BHP
Contracts INT to Develop a Geological and Geophysical Viewer
For Data Access
and Collaboration over Networks
The
Challenge
The
Global Geoscience Technology division of BHP Petroleum needed an integrated geological
and geophysical viewer for data access and collaboration over networks. Its current
reservoir simulation package did not provide seismic visualization functionality,
and BHP wanted a flexible cross-section viewer that would enable its engineers
to visualize and analyze reservoir simulation output along with the associated
seismic and log data.
The
INT Solution
After
reviewing existing software packages on the market and discussing its needs with
various software application vendors, BHP decided to contract INT to develop the
Viewer according to its own specifications. BHP wanted to combine its expertise
in high-speed random access of large multidimensional data with INT's java based
graphics components and experience in multi-tier client-server systems in order
to build a unique data viewing application that could combine geological model
data and seismic data in a single view.
An
important requirement for this project was to leverage INT's Java technology to
develop a viewer that was cross-platform, easily accessible through BHP's intranet,
and deployable with no client-side administration.
The
Results
As
a midsized oil company, BHP Petroleum tried to minimize custom software development
as it has proven in most cases to be expensive in terms of development and long-term
maintenance. However, working with INT off-the-shelf components and professional
services, the project became worthwhile for BHP:
- Low
Total Cost - BHP estimates that by using the Java environment and INT's J/GeoToolkit,
the total cost for developing the Viewer is 1/5th of what such a project would
have normally required.
- Functionality
- The tool has been designed to meet BHP requirements.
- Extensibility
- The Viewer is actually designed as a framework that can be easily extended to
become a front-end for 3rd party value software. The Viewer also integrates with
Seismic Unix, an OpenSource seismic processing system, which BHP uses for its
internal seismic processing needs.
- Network
access - BHP has major oil exploration centers in Melbourne, Houston, and London.
The viewers are installed and served through BHP Intranet from those three locations.
Processors can now analyze data and collaborate remotely through the company's
internal web sites. Complex views of the data can be saved and restored through
a browser interface.
- OpenSource
- The goal is to reduce the cost of maintenance by making the Viewer available
as OpenSource. If enough interest is generated, other companies and organizations
will contribute and enhance the Viewer.
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