Dr.  Greg Samways:  Course creator and presenter.

Data Evaluation and Integration in Exploration and Production

One of the key issues in exploration and production is the extent to which specialists have become isolated in their work, due to the advanced nature of their disciplines and the complexity of methods and language used.  This can lead to a breakdown in communication between disciplines and loss of potential problem-solving capabilities.

This workshop aims to provide a mechanism to overcome some of those communication barriers and facilitate collaboration, coordination, cooperation and co-creation between the disciplines.  We need to step back and rediscover the analytical methods at our disposal and leartn how they can be used to solve the problems that we face in exploration and production studies.

Workshop Itinerary

The proposed five day workshop would spend one day considering each of the main data types encountered in exploration and production, as follows:

  • Day 1 Gravity and Magnetic Data
  • Day 2 Seismic Data
  • Day 3 Well Log Data
  • Day 4 Core Analysis Data
  • Day 5 Test and Production Data

Each day will be entail reviewing real data sets (supplied by us or by you) as a means to facilitate ideas generation through research / brainstorming / lateral thinking and many other critical thinking techniques, to answer a key set of questions, which would include the following:

  • What questions can we answer with this data?
    • Create an inventory of questions that can be addressed by the data.
  • What methods could we use with this data?
    • Create an inventory of methods.
  • What are the inputs and outputs of each method?
    • Document where the inputs come from so we know how to check for input data quality, and also define who uses the outputs, so that we can ensure they have what they need.
  • Which methods use these outputs?
    • Gradually build a flow chart throughout the week, showing how the analytical methods relate to each other.
  • At what stage of the workflow should we use this data?
  • What technical limitations does each data type and method have?
    • Create an inventory of the technical limitations of the techniques. e.g. grav. and mag. data models are not unique solutions.
  • How could we reduce the technical limitations?
    • e.g. calibration with other techniques:  for example, integration with seismic would constrain the possible gravity and magnetic models.
  • What kind of acquisition and processing errors / problems / pitfalls might we expect with these data, what would the impact be and can we avoid the acquisition and processing errors / problems / pitfalls?
    • Create a risk register.  Problem / probability / impact / mitigation.
  • Who should use this data?
    • Not just the experts . . . Everybody needs to be at least aware of the methods.  Everybody should either be able to use the methods or know when to request that the method be employed.
  • Where should these data be used in your company?
    • Identify the types of projects where these data and methods should be employed.

Can you think of any more questions we should be asking?  Let us know in the comments below.

How Will Each Day Work?

Each day will be spent answering the questions outlined above.  The trainer will facilitate research, brainstorming, lateral thinking and discussion, and ensure that all possible avenues are being explored.

This is enquiry-based learning, which is one of the most effective ways of ensuring trainee engagement and learning.  The trainees will also be expected to document their findings, ideally in online, collaborative documents, which should help them consolidate their learning.

Ideally the workshop would use laptops to enable online research and collaboration.  In doing so, the trainees would improve their Google Search skills and hence how to find reliable reference resources online and build an inventory for future use, in a shared environment.

One possibility would be to use a Google site with embedded Google Docs and Spreadsheets to collate our findings.  This environment is designed to promote collaboration, coordination, co-creation and cooperation, which is what we want.  It is an environment where the wisdom of the crowd can be compiled in one location for all to use in the future (not just a database, or even a knowledgebase, but a “wisdombase”).  Do less and achieve more by sharing.  Create more focus through integration.

The class could also use an MS-based SharePoint site if there is one available.  Google Sites would be easier to set up as a SharePoint site will require IT to get involved and lots of security issues.  However, whatever is created in Google Sites can easily be ported to SharePoint by IT, in their own time, after the workshop!

This rationale is also the foundation of the Geolumina Application Geoscope, which we could also use in the classroom, if appropriate.

This collaboration process will also mean that any subject matter experts in the class (potential fields geophysicsts on day 1, seismic geophysicists on day 2, log analysts on day 3, core analysts on day 4 and reservoir engineers on day 5), will have a chance to explain the value of their data to everybody else.  Just as importantly, everybody else will learn how the data being discussed should fit with their domain data and vice versa.  For this reason, it would be good to make sure the class has representatives of each discipline on the course.

What the Trainees Will Learn

Throughout the workshop the trainees will learn a great deal about data and methods integration, and have a chance to practice research and critical thinking skills.

Technical Learning

  • Familiarisation with all data types and methods available
  • The value of these methods to their study aims and objectives
  • How to integrate these methods with their own work
  • Who to contact to leverage these methods

Soft Skills

The workshop will provide a great opportunity to develop many soft skills, including, but not limited to:

  • Brainstorming, lateral thinking
  • Communication
  • Collaboration, cooperation, coordination, co-creation
  • Online research methods

Course Deliverables

The deliverables from the course should include the following resources:

An online reference library of:

  • Data Types
    • acquisition and processing problems – risk register table
  • Method Summaries for each data type
    • questions that can be addressed by each method
    • technical limitations and solutions – summary table
    • who should use the methods
    • when the methods should be used
    • how the methods integrate with other methods
    • recommended reading for each method
    • links to online resources explaining the methods
    • case studies in Petronas
  • A flow chart showing the data flow between methods (inputs / outputs)
  • Links to the most reliable and informative general reference sites online, to aid future research in to data and methods applications (e.g. websites, blogs, wikis)

And that is just for starters!

If you can think of any other possibilities, please let us know in the comments.

Tell your friends!