The partnership aims to tackle mounting concerns in global energy markets.

Ovation Data, a global leader in data management and digital transformation, has announced its expansion into Africa, joining forces with the ETK Group

The partnership aims to tackle mounting concerns in global energy markets about the risks tied to non-digitised legacy data, particularly in African energy sectors.

The company’s latest industry survey, presented at IMAGE 2025 in Houston, highlights widespread concern about the preservation of legacy geological and geophysical data. The survey, which included significant input from African operators, regulators, and technical professionals, reveals a substantial gap in data readiness across the energy sector. In particular, it points to the growing challenge of non-digitised data in countries rich in exploration potential, like many across Africa.

“Effective data management means more than digitising archives,” said Gregory Servos, executive chairman of Ovation Data. “It involves collaborating closely with operators, regulators, and technical teams to recover historical data, capture its context, and respect the social and cultural dynamics unique to each market.” As energy projects focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and the broader energy transition gain momentum, Ovation believes that securing data readiness will be critical for supporting operational efficiency and securing investments.

The survey’s results paint a concerning picture: 82% of respondents expressed fears about the permanent loss of legacy geological and geophysical data, while 50% highlighted project delays and incomplete data as serious concerns. Additionally, 61% of respondents feel that digitisation and data structuring aren’t receiving adequate investment or attention, and 12% remain unaware of the risks associated with holding non-digitised data.

The study also underscores a significant concern about losing undocumented knowledge as senior professionals retire or move on. “In Africa, this challenge extends beyond data trapped in obsolete formats,” Servos adds. “It’s also about preserving decades of technical insight, decision-making, and cultural context that will otherwise be lost when experienced professionals retire.”

ETK Group, with its deep understanding of African energy markets, will play a pivotal role in helping Ovation navigate the continent’s diverse and evolving landscape. Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, managing director of ETK Group, said, “Africa’s energy sector offers immense potential, and data-driven solutions will be key to unlocking efficiency, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability.”

The findings of Ovation's survey serve as a wake-up call not only for Africa but for the global energy sector. As projects ranging from carbon storage to LNG development and renewable energy integration become more data-intensive, it’s evident that decades of seismic and well data must be preserved, accessible, and trusted.

Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association, emphasises the importance of long-term stewardship in maintaining the value of energy data. “Without deliberate, intentional and sustained stewardship, these valuable assets are at risk of being lost, degraded, or rendered unusable,” she states.

The theme for ADIPEC 2025, "Energy. Intelligence. Impact." (Image source: dmg events)

ADIPEC 2025 will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 3-6 November 2025, with an expanded conference and exhibition programme aimed at addressing the challenges facing the global energy sector

The event will focus on two critical imperatives: building resilience in the energy system and scaling transformative solutions to accelerate global progress.

The theme for ADIPEC 2025, "Energy. Intelligence. Impact.", underscores the need for secure energy to drive inclusive growth, the intelligence to navigate the complexities of today's energy landscape, and the impact that translates vision into tangible progress for markets, people, and the planet. Over the course of four days, the event will explore four key themes, from new energy technologies and geopolitics to digital transformation and building a resilient, future-ready energy system.

This year, the ADIPEC conferences have been streamlined into two comprehensive programmes: the Strategic Conference and the Technical Conference. The event will feature over 380 sessions, with more than 1,800 speakers, including ministers, CEOs, academics, industry experts, and youth leaders. The aim is to turn dialogue into action by showcasing solutions and catalysing collaborations that drive real, measurable impact across the energy sector. The platform will promote intelligent choices, focusing on leveraging all viable energy sources and technologies to build sustainable systems that can deliver energy to more people, at lower cost, and with reduced carbon emissions.

The ADIPEC 2025 Exhibition will span 17 halls and host more than 2,250 exhibitors from across the global energy ecosystem, including 54 National Oil Companies (NOCs), International Oil Companies (IOCs), National Energy Companies (NECs), and International Energy Companies (IECs). It will also feature 30 dedicated country pavilions and four specialised industry zones focused on decarbonisation, digitalisation, maritime and logistics, and artificial intelligence.

ADIPEC 2025 is expected to attract more than 205,000 attendees from around the world, creating unique opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and progress within the energy sector.

AOW:Energy 2025 will serve as a platform to spotlight Ghana’s strategic assets. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Ghana is set to host the 31st edition of AOW:Energy, the flagship event for Africa’s oil, gas, and energy sector, from 15th to 18th September 2025 in Accra, under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the Petroleum Commission

It is the first time in over three decades that the event will be held outside Cape Town, South Africa. As regulator of Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry, with a strategic vision of positioning Ghana as a competitive upstream petroleum hub, the Commission views the AOW: Investing in African Energy as a notable opportunity to further raise awareness of the country’s hydrocarbon potential on the global stage.

“We have an opportunity to present a dedicated national showcase, where His Excellency President H.E John Dramani Mahama will outline his vision for positioning the country as one of the most attractive upstream destinations with good geological prospects, through a progressive fiscal regime, regulations, investor-friendly incentives, and forward-thinking energy policies,” noted Emeafa Hardcastle, Ag. CEO of the Petroleum Commission. “AOW:Energy 2025 will serve as a platform to spotlight Ghana’s strategic assets, engage with global investors, build critical partnerships and offer regulators across the continent an opportunity to present emerging regulatory reforms that will shape the continent’s energy future.”

Paul Sinclair, CEO of AOW:Energy, expressed enthusiasm for the momentum building around the event, noting a record level of government and private sector participation. “We are excited about the strong support from the Ghana government in welcoming ministers, national oil companies, regulators and global investors to AOW:Energy 2025. Africa is quickly becoming a top destination for energy investment, and 2025 will be a year for the continent’s upstream sector. Ghana, I believe is ready to take the spotlight when AOW:Energy comes to Accra,” he said.

As AOW:Energy evolves, it continues to consolidate its founding mission of bringing together a powerful network of governments, national oil companies, regulators, energy agencies, and private sector players.

The 2025 edition is expected to open new doors to investment, innovation, and collaboration, providing direct access to emerging opportunities across Africa’s energy landscape.

Major operators are increasingly adopt AI. (Image source: African Energy Chamber)

As Africa is zooming in on brownfield sites for maximum oil recovery, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are fuelling the industry's optimisation goals

Redifining operational efficiency by extending field life and maximising output, AI is set to move the oil and gas industry at a US$6.4bn market value by 2030.

As major operators increasingly adopt AI, global oilfield technology companies like Baker Hughes, Halliburton or SLB have opened bases in Africa. SLB's technology is backing several billion-dollar oil projects in Angola, and has introduced the Africa Performance Centre in Luanda this year. It has a strong presence in other regions of Africa as well.

Repsol has several developments underway in Libya, Algeria and Morocco and strives to bolster production across these markets. 

Enhanced oil recovery is currently witnessing a disruption as AI has unlocked access to large datasets which is unimaginable with traditional systems. This makes a huge difference for operators in taking the right decisions. With deep geological and production data in hand, reservoir management and pattern identification become much simpler. 

AI is now way past the experimental stage, and is being adopted on a policy level as well. Many African countries are streamlining policy to support EOR at legacy assets. Angola, for example, implemented its Incremental Production Initiative in 2024 which offers tax incentives to encourage reinvestments in mature oilfields. Energy major ExxonMobil made the first discovery – the Likembe-01 well - as part of the initiative in 2024, demonstrating the role policy plays in unlocking incremental resources. The African Union Commission also declared AI as a strategic priority for the continent in May 2025, citing the role machine-learning plays in transforming the continent’s development trajectory. 

These topics will drive conversations at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 that will be taking place from 29 September 29 to 3 October in Cape Town.