Barco, a global provider of display solutions for oil & gas applications, has implemented an advanced, multi-purpose virtual environment for the US Minerals Management Service (MMS) in New Orleans, La. The MMS predicts this new Barco visualization system will aid its technical asset teams to better identify and analyze oil and gas resources and reserves.


The MMS, an agency in the US Department of the Interior, manages the nation’s energy and mineral resources on the outer continental shelf (OCS). The OCS is a major source of oil and gas for the nation’s energy supply, and the offshore areas are estimated to contain significant quantities of resources in yet-to-be-discovered fields. The MMS needed a multi-purpose visualization environment to better exploit the quantity and quality of data to help maximize its resource analysis efforts.


After an extensive evaluation process, the MMS selected Barco as the prime solutions provider to design, equip and manage the implementation of its new visualization center. The new MMS facility consists of a large Barco display wall for virtual collaboration, analysis and decision-making, and a presentation display area. The large display wall, the Barco CADWall, incorporates a pair of blended Galaxy 3-D stereo projectors driven by Barco’s XDS-1000 display management system.


The XDS-1000 includes a built-in PC server, proprietary scalable desktop functionality and various input modules, allowing MMS geoscientists to view a mix of 3-D stereo and non-stereo data from various sources simultaneously on the large canvas. This multi-view, large-display format enables MMS geoscientists to work as a team to visualize and interact with high-resolution geophysical data. This way they can efficiently locate hydrocarbon reserves, eliminate discrepancies and improve the quality of evaluations.


The visualization room also includes a ceiling-mounted Barco iCon H600 network-centric projector for presentation purposes. The iCon H600, also equipped with built-in PC and scalable desktop functionality, will provide the multi-source, multi-windowing capabilities for dynamic and intuitive presentations. Barco’s scalable desktop incorporates a Windows interface along with mouse and keyboard control, which provides the MMS staff with the same intuitive user interface for the Barco CADWall and iCon display systems.


While both display systems can be used for collaborative applications, the visualization facility can be split into two rooms to allow for multiple sessions. Barco was also responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive audio and lighting system. The entire visualization facility is operated via a touch-screen controller, allowing MMS personnel to control display system parameters, audio sources, lighting and content.


MMS officials indicate the key consideration in the selection was Barco’s project management experience. The MMS project was scheduled for implementation two years ago until hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. However, the project delay did not deter Barco and MMS from realizing their goals. The Barco team stayed in close contact with MMS, managing the contingencies and programming the milestones for planned completion. When the Barco team was re-deployed for installation, the project took approximately three weeks to complete.


Today MMS has a world-class visualization facility with highly efficient tools to dramatically increase productivity, enhance knowledge sharing and improve bottom-line results.

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