Scalable and interactive visual computing in geosciences and reservoir engineering

Abstract

Visual computing technologies enable more intuitive data modelling, visualization and analysis, facilitating these processes by real-time interactive visual interfaces. These technologies are essential for software in the oil and gas industry, allowing users to gain insights and actionable information when dealing with increasingly complex, multidisciplinary datasets and processes. In the context of the oil and gas industry, interactive visual computing should also scale well with the growing data size and other components of a data analytics pipeline. We present key problems and challenges motivating the research and development of scalable and interactive visual computing systems, followed by a classification of the most important research themes and related topics. Eleven case studies developed with the industry are also presented, highlighting the main cutting edge findings, limitations and achievements.

Fundamental controls on fluid flow in carbonates: current workflows to emerging technologies

“…These techniques include the design of experiments and novel multiscale visualization techniques that enable the fusion and blending of different data sources (e.g. LiDAR (light detection and ranging), petrophysical models and saturation distributions) for multiple geological models (Sousa et al 2014) (Fig. 2).…”

“…The work by Sousa et al (2014) shows how novel interactions can be facilitated using interactive display surfaces to explore and visualize reservoir simulation models in a collaborative environment. For example, rather than using mouse-based operations, intuitive touch-based operations allow us to display different reservoir properties, to rotate and zoom into reservoir models or to create cross-sections through models (Fig.…”

“…As Sousa et al (2014) show, there are intuitive and interactive approaches to rapidly generate and modify geological surfaces from a variety of input data including seismic data, outcrops, wells or even blank screens, the so-called sketch-based interface modelling (SBIM) (Fig. 10).…”

“…Hui et al 2008;Dogru et al 2009;Carrillat et al 2010;Aissaoui & Moreno 2013;Clara et al 2013). New techniques are required to visualize and analyse the overwhelming amounts of input and output data (Dogru et al 2011;Sousa et al 2014). Another challenge is to use different data sources (e.g.…”

“…The right people just happened to be in the right place at the right time to link production data to geological and fluid information. We suggest that there is an opportunity for industry to be more proactive in the design of subsurface experiments, building on the strengthening platforms for real-time reservoir monitoring in digital oilfields (Dogru et al 2011;Gomez et al 2013;Al-Jasmi et al 2014;Sousa et al 2014). There will always be an argument that each experiment is a special case that cannot be applied elsewhere and will generate more questions than answers.…”