Energy Bytes

Welcome to Energy Bytes with John Kalfayan and Bobby Neelon. Your essential guide to the intersection of data and energy. This podcast dives deep into the world of energy, shedding light on how data, AI, and technology are revolutionizing this sector. Each episode equips listeners with insights into the most efficient tools and resources, paving the way for a data-driven future in energy. From technical nuances to broader industry trends, Energy Bytes offers an unparalleled perspective on the evolution of the energy industry. Join us as we decode the algorithms of energy, one byte at a time.

  1. EP 81: Deren, Dagen and Josh from Firm App

    -17 H

    EP 81: Deren, Dagen and Josh from Firm App

    Owner relations in oil and gas has been shoved in a corner forever, basically a "here's your check, don't call me" situation, and Deren Boyd, Dagen Boyd, and Josh Wright, co-founders of Firm App, are building the platform to fix that. These three started in oilfield safety software with iScout, got acquired by KPA, and now they're tackling the massive gap between operators and their surface and mineral owners with AI-powered multichannel communication. We're talking voice agents with adjustable accents, auto-responding emails, chat widgets that actually work, and an owner-facing app that puts payment info and well data in people's pockets. Plus the OKC crew gives their take on Devon and Expand relocating and what that means for the city. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 0:00 Devon and Expand leaving OKC, what it means on the ground4:42 What is owner relations and why has it been ignored7:18 Timing and the generational shift driving tech adoption10:10 How operators have been duct-taping owner relations together12:05 The owner-facing app and multichannel approach14:38 AI voice agents, email auto-response, and chatbot workflows18:15 Building and rebuilding AI architecture every six months21:29 Under the hood on voice AI, latency, and conversation nuance26:37 School districts, 10,000 page websites, and unexpected use cases34:58 The iScout origin story and oilfield safety software42:17 Getting thrown in the penalty box and winning work back with data46:13 Revenue statements, vendor portals, and what owners actually ask about52:24 NAPE plans and the land community54:48 Business model and implementation timeline55:58 NIL, college athletics, and the dumpster fire1:04:36 Dev tools, Claude Code, and the future of SaaShttps://twitter.com/collide_ai https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/collide-ai.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collideai

    1 h 11 min
  2. EP 80: Kayla Ball from SensorUp

    20 FÉVR.

    EP 80: Kayla Ball from SensorUp

    Bobby Neelon and John Kalfayan sit down with Kayla Ball to break down why the methane compliance space is stuck in the trough of disillusionment, how she ended up cleaning up Petra's flat file nightmare at IHS, and why vibe coding with Claude feels like training your own replacement. They dig into sensor data chaos across ops teams, why public data companies should be worried, the wild difference between building lovable prototypes versus commercial deployments with SOC2 governance, and how AI is forcing everyone to confront the fact that humans shouldn't be entering data into anything anymore. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 0:00 - Devon and Chesapeake leaving Oklahoma City4:50 - What SensorUp actually does beyond sensors11:40 - Methane space challenges and compliance markets18:30 - Why standardizing sensor data is so hard26:40 - Getting into product management from geology32:45 - AI automating regulatory workflows and field inspections38:50 - Vibe coding prototypes versus productizing for enterprises45:15 - Public data moat questions for IHS and Enverus52:30 - Duck Lake and licensing components over custom dev58:15 - Product management changing with Claude Code1:04:40 - Data problems holding back AI adoption1:11:20 - Speed round on youth sports complexes and baseball1:22:40 - Hot takes and wrapping uphttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 25 min
  3. EP 79: Hussein Shel from AWS

    13 FÉVR.

    EP 79: Hussein Shel from AWS

    Hussein Shel, CTO and head of business development for energy and utilities at Amazon Web Services, joins Bobby and John to talk about his journey from Chevron engineer to cloud technology leader. They explore how AI coding tools are changing the game for energy companies, why the barrier to entry for building apps has never been lower, and what it means when your reservoir engineer can now spin up their own solutions in minutes instead of months. Hussein shares why he thinks we're only scratching the surface of what's possible when you combine domain expertise with modern AI tools, discusses the cultural shifts needed for energy companies to move fast, and explains why he's both excited about AI's potential and concerned about its massive energy demands. If you’re into energy tech, you’re in the right place. John and Bobby have built a deep catalog of conversations with the minds modernizing energy inside companies like AWS, Snowflake, Devon Energy, and more. Listen to the full library on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch at https://collide.io/community. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Welcome and introductions03:14 - Early AI experiments and low-code tools08:11 - Core principles that haven't changed12:04 - Managing costs and governance15:15 - Data access and shadow IT17:16 - Building apps in weeks vs months19:25 - Domain-specific foundation models21:10 - AWS infrastructure and energy footprint26:21 - Custom silicon and partnerships29:11 - Current AI model landscape33:36 - Enterprise adoption challenges38:58 - Cultural change from the top42:06 - Scoping problems and quick wins46:16 - Legacy systems and technical debt52:18 - Building AI-first energy companies56:57 - Tech debt acceleration1:00:04 - Speed round and favorite spotshttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 8 min
  4. 2025-12-23

    Collide AI 2025 Wrapped Part 1: Why Forward Deployed Engineers Ship When AI Pilots Fail

    Collide AI 2025 Wrapped Part 1 turns into a real talk on why forward deployed engineers win where AI pilots stall, with Michael Cortez, John, and Nick Smart swapping war stories from completions, geophysics, and the startup trenches while they map out how Collide Enterprise moves past basic chat tools into search plus workflows that actually hold up in the real world. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 Setup and intros 00:45 Michael’s path and joining Collide 01:59 Nick’s background and role shift 03:08 Collide Enterprise vs community 04:16 Search, RAG, and workflow evolution 06:31 Why out of the box AI falls short 08:41 Time savings and real work focus 11:39 Single source of truth vision 13:16 Small teams scaling bigger assets 17:18 AI adoption vs past tech hype 19:26 Digital transformation missing link 20:20 Why FDEs make pilots work 23:36 Biggest learnings this year 31:52 What’s next in 2026 38:57 Bold predictions for 3 to 5 years 47:37 Fine tuned models teaser and wrap https://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters https://app.collide.io/content/RprbJAD

    49 min
  5. EP 78: Bruce Holman & Corey Scott from Energy Payables

    2025-12-05

    EP 78: Bruce Holman & Corey Scott from Energy Payables

    Bruce Holman and Corey Scott showed up ready to blow up the idea that accounts payable has to be slow, messy, and stuck in the past. They walked us through how Energy Payables is flipping the script with a platform that actually makes sense for operators and vendors, think cleaner workflows, real transparency, and smart tech like AI doing the heavy lifting instead of some poor soul buried in spreadsheets. Between the stories from the field, the back-office chaos they’re fixing, and the vision they have for where oil and gas operations should be headed, this conversation feels like a peek at how the industry finally gets out of its own way and into something a whole lot more efficient. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro01:42 - EnergyLink Platform08:37 - JIBLink Overview14:15 - Understanding JIBs18:10 - Vision for the Platform20:57 - Evolution of Tech Stack26:08 - Introduction to Energy Payables28:18 - What is Energy Payables?30:14 - Network Effects in Energy Sector32:50 - Vendor Pain Points38:15 - Energy Payables Pricing Model40:25 - AI Impact on Energy Ogre44:05 - AI for Normalizing Frac Data47:43 - Data Extraction from PDFs50:35 - Azure Cloud Solutions52:07 - Introduction to DataFoundry55:54 - Token Models Explained58:12 - Overview of DuckDB59:04 - Energy Payables API Insights1:02:30 - Speed Round Discussion1:06:44 - Contact Information1:08:35 - Conclusion and Wrap Uphttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 10 min
  6. EP 77: Justin McBroom, Operations Data Specialist

    2025-11-28

    EP 77: Justin McBroom, Operations Data Specialist

    Justin has a way of making the oilfield and the data world feel like they’ve always belonged together. He walked us through how he’s helped teams untangle messy workflows, clean up data quality issues, and actually make analytics useful instead of overwhelming. From his time at Marathon Oil to experimenting with tools like Snowflake and Alteryx, he’s all about boosting efficiency and giving people the confidence to make smarter decisions. We also ended up talking about where AI actually fits into oil and gas, not the hype, but the stuff that genuinely moves the needle. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro01:12 - Justin McBroom Introduction05:29 - Data as a Strategic Asset09:08 - Accessing Data Effectively11:04 - Optimizing Spotfire Performance14:30 - Common Pitfalls to Avoid17:44 - Empowering Your Workforce19:50 - Alteryx Virtual Query Builder Insights27:38 - Justin’s 100+ Day Streak Achievement29:37 - Analyzing Most Popular Posts31:12 - Strategies for Successful Posts33:55 - The Dynamics of Social Media Posting37:18 - The Return of Vine40:06 - Passionate Posts Discussion46:02 - AI Designed for Success50:29 - Recommendations for Companies55:20 - Encouraging Tool Exploration57:28 - Accountability in Work1:06:06 - Speed Round Q&A1:09:04 - Favorite Houston Restaurant Picks1:09:31 - Tools Everyone Should Use1:10:27 - How to Connect with Justinhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 13 min
  7. EP 76: Christy Hopkins & Philip Heggelund from PandoScape

    2025-11-07

    EP 76: Christy Hopkins & Philip Heggelund from PandoScape

    PandoScape is on a mission to make data actually make sense. We sat down with Christy Hopkins and Philip Heggelund, the CEO and CTO duo behind the company, to talk about how they’re untangling the mess of data integration in energy. From subsurface insights to cloud headaches, they’re rethinking how information flows across the industry. We got into the good stuff: cleaning up bad data, breaking down silos, and figuring out how to build real trust in data systems. Christy and Philip aren’t just building tools, they’re building a future where energy companies actually use their data instead of drowning in it. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro01:23 - Christy’s International Experience03:22 - Recent Cloud Outages06:05 - On-Prem AI Servers10:59 - PandoScape Overview18:05 - PandoScape's Services20:50 - Unique Features of PandoScape23:20 - PandoScape’s Technology Stack25:00 - PandoScape’s Business Model26:40 - Target Market for PandoScape28:20 - Future Plans for PandoScape30:00 - PandoScape’s Funding History31:40 - Hiring Plans at PandoScape33:20 - PandoScape’s Culture and Values34:15 - Data Engineering vs Data Science36:10 - Google vs Bing Comparison40:10 - Impact of COVID-1945:58 - The AI Hype Cycle49:15 - Choosing the Right Tools51:00 - Importance of Quality Data52:32 - MCP Server Overview56:25 - gRPC Technology57:49 - MCP Server Functionality1:00:32 - The Magic Layer Concept1:06:08 - Memory of Things1:12:30 - Speed Round1:15:57 - Contacting the PandoScape Team1:16:40 - Making a Good Mimosa1:17:22 - Making a Good Margarita1:17:33 - How to Drink Tequilahttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 19 min
  8. EP 75: Rudy Lacovara from PetroBricks

    2025-09-26

    EP 75: Rudy Lacovara from PetroBricks

    Rudy Lacovara is on a mission to untangle the messy data spaghetti that runs through oil and gas. He built PetroBricks to be the “Zapier for energy”, a way to connect clunky systems, automate the repetitive stuff, and make workflows actually make sense. We got into the pain points everyone in the industry knows too well: outdated data standards, SCADA headaches, and the constant struggle to automate without breaking things. Rudy shared how his aerospace background shaped the way he approaches energy tech, why MQTT matters, and how low-code platforms could finally change the game for operators. If you’ve ever wished your data systems would just talk to each other, this one’s for you. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.io Click here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:44 - Houston Energy and Climate Week02:56 - PetroBricks Overview06:36 - What is PetroBricks?09:58 - PetroBricks Location12:45 - Sparkplug B Overview14:07 - Common Integrations17:02 - Data Acquisition from Service Companies19:12 - Journey into Tech24:34 - Inspiration for PetroBricks28:05 - Entry into Oil and Gas31:15 - Issues with Frac Data34:55 - PetroBricks Insights38:58 - Tools Used by Matt41:18 - Akka Framework43:58 - AI Coding Tools Overview46:04 - PetroBricks Technology Stack48:49 - Understanding Containers51:01 - Benefits of Containers54:33 - Speed Round59:30 - Favorite Vacation Destination59:35 - Preferred LLM for Problem Solving01:01:09 - Houston Insights01:01:29 - Book Recommendation01:03:54 - How to Connect with Rudyhttps://twitter.com/collide_io https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io https://www.facebook.com/collide.io https://www.instagram.com/collide.io https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters

    1 h 6 min

À propos

Welcome to Energy Bytes with John Kalfayan and Bobby Neelon. Your essential guide to the intersection of data and energy. This podcast dives deep into the world of energy, shedding light on how data, AI, and technology are revolutionizing this sector. Each episode equips listeners with insights into the most efficient tools and resources, paving the way for a data-driven future in energy. From technical nuances to broader industry trends, Energy Bytes offers an unparalleled perspective on the evolution of the energy industry. Join us as we decode the algorithms of energy, one byte at a time.

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