Bridging Data and Algorithms in the Petrophysics Domain: Introducing the Open Petrophysics Data & Utilities (OPDU) Platform

ABSTRACT:

Data and algorithms play pivotal roles in driving digital innovations within the petrophysics domain. On one hand, a wealth of high-quality petrophysics field data is accessible from public databases (such as the Utah FOEGE Geothermal project and the Kansas Geological Survey) or company releases (like Equinor Volve). On the other hand, innovative digital solutions continually emerge as open-source code contributions from research institutes, SPWLA machine learning competitions, and individual enthusiasts on GitHub. We propose the creation of a cloud-based platform: Open Petrophysics Data & Utilities (OPDU) to enhance public data management, increase knowledge sharing and analogue use, and promote technology utilization across the SPWLA global community. This platform adopts the Open Subsurface Data Universe (OSDU) concept and exemplifies seamless data integration within an organization. Its purpose is to bridge the gap between public data sources and open-source petrophysics solutions, creating value for the energy industry. During our presentation, we will discuss proposed architectural solutions and, more importantly, engage with the audience to chart the course for a digitally empowered SPWLA community.

BIOGRAPHY:

CHICHENG XU joined Aramco Houston Research Center in 2017 and is working as a research petrophysicist in the Artificial Intelligence Technology Group. His research is focusing on petrophysics intelligence and automation using advanced computational techniques and data analytics for interpretation, classification, and modeling based on multi-scale subsurface data integration. He earned his PhD degree at the Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering Department of UT Austin in 2013 and worked as a petrophysicist/rock physicist for BP America and BHP Billiton from 2013 to 2017. He co-founded and chaired the SPWLA PDDA SIG and initialized a student scholarship for PDDA related graduate research. He also served as associate editor for several international scholastic journals including SPWLA Petrophysics, SEG Interpretation, and SPE Reservoir Evaluation & Engineering. He was selected to receive the SPE regional Formation Evaluation technical award by SPE - Gulf Coast in 2018, the SPWLA meritorious service award in 2019, the SPE outstanding associate editor Award in 2020, the SPWLA meritorious technical award in 2021, and the SPE regional Data Science and Engineering Analytics technical award by SPE – Gulf Coast in 2022. Chicheng is dedicating to SPWLA’s publication and digitalization efforts and is currently leading a special task force for SPWLA PDDA SIG to build up the OPDU platform.

IULIAN N. HULEA is a Senior Petrophysicist working for Shell Global Solutions BV, Projects and Technology in the Netherlands, currently working on Global reservoir studies. In parallel he serves for the 2024-2024 term as SPWLA president.