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2001 ESRI Petroleum User Group (PUG) Conference
February 26 - February 28, 2001
JW Marriott Hotel
5150 Westheimer (across from the Galleria)
Houston, Texas
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Keynote Presentation
ArcGIS – A Brave New World
(Clint Brown, ESRI, Director of Software Product Development)
(view the presentation [10 MB]) |
| ESRI's state-of-the-software address. |
User Presentation Abstracts
USGS World Energy Assessment and Its Use of Geographic Information Systems in the Conduct of Assessments and the Presentation of Its Results
(Debra K. Higley, Feliks Persits—USGS)
(view the presentations by Higley [1 MB] and Persits [3 MB]) |
In 2000, the USGS completed an assessment of undiscovered petroleum resources around the world that have the potential to be added to reserves within the next 30 years. The primary purpose was to construct and maintain a reliable source of information on current and potential sources of energy worldwide. Estimated mean undiscovered conventional resources of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids, exclusive of the United States, are 1,634 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BBOE). An additional 1,205 BBOE may be associated with growth of existing fields. This project integrated standard geologic and geochemical analysis with quantitative methods of resource assessment and geographic information systems. GIS was used to display and publish maps ranging from sub-province to world scales and showing
- oil and gas distribution,
- boundaries of Total Petroleum Systems (TPS) and Assessment Units (AU),
- provinces and countries,
- geology, and
- other data used in our studies.
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Explorationist's Canvas
(John Baines—Unocal) |
Using the metaphor that ArcView/OpenExplorer is like an artist's canvas, this presentation looks at the ways that people and data are brought together as pigments to paint a satisfying picture on the exploration canvas, in this instance, a cameo of the Campos basin, offshore Brazil.
The exploration team leader is faced with two problems as he/she gets to work on any given area. First, they are responsible for creating an arena where creativity is the norm. Exploration is all about the blending of multi-disciplinary elements. Where can all the disparate elements come together? In the old days it was on the light table, but with only one or two people involved; now with dedicated GIS/ArcView/OpenExplorer visionariums per team, a creative environment is at hand literally next door to all the team members' offices.
The second problem the explorationist is trying to solve is what to do with the overwhelming amount of data that is available nowadays. All the geological disciplines that revolve around the solving of the "source, seal, structure, reservoir, and timing" issue need a common place where the data resides and can be brought up on one palette. Again, ArcView/OpenExplorer provides that benefit.
Using examples from ongoing work in the Campos Basin, offshore Brazil, the blending of multi-disciplinary skills and disparate data sets will be used to demonstrate the power and effectiveness of the ArcView/OpenExplorer program, pattern recognition, and cycle-time reduction. |
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Acreage Analysis Using GIS and Integrating IM Systems
(Gareth Smith—Exprodat; Mark Sawyers, Adrian Birch—Enterprise Oil)
(view the presentation [6 MB]) |
| Enterprise Oil has developed an extensive data management system (EPDS) for subsurface geoscience and engineering data. The challenge posed by their North Sea regional team was to leverage this wealth of data to proactively identify and grade opportunities in the mature North Sea basin. In response to this need, we have developed a powerful set of data extraction and analysis tools (DART) that integrates the data stored in EPDS with the spatial analysis power of ArcView and Microsoft Access. These tools allow Enterprise to collect key data together through ArcView, apply weighting factors to this data, and rank acreage based on a variety of criteria related to wells, fields, facilities, regional surfaces, and isopachs. Analysis that might once have taken months now takes hours, enabling Enterprise to quickly grade opportunities and assess competitors' portfolios. This presentation describes all aspects of DART, with particular emphasis on the GIS component. |
Spatially Related Pipeline Regulatory Issues
(Lorelei Weitzel—TxRRC)
(view the presentation [20 MB]) |
| This presentation will cover the status of the Pipeline Mapping Project for the OPS. It will also include what the State of Texas is doing as a repository for the NPMS, as well as development of an ArcIMS site with map data from the Railroad Commission files. |
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PLAT, A Practical GIS Solution
(Robert J. Hopkins—Burlington Resources) |
This paper will discuss the building of a GIS solution for Burlington Resources' Land group. Burlington's Land group had a need for a modern mapping and reporting solution that would allow them to exploit the information contained in their new Land system (LIS/DO). They also wanted a visual vehicle that could access information from other company databases and outside sources as well. The desired data includes wells information, satellite and topographic images, and third party leases.
After much thought and consideration of existing software, Burlington elected to build its own solution. They enlisted the aid of a consulting group, Ideal Integration, to assist with project management and software programming. The relationship has proven to be a very successful partnership. The product Petroleum Land Analysis Tool (PLAT) was released in late 2000. This paper will detail the project process and provide a road map for success that others may emulate. |
PipeView: Delivering ESRI Data to the Enterprise in a CAD World
(Peter Veenstra—MJ Harden Associates, Inc.)
(view the presentation [1 MB]) |
| SDE is an extension to industry-standard relational database management systems (RDBMS) for large-scale storage of geographic data and spatial analysis. SDE provides a framework for storage and dissemination of disparate sources of geographic data across the enterprise. Typical SDE installations focus heavily on distributing data to the enterprise rather than making data available for editing and maintenance by the enterprise. The PipeView software tool is designed for maintenance and management of gas and oil pipeline transmission data stored as CAD data within SDE. Users are allowed to create, retrieve, update, and delete pipeline geographic features through PipeView using data served by SDE. Other users are able to view the data stored in SDE in read-only mode using typical ESRI clients such as ArcIMS, ArcView, MapObjects, and Arc8. The focus of this presentation will be on the implementation strategy for allowing the enterprise to manage CAD data, project geographic features on the fly, reconcile database editing, and perform spatial analysis using SDE through the use of various ESRI client tools—most notably CAD Client. |
USGS Data Management Life-Cycle
(David A. Ferderer—USGS; G. Gunther—Terratech Designs; C. Skinner—Skinner Technologies)
(view the presentation [1 MB]) |
Documented, reliable, and accessible data and information are essential building blocks supporting scientific research and applications that enhance society's knowledge base. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a leading science, information, and knowledge provider, is uniquely positioned to integrate science and natural resource information to address societal needs. The USGS Central Energy Team (USGS-CERT) contributes critical information on the quantity, quality, and distribution of the world's oil, gas, and coal resources.
Emphasizing a life-cycle model, the USGS-CERT Data Management Project is developing an integrated data management system to
- promote managed access to energy data and information,
- increase documentation, and
- streamline product delivery to scientists, decision makers, and the public.
The project focuses on internal architecture and incorporates Web-based technology, data cataloging systems, data processing routines, and metadata documentation tools to improve data access, generate consistency, and increase team efficiency. |
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Solving Field Development Problems with 3D and 4D GIS
(John Grace—Earth Sciences Associates)
(view the presentation [1 MB]) |
Exploration has dominated traditional GIS applications in petroleum geology. Heretofore, the technology's limitation to 2D impeded its application for the solution of development geology and engineering problems. The Spatial Analyst and 3D Analyst extensions to ArcView have radically lowered the barrier to exploiting GIS in the data-rich, but inherently 3D environment of a producing field.
A comprehensive 3D GIS covering all of the fields of the Gulf of Mexico was developed based on data released by the U.S. Minerals Management Service. The directional surveys of wells are represented by polylineZs, while completions and paleo picks along well bores are represented by multipointZs. The 3D dimensional polygons ("volygons") for over 7,500 producing reservoirs use the multipatches for shaded solid polygons and polylineZs for wire frame renderings.
A 2D polygon of the productive area for each reservoir was estimated outside ArcView. For each reservoir, the top and bottom surfaces were gridded in Spatial Analyst based on the true vertical depths of the top and bottom perforations for all completions in the reservoir. These two surfaces were then clipped in X and Y by the 2D reservoir polygons. A multipatch was then constructed on the reservoir top and bottom grids, and a "side panel" was "knitted" between them to complete the reservoir's 3D shape. The resulting volygons honor variation in thickness within the reservoir and the 3D orientation of the reservoir body as a whole. |
The PODS Data Model
(Ron Brush—New Century Software, Inc.; Tracy Thorleifson—Eagle Information Mapping)
(view the presentation [1 MB]) |
PODS the Pipeline Open Data Standard (ISAT 2.0) is a new data model that has been developed by a group of application developers, with the support of GTI (formerly Gas Research Institute). The presentation will consist of two parts. The first will present the business case for PODS and the PODS Association. The second part will describe technical aspects of the data model.
The purpose of PODS is to promote a database standard in the pipeline industry so companies can avoid custom data designs and applications, avoid costly data migration, and reduce development risk. Vendors benefit by developing applications and processes that can be shared by different customers. This paper will give an overview of the business case for industry and vendor participants to use PODS.
To manage the PODS data model, a new PODS Association has been formed, which will oversee the continued development of the model and extensions through focused working groups composed of industry and vendor members. This presentation will describe the purpose and operation of the PODS Association.
Finally, this presentation will focus on the PODS data model itself and the important concepts. The focus will be on some of the core data model tables, how ESRI users can easily use the model, and future directions. |
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Airborne LIDAR Technology and Applications
(Jack Hill—Houston Advanced Research Center) |
This presentation is intended to explain the state-of-the-science with regards to the principles, benefits, and limitations of using airborne LIght Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology for a variety of environmental, earth science, and oil and gas industry applications. LIDAR technologies are increasingly being assessed and successfully applied to more rapidly and economically map a growing number of earth features in the U.S and internationally.
In the implementation of LIDAR technology, a pulsed laser is directed out of the aircraft. Earth features intercept the laser pulse and reflect it back to the aircraft. The time interval between the laser pulse leaving the airplane and the return of the terrain reflected pulse back to the sensor is measured accurately. In post-mission processing, the LIDAR time interval measurements are converted to distance and subsequently referenced to the aircraft's global positioning system (GPS), inertial measurement unit (IMU), and ground based reference GPS stations. The GPS accurately determines the aircraft position in terms of longitude, latitude, and altitude. The IMU is used to determine the aircraft altitude in terms of pitch, yaw, and roll. From these two data sets one can derive the laser beam's exit geometry relative to earth coordinates. For daytime flights, color video imagery or panchromatic digital camera imagery may be acquired in tandem with the laser data. LIDAR elevation data have also recently been integrated with high resolution IKONOS satellite imagery.
Applications are varied, but presently include: oil and gas exploration; geomorphologic assessments (e.g., faults); floodplain mapping and insurance applications; drainage pattern mapping; forest resource inventory, assessments, and monitoring; habitat characterization; coastline/erosion mapping and assessments; urban tall building mapping for line-of-sight law enforcement applications, wind damage modeling, and telecommunication facility site assessments; environmental assessments/permits; utility/right-of-way planning, assessments, and monitoring; and transportation planning, design, and 3-D public meeting presentations.
LIDAR data were supplied by TerraPoint, LLC, The Woodlands, TX.
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Standards and Protocols for Environmental Sensitivity Impact Mapping
(Boykin Witherspoon—ESRI)
(view the presentation [19 MB]) |
| ESRI and ERML have developed standards and protocols for generating Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps for the Niger Delta in Nigeria. The protocols cover developing ESI maps for coastal shorelines, interior shorelines (lakes, rivers, streams), and inland interior areas. The process utilizes information from existing studies, remote imagery, and data collected from the field to create a polygonal base rated with a one through ten scale of environmental sensitivity to the acute and persistent effects of petroleum products. The protocols build on existing concepts of traditional shoreline ESI mapping and introduce an efficient method for generating inland interior ESI maps. Inland interior ESI maps surrounding existing and proposed pipelines and facilities can be valuable tools for managing spill events associated with these types of infrastructure. |
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MMS Deepwater GIS
(Dick Lawrence—ESRI; Dr. Norman Froomer—U.S. Mineral Management Service)
(view the presentation [3 MB]) |
Manage Environmental Studies Information to develop a digital standard for studies data, and model studies as hierarchical features. Study area extents are single SDE layer of "footprints" that contain and are defined by study features. These are multiple SDE layers of "toeprints" defined by attribute tables. These are maintained within the Coastal and Offshore Resource Information System (CORIS) data structure.
MMS Deepwater tools are a first step towards achieving Ocean GIS, extensible tools for Marine Managers. Its data searching capabilities for Managers and backbone for future development incorporates advantages of Open GIS; they can be updated with Web-enabled data access capabilities available at ArcGIS 8.1 in a clear development path. |
Vending GIS Applications and Petroleum Data with ArcIMS
(John Grace—Earth Sciences Associates)
(view the presentation [1 MB]) |
| The introduction of ArcIMS 3.x provides new opportunities for commercially supplying oil and gas data, mapping, and related analytic services to users over the World Wide Web. An ArcIMS application was developed covering the Gulf of Mexico, giving users access to geologic, engineering, and leasing data. Data, mapping, charts, tables, and downloads are purchased for an individual lease block. The Java Custom viewer is used. |
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How to Move All Your GIS Data into a New UNIX SAN Environment Without Getting Killed
(Chuck Rinehart—Conoco; Robert Graham—GeoQuest) |
| Conoco Inc., a global energy company, recently installed a new UNIX Storage Area Network (SAN) disk environment for our Houston-based exploration scientists. The project to implement this disk technology required moving some 4 terabytes of user data and applications to new SAN disks with minimal disruption of daily business operations. The SAN disks have new disk names, so every link and path had to be changed as files were moved. Here we describe how we moved some 120 GB of GIS libraries and 2,800 individual ArcView projects to SAN disks and redirected 180,000 embedded paths in APR files to new file locations. |
Geodetics and GIS
(Derek Salvage—ExxonMobil)
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| Too often, the Datum and Coordinates of a GIS product are at best not understood, and at the worst ignored. A brief introduction into Geodesy and Projections will be given and examples shown to illustrate the inherent dangers of ignoring these issues. |
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