From Oil and Gas to Climate Action: The Remarkable Journey of GuildOne

Untangling the Data Deluge in the Energy Sector

In the early 2000s, when the dot-com bubble had just burst, two individuals in Calgary, James Graham and Barry Kryser, saw an opportunity in the chaos of the oil and gas industry. They founded GuildOne, a Canadian tech company, not to chase the next big tech trend, but to tackle the data challenges plaguing the energy sector.

The oil and gas industry was drowning in a sea of data, from seismic surveys and well logs to production reports. GuildOne set out to bring order to this chaos, focusing on the complex world of oil and gas royalty payments. Their early software solutions, such as Synergy Studio and Rev Three, helped companies consolidate and make sense of their data, ultimately maximizing their royalty revenue.

Embracing the Blockchain Revolution

As GuildOne established itself as the Sherlock Holmes of energy data, the company made a bold decision in 2015 – they jumped into the world of blockchain technology. At the time, blockchain was still a relatively fringe concept, primarily associated with Bitcoin. But GuildOne saw an opportunity to bring the transparency and security of blockchain to the energy sector.

Their blockchain-based platform aimed to address issues such as disputes, inefficiencies, and the environmental impact of oil and gas operations. By partnering with industry giants like Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, GuildOne demonstrated its commitment to applying blockchain technology to real-world sustainability challenges.

Tokenizing Trees and Verifying Carbon Credits

As the world’s focus shifted towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, GuildOne made another pivotal move. They launched their ESG One division, which explored innovative ways to tackle climate change.

One of their groundbreaking initiatives was the tokenization of trees. By partnering with Project Forest and the Swan River First Nation, GuildOne created a system where each tree planted became a digital asset, a token representing a verifiable carbon sink. This allowed individuals and companies to directly invest in reforestation efforts, with the blockchain providing transparency and traceability.

But GuildOne’s ambitions didn’t stop there. They set their sights on the complex and often opaque world of carbon credits. Recognizing the need for a more robust and transparent system, GuildOne developed their V-Ten-N project. This platform uses sensors, data analytics, and blockchain technology to track the entire process of carbon capture and storage, from the point of capture to the issuance of digital carbon credits.

Democratizing Climate Action

GuildOne’s vision extends beyond just serving large corporations. They aim to empower everyday people to engage in climate action. By leveraging blockchain technology, individuals can now directly invest in and track the progress of various climate-focused projects, from reforestation to renewable energy initiatives.

This democratization of climate action has the potential to revolutionize how we approach environmental challenges. Instead of relying on the self-reporting of companies or the opaqueness of traditional carbon markets, GuildOne’s blockchain-based solutions offer a new level of transparency and accountability.

Trailblazers vs. Hype Chasers?

As GuildOne continues to push the boundaries of innovation, the question remains: are they true trailblazers or simply riding the hype wave of blockchain technology? The answer lies in their tangible actions and the real-world impact they are making.

By applying their expertise in data management and blockchain technology to tackle pressing environmental issues, GuildOne has demonstrated a genuine commitment to driving meaningful change. Their partnerships with industry leaders and their focus on practical solutions suggest that they are not merely disrupting for the sake of disruption, but rather, they are building tools that could fundamentally transform how we approach climate change.

As the world grapples with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, the story of GuildOne’s journey from the oil and gas industry to the forefront of climate action serves as a testament to the power of innovation and the potential for solutions to emerge from unexpected places.

Company Overview:

GuildOne is a Canadian technology company with a 25-year history of providing data solutions and business intelligence to the oil and gas industry. The company specializes in:

• Data Integration & Optimization: Helping companies manage and understand their complex data for business optimization and revenue completeness.
• Royalty Management: Providing advanced solutions to identify outstanding royalty opportunities and generate revenue completeness.
• Blockchain Solutions: Pioneering the use of blockchain technology in the energy sector for applications like authorization for expenditure balloting, royalty transactions, and carbon credit tokenization.

Key Themes and Innovations:

1. Blockchain for Climate Action:

• GuildOne is leveraging blockchain technology to build a sustainable future, particularly through its ESG1 division. This includes developing digital systems for carbon accounting, validation, and tokenization.
• V10N Project: A landmark initiative using blockchain to track and verify carbon sequestration at an Alberta energy site.
• Thunderbird Labs: Focusing on rights and reconciliation on blockchain, particularly for Indigenous communities.
• Tokenized Carbon Credits: Pioneering the creation and trading of tokenized carbon credits on the Cardano and Corda blockchain networks.
• “Tokenized carbon credits, offsets, and renewables may prove to be the pinnacle non-fungible token (NFT) of our lifetime.” – Mark Le Dain, Validere
• Integration of Corda and Cardano: Enabling interoperability between private and public blockchain networks for seamless asset movement and increased trust.
• “The tokenization bridge between Corda and Cardano represents a major milestone in achieving greater DLT interoperability…” – Richard Brown, CTO at R3

• Royalty Management Expertise:

• GuildOne has a proven track record of success in helping oil and gas companies manage complex royalty payments.
• Royalty Studio: A feature solution that leverages modern software, blockchain, and data science to ensure full asset value realization for royalty owners.
• “Royalty Studio delivers proven business value to the largest royalty companies.”
• Success Stories: Companies like Rife and PrairieSky have seen significant revenue gains and identified royalty income shortfalls by utilizing GuildOne’s Royalty Studio.

3. Partnerships and Recognition:

• Industry Leaders: GuildOne collaborates with prominent blockchain firms like R3 and Cardano, cloud computing giant AWS, and product intelligence leaders like Validere.
• Consortia: Active participation in industry consortia like the OOC Oil & Gas Blockchain Consortium.
• Awards and Recognition:Named in Forbes Blockchain 50 2023 for its work with ExxonMobil on AFE balloting.
• Recognized for its rapid growth and innovation by Deloitte and EY.
• Awarded the “Blockchain for Good” award by Web3 & Blockchain World (W3B).

4. Focus on ESG and Indigenous Rights:

• GuildOne demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.
• Swan River First Nation Project: Partnered with Project Forest and the Swan River First Nation to tokenize trees planted as part of a rewilding initiative.
• “When companies come together to fund the restoration and protection of these spaces, the end result is not only Natural Capital but direct positive impact to the community members…” – Mike Toffan, Project Forest.
• Thunderbird Platform: Developed to empower Indigenous communities with data-driven insights and control over their resources.

Key Takeaways:

• GuildOne is a leading innovator in the application of blockchain technology for climate action and sustainable development, particularly in the energy sector.
• The company’s expertise in data integration and royalty management provides significant value to clients seeking to optimize revenue and business performance.
• With its strong partnerships, industry recognition, and focus on ESG and indigenous rights, GuildOne is well-positioned to be a key player in the transition to a net-zero future.