New RokDoc software

18 November 2010—Ikon Science, the DHI/Fluid consortium (FLAG) and major oil companies have developed the RokDoc platform into a tool for exploration through reservoir monitoring and storage workflows in all reservoir types.

In the RokDoc 5.5 release, Statoil Rock Physics Model templates add a foundation for common clastic lithologies enabling users to create rock physics models to fit their project. This release makes it easier to classify and identify, porosity and many other types of geological variations based on seismic and well data. Interpreters can now create, modify, and apply better rock physics solutions in 1D, 2D, 3D, and 4D models. Inversions driven by rock physics models from RokDoc deliver results closer to the true lithology leading to better drilling decisions for our customers.

Schlumberger inaugurates Brazil Research and Geoengineering Center

16 November 2010—Schlumberger inaugurated a new research and geoengineering center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Brazil Research and Geoengineering Center is designed to promote the integration of geosciences and engineering to improve hydrocarbon production and recovery from the complex deepwater reservoirs and presalt carbonates offshore Brazil.

The new center includes a Geoengineering Research Center, a Geoengineering Technology Center, and a GeoSolutions Hub in addition to a number of Reservoir Laboratories. Each element fills a key need in deepwater and presalt reservoir exploration and development. The Research Center, which is designed to work in close collaboration with both customers and academia, will conduct research and development to improve industry understanding of pre-salt formations and their optimal development. The Geoengineering Technology Center will pursue geoscience workflows using state-of-the-art Ocean application development and Petrel seismic-to-simulation software. Regional solutions to the integration of data from seismic and other techniques will be developed in the WesternGeco GeoSolutions hub while three reservoir laboratories provide the facilities to test and evaluate reservoir rocks and fluids under controlled conditions for multiple applications including well construction and reservoir stimulation.

The Brazil Research and Geoengineering Center covers 10,000 m2 in floor area, and is the first such Schlumberger facility in the southern hemisphere. When fully staffed, up to 300 scientists, engineers, and technical staff working in multidisciplinary, collaborative teams will work on the development of innovative solutions to the technical challenges associated with the complex formations found deep offshore Brazil. Continuing a theme that now runs across all Schlumberger research centers, the new Brazil facility is located close to the leading academic expertise of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and is located on the same campus that houses the Petrobras CENPES Research Center.

Schlumberger has operated in Brazil since 1945, offering technology solutions to local oil and gas industry challenges. Today the company manages its operations from 12 locations across the country and employe more than 2000 people in Brazil.

Shell awards EMGS contract offshore Philippines

12 November 2010—Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) has been awarded a contract worth in excess of US $2 million by the block SC60 joint venture, which is operated by Shell Philippines Exploration BV. The work will be performed shortly from the 3D EM vessel BOA Galatea. This vessel is now fully booked for the remainder of the fourth quarter 2010.

Targets organization, validation and distribution of large geophysical grids and survey data

12 November 2010—Geosoft has introduced a packaged solution for geophysical exploration information management. The geophysical Exploration Information Management Solution (EIMS) bundles Geosoft professional services and its DAP Server technology, which is designed to organize and distribute large geophysical and exploration datasets, into one packaged solution that can be scaled to government agencies and exploration companies of all sizes.

The Geosoft solution enables organizations to catalogue their geophysical data within a DAP server environment that enables data validation, quality assurance, and metadata entry for data management, and handles tasks like reprojection of data for efficient project use.