--> Abstract: Applications of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data in Petroleum Exploration from Global to Submeter Scale Using Google Earth Enterprise Solution, by Allison K. Thurmond, Ole J. Martinsen, Jakob Skogseid, and Dylan Lorimer; #90078 (2008)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Applications of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data in Petroleum Exploration from Global to Submeter Scale Using Google Earth Enterprise Solution

Allison K. Thurmond1, Ole J. Martinsen1, Jakob Skogseid1, and Dylan Lorimer2
1StatoilHydro, Bergen, Norway
2Google, Mountain view, CA

The acquisition and use of high resolution imagery, digital elevation models (DEM) and spatial vector data has become of great value for hydrocarbon exploration because of the need for easy access to and rapid 3D viewing capabilities of spatial datasets. It is also important that the solution have the capability to expand into an interpretation tool rather than a pure visualization tool.

The Google Earth Enterprise Solution software has led to the successful creation of a viewable database or globe that contains imagery, terrain and vector data that is relevant and applicable to proprietary local and international interests. Though the database is viewed using the standard Google Earth client, the Google Earth Enterprise Solution is proprietary and secured and only accessible from within the in-house network. This allows for access to company-relevant spatial data within seconds. The impact of the in-house Google Earth Enterprise Solution has led to its evolution from a visualization tool to an integration and application tool. Workflows are being established to automate the integration of proprietary GIS data into the system. Standalone GUI applications are being created to interface with the in-house flyable database for more dynamic interaction with and interpretation of the datasets.

Applications include field campaign planning and tracking, onshore seismic planning, vertical section viewing and animation of geological time sequences. The integration of the proprietary high resolution imagery and terrain datasets with in-house specific vector data has become a powerful proven tool within research, exploration and production.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas