What Is Subsurface Exploration and Production Data Management?

Subsurface data management involves the systematic collection, integration, and storage of data from various sources, such as seismic surveys, well logs, core samples, and production data. The goal is to create a comprehensive understanding of the subsurface environment, which is crucial in building accurate reservoir models. These models guide exploration and production decisions, playing a pivotal role in the profitability and sustainability of the energy industry.

Why Is Managing Subsurface Exploration and Production Data Important?

New technologies have led to a huge increase in the amount of raw data acquired in subsurface exploration. There is a pressing need for powerful programs that can manage these terabytes of data, along with hundreds of projects, multiple users, different locations and multi-vendor software packages.

Innovative data management and interoperability platforms are essential in helping multi-disciplinary groups of geophysicists, petrophysicists, geologists and reservoir engineers working in subsurface interpretation and visualization, petrophysical analysis and production optimization to collaborate on projects and interact in a common visualization environment. 

How is Subsurface Data Management Done?

The process of managing subsurface exploration and production data involves several steps. It starts with data acquisition, where various types of data are collected from the field. This data is then processed and interpreted to understand the subsurface structures and properties. The interpreted data is integrated to aid reservoir modeling, a 3D representation of the subsurface environment. This model is continuously updated as new data becomes available, ensuring that it accurately reflects the current state of the reservoir. 

Challenges in Managing Subsurface Exploration and Production Data

Companies involved in the exploration, extraction, and production of oil and gas reserves — as well as other asset-intensive industries — often face significant challenges in managing their subsurface exploration and data production. Here are some common challenges:

• Data Volume and Complexity: These companies generate vast amounts of data, including seismic surveys, drilling reports and production logs. Managing this data can be daunting, especially given its diversity and complexity. Each data type requires a specific skill set for its interpretation and a specific system for its storage and retrieval.
• Data Quality: The accuracy of subsurface data directly influences the ability to make sound decisions regarding exploration and production. Any inaccuracies or inconsistencies can lead to costly mistakes. Ensuring data quality is a constant challenge.
• Data Integration: Integrating disparate data types into a single, coherent model is essential for accurate subsurface interpretation. However, the integration process can be complicated due to the heterogeneity of data sources and formats.
• Data Access and Sharing: Ensuring the correct individuals and teams have access to the necessary data at the right time is another challenge. Managing permissions, ensuring data security and facilitating collaboration can be complex.
• Data Storage and Security: The massive volumes of data need to be stored securely and be readily accessible. Ensuring data security while also maintaining efficient retrieval mechanisms is a significant challenge.
• Regulatory Compliance: Industrial companies must also ensure that their data management practices comply with various industry regulations, which can differ significantly between regions and countries. Non-compliance can result in heavy penalties.
• Legacy Systems and Data: Many companies use outdated systems and databases that are not equipped to handle today's data demands. Migrating to newer, more efficient systems can be a complex and resource-intensive process.
• Interpretation and Analysis: Subsurface data is only as good as the interpretations and analyses that can be derived from it. Companies need skilled geoscientists who can effectively interpret the data, which can be a challenge, especially given the current skills shortage in the industry.
• Technological Change: The pace of industrial digital transformation can be a challenge, with new data types, analysis techniques and management tools constantly emerging. Companies must keep up with these changes to stay competitive.

These challenges all contribute to the complexity of managing subsurface exploration and production data in petrochemical and other industries. Companies that can effectively overcome these issues will likely have a significant competitive advantage.

Managing Subsurface Exploration and Production Data with Aspen Epos™

Aspen Technology (AspenTech) offers a powerful solution for managing subsurface exploration and production data – Aspen Epos.  The innovative Aspen Epos platform can be used to easily assemble a group of seismic surveys, well data, cultural data and drilling data into one logical entity for collaborative work.

The Aspen Epos framework enables data loading and export in industry-standard data formats, and offers connectivity to third-party databases and applications, including the Open Group OSDU™ Forum, which provides a standard data platform to break down silos and offer secure and reliable global access to all subsurface and well data.

From one to thousands of users, and from a single project to a network of shared data, Aspen Epos empowers multi-disciplinary groups of geophysicists, petrophysicists, geologists and reservoir engineers to collaborate on projects and interact in a common visualization environment. Each Aspen Epos database can be shared quickly and directly, with no need for space- and time-consuming duplication. 

FAQs

What is subsurface exploration and production data?

Subsurface exploration and production data refers to the information collected from below the earth's surface to guide the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons and other resources. This includes data from seismic surveys, well logs, cultural data and production data.

Why is managing subsurface exploration and production data important?

Subsurface science and engineering applications work with huge amounts of data shared by multi-disciplinary teams spread around the world.  Managing this data in such a complex environment is crucial for efficiently identifying potential reservoirs, optimizing production strategies and mitigating risks associated with drilling and production.

How does Aspen Epos aid in managing subsurface exploration and production data?

The Aspen Epos data management and interoperability platform can easily assemble multiple data types into one logical entity, with no need for space- and time-consuming duplication. Aspen Epos enables data loading and export in industry-standard data formats. It offers connectivity to third-party databases and applications, including the OSDU Forum, which provides a standard data platform to break down silos and offer secure and reliable global access to all subsurface and well data.