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors for two days of interactive talks, presentations and discussions. Download the Agenda or register now at https://ppdm.org/Hexpo23.
The reference values work group has recently published some reference lists that are specific to Seismic. We are actively looking for SME’s to join the work group and continue to create and review Seismic reference lists. Check it out! If you are interested in participating, please contact us.
Mapping between the PPDM™ Association’s Well Status and Classification Standard and the OSDU™ Platform Now Available! This helpful booklet lays out how to map the Well Status & Classification V3 reference list standard to the OSDU™ Platform. Thank you to Daniel Perna from EPAM for his help creating this valuable tool. Please visit our Well Status & Classification Page now to get your copy.
“Data plays in every company a big role. People say also that companies who are dealing with data and insights will outperform other companies in the future. And I think we know this, we see this already, this is not just a statement. We see this everywhere.” ~ Ellen Nielsen. Join the Three Data Wise Guys Plus One in Season 2 Episode 3, featuring Ellen Nielsen, Chief Data Officer at Chevron. This episode is now available on our website – www.ppdm.org/podcasts.
The Denver Workshop is coming on April 18. This half day workshop features a variety of talks and discussions on topics around our them of “New Energy and the Data Professional.” The agenda is available. Register now to attend in person or virtually.
The Data Objects Committee is looking for volunteers to help us with our new data objects. We are asking for member participation to review the existing content. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please contact us.
Our 2023 Job Market Survey is currently underway, and we would like to hear from you – what job market information is important to you? You can view past survey results on our website. Email us with your thoughts for this next survey.
Learn about Volunteering with the PPDM Association! On April 11, 2023, join the PPDM team as we discuss what it means to be a volunteer with the PPDM Association. Learn about the different opportunities in the three areas, Community, IEDS and Professional Development, and how you can make a difference. Register now >
The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) which monitors and regulates the exploration, development, and production, together with the refining, gas conversion, transportation, and storage of petroleum in Uganda, has joined the Data as a National Resource (DANR) hub. The PAU joins the Petroleum Agency of South Africa, SKK Migas, the North Sea Transition Authority, and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator as early adopters and supporters of the DANR initiative. Read more >
“One of our key mantras was ‘What we measure we can improve.’ Interestingly in that area, it was our assets and our businesses that had nailed down that data was the key necessity for their success.” Sushma Bhan. Join the Three Data Wise Guys Plus One in Season 2 Episode 2, featuring Sushma Bhan, Board of Director at Ikon Science, and former CDO with Shell. This episode is now available on our website – www.ppdm.org/podcasts.
Targeted at those living in Asia Pacific, this one-hour virtual information session will let you know about the Certified Petroleum Data Analyst program and answer any questions you have. Register Now on our website.
Join the Houston Leadership Team at our Houston New Data Ecosystem Expo, May 9-10, 2023, at the Red Oak Ballroom. This year's agenda features two days of talks, sessions and panels on energy data related topics including:
The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA), which administers titles and data management for petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) titles in Australian Commonwealth waters, has joined the Data as a National Resource (DANR) hub. DANR, launched in Spring 2022, is powered by the PPDM Association, and aims to be the go-to knowledge hub for regulators, National Oil Companies (NOC), National Data Repositories and technology and service providers. The hub serves to bring these organisations together, to collaborate, share experiences, provide training and access freely available resources. In particular, the hub seeks to support emerging economies in leveraging successes in other areas and seeking inward investment through licensing rounds for oil and gas, renewable energy and carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration. Read the full release here.
We have recently been experiencing higher than normal interest about an Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) project and would like to know how we may help the needs of our community. Please fill out this short survey so that we can better understand what parts of the AFE project would be of most interest: Click here.
The Data Objects Committee is looking for volunteers to help us create new data objects to add to our 7 newly published data objects. We are asking for member participation and feedback. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please contact us at projects@ppdm.org.
Join the Dallas/Fort Worth Leadership Team for a day of learning and training at our Energy Data Workshop on February 28. Training topics include Cloud Data Storage and streaming, Orphaned wells, What is a Facility Phase 1 training and workshop, and more. The Agenda is now available. Register now to save your spot.
PRESS RELEASE Calgary, January 2023
The PPDM Association (PPDM) and the Blockchain for Energy (B4E) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that intends to support integration and harmonization of the work being done by both organizations.
PPDM and B4E will collaborate to harmonize terminology, data contents and identify opportunities for best practices. B4E will leverage reference lists developed or supported by PPDM and will investigate the utility of the data rules library. Collectively, best practices for seismic data management will be investigated through PPDM’s project “What is Seismic.”
PPDM focusses specifically on data capability through the development of best practices, standards, and professional development programs. Key deliverables include standardized reference lists, data quality rules, technology neutral data objects and learning programs to support data professionals. “Collaboration with organizations like Blockchain for Energy helps to bring a standard vocabulary and usage in the seismic space, an area that the PPDM Association has been exploring with our upcoming project ‘What is Seismic,’” said Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association. “Seismic data management has been challenging for industry for decades and we believe this collaboration will help us move forward with positive, value add recommendations.”
B4E leverages data and the power of blockchain to create a trusted data ledger that strengthens industry cooperation and data integrity. B4E is utilizing blockchain to develop a framework for seismic contracts and entitlements that will build rigor into seismic data management.
“PPDM’s solid body of work in standardizing industry data has reaped important benefits over the years,” added Agustin Diz, Director of E&P Information Management at Repsol and Program Champion for the Seismic Entitlements at Blockchain For Energy, “Having PPDM as part of the team will be a big bonus to our project.”
Both organizations look forward to the opportunity to collaborate and support each other.
“I think that the ME centric time of data management is at an end and we must arrive at a WE centric method of data management, understanding that the totality of data management needs and data needs through the life cycle of that data.” Join the Three Data Wise Guys Plus one for the first episode of season 2 as they bring on guest speaker, Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association. Listen now.
The community of Certified Petroleum Data Analysts (CPDAs) is growing for good reason. Employers need qualified and experienced petroleum professionals to shepherd their data through a rapidly advancing technological environment. CPDAs provide an added level of confidence and capability to data teams, with much of the credentialed exam weighted on these four areas - Data Analysis (30%), E&P Life Cycle Processes (15%), Data Quality Management (15%) and Data Governance (11%). If you’d like to learn more about the CPDA, come and hear from these professionals and join in on the discussion on December 6th, 2022.
Mark your calendar – Our Dallas/Fort Worth Team are planning a special Workshop/Training day on February 28, 2022. The morning will feature three hands on classes, with an afternoon training and workshop. More information to come, keep an eye on our website for more details.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NTSA), which regulates and influences the oil, gas and carbon storage industries in the United Kingdom, has joined the Data as a National Resource (DANR) hub. DANR, launched in Spring 2022, is powered by the PPDM Association, and aims to be the go-to knowledge hub for regulators, National Oil Companies (NOC), National Data Repositories and technology and service providers. Subscribers to the hub have full access to a resource library, training, subscriber showcase, virtual events, and much more.
The NTSA has joined the Petroleum Agency of South Africa and SKK Migas as early adopters and supporters of the DANR initiative, which builds on new and existing relationships between regulatory agencies, NOCs, and service providers. The hub serves to bring these organisations together, to collaborate and share experiences, provide training and freely available resources, and offers opportunities to network with providers of enabling technology and services at a programme of events. In particular, the hub seeks to support emerging economies in seeking and attaining inward investment through licensing rounds for oil and gas, renewable energy and carbon capture, utilisation, and sequestration.
Andy Thompson, NDR Manager at NTSA, noted that the development of DANR and the NSTA’s subsequent involvement is very timely for the UK offshore energy sector, as they balance their commitment to ongoing hydrocarbon exploration and production with the Energy Transition. “We are working on a number of projects that are relevant to the content that DANR provides, and are anticipating working closely with the DANR community on learning from and providing support to, in particular, other regulatory agencies. We are are working to unlock value in petroleum related data that has application across traditional and emerging use cases. Our activities include digitising archived SEG-D, conditioning non-machine-readable legacy documentation, and enabling machine assisted content classification, all projects which we are sure will chime with other similar agencies around the world. As we move into the Energy Transition, it is vital that we work together to progress to more sustainable forms of energy generation, whilst acknowledging that hydrocarbon exploration and the associated data still forms a very large part of our energy future”.
Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association, is delighted that NTSA have joined DANR at this early stage. “It’s a pleasure to see a mature agency like NTSA join the DANR program. As the community continues to grow, mutually beneficial relationships between mature and growing agencies will remain a key focus and benefit. Our objective, to ensure that high quality data can be stewarded as a valuable national resource, depends on the expertise that participants bring to the table.”
DANR is accessed through subscription, at minimal cost for NOCs, Regulators and NDRs. Sponsorship is invited from service providers, and a range of sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information visit www.danrhub.org.
About DANR
The Data as a National Resource Knowledge Hub provides resources for National Data Repositories, Regulators and National Oil Companies, including a resource library, training, subscriber showcase, virtual events and more. DANR is powered by the PPDM Association. www.danrhub.org; www.ppdm.org
About NTSA NTSA regulates and influences the oil, gas and carbon storage industries in the UK. It helps drive North Sea energy transition, realising the significant potential of the UK Continental Shelf as a critical energy and carbon abatement resource. The NTSA holds industry to account on halving upstream emissions by 2030. https://www.nstauthority.co.uk/
Updated brand reflects the versatility of PPDM Association core pillars to serve the evolving energy industry.
CALGARY, Alberta, October 26, 2022 – The Professional Petroleum Data Management (PPDM) Association, the global, not-for-profit society within the energy industry for data professionals and data capability, announced today that it has changed its name to the “PPDM Association.” Accompanying this new name is a new logo and tagline: The Global Energy Data Professionals.
Announced shortly after the PPDM Association introduced a new strategic plan and celebrated more than 30 years of service to the energy industry, the new name and brand better reflect the breadth of the organization’s value to the diversifying energy industry.
“This is quite significant,” said Curley Thomas, Chair of the Strategic Committee of the PPDM Association Board of Directors. “Today and into the future, our organization’s identity is expanding beyond ‘petroleum’ and ‘data management.’ Traditional oil companies are pursuing new energies and more environmental responsibility. Similarly, more and more people handle data and perform data analytics who are not strictly ‘data managers,’ but they benefit from solid data practices. ‘Energy’ and ‘data professional’ more fully reflect the value and service we provide.”
Trudy Curtis, Chief Executive Officer, added, “Our organization started as the Public Petroleum Data Model (PPDM) in 1991, evolving to become the Professional Petroleum Data Management Association (PPDM) in 2008. The name ‘PPDM’ carries decades of value and goodwill built on our strong reputation in the data community. Our new brand celebrates those foundations, while emphasizing that our capabilities that produced that value serve expanding communities and solutions. It makes sense to apply our rigorous and successful methods to growing domains like carbon capture, greenhouse gas tracking, and wind turbine facilities through initiatives such as What is a Facility.”
Board Chair Allan Huber added, “Make no mistake, the PPDM Association will not abandon its foundational petroleum data standards or our traditional customer base, rather we are embracing the future with open arms. Building on the expertise that our volunteers and staff have developed in establishing and maintaining our world-class petroleum data standards enables us to accelerate the creation of robust standards for these new energy domains. Our members and volunteers will continue to leverage these capabilities to diversify our community, deliver new standards, and create development opportunities to support our stakeholders in this transition.”
The PPDM Association provides leadership for data professionals and capabilities through the development and dissemination of best practices and standards, education programs, certification programs, and professional development opportunities. The PPDM Association’s standards are implemented in various technologies across the energy industry, including key parts of the OSDU™ Data Platform. The work of the PPDM Association is largely volunteer-driven, and is grouped into three pillars (Data Community, Data Resources, and Data Professionals), executed by a methodology called the ‘PPDM Way.’ In the Association’s updated strategy, the data capability generated by these proven pillars and methodologies apply to additional domains, such as New Energy, Environment, and Technology.
For additional information, contact: Trudy Curtis CEO, PPDM Association board@ppdm.org
The PPDM Association would like to welcome six new and returning Directors to the Board of Directors, following the October 25, 2022, Annual General Meeting.
We would like to welcome back Ali Sangster (S&P Global), David Hood (geoLOGIC systems), Daniel Perna (EPAM Systems), and Jamie Cruise (SLB) who were re-elected for another term. We would also like to extend our congratulations to Melinda East (Focus Forward) and Jesus Rodriguez (Marathon) on their election to a first term with the Board.
Our sincere thank you and appreciation goes out to the Directors who will continue in their terms: Allan Huber (Retired from Shell), Tony Knight (Geological Survey of Queensland), Curley Thomas III (Chevron), Steven Cooper (Informed Solutions), Robert Best (Microsoft), Tarun Chandrasekhar (Syndigo) and Trudy Curtis (PPDM Association). We would especially like to thank Kolleen Kidd and Sue Carr for their hard work and dedicated service as they retire from the Board.
The Data Rules Committee needs your assistance. If you are specialized in Directional surveys or offshore and onshore facilities or Renewable Energy, we could use your help to create data rules. If you are interested, please email us at projects@ppdm.org.
Get involved with the CPDA professional community. Join our CPDA Information Sessions to learn more, and if you are a current CPDA, we welcome you to our CPDA Interactives that are scheduled throughout the year. Visit www.ppdm.org to sign up.
Did you know the CPDA Governance Committee hosts CPDA Information Sessions? Join us on December 6 (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MDT) to partake in this dynamic event. If you’re thinking about taking the CPDA Exam, come and “Ask a CPDA”.
If you are a current CPDA, we invite you to attend our next CPDA Interactive. Join your peers to discuss work challenges and solutions, PDU maintenance, and all things CPDA. The next event is scheduled for December 13 (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM MDT).
The 2022 Denver Energy Data Symposium is coming up on November 8, 2022, at Occidental Petroleum. The theme this year is “New Energy and the Data Professional.” Some of the things you’ll learn in this event include:
Register now
The Annual General Meeting of the PPDM Association will be held on Tuesday Oct 25th, 2022, at 3:00PM MDT. The meeting will be conducted entirely as a virtual meeting . Recent changes in Alberta Legislation governing not-for-profit societies allow for the AGM to be conducted virtually, allowing our members across the globe to participate. The AGM is open to all members, and voting members are strongly encouraged to attend. Members can register to attend the AGM through the PPDM website.
Immediately following the AGM, a Special Meeting of the membership will be held. In April of 2022, the Board of the PPDM Association rolled out a revised strategy at the Houston Expo. Most of you should have seen the document entitled “Transition: Embracing the Future”. If you haven’t seen it, you can find it link. To effectively implement the expanded strategy, and set a foundation for future growth, the Board recognized the need to update the branding, objects of incorporation, and the bylaws of the society. The outcome of this strategy and rebranding work will be presented in three resolutions at a Special Meeting of the Association on Oct 25th, 2022 immediately following the AGM at 4:00 PM MDT. Formal notice of the meeting including the resolutions and supporting material will be published in early October.
It is imperative that our voting members attend the Special Meeting as a vote of 75% of the membership is required to progress with the implementation of the changes noted above. I would ask you to reserve time in you’re your busy calendars for these important meetings. Please watch for this announcement, and review the materials included. The Board looks forward to your comments and questions, and especially to your participation in this critical event.