Deep domain knowledge. Modern data thinking. Better business decisions
ABOUT TERRANEXUS
TerraneXus is a boutique subsurface data consultancy.
We help energy and resources organisations solve complex data problems, adopt industry data standards and build AI ready data foundations.
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We are vendor neutral and platform independent. Always.
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CHRIS HOUGH
FOUNDER | PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT
Chris Hough is the founder and principal consultant of TerraneXus. As a geologist he brings 25+ years of hands-on subsurface domain expertise spanning oil and gas and mining, with career experience at Chevron, BP and Argyle Diamond (Rio Tinto) across exploration, development and production resource lifecycles.
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Chris has been active in the OSDU Forum since its inception in 2019, making him one of the longest serving independent contributors to the programme. He has led several workgroups within the OSDU Forum and currently serves as Data Definitions Co-Leader and Certified Code Maintainer. He holds the OSDU Data Definitions and Modelling Data Steward role with The Open Group.
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Beyond OSDU, Chris brings deep expertise across the full landscape of subsurface data standards including PPDM, Energistics (WITSML, PRODML, RESQML). He has led data architecture and modelling engagements for operators, mining companies, national data repositories and technology vendors across Australia, Asia Pacific and globally.
EDUCATION
Bsc Applied Geology
Bcomm Finance
Dip Project ManagementÂ
Curtin University, Australia
JOHN COLCLOUGHÂ
PRINCIPAL CONSULTANTÂ
John is a highly experienced technology leader in the energy industry, with more than 33 years of expertise spanning petrophysics, subsurface technology, digital transformation, data analytics, and product management. He has held leadership roles across a range of oil and gas technology and service companies, including the past 20 years leading bp's global petrophysics technology portfolio.
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Over the past five years John has been deeply involved in the OSDU Forum, contributing domain expertise to the Petrophysics Workgroup and Wellbore DDMS. His operator background gives him a uniquely practical perspective on how data standards need to work in the real world.
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Combining deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen and governance leadership, John is recognised for effectively bridging technical and business stakeholders while maintaining a customer centric approach to technology strategy and delivery. He has a proven track record of leading enterprise scale technology portfolios and delivering strategic initiatives that drive business value, improve operational efficiency and create sustainable competitive advantage.
OUR MISSION
To turn complex subsurface data into a foundation for better business decisions. Better data, used with shared meaning and trusted across systems, raises the quality of every decision the business makes. We do that by building open, interoperable data architectures that actually work.
CORE VALUES:
Independence
We work for our clients, not for vendors or platforms.
Our advice is grounded in technical merit and domain expertise, not commercial relationships.
Domain Depth
Subsurface data is complex and highly specialised. We bring the domain battle-scars that generalist consultants simply do not have.
Industry Standards Leadership
We believe interoperability is built on open industry standards. We don't just advocate for them. We develop them.