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!

Nominate a
CPDA for the Spotlight

Daniel Perna

Daniel Perna is a Principal Energy Data Strategy Consultant with EPAM Systems, and he is a PPDM Certified Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA).

He has over 15 years of experience in Upstream Oil and Gas data management, with a focus on wells and subsurface data, both on the operator side and consulting services side. He has performed many roles including data governance, master data management, data modeling, data quality management, business analysis, data integration, and training. Daniel has a passion for solving data and interoperability problems, and he is an active contributor to both the OSDU Forum and the PPDM Association, having held volunteer leadership roles in both.

Q&A

Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
I studied graphic design, but I never wanted to do advertising. I was hired as a Geotech at a large independent oil and gas company. At that point, I aspired to find ways to use my strengths while learning more about the upstream oil and gas, data management, and the energy industry. I eventually moved into my company’s enterprise data management program and expanded my knowledge and experience there significantly, partially through PPDM training. Our team regularly faced data problems and we solved them collaboratively with a combination of common sense, existing frameworks, and novel solutions. Eventually I became a consultant, helping solve similar problems for other energy companies.
Tell us why taking the CPDA™ exam became a priority.
When I learned about the CPDA exam and preparation materials, they opened my eyes to many existing frameworks and sources of information that I hadn’t known about. I knew they would be valuable to help me avoid re-solving problems that others had already solved, and to become a more well-rounded data professional. But more than that, I knew that allowing myself to be tested against those materials would force me to internalize this valuable information and cause me to fill any knowledge gaps.
What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA™?
The acts of preparing for my CPDA exam and then maintaining my certification through continuing education have encouraged me to keep my knowledge sharp and well-rounded. Because of that, and because of PPDM’s reputation, being a CPDA has also given me an extra level of credibility with clients in the energy industry. I believe all of this has contributed to new opportunities in my career and to success in solving complex problems in data ecosystems.
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 in PPDM workgroups and committees has given me an understanding of how other people and companies encounter similar problems and solve them. It has also exposed me to the data enthusiasts, subject matter experts, and time-tested wisdom that the PPDM Association has accumulated.
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?
We need a mix of strategy and tactics in our business. Yes, quick wins are needed to keep revenue flowing. But we also need to think long-term. Sustainable revenue comes from good business decisions, which come from good insights, which comes from data that is trusted and available. For our long-term success, it is critical that we lay a solid enterprise data foundation – one that has effective data governance, well-defined data of known quality, sustainable ways of sharing data, and a consistent process for capturing knowledge for future employees. Strategically, it is worth investing in building, and then maintaining, a really solid data foundation. Being data-driven is not a time-bound project; It is a business lifestyle.

Spotlight2024

Ruby Aka

Ruby Aka is a highly accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in energy and oil and gas small and mega projects consulting. She holds a master's degrees in Oil and Gas Engineering, Data Science, and a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering, bringing a unique blend of technical expertise and analytical prowess to every project. She has worked for, Jacobs Engineering UK, Independent Project Analysis (IPA), Aberdeen Commercial Energy Ltd, Fugro, UK, and ExxonMobil Nigeria where she led and supported various complex major capital projects.

Ruby specializes in field development planning, E&P data analysis, scope definition, stage gated processes, project delivery, cost management, contract dispute resolution, and financial analysis. Her proven track record and career highlights include leading and supporting major field development, E&P data reviews, project delivery, cost benchmarking, and assessments for major oil and gas industry leaders such as Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil.

With a strong foundation in Exploration and production, field development, data analysis, cost estimation, project benchmarking and evaluation, cost management, and risk assessment, Ruby is a trusted expert in navigating complex project challenges, delivering innovative data analysis and cost-effective solutions. Her passion for driving results and creating value through data-driven insights ensures clients achieve strategic success in every investment.

Ruby’s commitment to excellence makes her a vital partner in advancing projects and unlocking opportunities in the energy sector.

Q&A

Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
I began my career with a strong foundation in Oil and Gas Engineering, which equipped me with extensive knowledge in field development well planning, reservoir evaluation, facilities concept selection, and the basic reservoir data requirements critical for successful exploration and production (E&P) activities. This academic background sparked my interest in leveraging data to optimize oil and gas development and operations.

My career in data management began in 2007 when I started working as a Petroleum Data Analyst and Integrator at Fugro UK and progressed to work as an E&P data Analyst at Independent Project Analysis where I supported major oil companies capital projects ( BP, Shell, Equinor, OMV, and more) to successfully delivered their field development capital projects and minimal risk. I have continued supporting E&P projects to date in achieving optimal E&P data and cost-effectiveness. My role primarily focused on collating, analyzing, and managing exploration and project-related data, including historic wells, drilling, and reservoir data. I was responsible for evaluating this data to establish the economical valuable reserves and identify investment opportunities. My work involved integrating and evaluating diverse datasets across multiple fields to support field development and for informed effective investment decision-making processes.

Key Responsibilities in Data Management:
- Data Storage: I implemented strategies to organize data in databases, and cloud platforms (ArcGIS) for efficient retrieval.
- Data Integration: Combined data from varied sources into a unified system, creating a single source of truth for analysis and reporting.
- Data Quality: Focused on maintaining data accuracy, completeness, and consistency to ensure reliable results.
- Data Analysis: Used statistical, predictive, and exploratory techniques to analyze and extract meaningful insights and automate a dashboard enabling data-driven decision-making.
One of my most impactful contributions was Extracting, Transforming, and Loading (ETL) data into ArcGIS databases, enabling visualization of well status, field location, reservoir reserve and lithology, and pay zones. This process helped stakeholders make informed investment decisions by providing a clear picture of potential opportunities.

Career Aspirations
From the outset of my career, I aspired to merge my technical expertise in E&P with my growing passion for data management and analytics:
- To be an active E&P Analyst and Consultant, leveraging my engineering background and experience to support optimal field development projects and help maximize return on investment (ROI). Also creating innovative tools and platforms for storing, analyzing, and managing E&P data to improve operational efficiency and decision-making in the E&P industry. This passion has driven me to study Data Science to leverage technology and programming to build models that automate data management processes and analysis, further enhancing efficiency and accuracy in the oil and gas sector.
Through continuously enhancing my skills in data visualization, field development planning, and data analytics, I have been able to contribute meaningfully to the oil and gas sector, ensuring robust data-driven solutions to complex exploration and production challenges.
Tell us why taking the CPDA™ exam became a priority.
Taking the Certified Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA) exam became a priority for me as part of my commitment to excellence and credibility in the E&P industry. With over 15 years of experience in field development, supporting diverse projects, and analyzing E&P data globally, I recognized the need to align my expertise with a reputable certification that validates my skills and demonstrates my commitment to mastering E&P data management process and industry's best practices and standards.

In 2019, I came across a PPDM Association advertisement on LinkedIn through a PPDM staff, which led me to explore their mission and reputation. I was impressed by their dedication to advancing professional data management standards in the petroleum industry. After discussing its value and impact, I decided to pursue the certification to reinforce my ability to provide strategic support in E&P data analysis and field development. The certification process challenged me to deepen my understanding of industry standards, and upon successfully passing, it enhanced my credibility, visibility, and opportunity to network with other professionals in the sector.

CPDA validated my skills knowledge and provided networking opportunities. I believe this achievement would provide a competitive advantage to contribute more effectively to E&P projects in my career advancement by ensuring data integrity and driving informed decision-making, aligning with my goal of leveraging data to optimize field development and maximize ROI for stakeholders. This commitment will continue to reflect in my ability to deliver measurable results and adds value to any organization focused on innovation and operational excellence in the oil and gas industry.
What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA™?
Becoming a Certified Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA) has provided me with a range of benefits that have significantly enhanced my professional contribution to the field of data management.

Tangible Benefits:
- Professional Recognition: Achieving the certification has positioned me among the top professionals in petroleum data management, giving me credibility and visibility within the industry.
- Networking Opportunities: I have had the privilege of collaborating and listening to industry leaders and esteemed colleagues, both virtually and in person during various meetings and events.
- Access to Resources: The certification granted me access to extensive E&P resources available on the PPDM website, which has been invaluable in staying updated on industry best practices and standards.
Intangible Benefits:
- Members Support: The immersive support I received from Margaret Barron, has been instrumental in networking among fellow CPDA colleagues.
- Community Engagement: Volunteering and participating in professional forums have allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the data management community and brainstorm ideas with fellow volunteers.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: The knowledge and frameworks I’ve gained have empowered me to make more accurate, strategic, and impactful decisions in E&P data analysis and management.
Overall, this certification has not only enriched my technical and analytical skills but has also fostered meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose in advancing data management excellence within the oil and gas industry.
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 as a volunteer on UK Regional Leadership Teams a committee within the PPDM Association has been a privilege and a transformative experience that has significantly enhanced my knowledge of the data management profession. Volunteering allowed me to contribute meaningfully while gaining invaluable insights into the values PPDM provides to E&P industry members.

Key Learning and Growth Areas:
1. Enhanced Collaboration Skills: Participating in meetings and collaborating with colleagues from diverse professional backgrounds enriched my understanding of different approaches to solving data management challenges and fostered a spirit of teamwork and innovation.
2. Knowledge of Standards and Practices: Preparing for and participating in committee discussions exposed me to industry-leading standards, practices, and frameworks, which deepened my understanding of data governance, and quality.
3. Professional Growth Through Networking: The opportunity to engage with industry peers and experts during meetings and projects broadened my professional network and provided new perspectives on managing data efficiently and strategically.
4. Commitment to Continuous Learning: Serving in this capacity not only allowed me to give back to the industry but also reinforced my dedication to staying informed and adaptive to the evolving needs of data management.
It was an honor to serve, and I look forward to contributing again when the opportunity arises. The experience was both professionally and personally rewarding, and I am eager to continue leveraging my skills to advance the goals of the association and the broader data management community.
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?
The Critical Role of Data Management in the Oil and Gas Sector Exploration and Production.
Today, as Energy continues to evolve, data management has become a cornerstone of operational excellence and strategic decision-making in the oil and gas industry. Our investment decision whole depends on insights driven by E&P data, I recognize that the ability to collect, analyze, and leverage data effectively is not just a technical advantage—it is a business imperative. The availability of adequate quality and accurate basic data for field development is fundamental to achieving field development objectives and return on investment. In the quest for oil and production attainment expectation, Data termed “The New Oil”, is a valuable resource that must be adequately extracted, refined, and utilized to generate value. Undoubtedly, in our business sector, we deal with vast amounts of data from geophysical surveys, drilling operations, reservoir simulations, production activities, and market analyses. Efficient data management ensures that this information is accessible, reliable, and actionable.

Enhancing Decision-making and Boosting Productivity:

Leveraging technology and Advanced Analytics
To achieve our desired operational efficiency, effective data management must be in place that allows for optimization at every stage of the E&P lifecycle. From wildcat exploration and appraisal wells for identifying the most promising reservoir and reserve targets to optimizing drilling operations and managing production assets, data-driven insights can significantly reduce costs, minimize risks, and maximize returns. For example, acquiring adequate basic reservoir data and interpretation insights should be the foundation to making investment decision-making, real-time monitoring of drilling activities enables early detection of anomalies, reducing downtime and improving safety outcomes. Preventive maintenance for facilities will minimize downtime and risk to life and the environment.

Achieving Sustainability Through Data
The integration of advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence into our data management systems empowers us to make informed decisions with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Predictive maintenance, for instance, leverages historical equipment performance data to anticipate and prevent failures, thereby enhancing operational reliability. Sustainability is at the forefront of our industry, and data management plays a vital role in achieving environmental and social governance (ESG) goals. Accurate emissions data allows us to monitor and reduce our carbon footprint, while robust supply chain analytics ensure transparency and ethical practices.

Overcoming Challenges in Data Management
Despite the advantages of data management, there are numerous challenges facing data management in the oil and gas. The volume, variety, and velocity of data generated can be overwhelming. Ensuring data quality, cybersecurity, and interoperability across legacy systems are critical hurdles we must address. To overcome these, investing in state-of-the-art technology and fostering a culture of data stewardship across our organization is paramount.

Empowering Teams
Technology alone is not enough; it is the people behind the data who drive progress. As leaders, we must ensure that our teams are equipped with the skills and tools they need to harness the power of data. Training programs, collaborative platforms, and cross-disciplinary teams are essential for creating a data-driven culture.

The Future of Data Management in E&P
Looking ahead, the oil and gas sector will increasingly rely on digital twins, blockchain technology, and cloud-based platforms to streamline operations and enhance collaboration. By embracing these innovations, we can remain agile and resilient in an industry that continues to face volatility and transformation.

A Call to Action
The transformative power of effective data management should not be underestimated. By prioritizing data as a strategic asset and implementing best practices and standards as provided by PPDM, we can unlock new opportunities, drive sustainable growth, and maintain our competitive edge in an ever-changing energy landscape.

As CEO, I will stand committed to leading the data management transformation in collaboration with PPDM, ensuring that our data management practices not only support our business goals but also contribute to a more efficient and sustainable future for the industry.

No content found

Spotlight2023

Carmen Prado

Carmen Prado is a Computer Science Engineer with 25+ years of experience on Data Management for the E&P industry, involved in Data Management Consulting and Application support activities with several clients at different geographical locations such as Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Throughout this period, she has provided technical support and consulting services on the deployment of Data Management solutions using different SLB software.

Carmen is a member of the PPDM association and acquired her Certification of Petroleum Data Analyst (CPDA™) in May 2017.

Q&A

Tell us about your data management professional journey. What did you aspire to be when you started your career?
I can say my data management journey started right after I got my computer science degree in Venezuela; I joined a local service company that was working in the development of a Data Management system for the National oil company, thanks to that work experience my knowledge and expertise in the management of the E&P data began and has continued growing since then. I started to focus my interest on the implementation of data quality procedures including data clean-up and organization. For me always has been a priority the accuracy, validity, and completeness of the data. We must be able to trust in the data because this is very decisive on the success of any project specially in the E&P industry.
Tell us why taking the CPDA exam became a priority.
I wanted to demonstrate to myself, as well as my colleagues inside and outside the company, my level of knowledge and expertise in the management of the E&P data. I started to research what certification was the most suitable for my position and experience and the CPDA was the perfect for me, considering also that PPDM has always been an important reference during my +25 years of journey as a Data Management consultant for the Oil & Gas industry. I got my certification in my fist attempt back in 2017, since then I am a proud Certified Petroleum Data Analyst.
What tangible and intangible benefits have you gained from being a CPDA?
The most important benefit is the industry recognition because this is a certification acknowledge by the Oil & Gas industry worldwide. Also, it has been an excellent personal benefit; be a CPDA has given me the opportunity to meet great people and it has been an excellent stimulus to participate in events that have allowed me to gain more knowledge and expertise in the data management domain, as well as the benefit to keep me informed about the big technology changes influencing our discipline.
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.
Volunteering on PPDM, particularly in the Certification committee, has been a great experience for me; it has helped me to increase my professional networking and share time and knowledge with excellent professionals and colleagues. I have learned a lot about communication skills, procedures and technology and be up to date with industry advancements in the Data domain. Furthermore, volunteering has also allowed me to share my data management knowledge and expertise with others; it has been a win-to-win experience.
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 one of the most valuable assets a company can have hence my team should establish a robust data governance framework is a priority; this should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and processes for managing data across the organization and guarantee the quality of the data, its security and compliance with relevant regulations. I would also encourage the deployment of a feedback procedure to collect information that allow us to evaluate and improve our data management processes, including a consistently assessment about the efficacy of our data practices. Finally, keeping alert of new changes in the industry and the necessity to adopt new technologies.

No content found

Spotlight2022

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

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.
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.
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!
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.
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!

No content found

Spotlight2021

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

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.
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!
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!
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.
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.