Jeff Allen (Coler & Colantino) showed how a large transmission operator has GIS-enabled its SAP systems of record using Geo.E, a joint SAP/Esri development that implements an Esri geodatabase in SAP, and SAP’s linear asset management extension. C&C’s own toolset adds a PODS pipeline database. Oracle’s enterprise service bus links the systems together to support various pipeline maintenance workflows and audits. The service bus orchestrates synchronization across the different repositories according to operator-defined rules.
New Century Software’s Chris Nichols showed how ArcSchematics is used to manage chemical treatment across a pipeline network. This data-driven tool offers a simplified view of a pipe network that shows the relationships between components as opposed to a spatial representation. A split screen shows a map and ‘smart tree’ view providing a clear representation of e.g. scale and biocide treatments and corrosion inhibitors.
Scott Sitzman presented a benchmark study of ConocoPhillips’ GIS systems performed using Exprodat’s ‘proven GIS review methodology’ of surveys, interviews and workgroups. CP applies GIS in many upstream domains and maturity levels are in the mid to high range. The company has a structured process for assessing and propagating GIS best practices in areas such as exploration play fairway analysis and land management.
geoLOGIC systems’ Tim Downing presented a case history of a Canadian oil sands operator that has applied geoprocessing to solving reporting requirements that integrate GIS with complex data models. Canada’s oil sands tenure regulations make up a 36 page document that stipulates, inter alia, a minimum level of evaluation such that at least one well must be drilled per section in an ‘even and uniform’ pattern’. SQL/spatial queries show the intersection of leases and expiry dates, wells and core data to identify sections sans wells and sections where wells’ core ages don’t match land lease ages. The current project targets data clean-up and regulatory reporting but will likely extend to the identification of third party leases that have not fulfilled their regulatory requirements.
Andrea Le Pard provided insights into Nexen’s envisioned move to the cloud, a.k.a. to ArcGIS online or not. Various deployment patterns are now possible from full cloud to hybrid (data in-house, hosted portal) and everything in house. Current ArcGIS online solutions see Esri as playing a middle man role between a client/subscriber and the cloud proper—Amazon or Azure. For maximum flexibility a portal is still best. ArcGIS online lacked two key Nexen requirements, of isolated data tenancy and MPLS direct connection for security. Whatever you chose be prepared for lots of IT gotchas and myths. Active directory in the cloud requires work for IT. Licensing hybrid solutions is restrictive and security remains an issue ‘oils are afraid of the cloud for good reason.’
Rich Priem (Priemere Geotechnology) has used geoprocessing here to evaluate the probability of success in the Marcellus shale play. He combed grids of shale thickness, depth overpressure and vitrinite reflectance from over 1,000 Pennsylvania wells in the public domain. Areas of interest can be identified by plotting sweet spots over 5 miles from existing wells and using a pivot table to target land effort. Play fairway play analysis is enabled with Priemere’s Power Tools—said to be ‘better than tedious and complicated use of native ArcGIS desktop.’ The PUG presentations are available from the Amazon cloud.
This article originally appeared in Oil IT Journal 2014 Issue # 7.
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