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> Million dollar software donation goes to SFU
Million dollar software donation goes to SFU
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Contact:
Brian Coffey, 604.291.5492, bcoffey@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Brian Coffey, 604.291.5492, bcoffey@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
October 21, 2004
Simon Fraser University is the first Canadian university to receive cutting edge software that allows geologists to create complex computer models of what is under oil and gas reservoirs in the ground. Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) has donated Petrel™, a $2.1 million (CDN) software package, to SFU's earth sciences department. SIS is the world's leading oilfield services provider, supplying oil and gas companies, worldwide, with a variety of products and services, including technology.
Geologists use Petrel to analyse and correlate the properties of subsurface materials, including 5 to 15 cm diameter core rock samples, collected from test oil and gas drilling sites. The software integrates and rescales these properties, geophysical measurements from well logs, and observation-based data from mud-logs. The data is then digitally imaged as two or three-dimensional subsurface reservoir models that forecast optimal oil and gas drilling locations.
Petrel enables geologists to perform these tasks on one computer, thereby decreasing the time and money spent trying to maximize production in existing petroleum reservoirs, and to find new ones.
Brian Coffey, a recently appointed assistant professor and geologist in earth sciences at SFU, began using Petrel at his previous job in the petroleum industry. “Other companies have products that perform comparable operations but, in my opinion, this is the most robust, user-friendly product available”.
Through its software donation, SIS has the opportunity to recruit new employees familiar with Petrel, and new licensees. In addition, SFU has agreed to produce at least one published research paper involving Petrel per year, pending approval by a technical SIS reviewer.
“Petrel was given to SFU first in Canada because of its modern approach to teaching earth sciences,” says Sarah Wilson, Canadian operations manger, SIS. “Petrel's capabilities will help SFU students enhance their focus on applying theory and concept to real life scenarios in the field and in the virtual environment.”
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(photo available)
Websites:
Earth Sciences. SFU/Brian Coffey: www.sfu.ca/earth-sciences/people/faculty/coffey.html
Schlumberge Information Solutions: www.sis.slb.com/
Geologists use Petrel to analyse and correlate the properties of subsurface materials, including 5 to 15 cm diameter core rock samples, collected from test oil and gas drilling sites. The software integrates and rescales these properties, geophysical measurements from well logs, and observation-based data from mud-logs. The data is then digitally imaged as two or three-dimensional subsurface reservoir models that forecast optimal oil and gas drilling locations.
Petrel enables geologists to perform these tasks on one computer, thereby decreasing the time and money spent trying to maximize production in existing petroleum reservoirs, and to find new ones.
Brian Coffey, a recently appointed assistant professor and geologist in earth sciences at SFU, began using Petrel at his previous job in the petroleum industry. “Other companies have products that perform comparable operations but, in my opinion, this is the most robust, user-friendly product available”.
Through its software donation, SIS has the opportunity to recruit new employees familiar with Petrel, and new licensees. In addition, SFU has agreed to produce at least one published research paper involving Petrel per year, pending approval by a technical SIS reviewer.
“Petrel was given to SFU first in Canada because of its modern approach to teaching earth sciences,” says Sarah Wilson, Canadian operations manger, SIS. “Petrel's capabilities will help SFU students enhance their focus on applying theory and concept to real life scenarios in the field and in the virtual environment.”
-30-
(photo available)
Websites:
Earth Sciences. SFU/Brian Coffey: www.sfu.ca/earth-sciences/people/faculty/coffey.html
Schlumberge Information Solutions: www.sis.slb.com/