DRILLBITS
Monthly eNewsletter from the IADC

On 18 March, the IADC Drilling Engineers Committee (DEC) Q1 Tech Forum brought drilling professionals together to discuss “Advancing Drilling Technology: The Role of Collaborative Industry Projects in Innovation and Development.” This hybrid event featured the following presentations and discussions :

• “Deepstar’s Satellite Project Model – a Force Multiplier for Operator R&D Budgets” – Dave Barrow and Curtis Linehan, Deepstar
• “A Few Thoughts on Collaboration: What Works and What Else Can Be Tried” – Paul Pastusek, Pastusek and Associates
•  “The Power of Collaboration and Innovation for Global Energy” – Allen Sinor, The Competency Alliance
•  Panel Session #1, featuring: 
  • Dave Barrow
  • Shakir Shamshy
  • Paul Pastusek
  • Allen Sinor
  • Jonathan Lightfoot, Oxy
  • Mohamed Elshabrawy (moderator)

• Panel Session #2                    
  • IADC Young Professionals Committee: Bill Pickering, Precision Drilling, and Liana Carnes, Transocean, YP Co-Chairs
  • IADC Advanced Rig Technology Committee: Trent Martin, ART Co-Chair, Transocean
  • IADC UBO/MPD Committee: Matt Kvalo, UBO/MPD Vice Chair, Stasis Drilling Solutions
  • IADC Cybersecurity Committee: Jim Rocco, IADC
  • SPE Drilling Systems Automation Technical Section: Dimitrios Pirovolou, DSATS Chair, Weatherford
  • Andrew Barry (moderator)

Drilling Contractor Interview at the IADC DEC’s Q1 Tech Forum 

Collaboration, open-mindedness needed for industry to maximize potential for innovation

The energy industry is evolving rapidly, and this evolution is only set to accelerate in the coming decade, said Allen Sinor, Geothermal Sector Council Manager at The Competency Alliance. Speaking at the IADC Drilling Engineers Committee’s (DEC) Q1 2025 Tech Forum in Houston on 18 March, Mr Sinor discussed how innovations like AI are revolutionizing the industry’s ability to access and interpret data, while also enhancing both performance and safety. In this interview with DC taken from the forum, Mr Sinor spoke further about the nature of innovation within the industry, as well as the barriers that often prevent companies from fully exploiting the potential for innovation.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and special thanks to Premium Oilfield Technologies for hosting!