ABSTRACT: Operation Database Petroleum GIS Results: Evaluation and Application of Geographic Information Systems to Exploration and Production

Charles C. Fried, Jay E. Leonard

FACT: Maps are the principle graphic tool used in exploration and production.

FACT: The geographic information systems (GIS) industry exceeds $250 million annually providing powerful mapping tools to a variety of disciplines.

FACT: Geographic information systems are infrequently used in exploration and production, which represents less than 2% of the total GIS sphere.

Therefore, Operation Database Petroleum GIS, sponsored by AAPG's Geobyte and the National Computer Graphics Association, was conceived as an information exchange between the petroleum industry and GIS vendors to address this disparity.

The objective of the database was to communicate petroleum industry requirements to GIS vendors and to demonstrate the potential of GIS to the petroleum industry. Requirements, in the form of data and problems, were developed by an industry group representing major and independent oil companies. The problems included base map, well, seismic, lease, transportation, topographic, three-dimensional, and remote sensing exercises. Data included scout well data, directional surveys, production histories, seismic shot-point locations and interpretive times, geologic interpretations (tops and structure and isopach maps), leases, topography, well logs, remote sensing images, gravity contours, and geographic reference information. Over 120 GIS vendors were offered a chance to participate, and ne rly 20 engaged in the exercises. This talk will focus on the process, results, and conclusions of Operation Database Petroleum GIS.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990