Data Science at bp
Getting to grips with data science at bp and building a community of practice
My journey at bp began in 2020 when I joined as a data science degree apprentice. Right from the start, I was thrown into the deep end, becoming the sole data scientist in my team within the wells division. Looking back, this was actually a blessing in disguise. It forced me to really understand how to interact with my customers and keep their needs front and center - something I'll admit I briefly lost sight of later in my bp career.
Early Career Journey
Wells Division
Started as the sole data scientist, quickly adapting to deliver value while learning to prioritize customer needs
Subsurface Rotation
Found my stride working with reservoir engineering, building tools that transformed their daily work
Breaking Through
Overcame initial resistance from the RE team by solving their toughest challenges, becoming an invaluable resource
Community Leadership
Then came a massive opportunity - leading the Data and Analytics Community of Practice at bp. This was huge. Suddenly, I had access to this incredible network of data specialists, which gave me a much broader perspective on how my work fit into the bigger picture. It also constantly challenged me to focus on the most impactful projects.
The Hackathon Solution
Faced with limited time and resources, I organized the largest hackathon in bp's history, creating massive value and learning opportunities
AI for Everyone Initiative
The Hackathon was such a hit that I wanted to find a way to scale this approach across bp. While it had been phenomenal for the subsurface world, I knew other parts of the organization could benefit from AI innovations.
That's when I launched "AI for Everyone" - a multi-stage event we're still running today. It's broken down into several key phases:
Education
Workshops and expert sessions showing bp employees what's possible with AI
Idea Submission
Employees pitch AI solutions for their specific work areas
Shark Tanks
The best ideas get presented to a panel of AI experts
Idea Lab
Quick 1-6 week experiments to build and deploy solutions
Impact & Outcomes
Community Building
Created a thriving community around AI upskilling and innovation across bp
Continuous Learning
Established a framework for ongoing AI education and experimentation
Business Value
Delivered tangible business outcomes through practical AI applications
As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with AI at bp, I'm excited to see how our community will evolve. The journey has been challenging yet rewarding, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such transformative work.
