Teaching Old Industries New Tricks | Meade Lewis | TEDxPSU

it is true I am a nerd but this nerd is

it is true I am a nerd but this nerd is going to change the world through the

going to change the world through the

going to change the world through the power of science and technology and I’m

power of science and technology and I’m

power of science and technology and I’m here to talk about it in my career I

here to talk about it in my career I

here to talk about it in my career I never thought that I was going to study

never thought that I was going to study

never thought that I was going to study oil and gas and said and went to school

oil and gas and said and went to school

oil and gas and said and went to school and I studied pre-med and while at

and I studied pre-med and while at

and I studied pre-med and while at school I accidentally made suffer for a

school I accidentally made suffer for a

school I accidentally made suffer for a fortune 200 pharmaceutical company after

fortune 200 pharmaceutical company after

fortune 200 pharmaceutical company after this I actually got the role as a chief

this I actually got the role as a chief

this I actually got the role as a chief information technology officer of a

information technology officer of a

information technology officer of a large growing oil and gas firm I focused

large growing oil and gas firm I focused

large growing oil and gas firm I focused our research and development on systems

our research and development on systems

our research and development on systems for hydrostatic pressure testing

for hydrostatic pressure testing

for hydrostatic pressure testing robotics and big analytical databases

robotics and big analytical databases

robotics and big analytical databases I was then offered a second role as the

I was then offered a second role as the

I was then offered a second role as the chief information technology officer of

chief information technology officer of

chief information technology officer of a second one gas firm where we were

a second one gas firm where we were

a second one gas firm where we were using internet things technology and

using internet things technology and

using internet things technology and embedding these in high pressure assets

embedding these in high pressure assets

embedding these in high pressure assets called fluids I co-founded my own firm

called fluids I co-founded my own firm

called fluids I co-founded my own firm where we were doing big data analytics

where we were doing big data analytics

where we were doing big data analytics for government and large corporations to

for government and large corporations to

for government and large corporations to break this information up until usable

break this information up until usable

break this information up until usable sizes and today what we’re doing is I’m

sizes and today what we’re doing is I’m

sizes and today what we’re doing is I’m combining all this experience with my

combining all this experience with my

combining all this experience with my co-founder and we are using IOT and

co-founder and we are using IOT and

co-founder and we are using IOT and artificial intelligence to predict

artificial intelligence to predict

artificial intelligence to predict pipeline leaks before they happen

I’m so sorry so when I tell people about

I’m so sorry so when I tell people about my career in oil and gas most people

my career in oil and gas most people

my career in oil and gas most people think that this comes with fast cars big

think that this comes with fast cars big

think that this comes with fast cars big checking accounts and hatred for the

checking accounts and hatred for the

checking accounts and hatred for the environment what they don’t realize is

environment what they don’t realize is

environment what they don’t realize is that this Eagle Scout and lover

that this Eagle Scout and lover

that this Eagle Scout and lover petroleum is actually an avid

petroleum is actually an avid

petroleum is actually an avid environmentalist and so with that in

environmentalist and so with that in

environmentalist and so with that in mind I asked seventy people in my

mind I asked seventy people in my

mind I asked seventy people in my network what their thoughts and feelings

network what their thoughts and feelings

network what their thoughts and feelings were on oil and gas and the results were

were on oil and gas and the results were

were on oil and gas and the results were kind of disturbing so what we found is

kind of disturbing so what we found is

kind of disturbing so what we found is that 30 over 30 percent immediately

that 30 over 30 percent immediately

that 30 over 30 percent immediately thought of what oil and gas is a fuel or

thought of what oil and gas is a fuel or

thought of what oil and gas is a fuel or an energy however a lot of people

an energy however a lot of people

an energy however a lot of people brought up concerns about environment

brought up concerns about environment

brought up concerns about environment fracking money politics corruption you

fracking money politics corruption you

fracking money politics corruption you name it they set it to put this simpler

name it they set it to put this simpler

name it they set it to put this simpler 53% immediately thought of negative

53% immediately thought of negative

53% immediately thought of negative things when confronted with oil and gas

things when confronted with oil and gas

things when confronted with oil and gas this is actually in stark contrast with

this is actually in stark contrast with

this is actually in stark contrast with the 2016 energy production report

the 2016 energy production report

the 2016 energy production report produced by the EIA which states that 61

produced by the EIA which states that 61

produced by the EIA which states that 61 percent of our energy produced in this

percent of our energy produced in this

percent of our energy produced in this country is from either oil or natural

country is from either oil or natural

country is from either oil or natural gas and study after study has actually

gas and study after study has actually

gas and study after study has actually shown that cheap and reliable access to

shown that cheap and reliable access to

shown that cheap and reliable access to energy is what drives innovation and

energy is what drives innovation and

energy is what drives innovation and drives civilizations development so

drives civilizations development so

drives civilizations development so that’s why I’ve developed my career to

that’s why I’ve developed my career to

that’s why I’ve developed my career to focus on one of the largest problems in

focus on one of the largest problems in

focus on one of the largest problems in oil and gas and that’s pipeline leaks

oil and gas and that’s pipeline leaks

oil and gas and that’s pipeline leaks before I address any problem I like to

before I address any problem I like to

before I address any problem I like to know the numbers and the numbers really

know the numbers and the numbers really

know the numbers and the numbers really speak to me as kind of a geek right and

speak to me as kind of a geek right and

speak to me as kind of a geek right and so what you find is that there’s 2.5

so what you find is that there’s 2.5

so what you find is that there’s 2.5 million miles of pipeline in this

million miles of pipeline in this

million miles of pipeline in this country nearly 2.6 million miles you

country nearly 2.6 million miles you

country nearly 2.6 million miles you divide that by the few hundred state

divide that by the few hundred state

divide that by the few hundred state inspectors the few hundred federal

inspectors the few hundred federal

inspectors the few hundred federal inspectors and what you get is that

inspectors and what you get is that

inspectors and what you get is that there’s over 4,500 miles of pipeline

there’s over 4,500 miles of pipeline

there’s over 4,500 miles of pipeline between each inspector you’re starting

between each inspector you’re starting

between each inspector you’re starting to see the problem we then multiply this

to see the problem we then multiply this

to see the problem we then multiply this by the average pipeline leak per company

by the average pipeline leak per company

by the average pipeline leak per company being about 93 and the average leak

being about 93 and the average leak

being about 93 and the average leak costing over two hundred thousand

costing over two hundred thousand

costing over two hundred thousand dollars that means that each company’s

dollars that means that each company’s

dollars that means that each company’s hemorrhaging over 18 million nearly 19

hemorrhaging over 18 million nearly 19

hemorrhaging over 18 million nearly 19 million dollars annually this leads to a

million dollars annually this leads to a

million dollars annually this leads to a 30 billion dollar loss in revenue for

30 billion dollar loss in revenue for

30 billion dollar loss in revenue for these companies so with this you can

these companies so with this you can

these companies so with this you can kind of take away two points one there’s

kind of take away two points one there’s

kind of take away two points one there’s money to be made and that’s

money to be made and that’s

money to be made and that’s great news for a startup like us and

great news for a startup like us and

great news for a startup like us and investors love it too but – the problem

investors love it too but – the problem

investors love it too but – the problem is growing we’re seeing it time and time

is growing we’re seeing it time and time

is growing we’re seeing it time and time again in the news right and the reason

again in the news right and the reason

again in the news right and the reason why it’s growing is actually threefold

why it’s growing is actually threefold

why it’s growing is actually threefold one the average age of pipelines in this

one the average age of pipelines in this

one the average age of pipelines in this country is over 50 years old – the

country is over 50 years old – the

country is over 50 years old – the current ways of monitoring these

current ways of monitoring these

current ways of monitoring these pipelines are archaic and antiquated and

pipelines are archaic and antiquated and

pipelines are archaic and antiquated and three we are actually expanding our

three we are actually expanding our

three we are actually expanding our pipeline network by two to five thousand

pipeline network by two to five thousand

pipeline network by two to five thousand miles every single year so we need this

miles every single year so we need this

miles every single year so we need this infrastructure it is growing and this

infrastructure it is growing and this

infrastructure it is growing and this problem is only going to get worse so it

problem is only going to get worse so it

problem is only going to get worse so it needs to be stopped now so for a data

needs to be stopped now so for a data

needs to be stopped now so for a data nerd like me the solution becomes pretty

nerd like me the solution becomes pretty

nerd like me the solution becomes pretty obvious and that’s simply technology

obvious and that’s simply technology

obvious and that’s simply technology before I address any problem you know

before I address any problem you know

before I address any problem you know once again we go back to the numbers and

once again we go back to the numbers and

once again we go back to the numbers and what we find is that the majority share

what we find is that the majority share

what we find is that the majority share of pipeline leaks are actually caused by

of pipeline leaks are actually caused by

of pipeline leaks are actually caused by corrosion 61% meanwhile human error and

corrosion 61% meanwhile human error and

corrosion 61% meanwhile human error and whether that’s opera or third party

whether that’s opera or third party

whether that’s opera or third party damage is 12% component failure safety

damage is 12% component failure safety

damage is 12% component failure safety systems earthquakes earth movement those

systems earthquakes earth movement those

systems earthquakes earth movement those take up a large percentage as well

take up a large percentage as well

take up a large percentage as well however the part of this that should

however the part of this that should

however the part of this that should worry us is the 14% that is from unknown

worry us is the 14% that is from unknown

worry us is the 14% that is from unknown or miscellaneous I was reported to us

or miscellaneous I was reported to us

or miscellaneous I was reported to us the good news however is through our

the good news however is through our

the good news however is through our studies what we found is that a hundred

studies what we found is that a hundred

studies what we found is that a hundred percent of pipeline leaks are

percent of pipeline leaks are

percent of pipeline leaks are preventable accidents do not just happen

preventable accidents do not just happen

preventable accidents do not just happen likewise we should not let oil and gas

likewise we should not let oil and gas

likewise we should not let oil and gas pipeline leaks just happen for this

pipeline leaks just happen for this

pipeline leaks just happen for this multi variable problem we need a multi

multi variable problem we need a multi

multi variable problem we need a multi variable solution so what my co-founder

variable solution so what my co-founder

variable solution so what my co-founder and I have created is a data acquisition

and I have created is a data acquisition

and I have created is a data acquisition device that’s primarily based on

device that’s primarily based on

device that’s primarily based on Internet of Things technology what this

Internet of Things technology what this

Internet of Things technology what this means is that we read a variety of

means is that we read a variety of

means is that we read a variety of variables 42 times a second and these

variables 42 times a second and these

variables 42 times a second and these variables are the most important

variables are the most important

variables are the most important variables to pipeline longevity we then

variables to pipeline longevity we then

variables to pipeline longevity we then take this information that we acquired

take this information that we acquired

take this information that we acquired actually from the outside the pipeline

actually from the outside the pipeline

actually from the outside the pipeline so that means no tapping into the

so that means no tapping into the

so that means no tapping into the pipeline creating a structural defect

pipeline creating a structural defect

pipeline creating a structural defect creating a leak effectively we can

creating a leak effectively we can

creating a leak effectively we can acquire all this data external from the

acquire all this data external from the

acquire all this data external from the pipeline and we send this data through

pipeline and we send this data through

pipeline and we send this data through 4G LTE networks to a cloud computing

4G LTE networks to a cloud computing

4G LTE networks to a cloud computing cluster we then analyze the data time

cluster we then analyze the data time

cluster we then analyze the data time and time again through artificial

and time again through artificial

and time again through artificial intelligence methodology called neural

intelligence methodology called neural

intelligence methodology called neural networks and with this information and

networks and with this information and

networks and with this information and mathematics thank you mom for your PhD

mathematics thank you mom for your PhD

mathematics thank you mom for your PhD with this information and the

with this information and the

with this information and the mathematics we were able to really draw

mathematics we were able to really draw

mathematics we were able to really draw some incredible solutions out of this

some incredible solutions out of this

some incredible solutions out of this and so this is a real-world example of

and so this is a real-world example of

and so this is a real-world example of data feed through our preliminary test

data feed through our preliminary test

data feed through our preliminary test results and I like this because humans

results and I like this because humans

results and I like this because humans can clearly see what happened right

can clearly see what happened right

can clearly see what happened right oops ouch we just got a hit so we can

oops ouch we just got a hit so we can

oops ouch we just got a hit so we can sit here and ask ourselves well what

sit here and ask ourselves well what

sit here and ask ourselves well what actually happened how could we have

actually happened how could we have

actually happened how could we have prevented this except we would be

prevented this except we would be

prevented this except we would be looking at this probably days after the

looking at this probably days after the

looking at this probably days after the event with current solutions mixing this

event with current solutions mixing this

event with current solutions mixing this with with our artificial intelligence

with with our artificial intelligence

with with our artificial intelligence we’re able to really make this data

we’re able to really make this data

we’re able to really make this data speak what we were able to find is that

speak what we were able to find is that

speak what we were able to find is that we predict this incident three seconds

we predict this incident three seconds

we predict this incident three seconds before it happened now that doesn’t

before it happened now that doesn’t

before it happened now that doesn’t sound like a lot but remember this is an

sound like a lot but remember this is an

sound like a lot but remember this is an impact based event what it means is that

impact based event what it means is that

impact based event what it means is that if you were sitting at a bar you would

if you were sitting at a bar you would

if you were sitting at a bar you would know the guy beside you at the bar was

know the guy beside you at the bar was

know the guy beside you at the bar was going to punch you three seconds before

going to punch you three seconds before

going to punch you three seconds before he did you can move out of the way

he did you can move out of the way

he did you can move out of the way likewise pipeline companies can address

likewise pipeline companies can address

likewise pipeline companies can address this issue and move out of the way so

this issue and move out of the way so

this issue and move out of the way so with all the data and geek talk aside

with all the data and geek talk aside

with all the data and geek talk aside what this means is that we can solve

what this means is that we can solve

what this means is that we can solve these pipeline leaks with a projected

these pipeline leaks with a projected

these pipeline leaks with a projected 96% accuracy before they happen we want

96% accuracy before they happen we want

96% accuracy before they happen we want to become the missing link in energy

to become the missing link in energy

to become the missing link in energy energy is an outdated industry we want

energy is an outdated industry we want

energy is an outdated industry we want to bridge the oil and gas world of

to bridge the oil and gas world of

to bridge the oil and gas world of yesterday and the green energy of the

yesterday and the green energy of the

yesterday and the green energy of the future and because oil and gas is going

future and because oil and gas is going

future and because oil and gas is going to be with us for the next 50 to 100

to be with us for the next 50 to 100

to be with us for the next 50 to 100 years we need to find a way to make this

years we need to find a way to make this

years we need to find a way to make this oil and gas not be a burden to our

oil and gas not be a burden to our

oil and gas not be a burden to our society that means not a danger that

society that means not a danger that

society that means not a danger that means not an environmental hazard we

means not an environmental hazard we

means not an environmental hazard we need to solve this now through our

need to solve this now through our

need to solve this now through our technology set we can do this what I

technology set we can do this what I

technology set we can do this what I want to challenge each of you today is I

want to challenge each of you today is I

want to challenge each of you today is I want you to challenge the status quo if

want you to challenge the status quo if

want you to challenge the status quo if you challenge the status quo you can

you challenge the status quo you can

you challenge the status quo you can change the world I read a statistic

change the world I read a statistic

change the world I read a statistic recently that said over 50% of

recently that said over 50% of

recently that said over 50% of Millennials would refuse an oil and gas

Millennials would refuse an oil and gas

Millennials would refuse an oil and gas job because of stigma that’s associated

job because of stigma that’s associated

job because of stigma that’s associated with it

with it

with it why is that this is an industry that

why is that this is an industry that

why is that this is an industry that desperately needs new mines losers and

desperately needs new mines losers and

desperately needs new mines losers and geeks like me to really get involved and

geeks like me to really get involved and

geeks like me to really get involved and use their intelligence and use their

use their intelligence and use their

use their intelligence and use their fresh thinking to address these problems

fresh thinking to address these problems

fresh thinking to address these problems and

and

and and gas isn’t the only one you have

and gas isn’t the only one you have

and gas isn’t the only one you have trucking you have you know politics you

trucking you have you know politics you

trucking you have you know politics you have all this that need Reformation so I

have all this that need Reformation so I

have all this that need Reformation so I want to challenge each of you to accept

want to challenge each of you to accept

want to challenge each of you to accept that job accept that job that might have

that job accept that job that might have

that job accept that job that might have a stigma attached to it and change what

a stigma attached to it and change what

a stigma attached to it and change what it is thank you so much

it is thank you so much

it is thank you so much [Applause]