American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2021 - 69

SpecialReport: Industry Computing
Technological Innovations
Drive New Capabilities
In 3-D Acquisition, Interpretation
By Kari Johnson
Special Correspondent
Over the past several years, the geophysical
sector has been impacted by a
series of " disruptive changes, " some
more momentous than others. But there
is little doubt that unconventional resource
plays are at the top of the list of
high-impact changes.
While geophysical surveying remains
key in conventional and offshore exploratory
drilling both at home and around
the globe, the nature of resource play development
has driven a complete rethink
of the role of geophysics as it relates to
tight oil and shale gas reservoirs. In short,
geophysics has had to learn new tricks to
extend the exploration-minded technical
knowledge, technologies, and datasets to
the domain of reservoir development and
well completion.
So as with other oil and gas operational
areas, shale plays largely have rewritten
the textbook on reservoir geophysics.
The seismic acquisition, processing and
interpretation space continue to innovate
and advance technology with clear economic
benefits. This trend is particularly
seen in geophysics, which maximizes
drilling success rates, optimizes reserves
recovery and increases bottom-line asset
performance. Advances in geophysics are
seen whether targeting a conventional
sandstone in western Kansas, a deepwater
Tertiary structure offshore West Africa
or stacked tight oil benches in West Texas.
Tom Smith, president and chief executive
officer of Geophysical Insights, says
technological innovations are occurring
across every facet of geophysics. In onshore
acquisition, both conventional
recording methodologies and broadband
signals have improved, providing higher
resolution and sampling densities for dramatically
enhanced 3-D data quality. Offshore,
marine vessels are being called
back into service utilizing wide-azimuth
streamers for high-fold coverage. Similarly,
processing has improved in step with
surveying designs, driving faster migrations
and cost efficiencies.
However, according to Smith, the most
exciting developments are arguably in
interpretation, where computing power
is being applied through cloud technology
to evaluate unconventional plays to maximize
their potential efficiently. With
commodity prices on a tear and activity
gradually on the rise, oil and gas companies
have a tremendous opportunity to
leverage technology in new ways to maximize
well economics.
" The experience of 2020 demonstrates
that office locations are malleable; many
jobs can be done remotely, " notes Smith.
" That includes the job of the seismic interpreter.
When you combine digital-enabled
processing workflows with computing
scalability and the data security
available through the cloud, you create a
highly adaptable and economic situation
that makes cross-functional teamwork and
collaboration much more straightforward.
" Cloud computing makes it easy to
process and interpret anywhere around
the clock, " he continues. " While data
sharing can be complicated, it is well understood
and is not hard to work out. "
Technology Advancements
Smith points to drones and the Industrial
Internet of Things as the biggest
developments in land-based seismic acquisition.
Long-life batteries and wireless
Internet connectivity dramatically improve
efficiency and data recording quality,
creating a new class of simple yet
highly functional IIoT-based wireless
3-D geophone.
Color Map Opacity Mask(s)
Dimensions: (8 x 8)
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Opacity Masks - Full Empty Invert
Shown here is a representation of an AI-based fault detection workflow using convolutional neural network (CNN) and self-organizing
map (SOM) machine learning techniques in series. At left, is the original seismic amplitude. The center image shows SOM applied to
CNN and instantaneous attribute volumes, producing fault neurons (red). The third panel shows the four fault systems isolated. The
interactive 2-D color map shows an 8 x 8 neural topology (hexagonal neurons), enabling isolation and analysis of fault neurons. Seismic
data from Opunake Basin, courtesy of the New Zealand Petroleum Ministry (NZPM).
NOVEMBER 2021 69

American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2021

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