ABSTRACT
Dear Diary: The Sensor Drama is Hourly
Across oil & gas operations, thousands of sensors are generating valuable data every second—but capturing it is just the first step. Data historians are critical for storing, organizing, and accessing that information so it can be used to investigate operational anomalies, detect issues early, and make better decisions.
This session offers a practical introduction to what data historians are, who uses them, and why they matter across roles—from operators and engineers to analysts and leadership. We’ll walk through key use cases, common pitfalls, and best practices for implementation, including tips on how to structure tags, manage context, and build user trust. Whether you’re working with an existing data historian like Canary or PI or considering your first implementation, this talk will help you lay the foundation for making your sensor data work smarter.
PRESENTER
Data Historians for fun and profit –Shayne Chidlaw of Chairality Research.
Shayne Chidlaw is a Professional Geologist with nearly 30 years of experience in Canada’s petroleum exploration industry. Over the course of her career, she’s worked across the full value chain—from drilling, evaluations and acquisitions to investor relations—collaborating with cross-functional teams and learning firsthand what different experts need (and when) to make better decisions.
In recent years, Shayne has shifted her focus to data analytics and digital transformation, building and leading a team at an operator dedicated to advancing data literacy, integrating workflows, and making technology more accessible across disciplines. Now leveraging those skills at Chirality, a data consultancy, her client-side experience gives her a grounded perspective on how to drive real value from data systems—especially when they’re built with the end user in mind.
She’s passionate about bringing together technical and non-technical voices to create solutions that are not only innovative, but actually usable—because good ideas don’t scale unless people trust the tools behind them.
