The crew from the SS PetroGeek beams down to the planet below and leaves transmitters that will measure everything on the planet from temperature, to atmospheric pressure, to moisture, to how many hours a day the sun shines.  They will use this data to study changes on the planet and eventually to step in and improve the conditions they find.  Sounds pretty futuristic and far-fetched, right?  Well, it’s happening right here and now in the automated Oilfield of the Future.  We have the technology to monitor every aspect of our fields from downhole conditions to pipeline flow to metering at the point of sale.  (And everything in-between.)  This new technology has the potential to run your field with very little human intervention.  Is this a good thing?