Mechdyne Corp. announced that its VRCO software division released a powerful immersive visualization solution for use with Petrel Software from Schlumberger. With availability of the ConduitT graphics middleware for Petrel, oil and gas exploration geologists are able to easily and intuitively work with visualizations of subsurface data in "virtual reality" mode using PC cluster computer systems.

Designed for PC environments, Petrel offers the unique ability to work on all subsurface challenges, from volumetric interpretation to reservoir simulation and well planning, in one software application. All work processes contribute to refining and developing the same
volumetric earth model, static to dynamic. The addition of Conduit allows virtual reality and advanced collaboration capabilities making Petrel the most comprehensive subsurface exploration and modeling solution available. Enterprise networking features supported in Conduit also allow collaboration and "plug and play" capability on large-scale displays anywhere in an organization's IT environment.

Developed to enable advanced visualization within mainstream applications, Conduit is a graphics distribution middleware that duplicates the flow of three dimensional (3-D) data and commands to multiple PC graphics channels and pipelines. It produces the multiple graphics outputs needed by large-scale visualization systems such as the PowerWallT and reconfigurable FLEXT from Fakespace Systems, another Mechdyne company, and the CAVER virtual environment. At the same time, Conduit enables compatibility with virtual reality tools such as motion tracking systems, input devices like tablet PCs and virtual wand
interaction tools. Advanced input devices can speed interpretation and increase insight by enabling a much more intuitive means of navigating through and interacting with three dimensional models.

Conduit's enterprise wide networking feature allows users to plug and play their 3-D data into virtually any visualization system configuration as well as share data in real time between different systems even if located in different cities. A user can take a laptop or flash drive from their office, fly to a remote location, plug into that local network and display data automatically on a three-projector curved screen theater or even in a fully immersive walk-in
room. Conduit software loaded on network computers automatically detects new sources and configures the data to the resident display. At the same time, the data in the theater could be connected to a smaller team room on the other side of the world with both users being able to take control of the data at both locations, or interpret the same data independently of the other location and share the results.

"We are pleased to add Petrel to the growing list of advanced applications supported by Conduit, and look forward to providing geophysicists and petroleum engineers with a new option for working with and sharing data remotely." said Julien Berta, Conduit product manager at VRCO. "The productivity benefits of virtual reality and remote collaboration are now readily accessible to Schlumberger's geo-science community."

Conduit features can be integrated into existing visualization environments or can be provided along with large scale displays and PC clusters as a complete turnkey visualization center.

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