Upstream IT companies are heeding the calls for streamlined technologies with their latest software programs and Web services.

Nowhere in exploraton and production is change happening at a faster pace than in the area of information technology. Software programs with new functionalities are being integrated with existing applications. New online services are being launched even as the "old" dot-coms adapt to survive. Here's a quick update on the most modern IT tools.
New software programs
In March, Landmark Graphics released an innovative reservoir imaging and interpretation program called SpecDecomp. The program, designed for spectral decomposition, includes patented intellectual property developed by BP and Apache that has been licensed to Landmark. SeisWorks and EarthCube users will have improved reservoir understanding for better well placement.
"Apache is a firm believer in the benefits of spectral decomposition technology," said Mike Bahorich. "If you are spending (US) $3 million on a well and trying to hit the sweet spot, then estimating the thickness and compartmentalization of complex stratigraphic features improves drilling success, ultimately impacting the bottom line."
Tobin International launched a new system that integrates geo-spatial and business information into a single, dynamic information resource. Tobin InSight is a complete system of access, interchange and storage technologies that brings together previously incompatible geographic and business information. Once a geologist creates an earth model with seismic and well log data, that information can be exported to Tobin InSight with just a mouse click. Lease, contract, ownership and competitor data then can be superimposed. After analysis, the data can be exported to other applications or plotted. Data management, visualization and administration components can be configured and customized for the client.
While drilling hydraulics is fairly well understood, mud displacement has been more problematic. Pegasus Ventures' integrated mud displacement software program, Cleanup, measures the flow dynamics of multifluid displacements in 3-D wells, using either forward or reverse circulation. Pressures and ECDs are calculated for various depths vs. time, and fluid displacement is animated onscreen. "This program will help engineers avoid kick-in or loss of circulation, improve displacement efficiency and result in a higher percentage of successful wellbore cleanup operations," said Gefei Liu of Houston, Texas-based Pegasus Ventures. For information, visit www.pvicom.com.
DMT Welldone Drilling Services of Lachendorf, Germany, has released a 3-D steering and downhole communications system called Well Dirigent. The fully automatic, closed-loop directional drilling system follows a pre-engineered well path and automatically corrects any unanticipated deviation from that well path. The sensor package is directly above the bit, and the patented Welldone data transmission pulser continuously transmits data to the surface for monitoring. For information, visit www.dmt-welldone.com.
Geo-Logic Systems of Boulder, Colo., released a Java-based structural geology product called LithoTect. The program has geologic algorithms based on a new "geometry field" concept, enabling geoscientists to examine the bedding and distributions of dip, curvature and strain that are implied by their interpretations. Built around the latest graphics toolkits from Interactive Network Technologies, LithoTect has structural restoration and forward modeling techniques that operate on interpretations and seismic data. For information, visit www.geologicsystems.com.
Peloton has released a well information reporting package called WellView. Going beyond traditional morning reports, schematic diagrams and maps help users visualize what is going on with the well. Changes can be tracked from spud through abandonment. A powerful query engine makes it easy to locate drilling, completion, petrophysical, well test and operational information quickly and prepare reports. For information, visit www.peloton.com.
Software upgrades
Landmark Graphics announced Release2003, the fourth synchronous release of 25 software applications. It incorporates migration to the latest Microsoft Windows 32-bit architecture, and it supports Sun Blade Unix hardware and Oracle 8 software. It includes more than 700 new product features and enhancements as well as improved integration, resulting in enhanced personal productivity. OpenTutor, a Web-based learning tool, provides information about the new features.
The new version of The Oilfield Workstation/client server (TOW/cs) production data management system streamlines workflow by providing zone-level allocation, enhanced data import and export capabilities and customizable user desktops. Zonal production data are available via links to OpenWorks. Said Lisa Petty Lehle, manager of IT production systems and desktop computing at Apache Corp., "TOW/cs is a key piece of technology that we rely on in our day-to-day business to manage Apache's production from more than 13,000 wells."
Paradigm Geophysical added functionality to its Sysdrill integrated drilling applications. Cement-IT enables drilling engineers to model the combination of fluids circulated during cementing operations, optimizing for a fixed bottomhole pressure, fixed pump flow rate or free fall. Graphical displays show the engineer the position of all fluid slugs as they move downhole and up the annulus. The company also released Sysdrill DirectorGeo, which combines the well planning capabilities of Director with VoxelGeo's visualization system. The integration allows multidisciplinary asset teams to select geological targets, plan the optimal well path in a 3-D environment and compare actual well trajectory to the plan while drilling. For information, visit www.paradigmgeo.com.
Knowledge Systems of Stafford, Texas, recently released DrillWorks 2002, which integrates a single well model with a basin geopressure model while incorporating wellbore stability analysis - all running in real time while drilling. It combines and integrates Predict Version 9.0, which has 100 new features, with Basin Version 2.0 and Geostress Version 1.0. The programs are offered as an office version or a wellsite version, and data may be input or exported through OpenSpirit. For information, visit www.knowsys.com.
Siebel Systems upgraded the e-business functionality of Siebel eOil & Gas 7, which includes improved asset management and field service capabilities as well as industry-specific marketing analysis. Schlumberger, Halliburton and FMC use Siebel eOil & Gas 7 for customer relationship management (CRM). For information, visit www.siebel.com.
After 2 years of development, Houston-based Technoguide released Petrel 2002, an integrated geomodeling workflow for interpretation through well design in a single application. "There is no other system that provides the oil and gas industry with such a comprehensive range of modeling tools while at the same time allowing you to interact with all the available data," Chief Executive Officer Jan Grimnes said. A new workflow manager allows users to conduct batch updates to their model, and enhanced mapping tools allow the display of bubble maps, dip meters and attributes. The new well design module boasts multilateral well, sidetrack and modeling-while-drilling capabilities. The revolutionary 3-D volume extraction module allows visualization of connected bodies, and bodies can be filtered, split or deleted. More than 200 improvements have been made since the last release.
Coade has updated its pressure vessel component software, CodeCalc. Version 6.40 incorporates the latest ASME Section VIII, Division 1, 2001 Addenda and includes tailing lug analysis, trunnion analysis, base plate design for vessel legs, pneumatic hydrotest calculations and simplified input for nonradial nozzles. The company similarly has upgraded its PVElite pressure vessel software to Version 4.30 and its Tank storage program to Version 2.30.
New online services
SempCheck Services completed the first viewed virtual compliance audit of an offshore production platform via Internet for the US Minerals Management Service (MMS). MMS inspector Milford Cole from Lafayette, La., viewed MMS, Environmental Protection Agency and US Coast Guard compliance records for a PetroQuest Energy platform in the Gulf of Mexico. "This program will help inspectors speed up inspections by reviewing about 95% of the required records before going out to the field," Cole said. For information, visit www.sempcheck.com.
Grant Prideco has a new Engineering Tool Kit on its Web site. In addition to a glossary of oilfield terms and an English-metric converter, the site has API calculators for 96 of the common equations in API Bulletin 5C3. In addition, the Specs Direct feature gives registered users access to all Atlas Bradford connections, and the Pipe Builder helps users select the appropriate size, weight and grade of casing and connectors, then view its performance properties. Bookmark the site at www.grantprideco.com.
IHS AccuMap opened a Web portal called IHS PropertyMarket, www.ihspropertymarket.com. This service displays Canadian oil and gas properties for sale as a map layer in the AccuMap program, which can be used to evaluate those properties. It also provides information on farm-in and farm-out opportunities. "It's like having an oil and gas property Realtor at your disposal for the Western Canadian Basin," said marketing coordinator Kris Dudas. The initial release is limited to the Canadian market, and AccuMap customers will receive the service at no charge. IHS Energy Group also released Drilling Wire on the Web, which delivers instant access to its US permit, drilling and completion information as an online subscription service rather than a hard copy report. Users can receive e-mail notification of new activity in their areas of interest. For
a free 2-week subscription, visit www.ihsenergy.com.
Tulsa, Okla.-based eLynx Technologies released DataDoc, a Web-based field automation tool that provides instant information about flow rates, temperatures, pressures and tank levels. Data are transmitted to a secure data center for viewing with an Internet browser. Users can set alarm limits and designate primary and secondary notification via alpha pagers, e-mail or messaging cell phones. For information, visit www.elynxtech.com.
NExT, the Network of Excellence in Training, launched its newest computer-based training series, Petroleum Economics Interactive. This 8-hour e-learning course uses real-life scenarios so students can make a typical exploration and production investment recommendation to a fictional board of directors after examining cash flow, revenues, expenditures and risk. The course can be deployed on corporate networks or CD-ROM. For information on this or any of 75 other interactive courses, visit www.next.ie.
PetroSkills' new Competency Inventory Management Tool is available on the Web, or it can be hosted in-house. This tool enables employees to gauge their skills and abilities as to whether they are at the awareness, basic application, skilled application or mastery level in eight disciplines. Managers also can rate their employees' competencies. The program will compile a color-coded competency map to show where training may be needed to fill the holes. The program then suggests appropriate courses and links directly to www.petroskills.com so students can register online for upcoming courses.
Dot-com updates
OFS Portal has increased the functionality of its upstream e-content portal for buyers and suppliers. Buyers will be able to browse buyer-specific content online and request free delivery in API/PIDX-compliant XML standard format. Other formats like Requisite, Ariba and Commerce One will be made available for an additional fee. Suppliers also will benefit through improved submit and maintain processes and increased distribution capabilities. "A significant number of pilots are under way with major oil and gas customers, some directly with the customer and some through exchanges, thus proving the industrywide potential of OFS Portal's solution," said Ross Philo, vice president of market development. Membership is open to any service or supply company that has revenues in the upstream segment.
Wellogix announced its WorkFlow Navigator and eField-Ticket services are compliant with the XML e-commerce standards set by API/PIDX. "We participated in the workflow definition process, including providing internal formats we had developed for the same process during the creation of our software, and we worked as part of one of the five pilot teams that tested aspects of the task group's initiative. We're thrilled that formats we first proposed in 1999 were reviewed by the API PIDX Com.Pro.Serv. team and portions of them eventually become part of an accepted industrywide standards effort," said co-Chief Executive Officer John Chisholm. Wellogix also has an enhanced technology architecture to improve the speed and efficiency of integration with customer legacy applications, thanks to the Synchrion framework for dynamic import and export of data.
NetworkOil changed its name to Network International as part of its expansion outside the United States. "The company has changed a lot," said Kevin Bartol, chief operating officer. "When the Net bubble burst and we learned that B2B didn't work, we decided to focus on surplus equipment. Then we acquired Premiere Auctioneers and expanded to production equipment and well servicing equipment, and then we expanded to construction equipment and power generation equipment. Now we're expanding to Statoil, Eni and TotalFinaElf. Our Net-only auctions sell 95% of the lots for sale, and we've noticed that the price of the bids increases by about 25% when we add Internet bidding to a live auction to make it a hybrid auction - we call that the 'Internet boost.'"
IndigoPool.com is offering the government of India's third round of the New Exploration Licensing Policy online. Twenty-seven blocks (11 on land, seven in shallow water and nine in deep waters) are available for data viewing and analysis, with a closing date of Aug. 28. After 2 years of growth in the online acquisition and divestiture marketplace, IndigoPool has exceeded $9 billion in cumulative deal flow. One sale set a world e-commerce record for online transactions at $750 million.
Honors
Michael Williams, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, presented Magic Earth the Chairman's Award for Energy Innovation. A wholly owned business unit of Halliburton, Magic Earth was recognized as a progressive leader in the development of exploration and production software and for "providing critically important tools to help maximize Texas' oil and gas production." Accepting the award in Houston was Michael Zeitlin, president and chief executive officer of Magic Earth, who said, "Our goal has been to cut the cycle time and increase the accuracy of finding oil and gas. We lead the industry in the field of visual interpretation of 3-D subsurface data by providing the most innovative technology."
Wellbase, a unique database developed for PC by GeoGraphix (also a Halliburton company), was named a laureate for the 2002 Computerworld Honors Collection. Wellbase integrates geophysical, geological, mapping, well and log data in a common environment for asset team collaboration. The Honors Collection recognizes IT vision and leadership in 10 categories, including energy and agriculture. "To be named laureate is a tribute to the entire GeoGraphix staff," said Vice President Rick Slack.

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