American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2018 - 63

SpecialReport: Oil and Gas Computing
node data, flow simulations and other
reservoir technologies derisks well planning and helps ensure uninterrupted production output.
Onshore Resource Plays
On shore, conventional formations are
becoming the new unconventional formations in some instances, as operators
deploy horizontal drilling and multistage
fracturing in the Austin Chalk, San Andres,
Green River Basin and other plays. Unconventional does not have to mean unpredictable if operators maximize the
value from the data they acquire and
apply an understanding of the geology to
manage reservoirs with precision.
In resource plays, nodal acquisition
systems are delivering high-quality data
to optimize stacked pay development
strategies, including identifying patterns
in natural fractures and predicting pore
pressures to determine the most economical ways to space, drill and complete
horizontal wells to maximize reserves
recovery.
In a multiclient survey in Lea County,
N.M., Dawson Geophysical is using
Fairfield Geotechnologies' autonomous
node technology with tight vibrator
spacing to acquire ultrahigh-resolution
data with dense sampling and highfold coverage. The acquisition parameters and processing sequence are designed specifically to address imaging
problems caused by a complex nearsurface geologic feature that is prevalent
in the northern part of the Delaware
Basin. Fairfield Geotechnologies' nodal
survey is in a regional area of mutual
interest with TGS aimed at providing
thousands of square miles of new data
between the Delaware Basin and Central
Basin Platform.
Data analytics is an integral part of
being able to leverage all the rich data

JOHN
SMYTHE

The high scalability, design ﬂexibility and autonomous operation of nodes enable ﬁt-forpurpose and large-scale survey conﬁgurations to acquire rich and high-density datasets
for application throughout a ﬁeld's full life cycle. The latest generation of self-contained,
cable-free nodal technology has a ﬁve-year deployment life and the ability to record 500
days of cumulative data before recovery.

inputs available to extract the most predictive and actionable information operators can use. Because of the sheer
magnitude of the information, unseen
relationships that exist within big data
require computers to detect. Node data
play a very critical and foundational
part in this, given that life-of-field decisions are impacted directly by seismic
image quality.
With increasing business demands and
HS&E issues, there is no doubt the future
of the industry lies in integrating nodes,
new imaging technologies and data analytics to generate the most accurate predictive output for conventional and unconventional reservoirs. The industry has
recognized and embraced the value of
nodal data acquisition systems, and as
companies continue to expand the tech-

nology's use, the industry will advance
more novel uses and innovative commercial models to drive further efficiencies
and safety improvements.
Operators need to make the right decisions quickly and safely, but obtaining
data is only the beginning. Understanding
how to use the information is key to unlocking its benefits. Data technology, in
all of its forms, is about the life of a field
and maximizing current assets. Some operators have used seismic reservoir characterization tools and data analytics to
greatly reduce their costs while increasing
their outputs through a greater understanding of cause and effect. Investing in
seismic data, high-resolution imaging and
data analytics will help create a sustainable,
profitable business.
r

John Smythe is vice president of technical sales and marketing at Fairfield Geotechnologies. With nearly 40 years of experience in seismic technology, he began his
career as a geophysicist at Amoco Production Co. and subsequently served as a senior
geophysicist at both major and independent oil and gas companies before joining Fairfield Geotechnologies. Smythe holds a B.A. in geology from Boston University and an
M.S. in geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
NOVEMBER 2018 63

American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2018

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