Interview with Miguel Valdez, VP Growth, Americas – Kongsberg Digital
At the Data Driven Oil & Gas USA event June 24-25 in Houston, industry leaders will share insights and strategies for applying digital solutions to overcome transformation challenges to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and boost production.
KDI’s Miquel Valdez, VP Growth Americas, will be joined by industry colleagues as a guest panelist and here reflects on what attendees might expect.
“I’m eager to interact with industry leaders who are driving real transformation—especially those working at the intersection of data, operations, and sustainability. Some common roadblocks I often hear are challenges with data accessibility, siloed systems, and difficulty turning insights into actions that deliver real value. So, I’m hoping to exchange ideas on how we can break through those barriers—using technologies like digital twins, AI, and contextualised data—to unlock more value, faster decisions, and safer, more efficient operations.”
“The oil and gas industry is evolving fast—and data is at the center. Several emerging trends are increasingly reliant on high-quality, real-time data to unlock operational value, reduce risk, and support sustainability.
Digital technologies, particularly AI and advanced analytics, are transforming how the oil and gas industry operates across the board. For instance, predictive maintenance powered by sensor data helps companies detect faults earlier, reducing unplanned downtime and extending asset life. On the production side, real-time operational data allows teams to fine-tune processes to boost hydrocarbon output while improving efficiency.
Environmental monitoring has also become a top priority. Companies are leveraging performance and emissions data not only to comply with ESG regulations but also to drive their decarbonisation strategies. At the same time, AI-driven tools like digital twins are augmenting the workforce by capturing institutional knowledge and supporting a younger, more tech-savvy generation entering the field.
The industry is seeing breakthroughs throughout the enterprise, where AI can accelerate processes that are historically resource and document heavy, taking days to prepare work packages etc. The emergence of AI and agentic AI has helped us close the loop on these end-to-end workflows, enabling us to truly “transform” the processes to be more digital in nature.
It’s a comprehensive digital transformation that’s touching nearly every facet of the business—from subsurface to the supply chain.
Together, these trends show how data is becoming more than a resource—it’s a strategic asset powering the next generation of oil and gas operations.
In short, the ability to collect, contextualise, and act on data is quickly becoming a core competitive advantage across every layer of oil and gas operations.”
"There’s a lot of hype around AI and digital twins in oil and gas—but let’s separate fact from fiction here. The truth is that these technologies are already delivering measurable results: from reducing downtime and drilling costs to helping meet emissions targets and retain operational knowledge. Companies like Shell, Equinor, and Baker Hughes are seeing real impact.
But it’s not all plug-and-play. Digital twins require clean, integrated, contextualised data, and AI needs human oversight and championing at the onset from domain experts. These tools are powerful—not magical. Not every asset needs a twin, and not every decision should be automated.
The key takeaway? Focus on high-value use cases where AI and digital twins can drive clear business outcomes. That’s where the transformation happens—not in the buzzwords."
