EP 73: Steven Barrow from Patronus Energy

AI is no longer just a buzzword in oil and gas, it’s reshaping how the entire industry works. Steven Barrow grew up as a fourth-generation oilfield guy, but instead of sticking with tradition, he’s pushing things forward with Patronus Energy. We got into everything from using computer vision to spot safety issues, to drones inspecting sites, to automating the headache of P&IDs. Steven’s story ties it all together: a blend of family legacy, startup grit, and some seriously cool applications of AI that are cutting through inefficiencies and making oilfield operations smarter. It’s equal parts tech talk and real-world problem solving, with a few glimpses into where energy might be headed next.

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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - Intros
01:58 - Patronus Energy Overview
04:02 - Founding Patronus Energy
11:04 - Field Experience Insights
14:07 - Effective Learning Methods
15:46 - Software Development Background
18:14 - Coding Journey
19:06 - Smart Pigging Technology
20:00 - Software Development for E&Ps
22:53 - MLOps in Energy Sector
25:57 - Product Development Inflection Point
27:54 - Project Preferences
30:36 - Computer Vision Innovations
36:00 - Impact of Ukraine War on Process Safety
39:30 - AI Applications in Process Safety
41:40 - Drone Survey Usage
44:53 - Drone Lighting Solutions
46:43 - Technology Stack Overview
49:50 - Underrated Tools and Frameworks
51:44 - Future of Work in Energy
55:12 - Prototyping Techniques
56:06 - Scripting to Production
1:00:34 - Dining Recommendations in Bentonville

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