Title of Paper:

Integrating Gas Exploration Data into GIS

(Local experience in South Rub Al-Khali desert)
(04 April 2007)


Authors:
Name Position E-Mail
Ali Madan Al-Ali Junior Geomatician (GIS and Data
Management Technical Assistant)
Ali.Al-Ali@srak.com.sa
Nick Kent Senior Geomatician N.Kent@srak.com.sa
Address: South Rub Al-Khali Company Limited - P.O. Box 20801 Al-Khobar 31952


Abstract:
The paper gives a brief overview of the South Rub Al-Khali Company
Limited (SRAK) and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in oil and
gas exploration. It describes the overall exploration operation activities within
SRAK. The study then focuses on describing the project of integrating the
exploration seismic tapes and optical media database into a GIS environment.
The paper starts by describing the Company, its project and area of work. After
that, the paper identifies the varying data sources and technology used to
acquire the data. The paper then discusses the project of integrating the
exploration Seismic Tapes and Optical Media (STOM) System into GIS, enabling
a user to accurately and efficiently view, track and query the data in a spatial
environment. The paper identifies some benefits and challenges related to this
project and compare between two technical configuration strategies. The paper
finally concludes with the lessons learned and future role and development of
GIS within SRAK.

Keywords:
GIS, Oil and Gas Exploration, Tapes, Seismic, Media
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TABLE OF CONTENT

I. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 2
II. BACKGROUND ABOUT SOUTH RUB AL-KHALI COMPANY (SRAK) LIMITED ...................... 2
III. USE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) IN OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION4
IV. SRAK EXPLORATION OPERATIONS............................................................................................... 4
V. SRAK GIS AND EXPLORATION DATA MANAGEMENT ................................................................ 5
V.I DATA SOURCES AND MEDIA ................................................................................................................ 5
V.II ABOUT SRAK TAPE AND OPTICAL MEDIA (STOM) SYSTEM ............................................................ 6
V.III INTEGRATING STOM INTO GIS ......................................................................................................... 7
Overall objectives ............................................................................................................................... 7
GIS map display .................................................................................................................................. 8
Basic interfacing process ................................................................................................................... 8
Benefits and enhancement ................................................................................................................ 8
Real cases ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Technical Configuration ................................................................................................................... 10
Challenges & Obstacles................................................................................................................... 11
Future role and development .......................................................................................................... 11
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................ 12
ACKNOWLEDGMENT .............................................................................................................................. 12
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 13









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Paper Body:

I. Introduction
The acquisition, interpretation and management of geospatial data is
critical to exploration and GIS technologies in particular can provide
tremendous value for oil and gas exploration. The paper will give a brief study
about local experience conducted by South Rub al-Khali Company (SRAK)
Limited in using GIS capabilities for oil and gas exploration purposes. After
describing the company and its business, the paper will explain GIS system in
SRAK with exploration operations and data management in more details.

II. Background about South Rub al-Khali Company (SRAK) Limited
The South Rub al-Khali Company Limited (SRAK) is an incorporated Joint
Venture formed on 17th December 2003 by Shell Saudi Ventures Limited (40%
share), Saudi Arabian Oil Company (30% share) and Total Ventures Saudi
Arabia (30% share) to explore for GAS in the South Rub Al-Khali Basin in
accordance with the South Rub Al-Khali Upstream Project Agreement (UPA)
between the shareholders and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(KSA). SRAK formally commenced operations on the 26th January 2004, the
day that marks the effective date of the First Exploration Period (FEP) of five
years duration.

SRAKs business objectives are as follows:

To explore for, and commercially develop, non-associated
gas, condensate and Natural Gas Liquids) in the Contract
Areas awarded to the Company under the terms of the
UPA.

To build a sustainable long-term business in the Kingdom
through the development of business relationships with
key stakeholders (the Government, Ministry of Petroleum
and Mineral Resources, the joint venture partners and
others).

SRAKs Contract Areas cover 209,160 km, which equivalent to the
surface area of Great Britain. The SRAK Contract Areas are located in the
southern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and cover a large part of the South
Rub al Khali Basin. The exploration area is split into two groups of blocks,
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Contract Area 1 (Blocks 82-85) that borders the UAE to the north and Oman to
the east and Contract Area 2 (Blocks 5-9) that border Yemen to the south. (See
Figure: 1 below)


By year-end 2006, SRAK has completed more than 18,050 km of 2D
seismic. In addition the company has completed, deployed and tested a variety
new technologies that are designed to help it identify the most prospective areas
in its huge exploration acreage.

SRAK is staffed by a combination of technical and managerial staff
seconded from the shareholder companies and full time employees. There is a
strong emphasis on hiring and developing Saudi Arabian nationals.

SRAK is fully committed to executing all of its activities in line with its
Statement of General Business Principles, its Health, Safety and Environmental
Standards and Policies and its Security Guidelines and in conformance with
requirements and standards of both its shareholders and the Saudi Arabian

Figure 1: SRAK contract area
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Government. In this way SRAK aim to have an HSE performance that can earn
the confidence of customers, shareholders and society at large, to be a good
neighbor and to contribute to sustainable development.

III. Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in oil and gas
exploration
Exploration requires the analysis of a lot of different types of data such as
satellite imagery, digital aerial photo mosaics, seismic surveys, surface geology
studies, subsurface and cross section interpretations and images, well logs, and
existing infrastructure information. In conjunction with specialized data
interpretation software, GIS can tie this data together to the location in question
and allows overlying, viewing, and manipulating the data in the form of a map to
thoroughly analyze the potential for finding new oil or gas prospect. Seismic
operations and exploration wells can produce significant amount of data that
need to be given proper management using advanced technologies such as GIS
to utilize this data through producing knowledge and making more informative
decisions. Oil and gas exploration for hydrocarbons is a map intensive process
that needs the powerful abilities of GIS. Over 80% of oil and gas data is said to
have a spatial context (2). The GIS can show what projects have been
performed in the area, what seismic lines and well assets the company has in
the area. In fact, a lot of the high-level data analysis work for exploration can be
done with GIS. Because of this, exploration data imported into GIS need always
to be accurate and up to the date.


IV. SRAK Exploration Operations
The exploration seismic operation
consists of three main phases that are:
planning, data acquisition and data
interpretation. After surveying the
proposed area in the planning phase, the
seismic data acquisition process consists
of a source that sends energy waves into
the ground, land seismic exploration
commonly utilizes vibrators for this
purpose. (See Figure 2) The waves are
reflected back from the subsurface
structures and will be recorded using
thousands of small and very sensitive
geophones, the data will be transferred

Figure 2: SRAK vibrator in the field
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through cables to the recording instruments and stored on magnetic tapes.
SRAK tape management system will be discussed in more details later in the
report. The field data received on tapes and optical media needs to be
processed in the next phase at the companys processing center or with a sub-
contractor. After that, the evaluation department interprets the processed data
into an image of the subsurface structures using specialized software to assist in
the identification of the most suitable places for drilling oil and gas wells.

In addition to the newly acquired data, SRAK has also processed and re-
processed more than 42,000 km of seismic data. Moreover, SRAK has had data
produced using other exploration technologies such as: low frequency
spectroscopy and magneto telluric. All of these exploration technologies produce
large quantity of data.

V. SRAK GIS and Exploration Data Management
The main objective of the GIS system within SRAK is to support different
departments that include Geophysical Operations, Evaluation and Drilling. Also,
the system supports SRAK partners, contractors and other departments. As we
mentioned before, oil and gas exploration is a map/data intensive process that
needs a continuous GIS support such as positioning QC for new seismic data
and wells, ensuring the geo-integrity of legacy data and administering all geo-
referenced data. All this will help in producing more expressive maps that will
provide significant support to the companys critical decision-making. Next, data
sources, media and format will be described before discussing the exploration
data management in more details.

V.I Data Sources and Media
In addition to the old 2D seismic data received from Saudi Aramco and
Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, SRAK operated five seismic crews
during the period (October, 2004 to December, 2006) that were producing the
new 2D seismic data on a daily basis. The data includes also gravity, uphole and
geodetic control data. Other data comes from the joint venture partners and
other external studies. The satellite imagery used were LandSat7 and high
resolution QuickBird and Aster.

Wells are considered as an important source of data as the company
started and expanded the drilling process. Also, there is an opportunity of further
large volumes of data if the company decided on conducting the 3D seismic
acquisition in the future.

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The SEGD field data is usually stored on 3490 or 3590 magnetic tapes
while CD and DVD optical media are used for storing other support data such as
observer logs, SPS, gravity, and survey data. All these data should be stored
and transported in a very safe condition and then archived into SRAK Tape and
Optical Media (STOM) system.

V.II About SRAK Tape and Optical Media (STOM) System
SRAK nature of work includes transferring a lot of seismic and other data
between various parties such as partners, contractors and government agencies.
STOM is an in-house system developed by Geomatics and Data Management
section within SRAK to keep track of all tapes and optical media related to SRAK
Geo-technical data. The system was developed using MS Access. Scope of the
system covers all types of data such as 2D & 3D seismic data, Drilling data, Low
Frequency data, Magneto Telluric data and any other type of data with any
format or media. STOM is a relational database that replaced the old excel sheet
for performing the following tasks:

Archive details of all 2D seismic and other tapes and keep track of the
current location of each tape.
Archive details of all SRAK geo-technical optical media (CDs & DVDs)
and keep track of the current location of each optical media.
Keep Track of all media movements history between SRAK, its partners,
its contractors and other parties.
Make effective search inquiries and produce useful reports.
Develop and configure a visual and interactive STOM-GIS interface.

STOM is a relational object-oriented DB consists of several main tables in the
backend that are: Tape Media, Optical Media, Share Media, Line and Movement
Tracking. In addition to the other secondary less important tables, there are also
some bridge entity tables that are Tape Line and CD Line. Most of these tables
are linked to each other using 1 to many or 1 to 1 relationships.

Importing or updating large batches of data in STOM is done using SQL
language codes while the normal data entry is done through the regular STOM
Graphical User Interface (GUI). The main screen of STOM interface shows main
four parts that are: Tape Media, Optical Media, Media Movements and Reports.
Tape Media is the main entry for SRAK seismic tape media archive while Optical
Media is the main entry for SRAK optical media archive. Because of the
relational DB design, any tape or optical media entry can have whatever quantity
of related seismic lines without duplicating the records in the actual backend
tables. This design leads to efficient and accurate inquiries capabilities. The third
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entry Media Movements records the details of all media movements history
including date of move and move purpose. The "Reports entry allows
performing virtual tour between the racks in the layout of tape and optical media
store for a very easy pointing and extracting any information about any data
needed from the store. This was done by applying simple GIS idea into STOM by
presenting the actual store layout with clickable racks in the GUI. So, the user
can click on any rack for identifying all details of the tapes or optical media stored
at that specific rack and know the physical location of the rack in the store at the
same time. Then, the user can get his specific request after applying several
filters. He can finally click on the Door for getting out from the store. This
technique can be applied for different stores as separate entries such as the
store of the backup data. Also, "Reports has other three entries, two for tracking
tapes and optical media movements history and one for displaying line details.
Other several secondary sub forms are used within these main forms.

V.III Integrating STOM into GIS
Integrating STOM into GIS will address important issues related to accuracy
and confidentiality in the process of transferring exploration data between
different parties. Accuracy is performed by the easy extracting of the correct and
required data only while confidentiality is performed when no extra data out side
the specified area can be incorrectly sent out. Also, there is so much
enhancement to the decision quality caused by this STOM-GIS link in decisions
related to identifying and extracting the correct data for a proposed copying,
processing or reprocessing projects. This enhancement includes a lot of cost and
time saving from the copying and processing expenses and effort. For Example,
no need to process a complete seismic line if it is very long as it is easy and
enough to identify and process only the area of interest from this line by lower
cost. Also, the needed data is identified and obtained more efficiently. This link is
much more important to apply for petroleum ministries, JV companies, large oil
and gas companies and contactors companies that includes a lot of data transfer
and processing and critical decisions making.

Overall objectives

After successful development and implementation of STOM system, the
overall objective of this STOM-GIS integration project is to make a foundation for
an effective spatial use and manipulation of STOM data. This use will utilize
STOM data by practicing advanced analysis and decision support for various
activities such as observing, tracking and processing different projects.


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GIS map display

GIS map display shall include the following key layers: contract area blocks,
all new and old 2D seismic lines, proposed wells, oil and gas prospectives,
international boarders, main roads and any other needed data.

Basic interfacing process

Basic visual map interfacing process within GIS can be described as of the
below points:
- Clicking using the identify tool on a line or portion of will display list of
all types of data and media related to this line or the portion of it.
- Graphically selecting several lines or clipping specific geographic area
that contains portions of several lines will display list of all types of data
and media related to this specific geographic area.
- Another way after displaying detail list of the tapes for example, clicking
on any tape will indicate flash on the map the line or portion of it related
to this specific tape (this opposite process when the data ID is known).
- Also, different methodologies of data (media) visual inquiries can be
performed by filtering through data type, media type, contractor name,
date of creation, block area, media location, acquisition type and many
other features.

Benefits and enhancement

Examples of additional benefits and enhancements form the STOM-GIS link
are described below:

- Clipping specific area & displaying filtered data related to that specific
area.
- Projects tracking through the monthly or weekly maps that show the
status of the projects related to processing or copying seismic data.
- Graphically, identify gaps in some lines that the data was not acquired or
not yet received from the field contractor.
- Graphically, identify lines with specific criteria such as lines that are in
the processing center and plan accordingly for the next proposed
processing lines and shipments.
- GIS will help in the QC of STOM data. For example, will identify that
some records in STOM has no line reference due to entry miss.
- This link will help in getting very accurate evaluation in pricing and
bidding for copying and processing projects instead for example,
evaluating using # of tapes criteria only.

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However, utilizing the available GIS infrastructure increases much more at
the advanced phases of the exploration process as the need for more precise
answers to the spatial inquiries is increased a lot. For example, the decision of
specifying the exact location of a proposed exploration well that will cost more
than SR 100 millions is very critical and utilizing the powerful abilities of the GIS
tool.

Real cases

Several real cases described below can give more clarification to how
effective is the use of the STOM-GIS link:

- Case 1: SRAK received legacy seismic data for more than 900 old lines
from Saudi Aramco. This data was created and acquired in the period
between 1968 and 1998. For evaluation purposes, one of the
geophysicist requested a map for the whole exploration area with several
layers that use symbology feature for classifying the legacy lines by
colors on a decades basis. The year of acquisition for the legacy lines
was not provided from the source. Applying the STOM-GIS link in this
case solved the problem as the tapes year of creation available in STOM
Geodatabase and we could use this for symbolizing legacy lines on the
requested map.

- Case 2: Some of the local research institutes made special data
requests from SRAK related to specific area or some times SRAK wants
to process some of its data in other agencies outside the country. For
example, SRAK is in the process of providing King Abdulaziz City For
Science and Technology (KACST) all field data for a specific seismic
line. Because of the STOM-GIS link, it was easy to extract list of data
related to that line and display it on the same map that shows the line
with an inset map that zoom into the line and shows the upholes
locations. This map then can be attached to the shipment for precise
clarification.

- Case 3: One of SRAKs contractors was holding some acquisition and
processing projects. The field acquisition group finished the work a few
months before the processing center group. At that time, the acquisition
group sent all of the field data back to SRAK. Few months later, the
processing center group finished the processing work and starts sending
back whatever remaining from the processing data with them to SRAK.
Unexpectedly at that time, the contractor discovered 141 CDs of the
acquisition original field data that was not returned. If this was not
discovered, this means the company losses 141 CDs of the valuable and
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important data. Comprehensive Implementation of the STOM-GIS link
can overcome such a mistake by a simple visual mapping and save the
company from losing the value of their big investment.

- Case 4: In case of reconciliation and finishing the exploration project in
SRAK contract area with the Saudi government. At that time, it will be
better to give the ministry of petroleum the data in the most efficient and
useful format. If the ministry accepted and applied this data in the
geodatabase format, this will assist them when they are later exchanging
or selling part of the same concession area to other new exploration
companies. If the ministry utilizes this STOM-GIS link, it will handle the
data more easily and accurately and it will increase the quality in the
decision-making process.

Technical Configuration