SPE Young Professional Event: AI in the Oilfield: Market Trends, Insights, and Applications August 28, 2025 – Collide HQ

This Event Reminder is Sponsored by: Allstream Energy Partners, leaders in Generative Engine Optimization for Oil and Gas

Join SPE Gulf Coast Section YP Group on Thursday, August 28th at 5:00 PM at Collide HQ for “AI in the Oilfield: Market Trends, Insights, and Applications”. This is a special event by SPE GCS Young Professionals and Collide for interns, students, and early-career professionals who want to explore how AI is shaping the future of energy.

Hear from Todd Bush, John Kalfayan, Gary Peter, Brian Arnst, and Ankur Kataria as they share personal insights and career lessons from their work with AI in oil and gas. The discussion will be moderated by Collide and highlight the opportunities, challenges, and applications emerging in this space.

Attendees will walk away with practical takeaways on navigating uncertainty, seizing growth opportunities, and building resilience in a rapidly evolving industry.

After the panel, stick around to connect with professionals from across energy. Early and mid-career leaders will be available for casual small group conversations where you can learn more about their day to day roles, long term goals, and the variety of paths available in clean energy.

Check in begins at 5:00 PM. Light bites and beverages will be provided.

Speaker Todd Bush
Todd Bush is an energy entrepreneur and Chief Operating Officer at Collide, leading operations, strategy, and growth initiatives. Collide is the platform transforming how oil & gas and energy professionals connect, collaborate, and solve industry challenges. Todd is also the editor of Decarbonfuse.com, a leading resource on industrial decarbonization serving natural gas, ethanol, and ammonia producers along with low-carbon investors.

Previously, Todd founded Energent Group, a data-driven SaaS for energy logistics insights, and sold it to Westwood Global Energy, where he led the onshore energy team. He has advised 25+ startups on entering energy, software, oil & gas, solar, utilities, logistics, and rail markets. Todd is an alumni of Texas A&M University and Rice University.

Speaker John Kalfayan
John Kalfayan leads Data Drilling & AI Wildcatting at Digital Wildcatters, where he drives product strategy for Collide—a platform revolutionizing connection and problem-solving for energy professionals. He’s also the cohost of EnergyBytes, a podcast exploring the energy-tech intersection.

With 15+ years spanning field operations to software development, John brings unique insights on how AI is transforming energy workflows. Starting as a frac engineer, he’s helped scale six startups with his self-described “startup masochist” approach to solving industry challenges.

Today, John spearheads Collide AI, an Energy-focused LLM platforms already deployed at NOV, Profrac, and several independents, helping teams leverage AI for smarter, faster decisions across operations.

Speaker Gary Peter
Gary Peter is the Director of Software Engineering at NOV, where he leads teams at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and operational excellence. With a career that bridges mechanical engineering, drilling technology, and global tech solutions, Gary brings a unique perspective on how digital transformation empowers complex industries.

He earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, specializing in computer-aided design. Early in his career, Gary worked in refining and in measurement while drilling (MWD), before joining Hewlett Packard, where he led a wide range of manufacturing, hardware, and software initiatives across the company’s global portfolio. His breadth of experience has given him a deep understanding of how technology and people drive progress together.

At NOV, Gary is known for his leadership in engineering, software development, and support operations, and for fostering innovation that translates into real-world results for customers. He is passionate about mentoring teams, bridging the gap between traditional engineering and digital solutions, and shaping the future of industrial software.

Speaker Brian Arnst
Brian Arnst is Principal Product Manager and Head of Oil & Gas at Umbrage.

Brian brings over a decade of experience in product management and engineering, with deep focus in the energy and industrial sectors. He has led the development of AI-driven solutions for equipment optimization and predictive maintenance, authored peer-reviewed research, and driven operational efficiency through product leadership at successful energy-tech companies.

Brian has previously worked for Marathon Oil as a Production Supervisor and emerging technology companies, Ambyint and ComboCurve, as Director of Product Management. He earned his Bachelors degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Speaker Ankur Kataria
Ankur Kataria is a Director in KPMG’s Advisory Services practice in the Houston office. Ankur is a member of the Tech Strategy practice and brings with him 18 years of experience in IT Asset Management, IT Security and Risk and IT Optimization Services.

Ankur has helped clients leverage technology to improve business performance and assist clients with managing the complexity of their IT assets including implementation of enterprise-wide IT asset management platforms and processes and IT cost optimization.

He has delivered these services across multiple industries including Technology, Finance, Retail, Energy, Power & Utility and Healthcare.

More recently Ankur has been focusing on incorporating AI in the IT Asset Management space via robotic process automation (RPA) and Intelligent Automation via AI to automate routine tasks, reduce errors, and improve efficiency in back-office operations.

Speaker Nishadi Davis
Nishadi Davis helps companies navigate the complex and fast-evolving energy landscape through strategic advisory focused on market positioning, infrastructure planning, and policy-aligned growth. With a background in engineering and deep knowledge of energy systems, she supports clients in developing resilient strategies that align with emerging market dynamics and long-term value creation.

She has authored thought leadership pieces on topics shaping the energy transition, including “The state of U.S. energy: risks and opportunities,” “Maximizing blue hydrogen production tax credits under 45V,” and “Building the hydrogen hub backbone.” Her project work includes “Decarbonizing industrial heating in Nova Scotia with green hydrogen,” and she is currently contributing to the INGAA Foundation’s Midstream Infrastructure Report, a marquee publication that reflects current and future market conditions for North American midstream infrastructure.

Nishadi has been recognized on Hydrogen Economist’s global Top 50 Women in Hydrogen list and named a 2025 Houston Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree.

She is a licensed Professional Engineer with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University and is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Houston.

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By combining a curated calendar of upstream events with timely industry intelligence, Upstream Calendar connects professionals with the people, technologies, and strategies shaping the future of exploration and production.

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