Data Historian

Presented by Shayne Chidlaw at an Untapped Energy event in Calgary, AB this session explored the critical role of data historians in operations. With nearly 30 years of experience in Canada’s petroleum industry, Shayne shared her transition from geology to digital systems and offered a practical deep dive into historian implementation. The talk covered real-world use cases in oil and gas, key pitfalls to avoid, and best practices for organizing, integrating, and contextualizing high-frequency sensor data. Attendees gained a clear understanding of how data historians can transform raw operational data into trusted, decision-ready intelligence.
Shayne Chidlaw, Laura Naaykens
This study examines the implementation of a predictive maintenance method using artificial intelligence and machine learning for offshore rotating production-critical equipment. Conducted over 2 years at Murphy Oil’s deepwater platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, the project aimed to detect equipment issues early, reduce downtime, and streamline maintenance processes.
Bilal Hussain, Andrea Vigueras, David Jones, Graeme Smith, Huzeifa Ismail
In 2018, Murphy Oil launched an initiative to open-source all internal live streaming data to its engineers. The process led it to implement a global data historian and a corresponding visualization tool. The insights provided are shaping the future of operations at the company.
Huzeifa Ismail, Francisco Ruiz, Thomas Nix