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.
Those early months were all about figuring out what being a data scientist actually meant - understanding my role and the expectations placed on me. While it took a few months to get up to speed, my prior coding experience outside of work helped me adapt quickly. Before long, I was turning around tasks for the team like a pro.
After almost a year in that initial team, I rotated into the subsurface side of the business. This was where things really clicked for me. I started to truly grow as a data scientist and find ways to deliver real value to the organization.
Working with the reservoir engineering community was fascinating. I was building different tools - not always machine learning or AI - to support their daily work. Now, the RE team had a reputation for being pretty independent and resistant to technological assistance. It took some time, but once I cracked a couple of their tough nuts, they couldn't get enough of my help!
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.
With so much on my plate and never enough time, I quickly learned the art of being resourceful and prioritizing effectively. My solution? A Hackathon - and not just any Hackathon. This became the largest bp had ever run, creating massive value for the business and providing incredible learning opportunities for data experts and beginners alike.
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:
AI for Everyone Initiative
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
The AI for Everyone initiative has been a huge success. It has provided a platform for bp employees to learn about and experiment with AI, and has helped to build a community around AI up-skilling.
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.
