New generation solutions for global petroleum data

Abstract

Changes in the petroleum industry demand new solutions to meet the needs of NOCs and operating oil companies. The elimination of political barriers has opened more of the world to exploration and production. Consequently, there is increasing competition for investment. NOCs want to attract investment and improve the management of their natural resources. Operating oil companies are moving from mainframes in order to reduce costs and require complete data in standard digital formats to improve evaluations and lower risks. Past practices of limiting access to data rooms and coping with incompatible project files no longer meet industry's needs. Requirements indicate that a new generation workstation database system could meet industry's needs. Components for the new generation databases solution include: 1. Data Capture/Archiving: Data are organized, indexed digitally, and archived. Bar coding, digitizing, and scanning technologies maximize electronic data control and reconstruction and link archives to the digital database. The management of seismic data files is illustrated. 2. Data Management: The database employs an industry standard data model and a relational DBMS in a client server environment. Screen data entry and loaders with interactive edits function on workstations and PCs. A spatial user interface for browsing, comprehensive queries, report generation, and mapping is provided through an integrated GIS which links the inventory and technical databases. 3. Data Transfer/Delivery: In the U.S., commercial mainframe databases now can be accessed through wide area networks (industry client server) with output provided in relational tables. Standard and ad hoc data exports also are provided in workstation systems along with custom interfaces to leading applications. 4. Applications: State-of-the-art applications spanning E&P functions are integrated with the data management system. The spectrum capabilities through integration with Landmark Graphics applications are illustrated in Figure 1. Combining new generation integrated database systems with improved data access can achieve a win-win solution for producing countries and licensees. The solution provides data and technology to improve a country s petroleum resource management and ready-to-use digital data to improve licensees evaluations. Cost reductions and more effective applications should result. Capabilities of the new generation solution are illustrated by a case history.