Technical Whitepaper. Unlock your Subsurface Data using Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS & the ArcGIS Platform

Transcription

1 Technical Whitepaper Unlock your Subsurface Data using Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS & the ArcGIS Platform 1

2 Business Problem The Petroleum industry and their vendors have for years been talking about the vision of having a shared view of the earth for sharing, collaboration and decision making. While the term earth modeling is well established within the industry, creating and sharing models that integrate data from various sources has so far proved to be challenging task. Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS, based on the Esri ArcGIS GIS-platform, provide a solution that can address a lot of the common problems that organizations face in making data come together to enable better collaboration and decision making. Specifically, Seismic Explorer will help organization solve the following business problems: Accurate Seismic Data Coverage: Seismic coverage is often represented with rectangular boundary boxes of seismic surveys. This does not give an accurate image of where you actually have seismic data. In many cases a seismic survey will have blank areas with no data. With Seismic Explorer you can read exact outlines directly from SEG-Y files and manage accurate records of your seismic data in the relevant projections and coordinate systems. Visualize it together with all cultural data and add custom attributes to enable analysis and reporting relevant to your needs. Create and Visualize Subsurface Models: During the license application, and exploration phases, companies need to integrate all of their relevant data like seismic surveys, interpreted horizons, surfaces and wells with other cultural data in one common model for visualization and high-quality print or export to other systems or formats. Whether it is for the purpose for presentation, discussions, annotation and redlining or as part of the actual license application, Seismic Explorer helps you producing high-quality output of complex models. Share and Collaborate around Subsurface Models: By using the built-in functionality of the Esri ArcGIS platform you can share and collaborate around G&G data on the web and on mobile devices anywhere, without having to use expert systems and expensive interpretation packages. Who will benefit from Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS Customers that will benefit from using Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS are Petroleum companies: Companies owning or using seismic data for exploration purposes as well as managing license applications. Multi-Client Seismic Survey companies: Companies that need to keep accurate track of where they have seismic data and have sold data, where they should plan to invest in new surveys as well as presenting the areas and the datasets to potential clients. Oil Service & Subsea companies: Many offshore operations and installations require the use of creating shared Earth Models combining shallow seismic survey data and other datasets. Seismic Explorer enables you to combine seismic data with other subsea data like multibeam, seabed installations and infrastructure to create models for visualizations. 2

3 Functionality The Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS is an extension to ArcGIS for Desktop enabling seismic data as an integrated and seamless data type within the ArcGIS system similar to what vector and imagery are today. In the following section the functionality of the extensions is described. The extension runs in ArcMap. It comes with a toolbar and its own geoprocessing toolbox with a set of geoprocessing tools that can either be invoked directly within ArcGIS Desktop, as part of geoprocessing script build in Model Builder or a Python script. Read Seismic SEG-Y Files into a Geodatabase Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS contains geoprocessing tools for reading SEG-Y data. A feature class can contain multiple seismic surveys with metadata for each survey. Reading SEGY-Y can be challenging due to non-standard header information and different trace locations. The Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS offers an easy to use analyzer that lets you scan SEG-Y files and help you find the correct settings for your SEG-Y file. These settings can be stored in a configuration file for later usage and easy reading of similar SEG-Y files. The following reading operations are supported: Read Outline from SEG-Y 3D File The Read outline from SEG-Y File geoprocessing tool reads the traces in the SEG-Y and produces an outline of the actual data coverage in a 3D seismic survey. This provides a more detailed outline of the survey. Possible outline output is: Enclosing outline The bounding box of the survey Without null traces missing traces are discarded Without null and zero traces missing traces and traces with zeros are discarded The figure to the right illustrates a generic outline (in black) and an actual data outline (in green) 3

4 Read SEG-Y 3D File The Read SEG-Y 3D File geoprocessing tool stores the generic outline of a seismic survey together with survey metadata in a seismic feature class. The feature class links directly to the original SEG-Y file and a small index file for easy data access when displaying the seismic. There is no duplication of the SEG-Y data on disk. For ultrafast speed and performance, 3D seismic volumes can be converted into a BRICK format, similar to creating a raster mosaic data set in ArcGIS. Multiple seismic surveys can be imported into the same feature class. The seismic feature class contains the following metadata for each seismic survey: Survey Name: Text SEG-Y File path: If applicable Textual File Header: Text Brick File path: If applicable Index File path: If applicable Z-Domain: Time/Depth Z-Unit: ms/m/ft Job Id No: number Line No: number Reel No: number No of data traces per rec: number No of aux traces per rec: number Sample interval: number Original sample interval: number No of Samples per trace: number Original no of samples: number Data sample format code: number CDP Fold: number Trace sorting code: number Inline min: number Inline max: number Inline step: number Crossline min: number Crossline max: number Crossline step: number Sample min: number Sample max: number Delay rec time: number Read SEG-Y 2D File The Read SEG-Y 2D File geoprocessing tool stores the navigation for a seismic line together with survey metadata in a seismic feature class. The tool also stores the SEG-Y data as a raster in the geodatabase. The seismic feature class links directly to the raster in the geodatabase for easy data access when displaying the seismic. The geoprocessing tool allows for bulk import of multiple seismic lines at the same time. The seismic feature class contains the following metadata for each seismic survey: 4

5 Survey Name: Text SEG-Y File path: If applicable Textual File Header: Text Z-Domain: Time/Depth Z-Unit: ms/m/ft Job Id No: number Line No: number Reel No: number No of data traces per rec: number No of aux traces per rec: number Sample interval: number Original sample interval: number No of Samples per trace: number Original no of samples: number Data sample format code: number CDP Fold: number Trace sorting code: number Shot point min: number Shot point max: number Shot point step: number Sample min: number Sample max: number Delay rec time: number Import Horizons Import of IRAP grids IRAP is today a widely supported format in many G&G software packages. To enable the possibility of combining seismic data with interpreted surfaces from software like Petrel, RMS and Kingdom, Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS comes with a geoprocessing tool for importing IRAP grids into an ArcGIS geodatabase. 5

6 Visualization and Analysis Visualization of Seismic data and other Sub-surface data Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS contains a 3D window inside ArcMap. The 3D window lets you visualize seismic volumes and 2D seismic together with other subsurface data like interpreted horizons and wells. You can also visualize any cultural data you are displaying in the map view. The 3D window replicates the symbology of the 2D window in ArcMap. It is possible to link the two windows so that the other window responds when panning and zooming in the other. The figure illustrates the use of 2D and 3D windows in ArcMap Data with 3D information such as raster and vector data with z-values will be displayed in its correct position in 3D. 2D data can be displayed flat at different z-levels or draped on raster layers base height. The different options for 3D settings are available under Data Frame Properties and Layer Properties. The Seismic Explorer toolbar offers several ways of interacting with the seismic. Select a seismic volume or line in the 2D window and click the display tool to visualize the seismic in 3D. Select and step through different slices or change the appearance of the seismic by changing the color ramp and adjusting the mapping range of the amplitudes. The Seismic Explorer Toolbar Seismic sections (inlines, crosslines, timeslice) in a volume can be moved interactively both in the 3D window and the 2D window. 6

7 Seismic Information When moving the cursor over the seismic data in the 3D window the system provides continuous information about the cursors: X & Y position Depth/Time Inline number Crossline number Amplitude The information is displayed in the lower right corner of the ArcMap application window. Extract Seismic Lines You can extract arbitrary seismic lines from one or multiple 3D volumes, either by using the toolbar for quick visualization or by using a geoprocessing tool in order to store the seismic line in a geodatabase. The tool can be configured to extract seismic lines from, and to a certain depth. By storing seismic lines it is possible to make the data accessible in other applications, such as 3D Web Scenes, or custom web applications built with ArcGIS for Server. Output formats are: Georeferenced multipatch Raster, either in a geodatabase or as a file together with a bounding box feature class. 7

8 User Scenarios In addition to the Seismic Explorer core functionality outlined above, a wide range of user scenarios can be implemented based on the functionality in Seismic Explorer and ArcGIS. Below follows a brief description of each scenario. An up-to-date accurate Seismic Coverage Web Map Seismic surveys are among the most valuable data sets for Petroleum companies. Having a map of all available seismic at any given time is extremely valuable when looking at new areas and when considering where to buy additional seismic. For most companies it takes a lot of manual work to maintain an up-to-date map of the seismic they have acquired, and most of the time it only shows the generic outline of the survey, not the outline of the actual data coverage. By combining the Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS with Model Builder and ArcGIS for Server it is possible to automate the process of maintaining an up-to-date Seismic Coverage Web Map: 1. Folders are scanned for new SEG-Y data regularly 2. If new SEG-Y files are found the Read outline from SEG-Y File tool is executed 3. The exact data outline is added to the existing seismic coverage feature class 4. Coverage map is updated and published to Portal for ArcGIS The figure illustrates a coverage map 8

9 Arbitrary seismic lines on the fly Easy access to subsurface data can be extremely valuable during prospect evaluation and licensing rounds when time is limited. During a meeting someone might ask for a seismic line going through a specific area in order to get a better geological overview and understanding of the basin structure, play types etc. Instead of going back into the seismic interpretation system and produce an illustration the arbitrary seismic line can be created on the fly in the Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS. Just digitize a line by snapping to multiple wells or by following a geologic feature and display the arbitrary seismic line together with well tops and horizons. By implementing this solution it is easier to move discussions forward during a meeting and to make better decisions faster. The figure illustrates an arbitrary line intersecting multiple wells 9

10 Well trajectory planning and tracking Drilling wells at multiple angles is done to better reach and produce oil and gas reserves. Directional drilling also allows for multiple wells from the same vertical well bore, minimizing the wells environmental impact. During the planning phase it is important to consider geohazards and well-collision avoidance. By intersecting the proposed well trajectories with a seismic volume it is possible to see which subsurface layers the wells will go through and if any if there are any conflict between the different well trajectories, thereby reducing risk. During a drilling operation it is possible to run the seismic line extraction tool repeatedly in order to monitor exactly where the well is positioned in the subsurface. By doing this you can increase accuracy and the probability of hitting the target. The figure illustrates well trajectories intersecting a seismic volume 10

11 Site Survey Models for Drilling Hazards There are many potential hazards which may affect a drilling rig during offshore exploration and production of oil and gas. It is critical to have detailed knowledge about the subsea and sub-surface environment to avoid the costs of operational failure during a drilling operation. The OGP Guidelines for the conduct of offshore drilling hazard site surveys 1 states that a site survey should review man-made features, natural seabed features and subsurface geological features. The main datatypes are: Bathymetry Side scan sonar Seabed samples Seabed photographs Magnetometry Sub-bottom profiler 2D multi-channel seismic 3D multi-channel seismic In most cases the interpretation and analysis of data is delivered through GIS and web-based methods. With the Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS all this data can be integrate in one 3D geological model illustrating the seabed and subsurface conditions together with any cultural data. The figure illustrates a proposed well location with side scan sonar data (in 2D) and seismic data (in 3D)

12 3D Subsurface models in your web browser Sharing data and key results across the organization means making it available to people without access to ArcGIS Desktop applications. With the Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS any subsurface model can be published as a web scene and made available for anyone to visualize and interact with in 3D in any browser, without any plugins. The figure illustrates the top reservoir of the Peon gas discovery with RMS attribute (left) and depth (right) 12

13 Business Benefits Better quality Centralized access to all G&G and GIS data in one system and automated workflows help improve QC of the data. Reduced cost The ability to provide automations that reduce the time to find and visualize G&G data and to make this complex data available in easy to use web applications will improve previous processes which involved using multiple expert systems, thus reducing the resources needed to run these expert system. Faster and Better decisions This not only ensures that decisions can be made sooner, which reduces cost, but also reduces the chance of making wrong decisions. Conclusions The Seismic Explorer for ArcGIS does not aim to replace expert G&G systems. It is simply a powerful tool for unlocking your subsurface data and making it easily accessible to more people across your organization enabling them to get more out of the data and to make better decisions. Contact If you are interested in more information or want a demo please contact: Erlend Kvinnesland erlend.kvinnesland@geodata.no Business Development Manager Geocap Geodata AS 13