Derrick Turk, CEO of data science consulting firm
terminus, joins the show to discuss bringing programming and data science expertise to the oil and gas industry. Derrick explains his background in mechanical engineering and reservoir simulation, and how he eventually started his own company to provide analytics, automation, and custom software for energy companies.
Key topics covered:
- The evolution of data science over the years – from “unicorn” specialists to a more integrated, cross-functional role
- Perspectives on open source tools like R and common pitfalls of adopting “shiny new” technologies
- terminus’s niche of robust, low-maintenance solutions for smaller E&P firms without big IT teams
- Favorite cross-disciplinary projects like building domain-specific languages and translators
- A new terminus product for interactive, transparent Monte Carlo simulation
- Predictions for data science becoming more embedded within engineering rather than siloed in IT
- Recommendations on languages like Rust and Vim, and influential books such as Moby Dick
