A digital trailblazer paves the way for others, creating a substantial impact and serving as a precursor to further digital innovation and value creation in the subsurface geoscience community.
At the Dig X Subsurface conference in Oslo this December, the Digital Trailblazer Award 2025 will recognize such a pioneer.
We are pleased to announce Peter Bormann, Chief Geologist at ConocoPhillips Norway, as one of this year’s candidates.
Over his 14-year career at ConocoPhillips, Bormann has consistently been at the forefront of digital innovation in geoscience, combining deep domain expertise with a pioneering approach to machine learning, AI, and data-driven workflows. He has initiated and managed technically demanding subsurface projects, provided mentorship to junior colleagues, and supported industrial PhD students in cutting-edge research.
Earlier roles at Shell and BP gave him exposure to basin-scale exploration and foundational geological workflows. He holds an MSc in Basin Evolution and Dynamics from Royal Holloway, University of London, and a BSc in Petroleum Geology from the University of Aberdeen.
Bormann’s impact on the industry is perhaps most visible through his leadership in cross-industry machine-learning and AI initiatives. He is a driving force behind the FORCE machine-learning events and hackathons, bringing together engineers, geoscientists, and domain experts to build open-source subsurface tools.
The first hackathon in 2018 attracted 50 participants and resulted in seven new tools, and built hundreds of new professional connections. Colleagues recall how he not only shaped the technical direction of these events but also fostered an enjoyable and collaborative atmosphere — even showing up with homemade beer.
In collaboration with Kadme, he also helped develop a ChatGPT-like geo-bot that enables rapid, natural-language queries across subsurface document collections, including licence relinquishment reports, wikis, and well reports. The tool significantly reduces the time needed to locate critical information and exemplifies Bormann’s ability to pair cutting-edge technology with practical workflows that deliver real value.
Inside ConocoPhillips, he has driven digital progress through continuous evaluation of emerging technologies, mentoring colleagues in Python, and sharing best practices for modern AI tools such as CoPilot. His work with startups, his supervision of industrial PhD projects like MalenoV (machine learning for seismic interpretation), and his contributions to R&D highlight his broad and forward-leaning engagement.
He has been described by colleagues as a “snowplow”—relentless in driving projects forward and always able to find creative routes around obstacles. They also emphasize his genuine passion for the craft — he codes in his spare time, experiments with new ideas, and is always ready to help others learn.
Despite living and breathing digital workflows, Bormann is equally devoted to life beyond the computer screen. He cycles to work, enjoys climbing and surfing, and spends time at his mountain cabin, where he reconnects with nature. His energy, enthusiasm, and generosity make him as much a community-builder as a technologist.
Through his creativity, perseverance, and generosity in sharing knowledge, Peter Bormann has made a lasting mark on the subsurface digital community. He is a truly deserving candidate for the Digital Trailblazer Award 2025.