BP, Geotrace join to further POCS to fill data gaps

Gene Kliewer • Houston

BP and Geotrace, are joining for more POCS technology development. Projection Onto a Convex Set (POCS) originated at BP for use in interpolating or reconstructing seismic data during processing.

POCS uses information surrounding the acquired data that may be missing, such as in a particular reservoir formation, to reconstruct that missing data.

“By providing missing information, POCS’ primary advantage is that it helps minimize risk in assessing a reservoir,” said Bill Schrom, CEO of Geotrace. “The technology opens doors that were previously closed by allowing geoscientists to build missing data from the information they already have.”

“Ideally, geoscientists acquire all the data they need to help them understand reservoir formations. However, in some cases, certain valuable information may be missed in initial data acquisition. This is where POCS plays a valuable role in reconstructing missing data and eliminating the cost of acquiring new data to fill in the gaps,” Schrom explained.

Shell, Schlumberger partner to boost recovery factors, extend field life

Shell and Schlumberger have signed a multiyear research technology cooperation agreement to improve the recovery factor of oil and gas reservoirs and to extend the life of existing oil and natural gas fields.

“This agreement marks another step towards executing our technology strategy by driving delivery of energy solutions through open innovation. The cooperation will enable us to continuously improve recovery factors while at the same time lowering unit costs,” said Gerald Schotman, chief technology officer for Royal Dutch Shell.

The combination of Schlumberger’s formation evaluation and reservoir characterization technology with the subsurface laboratory and reservoir expertise of Shell is expected to result in better tools and methods to obtain better field data, better and more efficient numerical models, and enhanced field development methods.

This collaboration adds to work Shell and Schlumberger already conduct, and will focus on reservoir surveillance for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects, and Digital Rock for detailed numerical modeling of reservoir rocks.

“With much of the world’s existing reserves only producible through enhanced recovery techniques, this joint approach aims to unlock these resources in a smart and efficient manner and to shorten time to full field development,” said Ashok Belani, president, Schlumberger Reservoir Characterization Group.

The Surveillance project will explore the design, development, and testing of new tools specifically for EOR. These tools and techniques are expected to deliver more accurate field data and to accelerate EOR feasibility studies and pilot projects.

The Digital Rock project targets better ways to forecast displacement and recovery at the macroscopic pore scale, as well as methods to scale up core and pore-scale work to reservoir level for both sandstone and carbonate fields.

New entry in seismic arena

New marine seismic data acquisition companies do not pop up often, but one seems to be on the way. The Dolphin Interconnect Solutions ASA proposes to NOK 360 million ($61.4 million) in a private placement in connection with Dolphin’s planned entrance into the marine seismic industry.

The company expects total investments in connection with establishing a marine seismic division within Dolphin to be in the area of NOK 800 million ($136.5 million).

Dolphin has decided to establish a division to offer a full range of marine geophysical services, including contract seismic, multi-client, and processing partnerships.

Chairman of the Board of Dolphin Atle Jacobsen commented that the “outlook in the offshore market looks promising and we expect strong growth in demand for seismic services. The agreement with GC Rieber Shipping will secure a high grade of vessel flexibility and low operational risk. The high-capacity vessels will not add to the already known industry streamer count.”

BOEMRE awards Atlantic Ocean seismic impact study

The ongoing saga of whether to drill or not off the US East Coast has taken another turn.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has awarded a task order to develop a Geologic & Geophysical Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for mid- and south Atlantic waters.

CSA International Inc. will evaluate potential environmental effects of multiple exploration activities including seismic surveys. The report “will identify potential environmental effects and inform decision makers and the public of reasonable alternatives to avoid or minimize adverse impacts and guide decision making about seismic research in the region and decisions about where to allow oil and gas leases, placement of renewable energy infrastructure, and development of non-energy mineral resources.”

The draft report is expected to be available for public comment sometime this year with the final version in late 2012.