Field Operations Transformation in Oil & Gas: Bonanza Drilling Case Study
Introduction
Alberta’s oil and gas field operations face harsh environments, remote sites, and strict safety regulations. Many companies still rely on paper forms or outdated systems for daily rig inspections, maintenance logs, and safety checklists. This case study shows how Bonanza Drilling – a mid-sized drilling contractor in Alberta – partnered with Akora Cloud to modernize its field operations using Microsoft Dataverse and Power Apps (Model-Driven and Canvas Apps).
The result is a unified digital platform that streamlined workflows, eliminated paperwork, improved safety compliance, and delivered substantial cost savings.
Challenges in Field Operations
Bonanza Drilling’s teams were burdened with manual, siloed processes:
- Paper forms for inspections, maintenance, and safety meetings.
- Disconnected spreadsheets and third-party tools.
- Delayed reporting from remote sites.
- Duplicate data entry and human error.
- Limited or no mobile access in the field.
Retrieving certain data could take up to 30 minutes due to VPN logins and phone calls. Scheduling maintenance or snow clearing was ad-hoc, leading to wasted contractor trips and delayed service.
Solution: Power Platform Implementation
Centralized Data with Dataverse
- Unified data hub for all operations, inspections, and safety reports.
- Modeled relationships between rigs, equipment, employees, and incidents.
- Role-based access for secure, relevant data visibility.
- Offline capability for field crews in remote Alberta sites.
Canvas Apps for Field Technicians
- Mobile-first interface consolidating 25+ paper forms.
- Context-aware fields and built-in validation to ensure data quality.
- Offline data entry with automatic sync.
- Immediate submission reduces reporting time from 30 minutes to seconds.
Model-Driven Apps for Management
- Real-time dashboards for HSE and operations managers.
- Instant alerts for incidents or high-priority requests.
- Automated maintenance scheduling and approvals using Power Automate.
- Reduced unnecessary service calls, saving significant costs.
Results and Benefits
Measurable Outcomes
- Eliminated paper-based forms by digitizing 25+ field workflows
- Real-time data access - cut information retrieval time from ~30 minutes to instantaneous
- Lowered operational costs through process automation (dramatically reduced certain maintenance expenses)
- Improved safety and compliance with standardized digital checklists and analytics
Why Akora Cloud
Akora Cloud brought:
- Deep industry knowledge in oil & gas field operations.
- Power Platform expertise for Dataverse, Canvas Apps, and Model-Driven Apps.
- Proven results with Alberta-based clients like Bonanza Drilling.
- Ability to deliver offline-ready, mobile-first solutions for remote crews.
We partner with companies to replace outdated, paper-heavy workflows with modern, scalable, cost-effective solutions—turning operational data into a competitive advantage.