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PPDM 2003 Spring Conference

“E&P Knowledge Information and Data Management”

The Association would like to thank all those who participated in the 2003 Houston Spring Conference and associated Work Group Sessions held June 2nd - 5th. A total of 43 registered delegates took this opportunity to share their expertise and experience while networking with their associates.

Participants enjoyed presentations by a host of international experts on data and information management, spatially enabling E&P databases and integrating PPDM with ESRI’s Spatial Data Engine and Oracle Spatial Format, Internet data exchanges using XML, and PPDM implementations and migrations. Several technical updates on the Association’s work over the past year were followed by an open discussion of PPDM work groups and projects.

As always it is the support of member companies that make these events possible. The Association would like to express their appreciation to Burlington Resources for sponsoring and coordinating the venue and meals for the conference and Landmark for defraying the expense of the conference. Hope to see you all at the Fall Conference/AGM in Calgary, November 3-7, 2003.

Industry Presentations

During the conference, industry representatives gave presentations that demonstrate the integral role that the standards developed by the PPDM Association play in various business sectors.

“A Petroleum Story”
Andrew Zolnai, ESRI

Early and heavy data-processing needs in petroleum relied on flat-file, binary and proprietary systems on resource-bound platforms. A decade ago data was loaded into RDBMS like Oracle, which were accessed largely via similar code with binary files but open specifications s.a. OGC Simple Features. ESRI recently developed a highly granular, object-oriented geometric engine, the Geodatabase with open specs and user-driven data models.

The Enterprise is less a very large project (plan, rollout and support), than it is a comprehensive implementation (from infrastructure thru workflows to protocols). This is a significant move from the older 'client-server' to the newer 'server-service' that relies heavily in industry standards (.NET, Java, J2EE). This new type of geoprocessing will link up communities of users on an as-needed basis via Syndication, Aggregation and Entitlement (SAGE)."

“Depth-Calibrated Well-Log Images: A New Industry Log Type Within PPDM”
William C. Ross, A2D Technologies

A new well-log data type, referred to as a depth-calibrated well-log image, has been added to the Public Petroleum Data Model, version 3.7. Depth-calibrated well logs are scanned well-log images (bitmaps) that have been described and calibrated to enhance their geologic utility. The PPDM data model includes fields to carry bitmap pixel locations of header, log-curve scales, and log segments. The depth-calibration is comprised of pixel-number-depth pairs at the top-and-base (minimum) of each well-log segment.

This new type of log data has emerged over the past several years as an alternative to conventional (LAS) digital data. Their popularity and wide proliferation in the United States E&P market can be attributed to their low cost of production (as compared to conventional LAS data) and their geologist-friendly appearance (i.e., their original log character is preserved) and utility. Since 1996 over 1.5 million depth-calibrated well-log images have been created and distributed within the U.S. market.

In a parallel development, geologic interpretation systems have adopted their technology to import, display and allow interpretation of these data. Depth-calibrated well-log images support posting of well-related data (e.g., production tests), tops picking, qualitative interval analysis and cross section construction. The utility for geologic interpretation and the low costs (approximately 1/10th the cost of digital LAS data) have fueled a revolution in the use of digital well logs among traditional geologists.

“Data Management in a Corporate Governance World”
Travis Osborne and Frank Zendejas, Stonebridge Technologies

The headlines of the last two years are rife with dramatic tales of corruption, deceit, and betrayal at the hands of corporate America. Most companies have responded with a “corporate governance” manifesto to check-and-balance the board of directors, the executives, Wall Street, and general public. These programs often gloss over the most critical business asset – information – and the processes built around its accuracy, protection, and usability. Effective data management is in fact the core of a corporate governance vision.

Many technologists contend that governance and oversight are long-standing (and often ineffective) corporate “traditions” and that governance is just another “buzzword blitz” hatched by consultants and business schools. The difference today is the stark reality that investors and partners now demand evidence of governance-in-action, both externally and internally between business units. Coupled with tightening budgets, the information technology challenge is addressing these principles without excessive custom development or the limitations of proprietary design.

The Public Petroleum Data Model is a cost-effective example of bridging the gap between governance and data management.

“Biostratigraphic Databases as a Critical Tool in Stratigraphic Architecture and Sequence Stratigraphy” (off-site link)
Robert Witrock, Minerals Management Service (MMS)

Regional stratigraphic trend analyses and sequence boundary identifications within the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Gulf of Mexico offshore basin and other geologic basins require that precise paleontology (biostratigraphy and paleobathymetry) be known. The quality of paleontologic information stored in the database will determine the quality of results from queries and concomitant geologic reports. The database used should be updated with the currently accepted geological terminology (new microfossil markers, revised global biostratigraphy and paleoecology).

Incorporation of regional faunal and floral increases; faunal and floral declines and condensed sections enable identification of maximum flooding surfaces and sequence boundaries. In reservoir studies such maximum flooding surfaces and sequence boundaries often correlate with pay intervals. Along with a more finely tuned ecozone division, expanded employment of similar paleobioevents will lead to more accurate reconstruction of shelf and slope stratigraphic architecture and better understanding of basinal sequence stratigraphy. Significantly improved geologic mapping result from the integration of high-resolution biostratigraphy and paleobathymetry with seismic and log analysis.

“PPDM Well Log Data Loading Using Automated Data Transformation”
Harry Schultz, Oilware Inc. and John Bigerstaff, ETL Solutions Ltd.

Harry Schultz and John Bigerstaff demonstrate how well log formats (both binary and ASCII) can be validated and loaded in a uniform manner into a PPDM database. They stress that domain knowledge is essential to create effective transforms and Oilware’s experiences are invaluable.

Software developed by ETL Solutions Ltd. extracts, transforms and loads data, thereby providing a bridge between multiple source systems and multiple target systems, providing very little business functionality other than data quality checking, but is seen as an effective infrastructure tool ensuring that data can easily be accessed by the business intelligence systems regardless of the format in which it is stored.

“Mapping Common Seismic Data Exchange Formats to the PPDM Seismic Model - Early Results”
Jeffrey W. Pferd, Petris Technology and Pierre Fillion, BeGroup

Jeffrey Pferd and Pierre Fillion describe the initial results of project to map common seismic data exchange formats to the PPDM seismic model. With a commitment to existing standards, the purpose of the project is to establish a PPDM repository that can act as a seismic data management system, provide web based GIS interface, provide selection capability of survey and line details with export capability to UKOOA data files and provide linking capability to seismic SEG-Y data and Tape Library references.PPDM Association Updates.

The PPDM Association continues to grow and evolve in response to the needs of industry. The following presentations provide updates as to the status of Work Groups and Projects. The presentations also address the philosophy and strategies the Association will apply to the dynamic E&P industry.

“Board of Directors Update”
Arthur Boykiw, Petro-Canada

Arthur Boykiw outlines the mission and evolution of the PPDM Association. He examines the responsibilities of the Board of Directors and their role in exploring new strategies for the Association in an ever-changing world.

“PPDM Business Development”
Trudy Curtis, PPDM Association

Trudy Curtis explains how the PPDM Association is meeting the business needs of the Oil and Gas industry in an ever-changing environment. PPDM, through the collaboration with member resources and other standards organizations, strives to develop and maintain cost effective standards that are driven by business and easy to implement.

“Association Technical Update”
Trudy Curtis, PPDM Association

Trudy Curtis outlines the technical objectives and strategies employed by the PPDM Association. Trudy summarizes the status of the data model, work groups and projects, and demonstrates how they are interconnected and designed to provide greater business coverage.

“Biostratigraphy Work Group”
Robert Witrock, Minerals Management Service

Robert Witrock provides an update on the status of the Biostratigraphy Work Group. Biostratigraphic data underpin the conceptual ordering of rock sequences. Its analysis helps determine the age and reconstruct the depositional history on a local, regional and global level. Key paleontologic information is obtained from a variety of sampling methods, either from outcrops or from the subsurface. After initial fossil identification, various stratigraphic zonations and paleoenvironments can be recognized. Syndepositional and post-depositional events such as unconformities, condensed sections, sequence boundaries and thermal alteration may be recorded and can be included within a paleontologic report.

From the detailed sample descriptions, a paleontologic summary can ultimately be derived, containing biostratigraphic and paleoecologic information, displayed in text and graphic form. The PPDM biostratigraphic model provides a standardized repository for storing and retrieving the paleontologic data at various levels of resolution.

“Well Logs Work Group”
Harry Schultz, Oilware Inc.

Harry Schultz outlines the current status and scope of the Well Logs Work Group including new support and integration features. Harry details work accomplished by the Work Group in relation to Well Log Dictionaries, Well Log Descriptions, Log Curve Descriptions, Log Acquisition Details, Capturing Log Curves, Well Log Images and User Preferences.

“Reserves Work Group”
Colin Knill, Perto-Soft Systems Ltd.

Colin Knill summarizes the status of the Reserves Work Group. This includes reserves management in E&P companies, the reserves booking process, reporting reserves, production updates and forecasting and economic evaluation and results. Colin also outlines the next steps and future directions.

“Spatial Project”
Ian Batty, PPDM Association

Ian Batty provides an update on the Spatial Project. The update includes a review and constructive critique of previous project deliverables, the current objectives, methodologies and data management philosophies. Ian also explores issues concerning database integration and implementations. Various topics are addressed relating to spatial object behavior. Finally, the sample scripts and datasets are discussed as well as the adoption of the technology.

“Data Exchange Project”
Rick Taylor, PPDM Association

Rick Taylor provides an historical overview of the Data Exchange Project and an update to the current and future work. The Data Exchange Project was initiated to meet the needs of industry business requirements for exchanging data in a standard format. To date, the Association has developed and published several XML Schema related Business Associates, Seismic, Products and Information, Work Orders and other common components. In addition, the Data Exchange Project produces a set of samples designed to demonstrate the usage of XML Schema in data transactions using databases and the Internet.

Current efforts are focused on the development of well-related XML Schema and on collaboration with POSC and other standards organizations.

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