10th Biennial International Conference & Exposition

P 064

EPINET – G&G Information

Resource Management in ONGC
C Ravi Kumar* & M P Rao

Summary

The paper explores the cardinal need for an organizational transformation is a real-time availability of accurate information,
generating shared knowledge, transforming human and structural system for improved timely decision making, thus ensuring
a high performance in Exploration & Production (E&P) activities of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), a leading
innovative, continually learning and improving corporate in the world has been always been acquiring and assimilating
contemporary technologies to operate at global efficiency and has in the process developed a rich knowledge database across
the organization. In its continued pursuit of excellence, ONGC took an early cognizance of the fact that data management &
information are vital to modern E&P businesses a decision was made to set up an enterprise - wide Exploration & Production
Information Network (EPINET) using industry standard ‘FINDER’ software of the Geo-Quest under LAN/WAN (Local Area
Networking / Wide Area Networking) environment.

Thus Exploration & Production Information Network (EPINET) has emerged as one source of information by collecting
the data of different activities i.e. Seismic, drilling, well, logging & production for achieving one goal of the organization for
development of an E&P company like ONGC. The project is intended to establish an organization wide dynamic database
having GIS features and Web capabilities, to loosely interconnect different data stores located at geographically diversified
locations. The project EPINET Phase-I was initiated & installed IT infrastructure like computer systems and data management
software were acquired under LAN/WAN environment at KDMIPE, Dehradun, Baroda, Chennai, Mumbai, Nazira and
Ahmedabad. Phase – II of this project is designed to ensure complete execution and successful operationalization. Oil &
Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) carried out a comprehensive work-study under Phase-I to identify Phase-II job elements
and the recommendations were further validated by the consultant i.e. Petro-technical Open Standard Consortium (POSC).
In Phase-II installation of Hardware & Software (H/W & S/W) at Assets/Basins/Forward Bases completed and migration of
legacy Exploration & Production (E&P) data (Managed only physical asset metadata in phase – II at Dehradun) into
Exploration & Production Information Network (EPINET) system at basins, assets and other work centres started. The data
types given emphasis in Phase-II are drilling, Seismic trace data, production and reservoir along with the remaining Phase-I
data.

It is expected that with the full implementation of the Exploration & Production Information Network (EPINET) facility the
Geo-scientists and engineers working on a “Common & Unified Data Base”, will have instant access to every domains raw
data, interim and final results. It is aimed to improve data / information communication and enhance Exploration &
Production (E&P) work flow integration leaving less scope for assumptions, bring out more realistic and shared earth model
versions.

The paper includes the presentation of overview of data management of Exploration & Production (E&P) Information Network
(EPINET) and KG - PG basin activity derived from Exploration & Production Information Network (EPINET) database,
storage management, tools employed thereof and production business strategic opportunities of Oil & Natural Gas
Corporation (ONGC) an Exploration & Production (E&P) company of Maharatna Status.

Introduction knowledge & information are vital to modern E&P

businesses. The extensive use of Information Technology
ONGC has been pioneering in contemporary technologies in areas like scientific computing, data acquisition,
to operate with global efficiency. In this continued pursuit telecommunication, process control, business computing
ONGC took an early cognizance of the fact that data, has helped in streamlining systems, policies & business,

KG – PG Basin ONGC, Chennai - 600008.

*e-mail: ravikumarc28@gmail.com
processes to become an effective, fast moving global E&P validated data. It envisages the creation of a hierarchy of
player. ONGC, an integrated National Oil Company, has corporate, regional and local databases networked in a
undertaken EPINET project to design and set up a web seamless fashion. The project was intended to establish an
enabled industry standard data management system for organization-wide integrated, online database having GIS
Geophysical and other related E&P data, for use by features and Web capabilities to logically interconnect
Geophysicists as well as all other geoscientists and different data stores located at geographically diversified
engineers, across the company. EPINET project is locations.
intended to enable multiple users to use all data and
information, from their own workplace concurrently, in Data without Management
order to make speedy technical and business decisions. By
implementing the EPINET facility at all Assets, Basins, In early days before computer technology set in, the data
Forward Bases as well as major Institutes, the entire E&P was stored as paper records. Exploration and Production
data including 2D and 3D, Seismic, VSP, well log data and (E&P) data stored in file cabinets bulging with files, or
drilling data is made available online to remote users. This map rooms crowded with an accumulation of maps since
paper summarizes ONGC data management strategies and many years. It was very difficult to find the data that is
initiatives for harnessing the state-of-art technology, required. Data in remote locations was often not available
challenges faced, achievements, the lessons learned, as it was either not properly filed or lost. The data with
benefits derived and future plans. multiple versions often exists, with lot of ambiguity as to
which version was valid.
ONGC recognized the need for properly storing E&P data,
non-electronic physical assets (e.g. Technical reports, Data Stored as Paper Records
Tapes, Films and Prints), all of which were usually kept in
unsecured, unconditioned and disparate environments, in During the course of time the digital processing and
the nineties. To retrieve log data, ONGC had resorted to storage techniques were made available, it was therefore
manual indexing. This caused several problems including possible to store data on disks or tapes. Thus it became a
loss of data, difficulty in accessing data, and inaccuracy of thought provoking & driven to exponential growth in the
the stored data due to lack of validation. Additionally, use of digital storage space. Prior to this the industry had
digital data was not available for all wells/surveys. Even accumulated mountains of tapes and disk files placed on
for more recent wells, where digital data was available, computer architecture in every conceivable format. Part of
there were discrepancies. With no central and commonly the problem was that each software application required its
accessible data store in place, different teams managed own database in its own format, incompatible with most
data differently as per individual preferences, in different other databases.
media, formats and platforms. The situation was further
complicated by the proliferation of multiple versions of Data Management 1990
unedited and invalidated data. One of the biggest
challenges was not only storing and cataloguing data With the passage of time, data versions moved to multiply
involving drilling and the production activities, well logs and mutate, so that the well and seismic data stored for one
and their related prints and tapes, but also validating and application might be different from the data stored for
providing the data for the end users to gain their trust and another application. It was entirely possible to drill a well
confidence. ONGC wanted to modernize its E&P data on a location where a dry hole already existed, or shoot a
flow, and build an updated and reliable central data seismic line in the same location as an existing line. There
repository that could serve the whole exploration and was no dependable way to prove that your data was valid.
production E&P community in the company. It has been estimated that the average geological and
geophysical interpreter spends up to 50% of their time
In order to meet the above challenges, ONGC launched a looking for data. From a corporate perspective, this
major enterprise-wide change initiative called EPINET statistic represents inefficiency that was simply
project, focussed on optimization of human resources, unacceptable. A need was felt that some change is required
reengineering of processes, deployment of new software for efficient data management.
and hardware technology and proper management of

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Industry Trends The Energistics Standard

In recent past, several trends within the E&P industry The Petroleum industry has been searching for a software
underwent rapid changes moving forward to derive standard that would fully describe its business and allow
technological mileage and to ensure optimized operation all companies and vendors to efficiently produce
in the value chain, ONGC embarked on an ever integrated software. In this regard POSC was emerged.
accelerating fashion. Some of the key trends that have Now the name has been changed to Energistics, a non-
impacted data management are: profit corporation, being the energy standards resource
centre is dedicated for facilitating integrated business
 The pressures to increase efficiency and lower processes and computing technology for E&P segment
finding and producing costs. (Fig.1) of the international petroleum industry.
 Corporations are concentrating on core
competence and outsourcing non-core functions.
 Vendors must “fill the gap” with commercial
products and management solutions.
 Corporations are re-organizing into “business
units” or “asset teams”.
 There is a move from proprietary “closed”
systems to off-the-shelf “open” systems.
 There is a strong push for standards and Fig.: 1
integration such as Energetics, formerly termed
as Petro-technical POSC and PPDM. Geo-Frame is the industry’s first commercial, Energistics-
 There is a growing recognition that Information compliant software. It provides a common Oracle project
Technology is not a solution by itself. database that both Geo-Quest and other applications can
“plug” into and a set of utilities that are shared by all Geo-
Database Standards Frame applications.

The Petroleum industry has developed a set of standards to New, fast machines and improvements in database
guide companies and vendors in developing software technology emerged to make it possible to converge Public
products. The goal is to increase integration between Petroleum Data Model (PPDM) based technology towards
products and to minimize information management Energistics technology. One significant component of the
problems. Two standards are commonly used: PPDM and finder, the Production extension, has evolved toward
Energistics Standarad. compliance with the Energistics data model. ONGC in late
1990's decided to implement the recent advancements of
Public Petroleum Data Model (PPDM) Standard the web based E&P information technology into its
upcoming data management systems.
PPDM is a data model developed by a consortium of
Petroleum industry companies. This data model was The new implementation plan was aimed at making
established to leverage Petroleum company’s existing available all information pertaining to an area-including
investments in relational database technology. Finder was the work previously done by archiving historical analysis
one of the first large scale applications to use the PPDM. to business users. During past five decades, ONGC has
Finder implements its model with Oracle database carried out extensive exploration, drilling and production
technology. Although still compliant with the basic PPDM activities in the Indian sedimentary basins and over the
model, Finder has been extended in a number of areas to time has acquired enormous volume of geological,
meet the expanding business needs of users. geophysical, logging and engineering data. Like other
companies, ONGC initiated data management activities
way back in 1976, by developing well information system
on IBM-370 at KDMIPE.

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The data management activities got a boost when VAX- All these changes pushed industries towards web GIS
3400 computer system along with RDBMS software was based industry standard/commercial solutions and thereby
commissioned at KDMIPE in 1991. Furthermore, other replacing in-house developed legacy databases in ONGC.
systems also emerged at different work centres of ONGC
to cater to the data management needs. These in-house The strategic planning of EPINET project was initiated
database systems were developed using different types of with the following key technical objectives:
formats and platforms. Eventually, in-house database
systems were felt to be inadequate and required to be  Develop a corporate-level data store for company’s
replaced with industry standard solution. In view of ever E&P data.
increasing business challenges, ONGC has defined very  Implement a project-level database/integration
ambitious corporate goals, it is committed to raise platform at all Assets, Basins, Forward Bases and
enhanced oil recovery factor to an average of 40 per cent Corporate centres.
from existing fields and to double reserve accretion by the  Standardize new procedures, standards and
year 2020. nomenclatures for subsurface and surface data
management and quality assurance associated with
EPINET – An Overview all database systems.

Over the past few years E&P Information technology has Experimental
incrementally made significant strides in the work flow
process dynamics of upstream petroleum industry. There ONGC has opted for Geo-Quest’s Finder E&P data
is an increasing desire and thrust for long-term management technology to manage vast volume of its
preservation of data assets by building up corporate E&P E&P data asset. The Finder, an integrated data
information and knowledge networks to seek business management system, is an advanced yet easy system for
decisions. Meanwhile the corporate world has begun to capturing, storing, archiving, accessing and delivering the
recognize that data is a highly valuable asset. Internet, corporate E&P data. Under the project EPINET the Finder
Intranet and web-based technologies are promising a technology provides a set of databases and application
single interface across multiple computer platforms; tools to address specific E&P data management needs.
thereby promising better, cross discipline, concurrent Collectively, these tools are known as the Finder Data
usage of data & therefore EPINET project (Fig.2) was set Management System. The main part of this system consists
up. of Finder Basic and its archival extensions i.e. SeisDB,
LogDB and AssetDB etc.

EPINET Project - Phase - I:

ONGC started a holistic attempt for EPINET project in a

Phased manner. Phase - I of the project was initiated in
May 1999 and completed in June 2000. In Phase - I,
computer systems and data management software were
acquired and installed under LAN/WAN environment at
KDMIPE with backup system at E&D Dehradun., Baroda,
Chennai, Mumbai, Nazira and Ahmedabad. ONGC
personnel were trained in the use of the EPINET Systems,
and approximately 25% of ONGC’s E&P data were
migrated into the new systems. The main data types
planned to be managed during EPINET Phase -
I, were mainly well completion, Geo-Laboratory, Seismic
Fig.: 2 EPINET Sites across the country
Navigation, spliced Log Traces, Field Reservoir &
Production.

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EPINET Project - Phase - II: manner. The behaviour of E&P data model and current
data management solution must respond to these business
Phase - II plan was augmented through a contract between needs. In these lines ONGC had decided to migrate and
ONGC and Geo-Quest Systems B.V. (GSBV) on 29th manage the full spectrum of E&P data into a single
March 2004 and as per the MOU planned targets were homogeneous data model under EPINET project. The
achieved by the end of March 2005.In Phase - II of the EPINET has SeisDB & LogDB for voluminous seismic
project ONGC personnel were trained through special and log data management respectively while the entire
tailor made modules on Secured Data Access, Spread well data, drilling and production data is managed in
Sheet Loaders, SAM - FS software, DrillDB Reports and ‘Finder’ databank. With the experience of sample E&P
Geo-frame Petro-physics software. Hardware & Software data and subsequent loading of all data classes in the
were installed at Assets/Basins/Forward Bases, and Finder Data Model at all ONGC sites under EPINET, the
successful implementation of EPINET facility was task of initiating and building current E&P data
ensured. E&P data already managed on Basin servers was management framework looked feasible and achievable.
segregated and installed at respective Asset/Forward Base
sites, and E&P Data flow mechanism from Assets to There are two ways in which the data can be loaded into
Basins and Basins to Corporate server was established. Finder E&P databank of ONGC. Finder has a number of
Further, replication process between KDMIPE server and forms for different activities, which can be used for data
E&D Directorate server was also established. loading and viewing. Alternatively, if data is in well -
structured format like Spread sheet, an XML based SSL
To ensure seamless flow of current data in the minimum can be developed and can be used for bulk data loading.
possible time from the data generating centre to the XML based Spread sheet loaders are very convenient tool
concerned EPINET site, work flows were designed and for data loading using a spread sheet interface. The pre-
implemented. The pictorial diagram of business value of defined business objects are an XML file which maps the
EPINET is shown in fig.3. Currently EPINET is managing spread sheet columns to database attributes using
current as well as legacy E&P data to provide more and updatable views. Then triggers are fired on these views to
more intrinsic value to the Geoscientists, as well as top load the values to the database. A pre-defined business
management by making the desired data available in the object enables to make equivalence between a spread sheet
quickest possible manner. column and a database attribute. The business object will
then manage the actual distribution of the data inside the
data model. Data loading through SSL does not require the
knowledge of underlying data model from users’ point of
view. The following methodology was adopted for current
well data management from drill sites to base to Finder:

• The data to be captured activity wise at source,

i.e., drill site in Spread sheets by geology,
drilling, logging and chemistry personnel.
Microsoft Excel was chosen as Spread sheet.
• Data to be communicated to Base Office through
existing network, means and practices.
• Data to be validated and authenticated at base
office by data owners.
Fig.: 3 Obtaining Value from EPINET • Data to be loaded into EPINET.

Methodology The importance of methodology lies in the fact that

existing workflows / practices are not affected. Only data
The key business function of Oil and Natural Gas is captured in standardized formats avoiding multiple data
Corporation (ONGC) is to explore and exploit entry.
hydrocarbons in an efficient, repeatable and sustainable

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The Finder technology supports a broad variety of EPINET IT infrastructure
technical E&P data types, generated during the different
business processes of any E&P company i.e. General well Hardware : Sun Microsystems
data, Geological data, Well log curves, Production data, Operating System (OS) : Sun Solaris 8
Cultural, geopolitical, and graphical data, Lease and Database Management : RDBMS Oracle 9i
concession data, Seismic 2D / 3D navigation data, any System (DBMS)
gridded data, original log curves, Seismic 2D / 3D trace E&P DM Technology : Finder Data Management
data, physical assets etc. System, Logdb, Seisdb.

Work Processes EPINET Data Types

The E&P work processes are primarily designed to Well Data: General Well data reported in well completion
generate and utilize the technical information necessary to reports (i.e. well header information, core details,
make business decisions. Changing work culture and mind stratigraphy, well completion, production testing,
set is much more subtle and difficult to manage than reservoir, rock / fluid sample analysis results etc.)
changing technology. To develop and optimize more pertaining to over 10,000 wells are being managed in
efficient work flows using integrated software Finder master database. Earlier, these data sets were
applications, hardware technology and common project managed in multiple independent repositories on various
databases, ONGC created a “Virtual” work-force of data platforms and locations. The data sets were cleaned,
managers and technical experts involving the diverse E&P standardized and once uniform naming conventions were
disciplines and remote sites. In addition to the management applied, and these were moved to logically interconnected
team of EPINET Data Managers, Domain Expert Teams tables managed through ORACLE RDBMS in Finder.
named as “Task Forces” were formulated for each of the Mapping of common entities (e.g. well name, core id, layer
disciplines: Geology, Seismic, Production Engineering, name etc.) with different data sets prevailing at diverse
Reservoir Engineering, Drilling, Logging, Geo-lab and geographic locations was a real challenge, but this was
Software. Each discipline team had experts from successfully accomplished by achieving standardization
appropriate Basins, Assets or Institutes. The objectives of through domain-specific task forces.
the teams were clearly defined and the teams were to
deliberate and recommend on the technical requirements Log Data: ONGC, the largest operator of India, had
for data capture, standardization of nomenclatures, UOM, accumulated a tremendous amount of log data in its 50
customization of input and output forms and reports in years of operation. The number of well log tapes reached
their respective areas. ONGC had to adopt a common into thousands, storing hundreds of thousands of well log
model of data management. curves. Although it is considered a valuable national asset,
this huge volume of data was becoming unmanageable and
OPU Model the desired value could not be obtained by ONGC. ONGC
is managing raw logs as well as spliced, edited and ready
ONGC has decided that data will be Owned, Populated & to use merged logs by utilizing LogDB and Finder master
Used (OPU) by the Assets, Basins and Forward Bases who database technologies of Schlumberger Solutions Private
generate the data and who will also manage their data by Ltd.
themselves. EPINET data management project teams are
only the custodians of data. An asset-focused distributed Seismic Data: Most of the seismic navigation data was
data management organization, though controlled managed during Phase-I and post Phase-I activities of the
centrally, has been adopted by ONGC. New workflows project. However, entire 2D / 3D seismic stack and
and cross-discipline methodologies have been documented migrated data was covered in Phase-II and managed by
and made widely available via standard Web browsers on utilizing SeisDB software from the solution provider.
ONGC's intranet.

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Results & Discussion

Data loading:

ONGC adopted the policy of loading legacy SegY for

seismic data into the data base from recent to past.
However, any required data is loaded on priority as per the
user’s requirement. The current data is being loaded on
highest priority. There are a total of about 750 2D surveys
and 260 3D surveys to be managed and uniformity in
nomenclatures and procedures are to be adhered to. The
survey names and line names have been standardized. The
survey name of a maximum permissible 20 characters
consist of codes for Basins, whether onshore/offshore, 2D
or 3D, Block and state codes. The line name can be of
maximum 16 characters and consists of state code,
investigation no. and line no. The state code required for Table 2: EBCDIC header – 3DSeismic data
onshore survey name has also been standardized.
For 2D data, separate software (epinetsgycpy2D) is used
The most important part in standardization is that of SEG to edit the 2D header and put the header parameters in
Y header parameters for EBCDIC header for 2D and 3D standardized format while for editing the headers in 3D
data (Tables 1 and 2). data, epinetsgycopy3D program is used. The edited and
finalized headers can be conveniently viewed through
SeisDB (Fig 4 & Fig 5).

Fig.:4 Seismic header Viewer in SeisDB

Table 1: EBCDIC header - 2D Seismic data

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Fig.: 5 SEG-Y Trace Viewer

Some of the parameters of EBCDIC headers have been

made mandatory for loading the data into EPINET System. Fig.: 6 (A) Portfolio Section in DrillDB
Further all the processing centres have been requested to
provide the processed data in standard header format
henceforth. Editing is to be meticulously carried out before
the data can be loaded into the data base.

Drilling Data

ONGC completed around 10,000 exploratory and

development wells as on date. The daily drilling reports
and associated data sets are available at different sites in
different formats and in different media. Some of the data
is also managed through in-house developed software
Drillmis system in IDT, whereas current data is captured
through another project by using a module of ICE. The
drilling data management module DrillDB provides a
single authenticated source of drilling data to drilling
engineers (Fig.6 A & Fig. 6 B). Considerable data entry Fig.: 6 (B) Well Activities Section in DrillDB
work is involved in digitizing the DDRs, which are in
paper form. Once all data is managed users will be able to Production Data
browse drilling data in textual or graphical forms under
integrated G&G environment through web at their work ONGC is managing different kinds of production data by
sites by utilizing DrillDB software of Schlumberger using Finder at the EPINET sites. The common production
Solutions Private Ltd. data types are production volumes, work over histories,
Well stimulation jobs, Pipe lines, Water injection,
Artificial lift, Gas utilization, Value added products, Fluid
characteristics, etc. Production engineers are deriving
many benefits through the systematic storage of data in
EPINET.

Production Data Model Process

• Production data in finder is managed through

Production extension data model (PDM).

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 • An integral component of the main Finder Process defined as
Database.
 Activities that are performed.
Production processes include  Facilities in which activities are performed.
 Materials that are used in performing activities.
• Well testing, well operations, well component  Properties that are measured during activities.
facilities, surface production facilities,
production history & measuring fluid sample The pictorial representation of EPINET results are shown
properties etc. Layer wise production & well in Fig. 9.
wise production are shown in fig.7 & fig.8
respectively.

Fig.: 9 EPINET – Results at a glance

Fig.: 7 Layer wise Production
ONGC has gone for the state of art of technology i.e. up-
gradation of Finder and other associated E&P Software to
new family of products called Prosource Product Suite
which is based on the Seabed open data model. The
following are the main components of Prosource E&P
Data Management Suite.

Prosource Enterprise

ProSource E&P Software – Professional Data

Management Suite of products to streamline essential
Fig.: 8 Well wise Production
workflows of the Information Management professional
and is powered by the Seabed open data model, which
provides flexibility and supports new domains and
applications. The Seabed system is open and accessible
through SQL and interfaces such ArcSDE (Spatial
Database Engine) from ESRI. The Prosource Enterprise
single interface leverages the lessons learned from Finder
and Geo-Frame software.

A common user interface complements and interacts with

the other Prosource extensions. The combined Prosource
environment and Seabed technology enable complete data
storage, the integration of domains and comprehensive
corporate information management through a single

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desktop application for browsing, editing, creating,
managing, and transferring data from many repositories.

Features

 Data transport history access

 Process deviation surveys
 Cartographic calculator.
 Data entitlements, transport, loading, and
exporting
 Native ArcSDE (Spatial Database Engine) Server -
Software Relational Database Management
System.

Advantages

 Cross-references database queries by selecting

data in one repository and using it as a constraint
for accessing data in another.
 Enhances productivity by supporting secure
information sharing with partners and
contractors through row level data entitlements.

Prosource Seismic Data Management

Pro source Seismic manages all forms of seismic trace and

supporting data through a single interface (map or tree- Fig.: 10 Prosource – Log in Page
based fig.10). Interpretation project management for single
or multi-vendor environments is supported by advanced Prosource migration and roll-out for seismic data. GIS
tools to load, quality control, and transfer data between view, 2D & 3D seismic data generated from prosource are
projects. Functions include a comprehensive system for shown in fig 11 & fig.12 respectively.
managing field and processed data, complete with GIS
tools and the open Seabed advanced E&P data store. The
main features are seismic scan/edit/load, tools to load,
quality control, and transfer data between projects.
Functions include a comprehensive system for managing
field and processed data, complete with GIS tools and the
open Seabed advanced E&P data store. The main features
are seismic scan/edit/load, navigation loader, SegY quality
control and edit tools, Geo Frame and Seis Works project
scan to create live trace displays and common Seabed
database.

Fig.: 11 GIS View – Seismic

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Fig.: 12 2D & 3D Seismic Data

Advantages

 Fast identification of available and overlapping

data throughout automatic scans of interpretive
projects.
 Quick intuitive access to all seismic data in
multiple formats
 Simplified data clean-up, providing a more
efficient, accurate input process through
 automated editing, QC, and loading tools

Prosource Log Data and Quality Management
System

The Prosource Logs next-generation well logs information

management solution is a high-quality data environment
for well log data access, exchange, and storage. The user-
friendly interface allows you to manage log data and
makes collaboration and decision making easier. It is Fig.: 13 Prosource View - Well Log data
supported by advanced tools for loading and visualization,
Pro source Logs streamlines integration of new well log Advantages
information into your project environment. The main
features are it manages high-value interpreted work station  Single operation allows easy loading of well log
ready well log curve data, hierarchical data entitlements data files and associated documents and images
control access to well, well bore, log, or channel set level that can be viewed from the client application
& enhanced reporting capabilities track and control
 Map view of well locations enables easy
database activity. A Prosource view of well Log data is
selection of log files and curves from wells in a
shown in fig.13.
Geo-graphic area of interest.
 Two-stage loading process allows data Quality
Control (QC) and validation in a staging area
prior to populating the corporate data store.

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 However, technology can only assist in data management
Support Key work Flows for standard data types and quality control and cannot solve the problems on its
own. Technologies are no substitute to good housekeeping.
 Digital Log Interchange Standard (DLIS), Log Resources are available to a considerable extent and the
Information Standard (LIS), Log ASCII teams are devoted at all work centres to perform basic tasks
Standard (LAS) including verifying compliance of standards, cleaning up
data, archival of correct data and interpretations. EPINET
 Original format scan, validate, load / original &
teams have realized that strict compliance of standards,
edited export.
definitions, codes, procedures etc. is essential to maximize
the benefits of technology underlying the EPINET system.
Future Trends
With geologists, geophysicists, petro-physicists and
reservoir, drilling & production engineers, all looking at
The present task of migrating Exploration & Production
the same data models at the same time, immeasurable
Information Network (EPINET) Finder database to new
value to the company will be visible in the near future to
Prosource environment is a challenging endeavour.
obtain new exploration leads.
Prosource Seismic & Prosource Logs have been already
migrated. Geo-frame package migrated to Linux server
As growth in worldwide demand for oil and gas continues
and the current data is being managed in new Prosource
unabated, particularly in developing countries, the
environment. The process of migration of well database is
upstream E&P industry has launched major initiatives to
in progress to Prosource. The next step after migration of
optimize the search for and production of conventional
Finder database is to have all the modules under one roof
hydrocarbons--a cradle-to-grave mindset that begins with
in Prosouurce Enterprise Integration. In future it is also
field discovery and extends throughout its lifetime until
envisaged the storing of the Interpreted data in Prosource
abandonment. In today’s highly price sensitive market
environment. The three tier based licensing mechanism is
situations, the focus has been two-fold: reduce the costs
being optimized and thereby reducing AMC costs and
associated with finding, accessing and producing new
optimising of license across Oil & Natural Gas
reserves; and maximize recovery from existing reserves.
Corporation (ONGC) enterprise.
The implementation and integration of EPINET resource
management System, shows that ONGC is focusing, to a
Conclusions and Recommendations much greater extent, on a multi-dimensional, process-
based approach that recognizes the advantages of merging
In the present order of E&P world, storage and retrieval of
a variety of technologies and disciplines, converging to
information have become critical for business workflow,
value-added solutions that overcome problems. Data and
and access to the right information at the right time is a key
information are tremendously valuable assets which, when
to competitive edge. With the acquisition of ever-
used correctly, can provide the differentiation needed in a
increasing volumes of G&G data, the result has been an
very competitive world. Those companies that embrace
explosion in the size of data that underlies the information,
change and technology in today’s information-centric
the industry needs for rapid, accurate decision making. The
world will be the winners of tomorrow by “Getting right
source of data & information retrieved from the system
the first time, every time”.
acts as a tool to the MIS for decision making by creating a
real framework that ensures accurate and right data
Views expressed in this paper are that of the authors only
analysis, leading to timely and right decision making based
and may not necessarily be that of ONGC.
on facts.
Acknowledgements
A considerable volume of geophysical data along with
other E&P data have been migrated and implemented with
It gives an immense pleasure in conveying deep sense of
state of art technology at all Assets, Basins and Forward
gratitude & sincere thanks to esteemed Shri S V Rao
bases including the Corporate centre at KDMIPE
Director (Exploration), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Dehradun, and other R&D institutes such as IRS, IDT and
(ONGC) for lot of encouragement, constant inspiration &
IOGPT. The final build and deploy activities are being
permission to the authors to present this technical paper
carried out by the EPINET teams across the country.

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from exploration discipline to 19th Annual International 22) SQL - Structured Query Language
Exhibition along with India Oil & Gas Review Summit 23) UOM - Unit of Measure
(IORS) 2012 event. The authors express profound thanks 24) VSP - Vertical Seismic Profile.
to Shri. G Karuppuswamy, GGM – Basin Manager, KG – 25) XML - EXtensible Markup Language
PG Basin, ONGC, Southern region, Chennai for all 26) 2D - Two Dimensional
necessary help rendered from time to time to present this 27) 3D - Three Dimensional.
paper without which this endeavour would not have been
possible. Shri B Ravindranath, CM (Prog.), Shri N Sekhar, References
CM (Prog.), C M Rao, CG (S), Shri D K Druw, Manager
(Prog.) & all other colleagues from KG – PG & Cauvery P.K.Mittal; C.L.Badoni and S. Bhattacharya, KDMIPE,
basins directly or indirectly rendered timely assistance in ONGC, Dehradun, India “6th International Conference &
presenting this paper are highly acknowledged. The Exposition on Petroleum Geophysics “Kolkata 2006”.
authors express due regards to Head – Corporate
Exploratory Development Centre (CEDC), Keshava Deva Naresh Kumar, Sanjay Chakravorty, S. K. Mehta, Tariq
Malviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration (KDMIPE) Hussain, A. V. Rao, A. V. Satyanarayana & A. K. Tyagi.
Campus, Dehradun for constant encouragement for “Current E&P Data Management and Reporting in ONGC
inspiring the thought in presenting this paper. - A Step towards Right Time Data Availability & Future
Consolidation.
Abbreviations
P.K. Mittal, ONGC, and D. Chatterjee, Schlumberger;
1) DM – Data Management “EPINET in ONGC India: Transforming E&P Information
2) DDRs - Daily Drilling Reports into Energy Intelligence”.
3) EBCDIC - Extended Binary - Coded Decimal
Interchange Code P.K. Mittal, KDM Institute of Petroleum Exploration, Oil
4) EPINET - Exploration & Production & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., Dehradun, India. “Setting
Information Network up of Exploration & Production Information Network in
5) E&P – Exploration & Production Oil and Natural Gas Corporation”.
6) E&D – Exploration & Development
7) GIS – Geo-graphical Information Standard. S.F.H Rizvi; EPINET, KDMIPE Campus, Dehradun,
8) G&G - Geological & Geophysical “Training Programme for EPINET End Users under
9) ICE - Information Consolidation for Efficiency Programme Code: SP-05, 12th to 16th Dec 2011”.
10) IDT - Institute of Drilling Technology
11) IOGPT - Institute of Oil & Gas Petroleum Links referred
Technology
12) IRS - Institute of Reservoir Studies 1. http://www.energistics.org
13) KDMIPE - Keshava Deva Malviya Institute of 2. www.oilit.com
Petroleum Exploration 3. www.ppdm.org
14) LAN/WAN - Local Area Networking / Wide 4. http://www.energistics.org/witsml-standard
Area Networking. 5. http://www.slb.com/services/software.aspx
15) ONGC – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
16) POSC - Petro-technical Open Standard
Consortium.
17) PPDM - Public Petroleum Data Model.
18) R&D – Research & Development
19) RDBMS - Relational Database Management
Systems
20) SegY – Format for storing Seismic
data.(www.seg.org)
21) SSL - Spread Sheet Loader

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