While significant similarities exist between
unconventional and conventional resource evaluation, all
unconventional plays rely on a number of changes in attitude to
deliver success. Of these differences, the change in risks stands
out. Whereas conventional risk is exploration, unconventional risk
is production. Uncertainty moves from, 'will the reservoir exist,
will it be trapped, and will it be charged,' to, 'can we get enough
hydrocarbons out quickly and at a low enough cost to be
economically viable?'
Changing risk requires changes in risk management. Unconventional
exploration is immature, but clearly evolving to emphasize close,
rapid support of engineering by their geological and geophysical
colleagues.
The speed of exploration is many times the current work rate of
conventional requiring tools and applications to be quick to learn,
easy to use and maintain, and low cost to acquire. It is
essentially a supply chain management drilling process which
requires new workflows which are more engineering centric, relies
on real time data analysis, and provides for information access
anytime from any place. GeoGraphix benefits unconventional plays
by:
- Keeping-up with the drill bit: Collaboration is optimized when
integration allows data sharing between users. GeoGraphix
commitment to an industrial strength relational database allows
users to share more information faster. Unconventional specific
workflows enable geologists and engineers to achieve fast results
with a system that is designed for their specific use
- Wells first: one of GeoGraphix' greatest strength is its well
analysis, both in its breadth (e.g., petrophysics and 3D
cross-sections) and depth (fast, accurate handling of horizontal
wells and the ability to contrast engineering parameters in a fully
featured base map). Once a pad has been installed, wells are
drilled quickly. GeoGraphix' well planning simplifies the design of
complex deviated well paths. Ensuring that wells intersect the best
part of the reservoir requires simultaneous access to engineering
data, geologic maps and 3D geomodels, petrophysical attributes, and
(increasingly) seismic data
- Speed of data: finding and loading land data is time consuming
and beyond the reach of all but a few super majors, or at least it
used to be. Today's streaming services allow unconventional teams
to download all the data they need at the push of a button. Key to
GeoGraphix success in unconventional plays, is its ability to
seamlessly connect to data streaming services providing access to
key information fast
- Engineering capabilities: in managing unconventional assets,
there are more engineers than geoscientists, and they need access
to disparate data. GeoGraphix extensive database stores this
information and displays multiple attributes quickly and simply in
an engineering "dashboard". This allows engineers to use
appropriate displays (e.g. bubble maps) to evaluate multiple
attributes in multiple wells while integrating them with
geoscientific interpretations (e.g., contours and cross-sections).
What's more, data is automatically updated, unlike conventional
mapping windows where changed data usually requires the
interpretation to be recreated from scratch
- Portability: success requires learning and adaptation at the
well site. GeoGraphix is designed for portability -- to be taken
to, and used at, the well site. Additionally, its horizontal well
geosteering and planning applications allow dynamic correction of
the well bit trajectory in real time to account for changes as they
happen, getting the best out of every well drilled
GeoGraphix enables geoscientists and engineers to work more
efficiently in a fully integrated and collaborative environment,
empowering the unconventional Asset Team to make better informed
decisions resulting in reduced business risk, lower IT costs, and
maximized return on investment.