The application of advanced visualization technologies to seismic quality control has paid dividends.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., one of the world's largest independent petroleum exploration and production companies, deployed a large-scale advanced visualization system in its Woodlands, Texas, corporate headquarters in 2002. The system, known as IDEA Labs (Image Delivery for Enhanced Awareness) consists of seven workroom environments spread throughout the building and one large, centrally-located theater-scale installation. The IDEA labs use a variety of computing and projection platforms to allow maximum flexibility within the E&P workflow. Staff have leveraged the available technologies in many ways, some of which have been unanticipated.

The most widely discussed geotechnical workflow for advanced visualization is interpretation, followed by reservoir management and well bore planning. These tasks are well-suited to large scale projection and computing facilities. They are not, however, the only workflow components that can be greatly enhanced by collaborative visualization. In particular, Anadarko geoscientists have had tremendous success using their environments for quality control (QC) of seismic data before the interpretation process ever begins. Collaborative workflow in the IDEA labs has enhanced the QC process across a variety of projects all over the world, allowing technical specialists more time with better data for determining the best approach to a survey area.

In 2003, Anadarko contracted a 183-sq-mile (475-sq-km), 3-D seismic survey covering the Ansley and Vernon fields located in Jackson Parish, La. Previous seismic data in the area was limited to a loose grid of generally poor-quality 2-D lines and a handful of vertical seismic profiles (VSPs). Though the area was not previously considered a candidate for a 3-D survey, the asset team and geophysical specialists felt strongly that the investment in new data would pay off through better optimized expansion of the fields. The main objectives for the new survey included the development of a better understanding of the Ansley field and the Vernon analog and the avoidance of errors in fault interpretation, which could have a serious negative impact on the estimated ultimate recovery for wells in the field.

The seismic processing group at Anadarko faced several challenges with the survey. The data was heavily contaminated with multiples, near-surface variations caused variations in amplitude, and there were areas of the survey with surface-generated noise. In addition, the fields were already under development, with wells spudding on a regular basis, making quick turnaround a necessity. Through the combination of a "fast track" system of data delivery from the seismic acquisition and the collaborative nature of the workflow around the IDEA systems, Anadarko was able to significantly decrease the time around the QC and initial evaluation of the data from this survey.

The team decided to split the survey into three parts, processing each part as it was acquired. The processing itself followed a "fast-track" process, an accelerated data technique that uses a simplified processing workflow. This allowed the geoscientists to have access to each of the three portions of the data much faster than a normal processing workflow. The finalized survey, comprising all three sections, included a final pass of velocity analysis and prestack time migration. Time saved in the processing steps allowed a faster interpretation and better optimization of well locations in the ongoing field development.

Phase 1: Data acquisition

The shoot began in January of 2003 with PGS as the contractor. Fairfield processed the data according to the fast-track process agreed upon with Anadarko. The fast-track data process brought data in for QC by the Anadarko team very early in the survey. QC of the data took place in the IDEA labs, where a small group, including geophysical specialists and members of the Ansley team, went over the data together as soon as it arrived at Anadarko. The team scanned inline and crossline sections as well as time slices of arbitrary lines of data, tying in well data from the existing field. They then applied an in-house interpretive processing step, enhancing the data. This critical step revealed problems in the data itself, including an incorrect selection of velocity that enhanced the multiples and obscured primary reflectors in the data. The early detection of this error allowed the survey workflow to be corrected before the rest of the data had been gathered, saving more time in the overall workflow.

Phase 2: Data review

The IDEA labs were also used to review the new 3-D survey data with interested parties throughout Anadarko. This survey, the largest onshore 3-D ever undertaken by Anadarko, drew the attention of many outside the expected audience of those working the field. As the new data were brought in-house, more and more people wanted to see the data and comment on it. Initially conceived as a series of short ad hoc reviews for the geologists and engineers working the Ansley and Vernon fields and a few geophysical specialists, the reviews grew to attract the attention of staff who had worked the fields in previous years and of managers interested to see the results of the investment in 3-D data over an onshore producing asset.

The collaborative workflow in the IDEA labs allowed many eyes to see and discuss the data together and for the data to be manipulated in real time using the latest volumetric interpretation software. These sessions, held over several days, provided the team with excellent insight about the field and the data from multiple points of view.

Phase 3: Management review and decision-making

After the initial QC and data review, the team was ready to present the survey results to the senior management team. The review was held in the large IDEA Theater, configured with seating for 30 people. The large projection environment with multiple computing platforms allowed the team to show a combination of real-time data and finished MS Power Point presentations in addition to using the available wall space to display highlight maps.

The enhanced technology setting of the theater encouraged strong storytelling from the team and allowed senior management to develop an understanding of the Ansley and Vernon fields that would have been difficult to achieve using the standard paper-based committee review process. This early buy-in allowed the asset team greater confidence as it proposed new well locations for the ongoing expansion of the field. Team members believe the enhanced collaborative process using the IDEA labs allowed them to find and gain approval for 15 to 20 more well locations than they would have discovered without the improved workflow.

The IDEA theater review of the Ansley-Vernon survey data was so successful that it was later repeated as a teaching exercise for the greater Anadarko geophysical community. The workflow established by the asset team and the geophysical specialists working the data has created a new standard of practice for survey QC and review.

Other areas of application

While the process outlined above for the Ansley-Vernon 3-D survey shows a complete, successful workflow for data QC using collaborative visualization, it is far from the only example of Anadarko's use of this technique. The IDEA labs have also been leveraged into the workflow around the merging of offshore 3-D surveys, allowing staff to analyze the seams between the data and checking for scaling, frequency matching and phase matching among datasets. The large screens and collaborative environments speed the process and improve the overall evaluation. The Anadarko Alaska team also has used the collaborative visualization process to enhance the decision-making process in the comparison of multiple volumes of prestack depth migration data.

Overall, the collaborative advanced visualization workflow using the IDEA labs has allowed Anadarko staff to work effectively with a range of seismic data and complex QC procedures. Asset teams, geophysical specialists and senior managers are able to come together through the lab environments to communicate about the data, creating enhanced competitive advantage through high-quality results turned around in a time-sensitive manner. The success of the Ansley-Vernon team and their seismic QC process highlights one of Anadarko's successes in pushing collaborative visualization into new areas of the E&P business.