Best Geoffrey Cann Podcasts (2025)

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When Water Bites Back: How Oil and Gas Learned to Respect Its Most Overlooked Resource 34:51

Play Pause

1h ago34:51

34:51

Water is the unsung workhorse of the oil and gas industry. It's instrumental for generating steam, driving b, lubricating drill bits, flooding reservoirs, and separating oil from oil sands. Historically it’s been cheap, plentiful, and overlooked. As climate pressures mount and scarcity becomes real, water is now emerging as one of the industry’s mo…

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How VR is Revolutionizing Industrial Training 34:11

10d ago34:11

34:11

The industrial sector faces a growing challenge: how to train a rapidly evolving, inexperienced workforce to safely and effectively operate aging and complex infrastructure. Traditional training tools like PowerPoint presentations and passive classroom learning no longer cut it, especially in high-risk environments like oil refineries and offshore …

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Beyond RAG 32:48

16d ago32:48

32:48

In energy and manufacturing, vast volumes of unstructured data (think OEM manuals, maintenance logs, shift notes, correspondence, procedures), sit largely untapped. For decades, experienced technicians have compensated by carrying critical knowledge in their heads. But with retirements accelerating and fewer seasoned workers on the front line, this…

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Training the Dog 32:10

25d ago32:10

32:10

Why is a pug named Phoebe likely more qualified than your frontline crew? In the oil and gas industry, online training and certification have become the norm. Let's agree it's convenient, cost-effective, and scalable. But what if the people taking that training are subverting the training using AI, or aren’t people at all? Digital tools, especially…

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The Five Lessons of Digital and AI Deployment 32:12

1M ago32:12

32:12

The oil and gas industry has invested heavily in new digital technologies, but too many efforts fall short in value delivery. However compelling digital initiatives may seem, they will assuredly flounder if workers are unable or unwilling to adopt them. The challenge lies in the way asset centric organizations tend to approach change. Leaders often…

1
The Looming Energy Talent Gap 27:07

1M ago27:07

27:07

The energy industry is having a moment. As assets become digitized, operations increasingly automated, molecules displaced for electrons, and capital more discerning, the biggest challenge is now people, instead of engineering. Specifically, where will the next generation of digitally fluent energy professionals come from? At the same time, academi…

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From Paper to Pocket 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

Heavy industry runs on complex systems and distributed assets, but frontline workers are often still armed with paper manuals and radios. It works, but yields an unacceptably high level of inconsistencies, safety incidents, and productivity bottlenecks. And as experienced workers retire, critical knowledge about systems, assets, and good practice d…

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The Helium Signal 29:24

2M ago29:24

29:24

The traditional model of hydrocarbon exploration has transitioned in much of North America, replaced by exploitation of known shale and tight resources. For shale players, exploration is seen as more risky, expensive, and slow than pursuing resource play. Classic geochemical methods, reliant on sample collection and lab analysis, can’t keep up with…

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Honey I Shrunk The Device 28:56

2M ago28:56

28:56

In the world of oil and gas operations, edge devices are mission-critical. These compact, intelligent sensors operate in the most extreme of environments, such as remote drill sites, deep wells, and hostile landscapes, where they continuously collect operational data. Best in class operators don't just throw digital at the field. They prioritize ef…

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Unlocking Capital Innovation in Oil and Gas 29:51

3M ago29:51

29:51

The global upstream oil and gas sector is confronting a mounting crisis—access to capital. For over a decade, international producers, especially small- and mid-cap firms, have faced shrinking pools of funding as banks exit the space and public equity markets falter. Traditional sources of capital have dwindled, leaving many promising ventures stra…

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From Clipboards to Cloud 30:46

3M ago30:46

30:46

In the upstream oil and gas sector, frontline operations have long depended on manual methods for information management, such as clipboards, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools. These outdated processes persist despite mounting pressure to improve efficiency and cut costs. But with today’s margin compression, regulatory scrutiny, and demographic …

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Digital Gets Real in the Mid-Market 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

Mid-sized oil and gas companies are now at a digital crossroads. While supermajors have pushed forward with large-scale transformation programs, many mid-market firms are only beginning to explore how digital innovation can improve performance. Their operational processes—budgeting, forecasting, asset planning—tend to mirror those of larger firms b…

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Methane Matters 30:54

4M ago30:54

30:54

The oil and gas industry is sitting on a ticking environmental and financial liability. Around the world, millions of wells have been drilled to date, many more will be drilled, and all will eventually need to be plugged and abandoned. Today, the US alone has thousands of orphaned and marginal wells, many leaking methane, a greenhouse gas many time…

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700 Ways to Boost Cash Flow in Oil and Gas 34:07

4M ago34:07

34:07

The oil market is once again bracing for change, with OPEC signaling their interest in unlocking supply that has been withheld. For producers, this looming oversupply translates into a fresh imperative: cut costs. The oil and gas sector, long accustomed to volatility, must now sharpen its cost control strategies in the face of intensifying pressure…

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Fracking Reinvented 33:07

4M ago33:07

33:07

For decades, hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—has relied heavily on water and sand to crack underground rock and release oil and gas. Fracking is safe, proven, and reliable, and in collaboration with horizontal drilling, has resulted in the huge growth in hydro carbon production in the US and Canada. But fresh water is a scarce resource particularl…

1
Mapping The Wet Frontier 32:51

4M ago32:51

32:51

Despite covering over 70% of our planet, the oceans and seas remain largely unmapped and poorly understood. Collecting useable data about the oceans is hard and expensive--reliant on specialized costly vessels, old-school technologies, and plenty of labour. The comparison to land mapping technologies (like Google Earth) is stark--we have near-total…

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Empirical Gas 33:39

5M ago33:39

33:39

Natural gas producers have long struggled to differentiate their product in a market that treats gas as a commodity. When it comes to carbon intensity (CI), the industry is reliant on emission factors and self-reported data, and lacks a credible, data-driven approach to proving their gas carries a lower CI. With new regulations like the Inflation R…

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Opening Oil & Gas to the World: Tokenization and the Future of Investment 32:53

5M ago32:53

32:53

The oil and gas industry has traditionally relied on financial instruments like futures and private equity—frameworks that have largely benefitted institutional investors while leaving little room for broader participation. But as digital assets continue to reshape capital markets, tokenization presents a new way forward. With blockchain technology…

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How Big Oil Fell Behind In The Digital Race 12:18

5M ago12:18

12:18

Twenty years ago, Big Oil companies like Shell and Exxon were the stars of the capital markets. Huge revenues, stellar profits, high share prices, robust price/earning ratios and reliable dividends placed these companies among the world’s best, magnets for top engineering talent and voices of influence in the halls of governments globally. But no m…

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Beyond the Lens 12:21

5M ago12:21

12:21

Industrial operations have long depended on the OODA loop—Observe, Orient, Decide, Act—a military-inspired decision framework that works, but at great cost. It requires physical presence, human expertise, and often misses key variables hidden from view. This age-old method is embedded across energy infrastructure—from wells to refineries. The digit…

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The Future of Offshore Connectivity 33:29

6M ago33:29

33:29

Offshore oil and gas operations are among the most complex and remote in the world. From harsh weather to limited physical access, these environments demand reliable, high-speed communications to enable modern digital workflows and keep operations running safely and efficiently. As offshore operations become more autonomous and data-driven, the tra…

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Corrosion Under Insulation 9:10

6M ago9:10

9:10

Pipes are the silent workhorses of the process industries—hidden in plain sight yet essential for daily operations. But what happens when these unassuming assets begin to fail? A recent catastrophic water main rupture in Calgary serves as a stark reminder that even the most robust infrastructure is vulnerable, especially when degradation hides unde…

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AI That Thinks Like a Scientist 35:06

6M ago35:06

35:06

AI is transforming oil and gas, but not all AI is created equal. Many companies have wasted millions on failed AI projects, chasing optimization without real breakthroughs. But what if AI could think like a scientist—applying physics and chemistry to accelerate decision-making and innovation? In this episode, TC Zoboroski, Head of Sales for Energy …

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Ending Insanity In Oil and Gas 31:30

6M ago31:30

31:30

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome. In oil and gas, we do the same thing over and over, knowing the outcome will vary—but believing we’re optimizing it. With billions at stake, the industry needs better ways to react in real time. As capital market pressures rise and companies conso…

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The World in a Cube 34:16

6M ago34:16

34:16

Energy markets are undergoing a profound transformation. With demand shifting, new energy sources emerging, and digital infrastructure consuming more power than ever, the need for accurate, data-driven decision-making has never been greater. Companies must now navigate uncertainty with smarter forecasting tools, leveraging AI and real-time analytic…

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Sweat Science 32:00

7M ago32:00

32:00

Oil and gas workers operate in extreme conditions, such as the Gulf and the Permian Basin, where the intense heat and high humidity create very hazardous conditions. You lose a lot of body moisture just surviving in those settings. Most of us know to take a drink of water when we’re thirsty, but in those places, by the time you’re thirsty, you’re a…

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From Milling to Data 26:45

7M ago26:45

26:45

The oil and gas industry has long relied on surface data and the expertise of seasoned operators to manage the complexities of downhole operations. However, as wells become deeper, laterals longer, and conditions more extreme, the human expert can struggle to address the expanded downhole complexity. Consistency, efficiency, and precision have beco…

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Pearls of CO2 Wisdom 24:19

7M ago24:19

24:19

Direct air carbon capture will be required to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere while we wind down fossil fuel combustion, and a new technology based on graphene and amine coated ceramic pearls or spheres may be the missing link. The direct air capture methods deployed to date struggle with their enormous scale, their energy intensity, and oper…

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Crux of the Matter 28:15

7M ago28:15

28:15

Pipelines are often thought of as simple logistics channels, but in reality, they operate more like sprawling processing plants. This complexity has long been underserved by outdated control systems that lack the sophistication of modern software. The challenge is clear: legacy systems are hindering efficiency, sustainability, and even talent reten…

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Transforming Petrochemicals 34:44

8M ago34:44

34:44

The petrochemical industry has traditionally been slow to adopt new technologies, often hindered by legacy systems, risk-averse cultures, and scattered data. However, as global competition and sustainability pressures mount, companies like Nova Chemicals are turning to digital transformation to drive operational efficiency and sustainability. Nova …

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Driving Data Innovation in Fuel Supply Chains 32:48

8M ago32:48

32:48

The fuel products supply chain is long and complicated, handling the movement of massive volumes of fungible, dangerous, and valuable products in millions of small lots. Despite its criticality, this part of the industry is often overlooked, but can benefit from the modern tools that are finding their way into many industries. I was curious just ho…

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Building the Workforce of the Future 35:18

8M ago35:18

35:18

The energy industry faces a dual challenge: addressing the growing skills gap as experienced workers retire, and attracting a tech-savvy younger workforce. Meanwhile, digital transformation is reshaping the landscape, introducing complex tools like AI and automation into traditional workflows. In this episode, I interview Ron Crabtree, CEO of MetaO…

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Visual Analytics in Field Operations 34:04

8M ago34:04

34:04

Safe operations in industries like oil and gas, water utilities, and construction are a non-negotiable priority. However, achieving these high safety standards often creates inefficiencies, as organizations adopt low-error tolerance systems and time-intensive compliance processes. Field teams face growing pressure to balance safety, productivity, a…

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Beyond the Map 35:16

8M ago35:16

35:16

The energy sector is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by advancements in geospatial technology and the unrelenting evolution of digital innovation. Traditional geotech methods are giving way to LiDAR, GPS, drone and satellite imagery, and the industry now collects more data than ever before. But how do you make sense of this crazy data-rich lands…

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Cloud Power 32:13

9M ago32:13

32:13

#ETRM #CTRM One of the last remaining domains of energy yet to fully embrace the cloud is Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM). Despite the key role it plays, the broader oil and gas sector (producers, supply houses, traders, agents) cling to old legacy ETRM systems—clunky, costly, and a pain to integrate into complex application portfolios. T…

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Building Tomorrow’s Energy Talent Today 29:29

9M ago29:29

29:29

SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) has a critical mission: producing the frontline workers that keep the energy industry running. But as the sector evolves—shaped by decarbonization, digital technologies, shifting demographics, and immigration rules—so too must the workforce. According to Dale Hansen, dean of SAIT’s MacPhail School of …

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Unlocking Digital Doors 12:33

10M ago12:33

12:33

Oil and gas managers often view every decision as high-stakes and irreversible, but in the digital world, not all choices carry that weight. Jeff Bezos’s concept of “Type One” (irreversible) and “Type Two” (reversible) decisions offers a powerful framework for rethinking decision-making in the energy sector. While some digital investments—like SCAD…

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Why Your Digital Oil and Gas Innovation Is Doomed 9:04

10M ago9:04

9:04

With your company being acquired, what happens to the digital innovation you helped pioneer? Sadly, its days may be numbered. The unfortunate fate of digital innovations in the oil and gas industry following acquisitions is really depressing. Even groundbreaking technologies—despite their proven value—are often tossed to the curb by acquiring compa…

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The Integrators Guide to ETRM 11:29

10M ago11:29

11:29

Stitching a new energy trading and risk management (ETRM) system into a modern systems environment is a substantial and risky undertaking. ETRM as a business function is notably complicated and the challenges an integrator faces are legion. Energy trading is perhaps the most complicated of all of the various functional areas one encounters in the o…

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Navigating Green Compliance 9:17

10M ago9:17

9:17

Are you curious how the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) might impact the global oil and gas industry? It will indirectly, thankfully, but in a specific instance and for a specific fuel type, very directly. The fuels industry is on a mad rush to decarbonize its fuel products, under pressure from regulators and customers both of whom…

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The Industrial Edge 27:55

10M ago27:55

27:55

#private5G #smartfactory #energy #petrochemicals Market-leading companies with complex plant operations, such as oil refineries and petrochemical plants, are turning to private 5G network technology to gain an industrial edge. In the oil refining and petrochemical sectors, inadequate connectivity is a growing challenge that hampers further drives t…

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Building Safer Workplaces 37:57

11M ago37:57

37:57

Suicide is a significant and overlooked issue in various industries. Among the sectors most affected are construction and trades, installation, maintenance and repairs, and agriculture, particularly for men. These fields face high stress, long hours, and job insecurity, which can contribute to mental health struggles. Within oil and gas, the relian…

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The Mindset Shift 36:34

11M ago36:34

36:34

Successful change management in oil and gas is dependent on having the right mindset about the change. Many years ago, I was involved in implementing a new computer system for a remote field office. The managers assured us that all they needed to do to guarantee a successful implementation was to order the employees by memo to use the system. Chang…

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Traceable Truths 26:09

11M ago26:09

26:09

It's never been easy for energy products to demonstrate they are sustainable because such products are not easily traceable through the supply chain. Commodity products such as energy, plastics, carbon, and fuels are fungible, voluminous, and blended with each other. The supply chains are not segregated, leading to possible cross contamination when…

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Busting Biases, Boosting Innovation 12:50

11M ago12:50

12:50

Managers in oil and gas rely on various rules of thumb to accelerate decision making, but at times these biases get in the way of making better decisions. Biases that were at one time helpful are now a kind of risk. Examples include the emphasis on production above all else, the preference for proven over novel solutions, and the preference for tho…

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From Crude to Computation 14:26

12M ago14:26

14:26

Imagine that the year is 2034. How will the world of oil be digitally different from the way things are in 2024? Some things won't have changed much. Demand will still be strong. We will still be consuming a lot of oil. This is baked in. There is plenty of supply. Costs will have crept up but productivity will more than make up for that. Digital wi…

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Six Key Risks That Crater Digital Entrepreneurs 10:57

12M ago10:57

10:57

Digital entrepreneurs face many worrisome perils, and oil and gas poses its own unique set. In my view, the single greatest challenge facing technology companies when dealing with oil and gas is the lack of a clear pathway from the outset of the relationship to scaling up or gaining an enterprise commitment to adoption. The level of fragmentation o…

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The Latest Digital Bludgeon With Which To Beat Up Oil and Gas 11:49

12M ago11:49

11:49

A brand new digital bludgeon whose nearly sole purpose is to beat up on the oil and gas industry, is about to be launched. As usual, this is both bad and good news. The global oil and gas industry is the single largest source of avoidable methane emissions, emitting 80 million tons per year through venting, flaring, and unintentional losses (fugiti…

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Eight Board Questions About Mobility Fuel Transition 15:03

1y ago15:03

15:03

The upcoming changes to mobility fuels are important enough that Boards should be paying close attention, and challenging management with keeping pace. For the first time in my life, there are now really big changes coming to the fuel industry. These changes will impact every single participant in the mobility fuel supply chain, from producers to c…

1
Robotic Inspections 26:29

1y ago26:29

26:29

Process industry professionals have long known about the risks of failure hidden in piping infrastructure, but robotic inspections are poised to solve this safety and risk problem. The pipes with the highest risk profile are undoubtably those used in the petroleum industry, and detecting and assessing their condition under layers of coatings and in…