In today’s era of rapid data growth, energy companies are finding new ways to break down silos. They’re connecting operations, finance, and accounting while managing the flood of information from field sensors, AI, and expanding regulations. Along with everything else, cloud adoption brings another challenge: balancing IT control with business user access. The solution? Data democratization.
Making data more accessible has let organizations like vertically integrated American natural gas company, EQT, position themselves to move faster, make better decisions, and operate more strategically. All of this was explored at Qnections 25 in a panel discussion with Jonathan Couch of Capitalize Consulting, Asad Ghori of PwC, and EQT’s Andrew Galbraith and Anthony Gabbanelli. Take a look at their recorded discussion here.
Data Growth and Complexity
Ninety percent of the world’s data has been created just in the last two years, reshaping the face of the global energy market. Such data growth comes not only from sheer volume but also from new sources: sensor data, images, video feeds, regulatory requirements, and emissions tracking. The rise of AI only adds pressure to retain more historical data for analysis and forecasting.
From Silos to a Single Source of Truth
Historically, data sat in silos across operations, finance, and accounting. To address this, EQT chose Databricks to create a single source of truth combining data from Quorum applications and other sources. They reduced their reliance on spreadsheets as a master data source. Simplified access opens the doors for non-technical users to leverage data directly, especially when it’s supercharged with AI-powered interfaces like ChatGPT. Using Databricks centralizes application data, applies security controls, and allows end-users to generate their own insights without IT bottlenecks.
Managing Data Growth with Governance
At EQT, IT validates and structures data, but business users ultimately decide what has value. Leveraging Databricks as the centralized data hub, EQT stores more than 300 tables, with new datasets added dynamically as needs evolve. Sensitive data is housed in a separate container with change controls for traceability, supporting SOC compliance and audit readiness.
EQT’s guiding principle has been to solve business problems first and expand incrementally. By focusing on high-value data and building a flexible platform, they created a foundation that balances IT governance with business agility.
Scaling with Speed
Though EQT’s Databricks cutover was completed in a single weekend, it required three to six months of planning. Their phased approach made migration manageable, starting with 5–10 key tables and expanding as business needs grew. Once the bridge was established, adding tables became quick and scalable.
What Really Matters
Data transformation extends beyond the realm of technology: it’s about connecting systems, centralizing data, and empowering users to act on reliable insights. Success comes from combining operator experience, advisory expertise, and advanced analytics platforms to plan thoughtfully and prioritize high-value data. With this approach, companies can be more like EQT; they can move faster, make smarter decisions, and turn complex data ecosystems into a real business advantage.
See how your company can take the next step by connecting with Quorum. Request a demo and find out what your company could be doing.
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