Oracle glides deeper into oil and gas industry

Specifically, we’re talking about Oracle Applications for asset management, accounting, HR and business planning. Most recent takers include Key Energy Services and Petrofac, which join BP, Helix, Anadarko, Remedial Offshore, NATCO, Chesapeake Energy, Noble Energy, Diamond Offshore, El Paso and Hercules Offshore. Oracle is understandably very serious about this lucrative industry sector – to the extent that Oracle president Charles Phillips, no less, has allowed himself to be appointed to The National Petroleum Council by the US Secretary of Energy. That august body acts as a governmental oil and gas advisory committee, representing views of the oil and natural gas industries, and making recommendations to the Secretary. Says Phillips: “I am honoured to accept this appointment. Oracle is committed to the oil and gas industry and I very much look forward to serving on this very important and historic council.” And the sideswipe: “As the only enterprise software company representative, I look forward to collaborating with my fellow oil and gas executives and the new Obama administration to help advise and craft potential solutions to the very important energy issues that we in the US face today.” Behind the scenes, there’s no doubt that Oracle has been working hard on this key sector. Over the past year, Oracle has expanded its strategic relationships to include industry specialists AspenTech, ESS, CSC, Landmark, P2 Energy Solutions and The Information Store (iStore), all of which are now members of the Oracle PartnerNetwork. Oracle also makes the case for its prowess in what’s modestly termed the Oracle Digital Oil Field, which, it claims, comprises the most open, complete and integrated solutions. It’s an interesting observation: the applications and database giant cites, for example, Oracle Business Intelligence; Master Data Management; Data Warehousing technology, Oracle SOA Suite as well as Oracle’s Crystal Ball, AutoVue, Spatial and Primavera – which together “provide oil companies a comprehensive, 360-degree, integrated view of operations”. Oracle also points out that, currently 49 of the top 50 energy companies are using Oracle applications and technology, as well as all of the top five oil field drilling, service and equipment suppliers, and more than 160 upstream companies, and over 100 downstream manufacturers.