p0180

July 8, 2003
2003 ESRI User Conference
San Diego, California
PushingPushing GISGIS into the Fabric of theinto the Fabric of the
OrganizationOrganization
Bernie South, Mike Sullivan, Joe Paul, Jesse MooreBernie South, Mike Sullivan, Joe Paul, Jesse Moore
ExxonMobilExxonMobil Exploration CompanyExploration Company
Business DevelopmentBusiness Development
Regional Studies GroupRegional Studies Group

AbstractAbstract
PushingPushing GISGIS Technology Into the Fabric of the OrganizationTechnology Into the Fabric of the Organization
Bernard C. South, Michael A. Sullivan, Joseph B. Paul & Jesse D. MooreBernard C. South, Michael A. Sullivan, Joseph B. Paul & Jesse D. Moore
ExxonMobilExxonMobil Exploration Company, New Business DevelopmentExploration Company, New Business Development
233233 BenmarBenmar DriveDrive
Houston, Texas 77060Houston, Texas 77060
Many business organizations utilizeMany business organizations utilize GISGIS as a means of capturing, managingas a means of capturing, managing
and delivering spatial data. Usingand delivering spatial data. Using GISGIS as anas an ‘‘information kioskinformation kiosk’’ has in somehas in some
instances caused it to be perceived as a peripheral service function, separateinstances caused it to be perceived as a peripheral service function, separate
from the core technical work process of the company.from the core technical work process of the company.
This paper discusses techniques developed as a result of regular use ofThis paper discusses techniques developed as a result of regular use of GISGIS byby
multi-disciplinary explorationmulti-disciplinary exploration geosciencegeoscience professionals in a project teamprofessionals in a project team
environment. Based on many years of experience we have implemented aenvironment. Based on many years of experience we have implemented a
series of compilation, collaboration, synthesis and analysis tools that integrateseries of compilation, collaboration, synthesis and analysis tools that integrate
seamlessly into the business ofseamlessly into the business of geotechnicalgeotechnical evaluation of regional geologyevaluation of regional geology
play mapping.play mapping.

TopicsTopics
Nature of modern petroleumNature of modern petroleum geosciencegeoscience
Use of Arc technology as a multi-disciplinary collaborationUse of Arc technology as a multi-disciplinary collaboration
and synthesis tooland synthesis tool
Examples of useful techniquesExamples of useful techniques
Observations and tips for more effective useObservations and tips for more effective use
ofof GISGIS technologytechnology
Data Source:
http://emcorp.na.xom.com/corpcit/resources/Classroom%20Presentations/exploration3.ppt

Some Basic ConceptsSome Basic Concepts
Exploration for oil and gas is a 4 dimensional problemExploration for oil and gas is a 4 dimensional problem
X,Y,Z, and timeX,Y,Z, and time
At its core explorationAt its core exploration geosciencegeoscience is trying to understand the basic equation of:is trying to understand the basic equation of:
Known hydrocarbon occurrence = f(geologic variables)Known hydrocarbon occurrence = f(geologic variables)
Petroleum geologists try to drawPetroleum geologists try to draw correlationscorrelations between mapped geology andbetween mapped geology and
known hydrocarbon occurrences in order to extrapolate that understanding intoknown hydrocarbon occurrences in order to extrapolate that understanding into
finding new fieldsfinding new fields
In industry terms, a temporal grouping of these variables is often referred to asIn industry terms, a temporal grouping of these variables is often referred to as
aa ““PLAYPLAY”” (e.g. Cretaceous Reef Talus Play)(e.g. Cretaceous Reef Talus Play)
Individual mapped layers in aIndividual mapped layers in a ““PLAYPLAY”” are referred to asare referred to as ““PLAY ELEMENTSPLAY ELEMENTS””
reservoirreservoir
structurestructure
hydrocarbon charge (source, maturation, migration)hydrocarbon charge (source, maturation, migration)
Successful exploration inSuccessful exploration in geosciencegeoscience requires and understanding of these playrequires and understanding of these play
elements in both their spatial and temporal dimensionselements in both their spatial and temporal dimensions
Data Source:
http://emcorp.na.xom.com/corpcit/resources/Classroom%20Presentations/questall.ppt

Simple Timing Diagram of Play ElementsSimple Timing Diagram of Play Elements
Data Source:
400 300 200 100 Geologic Time
Scale
Petroleum
System Events
Rock Units
Source Rock
Reservoir Rock
Seal Rock
Trap Formation
Overburden Rock
Gen/Migration/Accum
Preservation
Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic
D M P P TR
J K P N
ElementsElements
ProcessesProcesses
Simple Basic ConceptsSimple Basic Concepts
Critical MomentCritical Moment

Simple Basic ConceptsSimple Basic Concepts
Single layer mapping of theSingle layer mapping of the
subsurface play elements:subsurface play elements:
Source rocksSource rocks
Reservoir rocksReservoir rocks
Multiple structural horizonsMultiple structural horizons
Timing relationships between playTiming relationships between play
elements:elements:
Reservoir depositionReservoir deposition
Structuring of subsurfaceStructuring of subsurface
Source rock maturationSource rock maturation
Hydrocarbon migrationHydrocarbon migration
Data Source:Data Source:
http://http://emcorpemcorp..nana..xomxom.com/.com/corpcitcorpcit/resources/Classroom%20Presentations/exploration3./resources/Classroom%20Presentations/exploration3.pptppt

Regional Geology:Regional Geology:
The Broadest of Geoscience Areas of StudyThe Broadest of Geoscience Areas of Study
Listing of some of the major topics:Listing of some of the major topics:
Structural GeologyStructural Geology
StratigraphyStratigraphy -- SedimentologySedimentology
GeomorphologyGeomorphology
Reservoir QualityReservoir Quality
GeochemistryGeochemistry
Basin History ModelingBasin History Modeling
Hydrocarbon MigrationHydrocarbon Migration
Gravity -Gravity - MagneticsMagnetics - Remote Sensing- Remote Sensing
GeophysicsGeophysics
ReflectionReflection
RefractionRefraction
TomographyTomography
PaleogeographyPaleogeography
Plate Tectonics and PlatePlate Tectonics and Plate ReconstructionsReconstructions
AssessmentAssessment
Operations GeologyOperations Geology
PetrophysicsPetrophysics and Well Log Analysisand Well Log Analysis

Regional Geology:Regional Geology:
The Broadest ofThe Broadest of GeoscienceGeoscience Areas of StudyAreas of Study
Structural GeologyStructural Geology
StratigraphyStratigraphy -- SedimentologySedimentology
GeomorphologyGeomorphology
Reservoir QualityReservoir Quality
GeochemistryGeochemistry
Basin History ModelingBasin History Modeling
Hydrocarbon MigrationHydrocarbon Migration
Gravity -Gravity - MagneticsMagnetics - Remote- Remote
SensingSensing
GeophysicsGeophysics
ReflectionReflection
RefractionRefraction
TomographyTomography
PaleogeographyPaleogeography
Plate Tectonics and PlatePlate Tectonics and Plate
ReconstructionsReconstructions
Operations GeologyOperations Geology
PetrophysicsPetrophysics and Well Log Analysisand Well Log Analysis
Greatest Challenge of all:Greatest Challenge of all:
Integration and SynthesisIntegration and Synthesis
GISGIS Provides the VehicleProvides the Vehicle

Generalized Work ProcessGeneralized Work Process
Visualize Visualize
ProcessProcess
Retrieve
Locate Interpret Analyze Document Organize Store
Capture
PeoplePeople
Geoscience
Support Support

Common Collaboration
& Synthesis Environment
GIS technology adopted into work
process by geoscience
professionals
with a variety of backgrounds
Bernie South
Exploration/Production
“Regional Geology-Assessment”
19 years
Michael Dolan
Exploration
“Geochemistry-Basin modeler”
3 years
Doug Leyden
“ Stratigraphy”
20 years
Robert Ferderer
“Gravity-Magnetics-Seismic ”
12 years
Joe Paul
“Stratigraphy”
18 years
Jesse Moore
Exploration
“Regional Geology ”
2 years
Integration
- “live” on screen mapping
- focused discussions
Pontification Session
Final Product - Fully integrated
geological story
Sheet 10 Exxon Tectonic Map of the World 1985

Houston
London
Melbourne
Stavanger
Anchorage
Lagos
Jakarta
Rio De Janeiro
Geoscientists in various
countries can expect data
organized in a consistent
and predicable manner
Exploration is a
Global Business
Coverages
Grids
Images
Text
Area
specific
Company-wide -standard table structure
13 standard INFO table
structures used for ALL
company ARC-based
geoscience data sets
Standardization
after Mazzo &
Burroughs,2000

GeoregistrationGeoregistration and Image Managementand Image Management
Geological Map Compilation
- Company reports
- Primary data
- Published literature*
All data integrated
within GIS
environment
Geo-registered images from reports & literature
Facies
Plate Reconstruction
map iteration
using pre-rift
reconstruction model
Granata, G. E. 1981. Regional sedimentation of the Late Triassic Dockum Group, West Texas and eastern New Mexico,. M.Sc. U T Austin.
Klitgord, K. D., P. Popenoe, & H. Schouten, 1984, Florida; a Jurassic transform plate boundary: JGR v. 89, p. 7753-7772.
Randazzo, A., F., & Jones, D., S., 1997, The geology of Florida, Ed. Randazzo, A.F., and Jones, D.S., University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 327 p.
Salvador, A., 1991, Triassic-Jurassic, in A. Salvador, Ed., The Gulf of Mexico Basin, DNAG Geol. Soc. Am., p. 131-180.
* References

Continually upgrade quality of databases with new imaging technologies
Circa 90’s paper map of
structural features
(folds & thrusts)
Map of structural features
overlain on 30m landsat
- clear positional & interpretation
error
Features re-interpreted
according to landsat
- enhance structural models
- improve trap count & size
Data Source:
GroundGround TruthingTruthing HeritageHeritage DatasetsDatasets

•All non-digital seismic data
(.TIFF) collected from published
literature, geo-referenced and
input into “virtual database”
•Query using ArcView “hot-link
or Geodesk (EMEC proprietary
•software)
•Used to constrain structural
•style & trap definition/risking
•Provided supplement to wells
database - variable positional
accuracy
Seismic data: Buffler, R. T., Shaub, F. J., Watkins, J. S. &
Worzel, J. L. 1979. Anatomy of the Mexican Ridges, SW Gulf of
Mexico. In Geological and Geophysical Investigations of
Continental Margins Mem. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 29, 319-327.
““VirtualVirtual”” Seismic DatabaseSeismic Database

100 Mi.
BU_ID AGE MEAS_DPTH_ VDEPTH VDEPTHSS
1000256 OLIGOCENE 1506 1506 -636
1000256 EOCENE EARLY STAGE 3866 3866 -2996
1000256 MAASTRICHTIAN 7758 7758 -6888
1000256 PRE-CRETACEOUS 8066 8066 -7196
1000256 TOTAL VERT DEPTH (DRIL) 8165 8165 -7295
1000256 CAMBRO-ORDOVICIAN 8066 8066 -7196
1000256 CRETACEOUS 7758 7758 -6888
1000256 EOCENE MIDDLE STAGE 2440 2440 -1570
1000257 CRETACEOUS 13601 13601 -13270
1000257 CAMPANIAN 14608 14608 -14277
1000257 MAASTRICHTIAN 13601 13601 -13270
1000257 EOCENE LATE STAGE 4639 4639 -4308
1000257 PALEOCENE 10676 10676 -10345
1000257 OLIGOCENE 2103 2103 -1772
1000258 MAASTRICHTIAN 7660 7660 -7056
1000258 PALEOCENE 5753 5753 -5149
1000259 OLIGOCENE 2703 2703 -2629
1000259 PALEOCENE 9625 9625 -9551
1000260 CRETACEOUS 7662 7662 -7138
1000260 MAASTRICHTIAN 7662 7662 -7138
1000260 CAMBRO-ORDOVICIAN 7772 7772 -7248
1000260 OLIGOCENE 1455 1455 -931
1000260 PRE-CRETACEOUS 7772 7772 -7248
1000260 PALEOCENE 5802 5802 -5278
1000261 PALEOCENE 5814 5814 -5281
1000261 MAASTRICHTIAN 7653 7653 -7120
Historic Tops File Unique List
of Tops
Reclassified Tops
Filtered, Sorted, and
Joined to coverage
Making vendor and
legacy work for you
Map Constructed from
Reclassified Control Points
Data from Lynx
Data manually
reclassified
117 CRETACEOUS LOWER
26 CRETACEOUS UPPER
239 DEVONIAN
123 DEVONIAN LOWER
1 DEVONIAN MIDDLE
75 DEVONIAN UPPER
2 EOCENE
2458 EOCENE EARLY STAGE
1791 EOCENE LATE STAGE
1609 EOCENE MIDDLE STAGE
154 JURASSIC
7 JURASSIC LOWER
7 JURASSIC MIDDLE
50 JURASSIC UPPER
1 KIMMERIDGIAN
4 L CARBONIFEROUS
7 L CRETACEOUS
5 L DEVONIAN
1 L OLIGOCENE
1 L SILURIAN
107 LWR. OLIGOCENE
1 M SILURIAN
1 M TRIASSIC
1542 MAASTRICHTIAN
3 MESOZOIC UNDIFF
37 MIDDLE PERMIAN
24 MIOCENE
114 MISSISSIPPIAN
1316 OLIGOCENE
CRETACEOUS LOWER CRET
CRETACEOUS UPPER CRET
DEVONIAN DEVO
DEVONIAN LOWER DEVO
DEVONIAN MIDDLE DEVO
DEVONIAN UPPER DEVO
EOCENE EOCENE
EOCENE EARLY STAGE EOCENE
EOCENE LATE STAGE EOCENE
EOCENE MIDDLE STAGE EOCENE
JURASSIC JURAS
JURASSIC LOWER JURAS
JURASSIC MIDDLE JURAS
JURASSIC UPPER JURAS
KIMMERIDGIAN JURAS
L CARBONIFEROUS CARBO
L CRETACEOUS CRET
L DEVONIAN DEVO
L OLIGOCENE OLIGO
L SILURIAN SILUR
LWR. OLIGOCENE OLIGO
M SILURIAN SILUR
M TRIASSIC TRIASS
MAASTRICHTIAN CRET
MESOZOIC UNDIFF MSZ
MIDDLE PERMIAN PERM
MIOCENE MIOCENE
MISSISSIPPIAN CARBO
OLIGOCENE OLIGO
Data ReclassificationData Reclassification

Structure Grid
Grid of Well Penetration Depth
Well Depth (Points) to Grid
Grid conditional & focal mean functions
to extrapolate to 5 KM
Area of Well Penetrations Within 5 KM
Grid conditional function
- create categorical grid
Convert cat. grid to polygons
All Well Locations with
Total Depth Information
Data from IHS
Screening of Exploration MaturityScreening of Exploration Maturity

GIS Analysis Data Flow
Reservoir
Trap
Charge
Field Sizes
Feature Density
Features
Chance Oil
Inerts
Play element risks
Features to test
Hydrocarbon Type
GPLAY
Pre-Processing
GPLAY
Post-Processing
GPLAY
Hydrocarbon
Density Maps
Custom
Processing
Spatial Analysis Results
• Resource by country
• Resource by competitor
• Resource by water depth
• Resource by lease
• Resource by proximity
• Concession seriatims
• Spatial correlation
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Scenario Analysis
• Proximity Analysis
Automated Data Flow

Input Data Sets
Risk (derived from geologic maps)
Expected Field Size Distribution
of Remaining Resource
Legend
Oil Field
Gas Field
Prospect
Dry Structure
Features After:
Hood et. A, 2000
Remaining Resource mean =
Net Risk * Number of Prospects * Avg. Fld Size

Composite Hydrocarbon
Resource Density Map
Overlay of
Concession Polygons
• Assessment input data sets processed spatially
and analyzed with proprietary statistical software
• Output of statistical software joined to input
polygons
• Hydrocarbon resource summed from stacked
multiple exploration target horizons
• Composite volume normalized by polygonal
area to create hydrocarbon resource density
map
Concession Oil Gas Condensate
A1051 375.0 3480 2.3
A953 120.5 983 1.9
A250 90.2 520 .8
A1620 61.1 101 .3
~ ~ ~ ~
Seriatim of Concessions by Hydrocarbon Resource
Relating Economics to GeologyRelating Economics to Geology

Recommendations for SuccessRecommendations for Success
Things to doThings to do
Grow someGrow some ““hybridhybrid”” peoplepeople
People who can bridge the gap betweenPeople who can bridge the gap between GISGIS and geologyand geology
PositionPosition GISGIS technology as part of important core worktechnology as part of important core work
processesprocesses
Engage (and enable) well respected technical leadersEngage (and enable) well respected technical leaders
Demonstrate performance (easier, faster, better)Demonstrate performance (easier, faster, better)
Engage management in the process of collaborationEngage management in the process of collaboration
Allow them to see the process and understand itAllow them to see the process and understand it
Be sensitive to those trying to learnBe sensitive to those trying to learn GISGIS
Need to "save face" for these people to learn without feelingNeed to "save face" for these people to learn without feeling
technologicallytechnologically ““out of touchout of touch””
Be realistic in your expectations for rate of changeBe realistic in your expectations for rate of change

Recommendations for SuccessRecommendations for Success
Things to avoidThings to avoid
DonDon’’t oversell andt oversell and underproduceunderproduce
- Enthusiasm is good, BUT- Enthusiasm is good, BUT
- Uncontrolled exuberance often gets out of hand and works- Uncontrolled exuberance often gets out of hand and works
against you in the long runagainst you in the long run marginalizingmarginalizing your views as those ofyour views as those of
a zealot or technocrata zealot or technocrat
DonDon’’t underestimate the inertia of organizational culturet underestimate the inertia of organizational culture
People are comfortable in their protected expertise niche and inPeople are comfortable in their protected expertise niche and in
many cases resist changemany cases resist change
DonDon’’t be a computing snobt be a computing snob
Computing literacy remains a secondary skill in mostComputing literacy remains a secondary skill in most
organizationsorganizations
Be aware that there will always be people who refuse toBe aware that there will always be people who refuse to
engageengage
- Don- Don’’t spend an inordinate amount of effort here...t spend an inordinate amount of effort here...
- Ultimately competitive pressure is much more effective than- Ultimately competitive pressure is much more effective than
intellectual or philosophical argumentsintellectual or philosophical arguments

References:
Hood, Kenneth C. Bernard C. South, F. Dennis Walton, Otha D. Baldwin and William A. Burroughs, 2000,
Use of Geographic Information Systems in Hydrocarbon Resource Assessment and Opportunity Analysis, in
Geographic Information Systems in Petroleum Exploration and Development (Timothy C. Coburn and Jeffrey
M. Yarus ed.). Tulsa, Ok: American Asociation of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG Computer Applications in
Geology, No. 4. pp 173-185.
Mazzo, Carl R. and William A. Burroughs, Building a Regional Study in GIS, 2000, in Geographic Information
Systems in Petroleum Exploration and Development (Timothy C. Coburn and Jeffrey M. Yarus ed.). Tulsa,
Ok: American Asociation of Petroleum Geologists, AAPG Computer Applications in Geology, No. 4. pp 71-
120.
http://emcorp.na.xom.com/corpcit/resources/Classroom%20Presentations/exploration3.ppt
Web Resources:
Buffler, R. T., Shaub, F. J., Watkins, J. S. & Worzel, J. L. 1979. Anatomy of the Mexican Ridges, SW Gulf of
Mexico. In Geological and Geophysical Investigations of Continental Margins Mem. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 29,
319-327.
Granata, G. E. 1981. Regional sedimentation of the Late Triassic Dockum Group, West Texas and eastern New Mexico,.
M.Sc. U T Austin.
Klitgord, K. D., P. Popenoe, & H. Schouten, 1984, Florida; a Jurassic transform plate boundary: JGR v. 89, p. 7753-7772.
Randazzo, A., F., & Jones, D., S., 1997, The geology of Florida, Ed. Randazzo, A.F., and Jones, D.S., University Press of
Florida, Gainesville, FL, 327 p.
Salvador, A., 1991, Triassic-Jurassic, in A. Salvador, Ed., The Gulf of Mexico Basin, DNAG Geol. Soc. Am., p. 131-180.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
The authors would like to thank BillThe authors would like to thank Bill BurroughsBurroughs, Chris, Chris ReavesReaves, and Kim, and Kim
Thomas who reviewed the paper and whose comments improved bothThomas who reviewed the paper and whose comments improved both
the organization and quality of its content. We would also like to thankthe organization and quality of its content. We would also like to thank
the data vendors cited in the paper for their permission for presentationthe data vendors cited in the paper for their permission for presentation
of their data.of their data.

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