The battle to become a top oil and natural gas producer is no longer being waged by Jett Rink-like roustabouts toiling in the sun off of caliche roads in West Texas, but rather by algorithm experts sitting in darkened, air-conditioned offices in Houston.

labor index

Exploration and production (E&P) companies looking for the edge to elevate their operations are less likely to be the wildcatters depicted by Edna Ferber in Giant. Instead, the experts are using digital wizardry.

Austin, TX-based Enverus controls a plethora of data gleaned from the seven major Lower 48 basins and Western Canada. The “traditional” E&P metrics visualize the permitting trends, rig counts and completions. With efficient, fiscally sustainable operations now the new mantra, the oil and gas data experts have found...