The Future of Drilling: Careers, CCS and Innovation with Tristam Horn | Energy Sector Heroes

The energy sector is changing, but one thing hasn't changed: there are still opportunities for people who are willing to adapt, keep learning and build strong professional relationships. Whether you're just starting your career, already working in the industry, or developing new technology, this episode explores how well construction is evolving, why innovation matters, and what skills will help you build a long term career. This week I'm joined by **Tristam Horn**, CEO of Centrset. We discuss his journey from graduate drilling engineer at BP to leading a technology startup focused on solving challenges in well construction. We also talk about the future of drilling, carbon capture and storage (CCS), entrepreneurship, business development, and why authenticity is one of the most valuable qualities you can bring to your career. **🔑 Three Key Takeaways** 🔹 **Well construction is evolving, not disappearing.** The skills developed in drilling continue to be valuable across traditional oil and gas, carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy and other emerging applications. 🔹 **Innovation succeeds when it solves real problems.** New technology only creates value if it addresses genuine operational challenges, improves safety and delivers measurable commercial benefits. 🔹 **Relationships still matter.** Building a professional network, maintaining an authentic LinkedIn profile and having genuine conversations with people across the industry can open doors throughout your career. **✅ Three Actionable Takeaways** ✔️ Take time to build your professional network before you need it. Attend industry events, connect with people on LinkedIn and have conversations with professionals across different parts of the energy sector. ✔️ Stay curious about where your technical skills can be applied. Experience gained in well construction, drilling and engineering can transfer into areas such as CCS, geothermal and other energy projects. ✔️ When presenting ideas or pursuing opportunities, focus on understanding the problem first. The strongest solutions come from listening carefully before trying to persuade others. Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the episode I'd really appreciate it if you could subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find the conversation useful.