I Speak Subsea

Aquila Engineering

I Speak Subsea dives into the people and stories shaping the subsea industry today. Each episode brings you practical insights from engineers, operators, and innovators working beneath the surface, highlighting the expertise powering offshore energy.

Episodes

  1. Apr 30

    Episode 8 - Why Offshore Procedures Fail in the Real World

    In this episode of I Speak Subsea, Kyle sits down with Michael Fry to discuss the gap between offshore procedures and real-world execution, and how data, real-time monitoring, and human reliability are shaping the future of the industry. Chapters: Trailer – 00:00 Introduction & Mike Fry Background – 01:18 The Gap: Perception vs Reality – 02:26 Culture vs Procedures – 03:54 Inconsistencies Across Rigs – 05:31 Risk & Bias in Operations – 07:10 The Experience Gap – 08:46 Human Error & Supervision – 10:49 Situational Awareness – 13:33 Data vs Reality – 15:20 Industry Knowledge Gaps – 17:48 RTM & Offshore Insight – 19:21 RTM Data Challenges – 21:21 Data-Driven Decisions – 23:29 Trust & Accountability – 25:40 Maintenance & Failures – 27:08 Testing Practices – 29:05 Data vs Regulation – 30:51 Proving Reliability – 33:31 Industry Adoption – 34:16 Investigations & Root Causes – 36:11 System vs People – 38:57 Documentation Matters – 41:13 Understanding Data – 43:44 Preventing Incidents – 45:03 Training the Workforce – 47:36 RTM Misinterpretation – 49:31 Communicating Risk – 52:10 Downtime & Culture – 54:28 Lessons from Macondo – 56:19 Regulations & Reality – 59:33 Future of Data & AI – 01:01:23 Adopting New Tech – 01:03:11 Final Thoughts – 01:05:28

    1h 6m

  2. Mar 26

    Episode 7 - A New Standard for Pressure Testing

    In Episode 7 of I Speak Subsea, Kyle Puls sits down with Eric Fritts to break down the reality of pressure testing, why the industry is moving toward extended test cycles, and how data is driving safer, more efficient offshore operations. They dive into real-time monitoring, failure propagation analysis, and the shift from time-based to condition-based maintenance—along with what it will take for the industry to fully adopt it. Timestamps00:00 Episode Trailer01:15 Introduction & Episode Overview01:42 Current Pressure Testing Regulations02:25 Extending to 21-Day Testing03:04 Requirements for Extension03:19 Real-Time Monitoring & Analysis04:08 Failure Propagation Explained04:38 Proving to Regulators05:44 Data vs Assumptions06:52 Benefits of Extending Testing07:33 Economics08:48 Safety09:40 Reliability11:19 Industry Data & Reporting13:13 Global Adoption14:32 Operator Benefits15:33 Data-Driven Case Building17:10 Condition-Based Maintenance18:10 Failure Insights19:30 Maintenance Risks20:23 Limitations & Challenges21:52 Predictive Data Use24:03 Why Not 28 Days?26:00 Modern Data Capabilities28:00 Aquila’s Edge28:42 Future Outlook32:32 Wrap-Up Kyle Puls⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-puls-622aa554/⁠ Eric Fritts⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-fritts/⁠ Watch this episode on YouTube ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1yHezusHE⁠ Subscribe to I Speak Subsea on Apple Podcasts ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-speak-subsea/id1858617687

    34 min

  3. Mar 26

    Episode 6 - The Future of Offshore Innovation

    In Episode 6 of I Speak Subsea, Kyle Puls sits down with Eric Fritts, Aquila’s Compliance, Reliability, and Service Delivery Manager, to discuss his journey through offshore operations and into leadership. Eric shares how a phone call from a Navy friend unexpectedly launched his offshore career, the experience of working with drilling contractors and operators, and how those lessons shaped his approach to engineering, reliability, and service delivery. Chapters 00:00 – Episode Trailer 01:07 – Introduction & Eric Fritz’s Role at Aquila 01:47 – How Eric Got Into Oil & Gas 02:14 – Offshore Career & Moving Into Projects 03:14 – Day-to-Day Responsibilities at Aquila 04:18 – Market Conditions & Offshore Work Outlook 05:39 – What Makes Aquila Different 07:05 – Technology, Innovation & Staying Ahead 10:08 – Innovation vs Industry Buzzwords 11:30 – Building Solutions Through Customer Relationships 13:17 – Field Experience Driving Product Development 14:20 – What Motivates Eric in His Role 15:21 – Leadership, Mentorship & Helping Others Grow 16:50 – Where Aquila Is Headed in the Future 18:57 – Career Challenges & Lessons Learned 20:42 – What Kind of People Thrive at Aquila 22:19 – Growth Through Diverse Perspectives 23:49 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Kyle Puls https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-puls-622aa554/ Eric Fritts https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-fritts/ Watch this episode on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1yHezusHE Subscribe to I Speak Subsea on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-speak-subsea/id1858617687

    25 min

  4. Feb 26

    Episode 5 - Lessons from Offshore Life

    In Episode 5 of I Speak Subsea, Kyle Puls sits down with Aquila surveyor Keith Dunham for a candid conversation about offshore life, career evolution, and what it really takes to build a long-term career in subsea.Keith shares how he started at the bottom as a roughneck, how helping a subsea engineer changed his career trajectory, and what 17+ years working for drilling contractors taught him about work ethic, leadership, and personal growth.This episode is an honest look at offshore sacrifice, family life, career longevity, and why loving the job matters more than chasing the paycheck.Chapters:00:00 – Episode Trailer00:40 – Introduction & Getting Into Oil & Gas02:09 – From Roughneck to Subsea04:22 – 17+ Years with Drilling Contractors05:13 – Offshore Travel & Culture07:55 – Why Move to Third-Party Surveying?10:31 – The Reality of Being a Surveyor13:47 – Aquila, Technology & Real-Time Monitoring16:07 – Digital Pressure Testing & Industry Evolution17:42 – Where Aquila Is Headed19:17 – Leadership & Offshore Mentorship20:15 – Advice for Breaking Into Offshore21:49 – Work Ethic, Commitment & Going the Extra Mile22:36 – A Day in the Life of an Aquila Surveyor28:56 – Living Conditions & Rig Culture32:27 – Advice for Someone Wanting to Go Offshore35:10 – The Mental Side of Offshore Work36:31 – Family Sacrifice & Providing a Better Life37:51 – Don’t Do It Just for the Money39:42 – Lessons Learned & Career Reflections40:13 – Final Advice & Wrap-UpKyle Puls - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-puls-622aa554/ Keith Dunnam - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-dunnam-62210b59/Subscribe to I Speak Subsea on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3xg2OcrvtuRdvKOjD71gyH?si=e1d9b53aae1e4516Subscribe to I Speak Subsea on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-speak-subsea/id1858617687

    41 min

  5. Jan 29

    Episode 4 - Managing Digital Risk

    In Episode 4 of I Speak Subsea, Kyle Puls sits down with Garrick Rogers, Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at Aquila, for a deep dive into cybersecurity — what it really is, what it isn’t, and why it matters more than ever for offshore and critical infrastructure operations.Garrick walks through practical frameworks, training realities, AI’s role on both sides of the threat landscape, and how Aquila approaches cybersecurity for extreme environments. The conversation closes with actionable advice for companies of any size looking to protect what matters most.Chapters: 00:00 – Episode Trailer & Intro00:44 – What Cybersecurity Is (And Isn’t)02:09 – The CIA Triad Explained (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)05:08 – Frameworks, Zones & Managing Risk06:16 – Threat Actors: Who Attacks and Why08:30 – Threat Modeling & Layered Defense09:33 – Cyber Threats Are Growing Exponentially10:04 – Phishing, Smishing & Human Risk12:22 – Monitoring, Alerts & Incident Response14:40 – AI as an Expanding Attack Surface16:28 – AI-Powered Attacks vs AI Defense Tools18:16 – Using AI to Respond Faster to Threats23:11 – Cybersecurity as an Arms Race26:39 – Nation-State Attacks & Constant Pressure29:27 – Cybersecurity in Oil & Gas Operations30:07 – Protecting Deepwater Rigs & Extreme Environments33:58 – How Aquila Supports Offshore Cybersecurity34:54 – Protecting the Business’s Most Valuable Asset37:43 – Redundancy, Resilience & Business Continuity40:26 – Training, Awareness & Culture42:44 – One Piece of Cybersecurity Advice45:57 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-UpKyle Puls - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-puls-622aa554/ Garrick Rogers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrick-rogers-cissp-a5b70651/ Subscribe to I Speak Subsea on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/@ISpeakSubseaSubscribe to I Speak Subsea on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/i-speak-subsea/id1858617687

    47 min

  6. Jan 15

    Episode 3 - Rethinking Offshore Careers with Guest Host Massiel Diez

    In Episode 3 of I Speak Subsea, Massiel Diez joins Kyle Puls as a guest co-host for a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores offshore careers, Aquila’s evolution, and what it really takes to build momentum in today’s energy industry. This episode flips the script, and Kyle shares his path from roustabout to subsea professional, the realities of offshore life, and the transition from the rig to a technology-driven organization. Together, they dig into leadership, discipline, personal branding, talent development, and why action - not ideas - is what drives real growth.This episode offers an honest look at careers, culture, and the direction of subsea technology, from both sides of the mic. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:15 – Massiel Joins as Guest Co-Host 00:44 – Career Beginnings & Entering Oil & Gas 02:06 – Transitioning from Operations to Marketing 04:28 – Aquila’s Origins & Service Evolution 06:19 – Kyle’s Path: Military to Offshore 08:03 – Offshore & Subsea Career Progression 10:32 – What a Roustabout Really Does 11:15 – Offshore Life: Rotations, Travel & Family 13:05 – Living Offshore: Facilities & Connectivity 15:01 – Moving Onshore & Joining Aquila 16:08 – Personal Branding & First Impressions 18:44 – Discipline, Consistency & Career Growth 20:54 – Fatherhood & Motivation 24:07 – Why I Speak Subsea Was Created 27:57 – What to Expect from the Podcast in 2026 29:21 – Becoming a Guest on I Speak Subsea 30:48 – Talent, Technology & Digital Skills 33:14 – Aquila’s Global Footprint 35:44 – What’s Next for Aquila: Land Operations 36:12 – Episode Wrap-Up

    38 min

  7. 2025-12-18

    Episode 2 - The Truth About AI

    In Episode 2 of I Speak Subsea, host Kyle Puls is joined by John Kalfayan (collide.), along with Trey Vincent and Luciano Pinheiro from Aquila, for an in-depth conversation on AI in offshore operations. This episode moves past the buzzwords to unpack what AI actually is, how it differs from traditional automation, and where it delivers real value offshore. The discussion spans data quality, safety workflows, decision support, and why human expertise remains central in high-risk, high-consequence environments.

    1h 40m

  8. 2025-12-02

    Episode 1 - Offshore Innovation Since Macondo

    In this episode of I Speak Subsea, host Kyle Puls sits down with Eric Fritts, Adams Braly, and Keith Dunnam to explore how offshore drilling has evolved since Macondo. They break down the impact of digital monitoring, real-time data, and AI-driven insights on BOP reliability, safety culture, and day-to-day subsea operations. From extending BOP testing windows to improving troubleshooting through remote access and trend analysis, the team shares how digital transformation is reshaping offshore efficiency, and what the next decade of automation and robotics could mean for the oil and gas industry.

    46 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

I Speak Subsea dives into the people and stories shaping the subsea industry today. Each episode brings you practical insights from engineers, operators, and innovators working beneath the surface, highlighting the expertise powering offshore energy.

Information

  • Creator
    Aquila Engineering
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aquila Engineering
  • Show Website
    I Speak Subsea