Inventures

Owner of Well Test Analysis Engineering Services Jean Beriault attended the 2022 Inventures event in Calgary, and said it was an inspiring experience compacted with knowledge and networking that has opened up her mind for the future.

Beriault has owned her business since 2005, shortly after she and her family moved to Medicine Hat in 2001. She graduated from the University of Calgary, with a major in chemical and a minor in petroleum engineering. Her experience ranges from working with consulting and oil and gas companies, and owning her consulting business for the last 17 years.

After having all three of her children, she continued to build her business, grow her knowledge, and share her services globally, from as far as Thailand, Australia, Finland, Egypt, Mongolia, and America, while also staying local to Alberta, Canada.

“My services are specific to petroleum engineering, reservoir characterization and production optimization. Wells need to be tested and evaluated for the producing company to understand their assets, as well as meeting the requirements for Alberta Energy Regulator,” says Beriault.

Beriault was invited to the Inventures event by Tracy Stroud who is the Regional Innovation Network manager, Southeast Alberta for APEX Alberta. Immediately, Beriault reviewed the forms and speakers and planned her schedule at the event, to make sure her days were filled and the time was worth the three hour drive.

A large topic at Inventures was the world-wide goal towards carbon reduction, carbon capture, and net-zero emissions by 2050.

“They said it takes a team of people and there is much more that needs to be done, and companies cannot do it alone. They are reaching out to others, and hearing that made me realize I need to connect myself with those people. I may not be on that side yet, but at some point I could be a contributor to that change. It was very motivating,” says Beriault.

The petroleum engineer sits on the board of Association of Professional Engineers and GeoScientists of Alberta (APEGA), Medicine Hat branch as member at large and of Southeast Alberta Watershed Alliance (SEAWA) as industry seat. Because of what she’s been inspired by at Inventures, she has seen the opportunities she can bring to the table with the connections she’s made at Inventures.

“I learned that innovation is not just a gadget or a technology, or something that could ultimately change the world. It is something that can start small. For me right now, it could be the process and systems I could innovate to be more effective,” says the business owner. “I came out of the event so excited, because I learned so much.”

Beriault sees those opportunities in the future, because her work is global. Collaboration is extremely possible. She believes collaborating with like-minded people can make her a part of something bigger.

“Medicine Hat is so centralized, that I am more than willing to make trips out of town to attend events like Inventures. It’s so important that we have access to these conferences, because not only are the topics important, but the connections. Connections are the biggest purpose,” she says.

Beriault knows her strengths when it comes to petroleum engineering, and she is always ready to keep her mindset open and learn the ways she can help positively move the industry forward with organizations leading the conversation. From this event and on, Beriault continues to grow towards innovation.