Quantitative Integration – Examples and Concepts

When:  Nov 28, 2017 from 11:30 AM to 01:00 PM (MT)
Associated with  Calgary Section

Geomechanics Special Interest Group Luncheon: 
Quantitative Integration: Examples and Concepts

Date: Tuesday, 28th November 2017
Location: Calgary Petroleum Club
Time: 11:30 am -– 1:00 pm
Cost: $45.00 Members  $55.00 Non-Members  $15.00 Students
Speaker: Laurie Weston Bellman - President, Sound QI Solutions

Abstract:

Everyone wants to integrate.  Successful integration of all available data for a particular project is, however, a complex, time-consuming, controversial, potentially impossible task.  There’s just too much data from too many diverse sources, and we are generally pressured to make operational decisions before we have had the chance to completely digest even one source of data.  Fortunately, geoscientists, especially geophysicists, are accustomed to dealing with a lot of data (even Big Data), so if anyone can do it, we can.  Geophysicists have also had to adopt ways of translating what we do into reasonably plain language because if we didn’t, no one would understand us.  I think Geomechanics (as in people who do geomechanics) have had to adapt to the same challenge.  Communication, it seems, is one of the key components of integration.

Integration methods range from simple visual comparisons of maps made from two different data sources to numerical modelling and statistical procedures at a basic data level.  A data-based approach that has been growing in influence in the geophysical world is called Quantitative Interpretation (QI).  It is a broad approach that encompasses many linked techniques with the objective of extracting geological properties from seismic data.  An incidental advantage of this approach is that the workflow elements do not have to be limited to seismic data applications.  Many different data types can be blended in different combinations to contribute to better predictions of geological properties in undrilled locations.  These geological properties can then be included in analytical methods to determine the key factors in predicting the future performance of a hypothetical well or field.

My presentation will focus on generalizing the QI workflow (changing the ‘I’ to ‘Integration’ in the process), to incorporate not just typical geological parameters such as porosity and Vshale, but geomechanical and engineering-related information.   This is not a simple task; complicating factors such as scale, sampling, calibration, resolution, uncertainty, extrapolation and interpolation all need to be addressed to everyone’s satisfaction.  Hence the importance of communication for a successful outcome.

Speaker Bio:

Laurie Weston Bellman's career as a geophysicist in the oil and gas business has spanned over 30 years (so far).  During that time, she has seen the science (and the business) from many different perspectives.  She has been part of the evolution of exploration objectives and analysis techniques, both as an interested observer and an active contributor.  Originally a Physics/Astronomy graduate from the University of Victoria in B.C., Laurie has enjoyed a variety of career challenges in Canada and internationally.

Laurie started her career with Shell Canada in Calgary doing seismic processing and interpretation in the central plains area of Alberta.  Looking for adventure and travel, she took a position with LASMO plc in London, to work on various European, North African and Middle East projects.  Upon her return to Canada, Laurie began a consulting contract with Nexen Canada Inc. where her main professional interest migrated to the Canadian oil sands.  Based on that interest, she founded her own seismic consulting company in 2007 called Oil Sands Imaging, which was later re-branded as Sound QI and sold to Canadian Discovery in 2012.  In early 2017, Laurie acquired the QI business from Canadian Discovery and re-started Sound QI.

Drawing on her experience as a seismic interpreter in many basins around the world, Laurie is well aware of the combination of hard data, imagination, creativity and collaboration that is necessary to be an effective and successful member of an exploration or development team, regardless of background.  At the same time, Laurie's education in physics and astronomy, and her early career as a seismic processor have given her a respect (and healthy scepticism) of data and data analysis.  The integration of all these aspects is her objective in her current role.

 

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Location

Calgary Petroleum Club
Calgary