SPE OKC August Monthly Luncheon

Scaling Digital Value: Unique Challenges & Opportunities in Production Operations

Travis Stephenson

Devon Energy

Abstract:

Digital technology has revolutionized many aspects of modern oil and gas operations enhancing safety, compliance, efficiency, and profitability from drilling to refining. However, the realization of these benefits in large-scale production operations has been slower and less widespread. Many E&P companies have seen limited success with digital initiatives in this critical aspect of their business. In addition, multiple digital solution providers who specialize in the oil and gas industry have struggled to meet the specific needs of production operations teams.

This discussion identifies key differences between production operations (namely those featuring high numbers of geographically dispersed wells) and other sectors within the oil and gas industry: the scale and heterogeneity of assets operated, the asymmetry in data volume and data value, as well as the complexity of large organizations with broad scopes of responsibility. It offers insights and guidance for digital solution providers and E&P companies to facilitate the successful digital transformation that this sector urgently needs.

Biography:

Travis Stephenson is a Senior Advising Production Engineer at Devon Energy, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. Travis graduated from Rice University and began his career with BP in 2005, gaining diverse experience in drilling engineering and onshore, offshore, and international production engineering roles. Since joining Devon Energy in 2013, he has held key positions in Production Engineering, Planning, and Leadership.

Since 2017, Travis has been integral to Devon’s Operational Excellence and Production Technology Teams, leading the development and implementation of various digital applications (both in-house and commercial) that have enhanced operational efficiency and innovation. He has shared his expertise through industry presentations and panels, including the 2019 Data Driven Oil and Gas Conference, Oklahoma City chapter of the American Petroleum Institute, 2023 Oklahoma City Oil and Gas Symposium and the 2024 SPE Forum on Artificial Intelligence in Upstream E&P 2030.

Host or Publisher Society of Petroleum Engineers Oklahoma City Section