June 04, 2014
Finding a Big Data "Safe Space" for the Energy Sector
The oil industry was one of the original "smart" industries, but its tradition of leadership in using data to improve operations, enhance security and serve markets has been diminished over time by the counterintuitive incentives imposed by regulators.
As the sector transforms in response to a supply-side revolution and prepares to engage with global markets more directly through exports, the industry should be freed to build the next generation of infrastructure with efficient markets, security and consumer needs in mind.
One of the satisfying things about working in the oil business is how real it is: an actual physical substance is extracted, chemically upgraded and put to use every day in the real world by real people. That means it can be easy to forget how much the oil sector has relied on data collection and analysis to drive efficiencies that have served consumers well, and how a change in methods of collection and analysis can alter the way efficiencies are identified, implemented and achieved.
More from CNAS
-
CNAS Insights
Defense / Indo-Pacific Security / Transatlantic Security / Middle East Security / Energy, Economics & Security
CNAS Insights | National Security Agenda in the New Congress: A 10-Item To-Do ListWhen Democratic majorities sweep into Congress in January, Washington will return to divided government. The prospect of stalemate will be real, with Democrats prone to opposi...
By Richard Fontaine
-
What Would a Democrat Midterm Win Mean for U.S. Foreign Policy?
Video
The midterms will shape the direction of US foreign policy in the next two years with pressures from competition with China, to Israel and the war with Iran. Liza Tobin [adjun...
By Liza Tobin
-
Getting U.S. Trade Deals To Spur Economic Security Co-Operation
Commentary
One lesson is that simply writing a binding promise to align with US economic security measures into a trade deal provides no guarantee of on-the-ground policy alignment....
By Geoffrey Gertz
-
Is This How a Europe-China Trade War Starts? With Tobias Gehrke
Podcast
Tobias Gehrke joins Emily and Geoff to debrief on the latest news on EU-China trade tensions. They discuss the EU-China deal on hybrid vehicles, the potential for further esca...
By Emily Kilcrease & Geoffrey Gertz
