In a changing energy landscape, staying relevant as an oil and gas subsurface professional requires access to cutting-edge tools, continuous education, and a vibrant community for collaboration.

‍
That is the motivation behind CrowdField, the premier resource hub for reservoir engineers.

‍
The goal of CrowdField is to empower engineers to innovate, collaborate, and monetize their expertise.

‍
Our platform connects Oil & Gas and Energy businesses with a global network of reservoir engineers for task-based freelance solutions, while providing them with the support they need to leverage their expertise, develop valuable products, and bring them to market.

‍
Today, I want to share a compelling case study of how a collaboration with a young engineer resulted in a valuable tool that has garnered a ton of engagement from the community.

‍

Meet Shubham

Some time ago, I noticed the name Shubham B. Patel appearing in my notifications quite often, as he would engage with my content, liking it and commenting on it.

‍

So, I reached out to him:

‍

‍

Shubham, a graduate engineer, immediately struck me as a driven and enthusiastic young professional, eager to learn and collaborate.

‍

Since then, we’ve exchanged a series of messages where I’ve provided guidance on some of his queries, and we have explored potential areas for collaboration.

‍

I asked him about his skill level with Excel, VBA, Power Query, Python, and Streamlit. His reply:

‍

‍

Excellent! That last sentence shows the drive and willingness to push forward, which is far more important than mere knowledge.

‍

So I offered:

‍

‍

Without hesitation, Shubham was eager to dive in and figure things out as we went along. I was already pleasantly impressed by his proactive attitude up to this point.

‍

A few days later, I got this message:

‍

‍

Developing a Streamlit app from scratch

Despite never having created a Streamlit app before, Shubham taught himself the ins and outs and delivered an impressive first version that was already in remarkably good shape.

‍

From that point on, it was a series of suggestions from me, which he readily accepted and returned with an improved version each time.

‍

It was a pleasure to observe his positive, receptive attitude toward all my suggestions:

‍

‍

Most importantly, the collaboration progressed smoothly, with Shubham consistently delivering an improved product with each iteration. Here are a couple of examples of our back-and-forth interactions.

‍

‍

As you can see once again, every time Shubham was keen to accept my suggestions with a positive attitude and a respectful, professional tone.

‍

‍

Many times, I could have given Shubham the exact solution, like how to fix axis limits or how to deploy the app on the cloud. However, I chose to provide only suggestions and let Shubham figure it out on his own.

‍

This approach allowed me to appreciate in him one of the most valuable skills to develop: resourcefulness. He showed he could find solutions independently, using whatever resources were needed to get the job done.

‍

Who do you think I'm going to call for support when I'm in a crunch in my consulting business? Or who do you think I’m going to recommend when someone in my network reaches out? Someone who needs hand-holding or someone who can get the job done with just a few pointers?

‍

And like me, there will be many others watching him as a result of this work. This is the megaphone power that a social network has!

‍

Once the final version was ready for public access, the app was deployed in the cloud, allowing users to access it via a simple link in their browser.

‍

‍

What did Shubham gain from this journey?

This case study exemplifies the benefits arising from the collaborative program that I’m putting forth as a central tenet of CrowdField’s value proposition.

‍

Here’s a look at the benefits Shubham experienced through our collaboration:

‍

Strengthened Core Technical Skills:

Shubham revisited and reinforced fundamental concepts, honing his technical abilities through hands-on experience with Python and Streamlit. By engaging with new tools, he became a more versatile professional, ready to tackle new challenges.

‍

Developed Valuable Products:

Shubham created a Streamlit app that not only enhanced his learning but also provided a valuable tool for the global reservoir/petroleum engineering community. This project allowed him to contribute an innovative solution to a real-world industry demand.

‍

Enhanced Professional Reputation and Grew Audience:

Shubham's work on the Streamlit app will be showcased to a worldwide audience, enhancing his visibility and credibility within the industry. This exposure strengthens his online presence, driving traffic to his name, expanding his connections, and building a larger following for future collaborations.

‍

Expanded Network and Fostered New Collaborations:

Thanks to the interest garnered by this app, Shubham will connect with industry professionals, potential clients, and employers, fostering valuable relationships that could lead to future opportunities. This project opened doors for new ventures and collaborations, both with me and others in the industry.

‍

Monetized Expertise:

By developing and deploying a functional app, Shubham laid the groundwork for generating passive income through future product sales on the CrowdField store. He will continue to learn how to commercialize his expertise and create marketable solutions, expanding his opportunities beyond a salaried position.

‍

Developed Entrepreneurial and Marketing Skills:

Shubham gained experience in developing products from concept to deployment, enhancing his entrepreneurial abilities. This project also helped him improve his marketing and sales skills, preparing him for future entrepreneurial ventures.

‍

Received Constructive Feedback:

Shubham received valuable feedback from me, helping him improve and refine his product through iterative development. His openness to suggestions enhanced the quality and functionality of his project.

‍

Participated in Collaborative Projects:

Engaging in a collaborative project, Shubham drove innovation and knowledge sharing. This teamwork experience was marked by mutual growth and achievement, showcasing the power of collaboration.

‍

Increased Job Prospects:

By demonstrating his skills and competencies through this project, Shubham has become more attractive to potential employers and clients. The Streamlit app is now a key part of his professional portfolio, showcasing his expertise and achievements.

‍

Enjoyed Community Support:

Shubham will benefit from being part of a supportive reservoir engineering community that encourages growth, collaboration, and mutual success.

‍

Conclusion

This case study exemplifies how Shubham's proactive engagement, continuous learning, and willingness to iterate led to a successful collaboration. The project not only helped Shubham enhance his skills but also resulted in a valuable tool for the community, showcasing the true potential of collaborative growth and professional development.

‍

In Shubham's Own Words

Collaborating with Alan on the development of this Streamlit app was a transformative experience. Relative permeability (rel perms) is a crucial yet often misunderstood concept in reservoir engineering, so I was excited about this collaboration.

Our goal was to create an app with a simple interface for learners to adjust parameters and visualize their impact on the rel perm curves in real-time. Using Streamlit powered by Python was new to me, and I was eager to learn these tools through a practical, real-world application.

Throughout this journey, Alan proved to be an exceptional mentor. His deep expertise and visionary approach were key to presenting complex information in an engaging and clear way. Alan's guidance was invaluable, helping me overcome challenges and ensuring the app was both user-friendly and educational. His commitment to helping me, along with his effective communication and support, made the entire process smooth and rewarding.

The skills and insights I gained from this project have sparked a deep interest in exploring the complex concepts of reservoir engineering further. I am confident that the knowledge acquired will be highly beneficial in both academic and practical contexts.

‍

Access the app

The app is a simple interactive dashboard that runs on any browser. Feel free to explore it for yourself, here:

‍

👉 Link to Rel Perm app

‍

‍

Get to Know Shubham

Shubham is a dedicated Reservoir Engineer at one of India's leading operator companies. He focuses on offshore and unconventional fields, utilizing analytical and numerical methods to optimize reservoir performance. His work experience includes advanced techniques such as Decline Curve Analysis (DCA), Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA), Rate Transient Analysis (RTA), and reservoir simulation. These skills enable him to tackle complex challenges with a data-driven approach. Passionate about expanding his expertise and making meaningful contributions to the field, Shubham is committed to leveraging innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and best practices in reservoir engineering.

‍

👉 Shubham on LinkedIn