Ted Moon, Houston
Schlumberger acquires Odegaard A/S
Schlumberger Ltd. has acquired Odegaard A/S, the Copenhagen-based supplier of advanced surface seismic data inversion software. Odegaard specializes in applications of seismic data to determine rock parameters critical to better reservoir characterization and improved oil and gas recovery. It will become part of Schlumberger’s seismic contracting company, WesternGeco.
Dalton Boutte, president of WesternGeco, said of the acquisition: “Odegaard is highly respected in the industry. By combining their technical expertise with our high-resolution Q-Technology, we will be able to extend the value of seismic data in reservoir characterization and production management.”
Schlumberger views the acquisition as a means to strengthen its ability to link seismic data and reservoir properties -- something Schlumberger says the client base is demanding. The combination of surface seismic data with key petrophysical and electromagnetic measurement technologies, and their integration with workflow processes, will lead to what the company hopes to be a reduction in reservoir uncertainties, particularly in smaller and more complex reservoirs. Odegaard inversion expertise will form a key part of this integration, Schlumberger says.
“This is a significant step for our employees and our customers,” said Kim Gunn Maver, managing director, Odegaard. “As part of the WesternGeco Reservoir Seismic Services group, our geoscientists can leverage the industry’s leading seismic technology as well as substantial R&D resources to further develop advanced reservoir solutions.”
Linux Networx boosts visualization, computing
Linux Networx, provider of supercomputers for varied industries, has formed a partnership with visualization software company Computational Engineering International (CEI) to provide a family of integrated compute and visualization systems.
Linux says that the new systems are ideally suited to solving complex problems in the seismology and geomechanics arenas, and offer twice the power of legacy visualization systems at reduced cost. The company goes on to say that the visualization systems are scalable from the department level to large visualization centers, which will enable different users to access and visualize datasets containing tens of millions, and even billions, of polygons.
Robert “Bo” Ewald, CEO of Linux Networx, said of the partnership: “Linux Networx visualization solutions draw upon our industry-leading Linux Supersystems to provide the next generation integrated visualization and compute systems with unparalleled price/performance, scalability, and total cost of ownership. CEI is a leader in distributed visualization and rendering, and by partnering together we are driving new levels of value in the visualization market.”
The first new visualization systems will be available in the 2Q 2006, with a full range of application-specific systems to be introduced throughout 2006.
TGS extends eastern Delta GoM survey
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company will extend its multi-client 3D seismic survey in the Main Pass and Viosca Knoll areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The survey will increase from 1,800 sq km to 2,400 sq km.
Reservoir Exploration Technology AS is performing the acquisition on behalf of TGS utilizing a Vector-Seis Ocean Bottom Cable recording system. The Eastern Delta survey commenced in February of this year, and initial results of the newly acquired data have reportedly shown significantly improved data resolution over the existing data in the area. TGS Imaging is processing the data utilizing its proprietary Prima technology and will produce pre-stack time and pre-stack depth migration data volumes.
The Main Pass/Viosca Knoll area is a mature hydrocarbon-producing region and the TGS Eastern Delta program is the first modern vintage, long offset (9,000+ m) 3D data recorded in the area. Water depths in the survey area range from 10 to 400 m.
The Eastern Delta program is supported by pre-funding from multiple independent and major oil companies. Survey acquisition is now expected to be complete in January of 2007.
Seabed logger selects processing system
Electromagnetic Geoservices AS (emgs) has selected enterprise grid software solutions company Platform Computing as its solutions provider for workload processing and cluster management. Known as a leader in the proprietary electromagnetic exploration technique SeaBed Logging (SBL), emgs recognized the need for a more powerful and scalable IT environment to support the evolving complexity of SBL.
To that end, emgs went on an extensive fact-finding mission before deciding to use the Platform Rocks system for simplified cluster management and configuration. The company will also deploy the software system Platform LSF HPC to “accelerate workload processing and ensure optimal usage of compute resources.”
The Platform system will be used in conjunction with Dell Poweredge 1855 blade servers to provide what Platform Computing calls a dynamic IT environment that combines speed with scalability.
Dominique Comte, VP and general manager of Platform Computing EMEA, said “Through working closely with emgs and our strategic partner Dell, we have delivered a flexible solution that is easily tailored to meet the unique needs of the customer. We look forward to working with emgs as they continue to chart new depths exploring the ocean seabed.”
For emgs’ part, the company sees innovation in IT as essential to meeting the rising demand for seabed logging services. Helge Stranden, IT manager for emgs, said “Through working closely with Platform Computing on our cluster infrastructure, we have a solution that is optimized for our most compute-intensive tasks, while intelligent enough to allocate resources where and when they’re needed. When you combine this with a simple, highly automated management environment it adds up to a very compelling return on investment for our business.”
GX Technology opens Trinidad office
GX Technology, a leading seismic imaging service provider and a subsidiary of Input/Output, Inc., has opened an advanced seismic imaging services center in Port of Spain, Trinidad. GXT is staffing the Port of Spain center with local geoscientists as well as experienced GXT professionals drawn from other imaging centers around the world.
Mick Lambert, President of GX Technology, commented, “GXT is delighted to open the Port of Spain center. It will be the fourth international imaging services center that we have opened in just over a year.”
The Port of Spain center will provide advanced seismic imaging services, including pre-stack time migration (PSTM), advanced velocity model building, and pre-stack depth migration (PSDM). GXT’s advanced imaging centers also provide customers with local access to the complete range of full-wave imaging products and services offered by GXT and I/O.
