Two companies with big presences in Houston are collaborating to provide hybrid intelligence with AI. Photo via Getty Images

Two tech companies have teamed up to accelerate artificial intelligence adaption in the energy industry.

Houston-based Radix announced a strategic partnership with data and artificial intelligence company Cognite, a Norwegian company that's expanded to the U.S. by way of Houston, and will aim to implement AI "to streamline and contextualize data management and asset performance across oil and gas, energy, petrochemicals, and manufacturing industries,” according to a news release.

Radix is a global technology solutions company with expertise in engineering, data and software technology, and operations. The partnership allows Radix to utilize Cognite’s Industrial DataOps platform, and Cognite Data Fusion. The combination of Cognite Data Fusion’s innovative technology and Radix’s engineering intelligence will aim to tackle the problem of extracting information from large data pools in non-integrated systems.

According to Radix, the utilization of hybrid intelligence with AI to sort through data in a more refined manner, companies will be able to more intelligently isolate problem areas and work on solutions. This will help with energy optimization, mass balance for production accounting, and inventory management for critical materials according to Radix. Hybrid intelligence can also help accelerate access to data across various independent systems.

“Our partnership with Cognite has shown that we can bring our unique expertise together to empower companies with the hybrid intelligent tools they need to get to the data that becomes valuable and actionable information," Global Head of Alliances & Practices at Radix Flavio Guimarães says in a news release. “With Cognite Data Fusion, we help businesses streamline their data, thus helping to boost decision-making with real-time insights and drive cost reductions across the organization.”

With Cognite Data Fusionn’s solutions aim to enhance scalability, usability, and overall value for users and businesses, in what Radix has called an Industrial Applications Library. Some solutions will be showcased from October 14-15 at Cognite Impact 2024 in Houston, which will include an operational view on actionable insights, improvement workflows for field process, improvements and operational efficiency, OEE monitoring and control, preventative insights for monitoring.

“The Industrial Applications Library creates added value to the digital transformation journey helping companies to achieve optimal operational excellence and significant cost savings for our customers," Trudi Hable, head of strategic alliances for North America at Radix, adds. “Radix’s expertise and intelligence will ensure that real-time information is being relayed to Cognite Data Fusion in an efficient manner, allowing for the right data to be brought to the right people.”

From left to right: Trudi Hable and Flavio Guimarães of Radix and Laxmi Akkaraji of Cognite. Photos courtesy of Cognite

Energy Transition and Digital Transformation collide at next week's Can't Miss energy event. Image via Shutterstock.

Can't Miss: Reuter's Data-Driven Oil and Gas Conference

DIGITAL SUSTAINABILITY

June 20-21 | Reuter’s Data-Driven Oil and Gas Conference

Energy Transition and Digital Transformation collide at next week’s Data-Driven Oil and Gas USA 2023 conference from Reuter’s Events. Join leaders in technology as they discuss digital best practices in upstream energy and how to balance going beyond Industry 4.0 with goals for energy sustainability.

“Reuters Events: Data Driven Oil & Gas 2023 will be the space for decision makers to get together to take their business to the next level by overcoming cultural blockers, breaking down silos and exploring innovative technologies to improve the bottom line and maximize output,” says Lee Cibis, global project director for oil and gas at Reuters Events.

With a robust speaker lineup, attendees can expect to hear insightful case studies, lessons learned, and visions for a lower-carbon energy future enabled by digitalization and innovative technologies. Be sure to catch a multi-operator perspective at the Tuesday panel, “One Common Goal,” which appears to echo sentiments from OTC about the importance of partnering, with emphasis on the data interoperability needed from and between vendors and operators alike.

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Houston startup debuts sustainable 'leather' fashion collection in Milan

sustainable fashion

Last month, Houston-based Rheom Materials and India’s conscious design studio Econock unveiled a collaborative capsule collection that signaled more than just a product launch.

Hosted at Lineapelle—long considered the global epicenter of the world's premier leather supply chain—in the vaulted exhibition halls of Rho-Fiera Milano, the collection centered around Rheom’s 91 percent bio-based leather alternative, Shorai.

It was a bold move, one that shifted sustainability from a concept discussed in panel sessions to garments that buyers could touch and wear.

The collection featured a bomber-style jacket, an asymmetrical skirt and a suite of accessories—all fabricated from Shorai.

The standout piece, a sculptural jacket featuring a funnel neck and dual-zip closure, was designed for movement, challenging assumptions about performance limitations in bio-based materials. The design of the asymmetrical skirt was drawn from Indian armored warrior traditions, according to Rheom, with biodegradable corozo fasteners.

Built as a modular wardrobe rather than isolated pieces, the collection reflects a shared belief between Rheom and Econock in designing objects that adapt to daily life, according to the companies.

The collection was born out of a new partnership between Rheom and Econock, focused on bringing biobased materials to the market. According to Rheom, the partnership solves a problem that has stalled the adoption of many next-gen textiles: supply chain friction.

While Rheom focuses on engineering scalable bio-based materials, New Delhi-based Econock brings the complementary design and manufacturing ecosystem that integrates artisans, circular materials and production expertise to translate the innovative material into finished goods.

"This partnership removes one of the biggest barriers brands face when adopting next-generation materials,” Megan Beck, Rheom’s director of product, shared in a news release. “By reducing friction across the supply chain, Rheom can connect brands directly with manufacturers who already know how to work with Shorai, making the transition to more sustainable materials far more accessible.”

Sanyam Kapur, advisor of growth and impact at Econock, added: “Our partnership with Rheom Materials represents the benchmark of responsible design where next-gen materials meet craft, creativity, and real-world scalability.”

Rheom, formerly known as Bucha Bio, has developed Shorai, a sustainable leather alternative that can be used for apparel, accessories, car interiors and more; and Benree, an alternative to plastic without the carbon footprint. In 2025, Rheom was a finalist for Startup of the Year in the Houston Innovation Awards.

Shorai is already used by fashion lines like Wuxly and LuckyNelly, according to Rheom. The company scaled production of the sugar-based material last year and says it is now produced in rolls that brands can take to market with the right manufacturer.

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This article originally appeared on our sister site, InnovationMap.

Houston energy co. names new COO to scale offshore decommissioning

new hire

Houston-based Promethean Energy has named a new COO as it looks to scale.

Martyn Fear, former CEO of Altamesa Energy Canada Inc., will assume the role, the company announced last week. He brings decades of experience at energy companies such as BP and Maersk Oil and has held board positions at several private equity and venture-backed firms.

“Promethean has built a differentiated platform for managing and retiring late-life assets safely, efficiently, and responsibly,” Fear said in a news release. “The industry is facing a structural shift as decommissioning moves to the forefront, and the opportunity to combine operational excellence, disciplined project delivery, and innovative commercial models is incredibly compelling."

Promethean has developed an environmentally sustainable, integrated model for late-life asset management and offshore well decommissioning. Fear will oversee day-to-day operations at Promethean and the execution of this integrated operator-service model as the company looks to scale and expand to new markets.

“Martyn is a proven leader with a deep operational track record and a passion for building high-performance, safety-first organizations,” Aditya Singh, Promethean's CEO, added in the release. “As Promethean enters its next phase—scaling our integrated operator-service model and delivering first-time-right decommissioning at pace—his experience in transforming complex asset portfolios and leading global teams makes him the ideal COO to drive operational execution while we continue to advance our strategic vision.”

Last May, the company successfully decommissioned offshore orphaned wells in the Matagorda Island lease area. In November, it also announced that it had completed a multi-client project to safely plug and abandon an orphaned well on a storm-damaged platform in the South Timbalier lease area.

Both projects were based in the Gulf of Mexico, where Promethean is looking to grow.