CPDA™ Spotlight

The CPDA™ Spotlight was created by the Energy Data Management Certification Committee (EDMCC) to recognize the amazing achievements of our Certified Petroleum Data Analysts. Celebrating their projects, presentations, papers and professional leadership strengths. CPDAs nominate themselves, or be nominated by a member of the community, to be featured.

Are you, or you do you know of, a CPDA™ who has been up to something interesting in their role as a certified professional petroleum data analyst? Let us know by submitting a nomination!

Antonie du Toit
Antonie du Toit is a geologist who builds geological models not only for oil & gas but also CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) and Hydrogen. His position in a subsurface team is at a data junction. He receives data and interpretations from Petrophysicists, Seismic Interpreters and other Geologists, then integrates it into a 3D model and passes the model on to Reservoir Engineers. He believes that the earth is much more complex than we can capture and model, and that models which more accurately honour the input data are more likely to be useful approximations of the complex earth that we’re trying to model. Antonie attained the CPDA certification in 2017.






Q&A

  1. Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
    I wanted a career where I dealt with concrete and absolute realities, rather than dealing with humans whose minds change based on their moods. In my youthful naivety, I wanted a career in a primary industry where value-creation is not in dispute. I chose geology, only to find that I liked digital technology and geophysics more, so I extended my studies towards geophysics. At that time a geophysicist was to some extent seen as a data-savvy and computer literate geologist, so my employer tried me on digital 3D geological modelling. I very soon realised I wanted to devote my career to this. If one cultivates challenging passions that can be channeled to add value, then doors of opportunity will open.
  2. Tell us why taking the CPDA™ exam became a priority.
    My one-man show geological modelling consultancy became less busy when the local oil patch hit a lull. This freed up time so by day I could pursue hobbies such as DIY and contributing to build a treehouse for the kindergarten my kids went to, but I figured I should engage my mind at night. The CPDA seemed a manageable chunk of study that I felt I have an aptitude for, so it made sense to pursue it. I then realised it was a bigger chunk of study than I thought at the time, so two weeks prior to the exam I excused myself from the treehouse building team so that I could study day and night. If like most CPDA candidates I had a full-time job, I would not have qualified with a distinction.
  3. What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA™?
    It is an extra arrow to my quiver when I market myself. I have the CPDA badge printed on the back of my business card, and it opens up conversations about the importance of data, and data literacy. In my biased view that makes the recipient of my business card feel confident that I would be meticulous in managing data and honouring data in the 3D models that I build.
  4. You are an active volunteering member of the PPDM Association. Tell us how serving on a committee has elevated your level of knowledge in the data management profession. Initially I was reluctant to volunteer, thinking that I did not have the skillset or aptitude to be on a committee. However, volunteering here has been a fulfilling experience because I am giving back to the profession and interacting with fellow data-savvy volunteers. If one starts off with two assumptions [1) Data is important, data makes the world go round, and 2) Most people don’t believe that 1) is true], then volunteering with an organisation who strives to professionalise Data Management is a logical next step.
  5. If you could be the CEO for a day in an E&P company, what advice you would communicate to your leadership about data management?
    I’d start off explaining that the well-known management framework called PPT for of People, Process and Technology may have been around since the 1950s or 1960s. Only recently has it come to light how important Data is to this framework. Data should be front and centre in this framework, but in my view, there has been a cultural resistance to acknowledging the importance of Data and Data Management. The People in this company follow Processes on how to apply Technology to … DATA! So, if the Data is not managed properly, the Technology does not work, and neither does the Process nor the People. I’d leave that to sink in then I’d ask whether anyone objects if the usual practise of starting a meeting with a Safety Moment be modified such that every alternate meeting, we have a Data Moment instead. Then I’d ask whether it is reasonable to take steps to elevate Data in the company’s culture to the level that Safety is in a typical E&P company.

Spotlight 2023

Kreg McCurtain

Kreg is the Geotechnical Supervisor for Ascent Resources in Oklahoma City, responsible for managing processes, data organization, and database management. He has over 18 years’ experience as a Data Professional for Chesapeake, Sandridge, and Kirkpatrick Oil in roles of increasing responsibility and complexity. His work history includes building streamlined workflows, improving data quality and structure, and integration throughout the company, exposing the capabilities of numerous software packages. Since 2013, Kreg has served as an Adjunct Instructor for the OERB Petrotech Program and Advisory Board Member with the OERB and other outside organizations. He is a member of the PPDM Communications Committee and currently holds a CPDA Certification through the PPDM Association since 2020.



Q&A

  1. Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
    I began my college career looking forward to a major in Nursing, then Sports Medicine, then Education and finally stumbled into the Geography/Cartography department at ECU. I 100% didn’t know what Cartography meant, but after a few classes and really connecting with the professors, I felt like I had found my calling; this is where I was supposed to be. I had made a few connections during my time there and had a job lined out with FEMA, mapping disaster zones. 6 months before graduating, the job was dissolved with FEMA and panic set in. What am I going to do with a Geography/Cartography Degree? Luckily, I had come across a role in the Oil and Gas Industry that sounded very similar to what I studied, and the data skills easily transferred to this position, Associate Geotech. Since starting in 2005, little did I know I would have been this blessed from working in the Oil and gas Industry and didn’t know I’d still be doing this today!
  2. Tell us why taking the CPDA™ exam became a priority.
    I’ve always heard of the PPDM Association and the standards set forth but had no idea how important it is to the industry. I had experience, knowledge, understanding of data management no tangible way of validating my skills. During COVID I decided to finally take the CPDA Exam, so glad I did. It has not only given me the validation I needed, but has increased my knowledge, network, and professional Development more than imagined. Being a CPDA and a member of the PPDM, I have gained valuable knowledge around Core Competencies of data management.
  3. What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA™?
    Holding a CPDA Certification has helped me to be the “go-to” for questions surrounding data management and processes. I feel that holding this Certification allows for others to have confidence in approaching me for best practices and being a valuable resource to others.
  4. You are an active volunteering member of the PPDM Association. Tell us how serving on a committee has elevated your level of knowledge in the data management profession.
    Serving on the Communications Committee has allowed me to be part of something that reaches the masses. Sponsoring companies and CPDA’s are located all over the world and being part of the PPDM Association has allowed me to network with many brilliant professionals. We have regular meetings to discuss data governance, data management, security, data analysis and other core competencies but as a bonus the Communications Committee is a ton of fun!
  5. If you could be the CEO for a day in an E&P company, what advice you would communicate to your leadership about data management?
    How much time do I have??????

    Data Management, Organization and Data Structure is vital to a thriving company. Making business decisions from structured data, organized, quality data is often overlooked but is one of the most valuable tools a company can possess. Education within your organization on how data flows through each business unit needs to be at the forefront of every conversation regarding data and data integration.

Spotlight 2022

Alex Ross

Alex Ross is a data & information savvy geoscientist who closes the gap between the business and IT. Building on degrees in Geology & Sedimentology from London University, his early career saw him implementing geological workstations in Shell UK. This was followed by 19 years in Schlumberger Information Solutions in a variety of roles including geoscience software technical support, marketing, sales and operations management. For the past number of years Alex has provided specialist oil & gas data and information consultancy services to Santos, Beach Energy, Origin Energy, SA Department of Energy and Mines and SRA IT in the UK, USA and Australia. Branching out into the mining industry has revealed many similarities in geoscience data & information business needs. Based in Adelaide, his leisure time is spent cycling and researching the links between geology & wine.

Alex is a member and Certified Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA™) of the PPDM Association, where he is also co-chair of the Energy Data Management Certification Committee, Alex works tirelessly to advance our professional discipline.



Q&A

  1. Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
    I describe my career journey as a happy accident. After graduating from London University with a geology honours degree, I wanted to join Shell UK at a time when a PhD was required to be an oil company geologist. Fortunately, Shell was recruiting IT graduates and I was placed in the exploration department providing geotechnical data and applications support. From there I had an amazing time focussing on applications and data at Schlumberger for many years - working and living in some amazing parts of the world. The majority of my more recent career is as a consultant specialising in delivering improved data insights to energy and resource companies. It continues to be a lot of fun. I’m fortunate to really enjoy my job and work with some awesome people.
  2. Tell us why taking the CPDA exam became a priority.
    Short answer – Trudy ever so nicely twisted my arm at the 2015 PPDM Brisbane conference! CPDA™ had just started - I had a look at the benefits and it was clear it was a key differentiator in a competitive job market. I’m proud of being the first CPDA in Australia.
  3. What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA?
    Great satisfaction in helping others in their data career journey.

    Working with a great group of people at PPDM, in the broader CPDA™ community and on the CPDA™ committee.

    I’m delighted to say that shortly after achieving my CPDA™ I was successful in securing a new job – with the caveat that correlation isn’t always causation – but the optimist in me says it was!
  4. You are an active volunteering member of the PPDM Association. Tell us how serving on a committee has elevated your level of knowledge in the data management profession.
    My passion for the benefits of CPDA™ continued as I was invited to be on the CPDA™ committee, and then became co-chair. It’s a wonderful way to network both internationally and within Australia. It’s not only what you know, it’s who you know! It also keeps me up to date with industry advancements.
  5. If you could be the CEO for a day in an E&P company, what advice you would communicate to your leadership about data management?
    Data is an extremely valuable asset. Oil & gas companies are basically data companies who choose to explore for and produce hydrocarbons. The value of a company primarily comes from three factors.
    • Knowing the quality, completeness and timeliness of its data. It's never all going to be perfect but knowing allows a weighting to be applied to decisions made from it.
    • The applicability of the technology the company uses to analyse and make decisions on the data.
    • The skills and experience of the people who analyse the data.
    Data is much too often an underappreciated and underutilised asset. If stock markets allowed oil & gas companies to define data as an asset, budgets to leverage more value from it would dramatically increase.

    Improving data quality, completeness and timeliness is commonly “somebodies else’s problem” and that’s a challenge to overcome. For me this graphic sums it up.



    Oh yes and hire more CPDAs!

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Spotlight 2021

Oliver (Olly) Thistleton

Olly Thistleton began learning the discipline 20 years ago on service desk teams for Venture’s various London-based clients, and now holds the position of Consulting Lead with Sword Venture’s Asia-Pacific Business Unit. He achieved his CPDA with Distinction credential in 2017.



Q&A

  1. Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
    It's probably different now data science is the cool profession everyone wants to do, but when I was young, careers fairs didn't have a data booth! I was interested in earth sciences, so my education headed down the rock licking route of becoming a geologist. I'd always enjoyed technology though, so when an opportunity came to work at an oil & gas data management consultancy, it combined both my interests, so I jumped on it, and I've never looked back.
  2. Tell us why taking the CPDA exam became a priority.
    To be honest, it became a priority for me as I wanted to evaluate it for my team. There are lots of training courses and certifications in aspects of what makes a great petroleum data manager – geoscience, engineering, software, IT, behavioural skills, etc. There’s even a few in data management, albeit industry-agnostic. What’s as rare as hen’s teeth is something that ties all these aspects together. As soon as I heard about the CPDA, I signed up to take it and assess whether it was something my team of fellow petroleum data managers should be taking as part of their learning plans. And the outcome of my assessment… well there’s three more Distinction-level CPDAs out there… so far!
  3. What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA?
    The first tangible benefit, therefore, has been my ability to recommend it to my company and to other data managers as a valuable career development target. It wasn’t all about others though. As a data manager you’re always growing your skills, but some have certainly atrophied over time. Revision for the CPDA helped me refresh my knowledge in a broad range of subjects. Since obtaining my CPDA, whilst it’s not been an explicit requirement or preference so far (something I’d like to see change), it’s certainly been valuable with new clients in putting evidential weight from an industry recognised organisation that this person knows what they’re talking about!
  4. You are an active volunteering member of the PPDM Association. Tell us how serving on a committee has elevated your level of knowledge in the data management profession.
    Twenty years after starting in this discipline, it really frustrates me that I still regularly meet fellow data managers who struggle communicate their value to their employers. With the squeeze on the petroleum industry in recent years, this has become even more critical for those competing for fewer jobs, or for those trying to quantify their skills to an employer in an another industry. I see my involvement with the professional development division of PPDM as a responsibility to our discipline to improve this situation. Something I believe we are making progress on. It doesn’t hurt that I’m working with a great group of people from around the globe. They all bring different viewpoints on the same goal, meaning I’m always keeping an open mind and learning new things.
  5. If you could be the CEO for a day in an E&P company, what advice you would communicate to your leadership about data management?
    Most E&P companies are on a digitalisation journey and trying to become more data-driven in their business decisions. This has been beneficial in putting a focus on data and the need to make it work harder. Sadly however, there persists a view that buying the latest technology or putting data into the cloud will somehow make it better. I would encourage leadership to invest in a more balanced way. Technology enablers are important, but if data is not managed properly through appropriate processes by skilled people (such as CPDA-certified petroleum data managers), those business decisions are going to be data-driven in the wrong direction.

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