Author: Yogi Schulz
The energy industry doesn’t just explore for and produce oil and natural gas. The industry also actively explores information technology to increase exploration success and to reduce production costs.
Here’s an update on information technology advances that are keeping the energy industry competitive and environmentally sensitive.
Visualization
Visualization turns mountains of hard-to-understand tabular data into realistic, colorful 3-D models. Users can literally walk through the projected data using special glasses that maintain the 3-D illusion. Geologists and engineers use these immersive environments to collaborate about reservoir characteristics and production strategies. Environmentalists use visualization to study water flow in watersheds and air currents in the atmosphere.
Oil and gas explorers are making significant investments in visualization hardware and software to reduce finding costs by accelerating the prospect identification process. The most recent advance is the reduction of both hardware and software costs that is contributing to the expanding use of the technology.
Key suppliers of visualization hardware are Silicon Graphics and Sun Microsystems.
Computer Power
Every industry is applying the continuing increases in computer capacity and power that are occurring while costs are decreasing. In the energy industry, this improvement is being applied to innovative applications in seismic interpretation and reservoir modeling.
The major suppliers of the computing power are Fujitsu, HP, IBM and Sun.
Reservoir Modeling
Production engineers use reservoir modeling software to better understand the physics, that force the oil and natural gas to the surface, at work in the reservoir. This understanding leads to improved production strategies that leads to more recovered oil and gas that deliver more revenue.
Mr. Dan Dexter, an Account Executive at Computer Modeling Group (CMG), indicates that recent advances in their software have improved modeling of the actual physics of the reservoir to reduce the previous use of approximations. CMG has also advanced its software to address reservoir modeling for coal bed methane, Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) and In-Situ combustion production.
Well Log Analysis
Well logs are used to enhance our understanding of the characteristics of various geological formations that the well bore has penetrated. Well logs measure formation characteristics such as electrical conductivity, radioactivity, porosity, density and speed of sound.
Mr. Mike Gatens, chairman and chief executive officer of MGV Energy Inc., an unconventional gas producer, believes that the advanced well log analysis software MGV has developed internally provides his company with a competitive advantage. The software, which is used to analyze the results of well logging, helps MGV build superior production strategies for the coal bed strata from which MGV produces natural gas.
While MGV won’t license its well log analysis software, several software companies offer capable products.
3-D and 4-D Reservoir Characterization
Geologists and geophysicists use 3-D and 4-D reservoir characterization software to more accurately determine where to drill. This enhanced understanding leads to fewer costly dry holes. It can also lead to higher production volumes per well and lower water production per well.
The recent advances include an emphasis on reducing the elapsed time to interpret data by improving workflow support and by simplifying the data manipulation process required between steps in the reservoir characterization work. Geophysicists continue to develop ever more sophisticated mathematical analytical techniques for their work.
The major suppliers of reservoir characterization software are GeoQuest, Landmark and Paradigm.
Geographic Information Systems
The oil and gas industry makes extensive use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce map displays that visually represent multiple types of exploration or environmental data integrated to the survey grid. For example, a typical GIS display includes data about land holdings, bodies of water, geological features, reserves, production and pipelines.
According to Mark Dumka, a Geospatial Information Specialist at Talisman Energy Inc., “Linear Reference (LR) geometry is an important advance in GIS technology that enables oil and gas exploration companies to display well, seismic, and pipeline data more accurately. LR is the most efficient method to model exploration events, like formation horizon picks, well Drill Stem Tests (DSTs), seismic lines and pipelines.”
Collaboration Tools
Collaboration by professionals across continents is a frequent requirement in the oil and gas industry as head office, field operations and key supplier staffs are rarely located in close proximity.
WebEx Communications is an example of a firm that provides the software and server infrastructure that makes online meetings smooth to setup and conduct. WNS Emergent, a Calgary company, offers its C3 WorkNet application to support collaboration, messaging and the management of supporting documents for remote access and retrieval. Tecskor, another Calgary company, licenses the PEAK Work Coordination System to support collaboration and project management. Microsoft Project 2003 Server enables a geographically dispersed team to manage project task details and supporting documents.
The recent advances include more robust software, easy access to the Internet in remote corners of the globe and improved software functionality available at lower license cost.
Risk Analysis Software
Risk analysis software implements probabilistic methods, including the Monte Carlo technique, for risk assessment. While long used in the financial services industry, its adoption within the oil & gas industry is a new advance. Risk analysis software is valuable because it can assess the cumulative impact of a large set of risks accurately and consistently. That capability is well beyond the ability of single person to juggle in their head.
In the oil & gas industry, risk analysis software is used to rank the relative merits of capital projects that are competing for funding and to improve reserve volume estimates. The software is also used to manage the risk associated with various contracting and trading strategies in oil and natural gas marketing activities.
@RISK from Palisade Corporation and Portfolio Management from Schlumberger Information Systems are examples of software packages that help oil & gas industry players make better decision, control risk and reduce shooting from the hip.
Supply Chain Optimization
The oil & gas industry spends billions on development projects and on productions operations each year. That spending demands a well-oiled, pun intended, supply chain to contain costs, to ensure accuracy of orders and to maintain delivery and construction schedules.
The advance of the Internet and a standard called XML, that is used to electronically describe the content of documents, have made it possible for oil & gas producers to create tighter links with key suppliers using supply chain software. The software manages the creation and communication of purchase orders, shipment confirmations and invoices among trading partners.
Key suppliers of supply chain software, specifically oriented to the oil & gas industry, are Digital Oilfield and electroBusiness.
Readily Available Exploration and Production Data
The Canadian oil & gas industry benefits from the ready availability of a wealth of seismic, geology and production data. The advance is the rich set of applications that a large number of Canadian software companies have built to analyze this data in a myriad of ways to identify exploration opportunities.
Data management companies like Divestco, GeoLogic, IHS Energy and IPL assemble this data from various sources, integrate it and make it easily accessible to oil and gas professionals.
Neural Networks
Neural networks are a software advance that is being employed to improve reservoir characterization from seismic data to improve drilling locations to achieve higher production from wells. Neural networks are a category of software that is “trained” by presenting it examples of input and the corresponding desired output. For example, the input might be seismic velocities for a defined subsurface volume with the required output being the locations and depths of potential wells.
Organizations including the U.S. Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, the U.S. Department of Energy, Hampson-Russell, Rock Solid Images and Schlumberger are participating in research and have produced related software.
Conclusions
Advances in this diverse set of information technologies all contribute to the success of oil & gas producers. If you’d like to receive a set of web links to articles and companies related to this article, please send me an e-mail.
References/Resources:
Visualization
Novintú Technologieshttp://www.novint.com/OilGas.htm
Paradigm’s immersive visualization environmenthttp://www.paradigmgeo.com/solutions/visionarium.php
Schlumberger Information Systemshttp://www.sis.slb.com/media/software/virtual/insidereality_techsheet.pdf
Silicon GraphicsSGI Visualization Systems – Turning Data into Knowledge
Sun Microsystemshttp://www.sun.com/solutions/hpc/visualization/
Improving oil and gas visualization: the role of storage and networkinghttp://www.serverworldmagazine.com/sunserver/2000/06/oilgas.shtml
So You Want To Get Into Visualization?Planning Primer for Incorporating Visualization Into Oil And Gas Exploration
http://www.panoramtech.com/resource/og_primer.html
Computer Power
Fujitsuhttp://www.ftsci.fujitsu.com/ca/en/index.html
HPwww.hp.com
IBMwww.ibm.com
Sunwww.sun.com
Reservoir Modeling
SAGD.netSAGD.net is an Internet-based information and application portal created by Thimm Engineering Inc. specifically for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) heavy oil recovery.
http://www.hfthimm.com/te/sagd/Default.asp
Computer Modeling Group (CMG)http://www.cmgl.ca/home.html
Dan Dexter Account Executive
Dan.Dexter@cmgl.ca 571-1372
Reservoir Modeling has been constrained by compute power.
More power produces a higher resolution reservoir model that more accurately reflects the physics at work in the reservoir.
Parallelization using multiple CPU’s in a single machine is an advance that helps.
Intel, IBM p-Series IBM focused on compute; not looking at Sun Sun focused on graphics not compute.
Grid computing is a future opportunity
CBM placed significant emphasis hundreds of thousands on advances in CBM modeling
Less approximation; improved modeling of the actual physics of the reservoir.
SAGD – Improved thermal simulation
In-Situ combustion inject hot air
Ron Kutney
Ken Dedeluk 571-1381
Well Log Analysis
Well Log Interpretation Softwarehttp://www.logicgroup.com/Logging/LoggingSoftware.htm
Well Log Suiteshttp://strata.geol.sc.edu/log-suites.html
3-D and 4-D reservoir characterization
Fugro-Jason – Jason Geoscience Workbenchhttp://www.hydrocarbons-technology.com/contractors/exploration/jason/index.html#jason2
GeoQuest Reservoir Characterizationhttp://www.sis.slb.com/content/software/reservoir/index.asp
Landmark GraphicsGeophysical Technologies
http://www.lgc.com/productsservices/geophysicaltechnologies/default.htm
Integrated Interpretation
http://www.lgc.com/productsservices/integratedinterpretation/default.htm
Paradigmhttp://www.paradigmgeo.com/home/
Schlumberger SIS – Charismahttp://www.sis.slb.com/content/software/reservoir/geoframe/geophysics/charisma.asp
Geographic information systems (GIS)
Peter Boorman Lawrence Fabbro“The use of GIS technology at Encana gives us the ability to unlock the spatial component of a number of valuable corporate data assets. The unique integration capabilities of GIS bring together data from many sources and allow business end users to view, interpret and visualize information from a new perspective. New relationships, connections and patterns in data become apparent, improving the decision making processes related to finding oil and gas.”
Lawrence Fabbro, Encana Upstream IT
Brad Dyck Mark Dumka – TalismanMdumka@talisman-energy.com
Linear reference geometry is an important new technology in GIS that enables Oil and Gas Exploration companies to model well, seismic, and pipeline data. This technology allows for the closest-to-physical data representation of wells, seismic, and pipelines that the community has ever seen. It also allows for the most efficient method to model events, like well picks, well DSTs, seismic shotpoints, and pipeline stations.”
Linear reference geometry is an improvement over a large set of co-ordinates to define lines. Consider a seismic line: if it has 1000 shotpoints, there need to be 1000 records in (for example) PPDM’s SEIS_PT table. With this technology, there is ONE entry in a spatially enabled table.
Mark Dumka, P. Eng.
Geospatial Information Specialist
Exploration Technology, Talisman Energy Inc.
Drew Stolee ChevronDstolee@chevrontexaco.com
Ping Tzeng Geologic Survey (woman)Ptzeng@nrcan.gc.ca
ESRIhttp://www.esri.com/industries/petroleum
AutocadThe Current State Of GIS In The Canadian Oil And Gas Industry
http://www.cnc.bc.ca/GIS/Documents/340OilandGasTermPaper.pdf
MapGuide
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=2995478
Collaboration Tools
Microsoft Project 2003 Serverhttp://www.microsoft.com/canada/epm/default.mspx
Tecskor – PEAK Work Coordination Systemhttp://www.tecskor.com/peak/default.asp
Webexhttp://www.webex.com
WNS Emergenthttp://www.wnsemergent.com
Risk Analysis Software
Palisade Corporation – @RISK Softwarehttp://www.palisade.com
Schlumberger Information Systems – Portfolio Managementhttp://www.sis.slb.com/content/about/campaigns/performance/portfoliomngt.asp
@RISK, Inc.
a pioneer in the development of systems that predict and manage customer behavior, driving significant dollars to your top and bottom line.
Supply Chain Optimization
Digital OilfieldDigital Oilfield delivers Internet-based solutions that automate and integrate financial and operational processes between energy companies and their suppliers. http://www.digitaloilfield.com
electroBusinesselectroBusiness saves companies time and money by simplifying the delivery of invoices, purchase orders, and payments from one business to another.
http://www.electrobusiness.com/home/default.htm
Readily Available Exploration and Production Data
Divestcohttp://www.Divestco.com
GeoLogichttp://www.GeoLogic.com
IHS Energyhttp://www.IHSEnergy.com
IPLhttp://www.petrodat.com
Neural Networks
Hampson-Russellhttp://www.hampson-russell.com/support-emerge.htm#A4
Areal Prediction of Porosity Thickness from 3D Seismic Data by Means of Neural Networkshttp://www.teec.de/tech_note/Tech-Note_6/technical_note_6.html
Field Results from DOE’s Independents Projectshttp://www.pttc.org/news/v7n2nn6.htm
Intelligent Computing System for Reservoir Analysis and Risk Assessment of the Red River Formationhttp://www.luffdoeproject.com
Rock Solid Images – Reservoir characterization using rock physics, seismic attributes and neural networkshttp://www.rocksolidimages.com/pdf/seg-abst.pdf
Schlumberger GeoFramehttp://www.sis.slb.com/media/about/campaigns/teamwork/geooffice_brochure_workflow.pdf
Oil & Gas Producers
MGV Energy Inc.Mike Gatens – MGV chairman and chief executive officer
403 537-2458 mgatens@mgvenergy.com
http://www.ptac.org/inn/dl/innw0301p09.pdf
Canadian Research Organizations
Alberta Research Councilhttp://www.arc.ab.ca
C-FER Technologies
http://www.cfertech.com/Index.html
Drilling and Completions, C-FER – Cam Matthews, Manager
(780) 450-8989 x 252
Alberta Science and Research Authority (ASRA)http://www.asra.gov.ab.ca/
Alberta Energy Research Institute Boardhttp://www.aeri.ab.ca/
Canadian Oil Sands Network for Research and Development (CONRAD)
CETAC-WESTCETAC-WEST is a private sector, not-for-profit corporation committed to helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in the development and commercialization of new environmental technologies.
Energy and Environmental Efficiency Program
http://www.cetacwest.com/oil/index.html
Petroleum Technology Alliance Canadahttp://www.ptac.org
