Oil and gas companies are so spoilt for choice when it comes to software packages that the result is often paralysis.
Amy Zeringue, chief information officer, drilling and completions at Chevron, said businesses were not making use of new software because they felt obliged to get more use out of the packages they bought earlier.
Ms Zeringue said it was essential to spend more time identifying the main problem users are experiencing.
Only then should a decision be made on correcting the issue through technology or improved processes, or both.
“Investing in analytics for analytics sake is not the answer,” Ms Zeringue said. “Experts should identify where analytics can offer the most benefit and pursue those with energy and focus.”
“I think approaches are changing, however, as our practitioners become more technologically and data savvy and the desire for efficiencies drives the need for innovation,” she said in an interview with the organisers of the SPE Intelligent Energy conference.