Abstract: A Prototype for Computer Management of Petroleum Data and Generation of Maps and Sections Using 4th Dimension

Don E. French, J. Duncan McBane

A commercial relational database program available for Macintosh and Windows-based computers known as 4th Dimension, has been adapted for use as a tool for storage, manipulation, and presentation of petroleum industry data. The database organization, input and output layouts, and manipulation routines are collectively referred to as WellFile4. Well data, land-survey data, production statistics, and stratigraphic information can be entered into the database from the keyboard or by importing files purchased from data vendors. The data can then be organized into files that can be searched and sorted based upon user-defined criteria. Selected subsets of data can be printed in various custom report formats. A graphics-editing module, 4D Draw, is used to generate maps, cross sections, and borehole-completion profiles. Maps can incorporate well-header information, formation tops, isopach values, or production data. Production data can also be presented as a bubble map. Maps can also include data selected from tables generated by a spreadsheet module, 4D Calc. Seismic-time values can be treated with appropriate velocity functions using the spreadsheet to derive depth values for posting to the base map. Structural or stratigraphic cross sections can be generated by selecting wells or seismic shot points from a map, and vertical exaggeration can be determined by the user. Maps can be modified extensively by the user before printing or plotting, and can be saved as a document that can be opened by other programs. Production statistics can be compiled based upon location, stratigraphic interval, or other criteria into a single set of data and presented as a chart or table. These can be printed or saved as a text file for use by other spreadsheet or chart-generation programs.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90952©1996 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Billings, Montana