Alberta Inventors and Inventions - 3D Visualization for Oil and Gas Exploration

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a three-dimensional image of the intricate nooks and crannies of an underground rock formation that may contain an oil or natural gas deposit is worth many times more. The U of C's Calgary Centre for Innovative Technology provides geologists, engineers and other petrochemical industry officials with a full-size facility, the Schlumberger iCentre, which transforms raw data into large three-dimensional images of underground formations.

The technology, which melds three-dimensional modeling software used for mapping and other applications with full-size projection systems, gives full size views of structures and formations that can reveal much to the trained eye.

The projection screen is mounted in a theatre that can host large groups of people, as well as teleconferencing, enabling collaboration and interpretation that can pinpoint specific attributes of a potential or existing oil or gas deposit. The three-dimensional visualization system is tied in with powerful computers so that a variety of data can be integrated into a presentation.

For the analysis of the potential of oil or gas reservoirs, researchers can view a three-dimensional spatially integrated view of the reservoir by displaying well, geological, seismic, reservoir, and production data. This integrated view speeds interpretation of the data and can also limit errors before investment decisions are made.

Oil industry production managers can also use the three-dimensional imaging to plan their drilling and other field operations, helping to maximize the recoverable resources from a particular oil or gas reservoir.

iCentre: Reservoir Characterization for Secondary and Tertiary Reserves Recovery

The Heritage Community Foundation is pleased to present this feature article, courtesy of the Calgary Centre for Innovative Technology.

The Petrochemical Industry in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world has a new level of sophistication when it comes to oil and gas exploration. The Schlumberger iCentre offers three-dimensional imagery of potential reservoirs, and enhances the ability of the oil industry officials to find such reservoirs.