AI Driller presented at SPE Gulf Coast Section Innovation & Entrepreneurship Symposium at Marathon Oil Tower & Conference Center in Houston, TX.

HOUSTON – (Mar. 21-22, 2018) – AI Driller presented at SPE Gulf Coast Section Innovation & Entrepreneurship Symposium at Marathon Oil Tower & Conference Center in Houston, TX.

Building on the innovation momentum spurred by the oil and gas industry downturn, a 2-day event in Houston brought oil and gas investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators together to discuss trends and pitch ideas.

Panel sessions and workshops were focused on oil and gas industry challenges, strategic partnerships, digital technology applications, best practices in the design and innovation process, new innovative technologies, and exit strategies and sources of funding. Speakers included investors, innovators, entrepreneurs, as well as movers and shakers from operators, service companies, universities, and research organizations.”

While innovation was critical to protect companies’ well-being over the past couple of years, it is imperative to continue to challenge the status quo regardless of the oil price tomorrow, conference organizers said. This event is poised to nucleate oil and gas innovation and the entrepreneurship community in Houston and was catered to the oil and gas investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators within big corporations.

The oil and gas industry has changed at a rapid scale as the aftermath of the downturn.  Longer laterals, advanced completions, high-resolution subsurface diagnostics, and other technological advances have become must-haves to survive. While innovation was undoubtedly critical to protecting companies’ well-being over the last couple of years, it’s imperative to continue to challenge the status quo regardless of the oil price tomorrow.

The event concluded with a “shark tank” in which selected startups presented their companies and ideas to an experienced panel of oil and gas investors to get feedback and possibly initiate funding. The Sherk Tank panel included:

 Hossam Elbadawy, CEO, Oil and Gas Technologies; Partner, SCF Partners
Ryan Gurney, Managing Partner, CottonWood Venture Partners
Oliver Phillips, VP, Limerock Partners
Jim Sledzik, Managind director, Hall Labs
Borre Stokholm, Invetment Manager, Statoil Technology Invest

 AI Driller presented its vision of Directional Drilling Automation, as well as the current product portfolio and 2018 Technology Roadmap.