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Paradigm Customer Newsletter, Vol.1 Ed.3 October 2008


Please take the Certain Vision Feedback Survey -- Click here to begin

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For Paradigm, "unconflicted" describes our unique market position in terms of customer's business priorities for optimal fiscal return on find and develop investment. Our pure focus on software and workflow differentiates us from the traditional oil field services companies that provide both software and field services.

Oil field service providers support the E&P process through drilling, fracturing, cementing, and other very necessary exploration-associated activities. Their revenues come from these field activities, labor charges, and from margins on materials used in the process (steel, pipe, casing, mud, lubricants, etc.). They profit from all drilling exercises, regardless of outcomes.

Traditional oil field services companies that provide both software and field services operate in conflict with customers' best interests, that is, to efficiently find and produce the most from their reserves at the lowest possible cost. Internally, another conflict exists when software innovation suffers in the shadow of high-priority business profits generated from field activities. It's easy to see how these conflicts have created hardship for the industry, pain for consumers, and unfortunate damage to the environment.

The shift to use more technology-created knowledge encourages collaboration between providers along a common value chain and drives important efficiencies in the industry. At Paradigm, every element of our business is aligned to provide value directly in support of lower find and develop costs for our customers so they can produce affordable energy for consumers.

Andrew Stein
CMO

Whats_New

Paradigm SKUA, a finalist in the World Oil Awards

The World Oil Awards annually applaud the innovations and innovators of the global upstream petroleum industry, demonstrating the technological feats that are the hallmark of our industry. Trophy

We are pleased to announce that Paradigm SKUA 2008 has been nominated as a finalist in the category of Data Application/ Visualization.

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Paradigm Webinars

Did you know that Paradigm is organizing regular webinars in your region and that all these webinars are available to you on our website?

Starting with this edition of Certain Vision, we will be featuring some of these webinars in the newsletter in order to illustrate some of the best workflows Paradigm has to offer.

For this edition, let's hear Fred Jenson tell you about Deterministic Methods for Computing Lithology and Porosity in Complex Carbonates. Click here to learn more.

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SKUA is now!

Paradigm GOCAD Users, this is for you
Move-to-SKUA 2008 Loyalty Reward

Paradigm is rewarding the ongoing support of current Paradigm GOCAD customers by enabling you to acquire the next-generation reservoir modeling solution, Paradigm SKUA 2008, with no pain, all gain! From now until December 15, you can co-license GOCAD with Paradigm SKUA Reservoir Architecture bundle for substantial savings. Co-licensing enables you to use both products and to smoothly transition your projects to the advanced SKUA 2008 technology. Call to learn how much you'll save!
To qualify, you must

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Already have licenses for GOCAD 2008 (2.5.2) Reservoir bundle (GOCAD Base, Stratigraphic Modeling and Fault Analysis, and 3D Reservoir Grid Builder modules);

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Be current on Maintenance and Support contracts for those modules; and

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Sign Maintenance and Support agreements for the SKUA 2008 Reservoir Architecture bundle modules.

 

"Fully-Loaded" Paradigm SKUA 2008 Bundle

Geomodelers and reservoir engineers who need a complete reservoir modeling package, look no further. From seismic interpretation to flow simulation, Paradigm SKUA users can rapidly construct accurate 3D reservoir models, populate them with petrophysical properties, perform upscaling, launch and analyze flow simulations with commercial finite-difference and streamline-based flow simulators resulting in a robust and coherent numerical representation of the reservoir.

Today you can purchase the "fully-loaded" SKUA 2008 Reservoir Architecture bundle at significant savings. The package includes all the additional modules that complete the solution: Reservoir Data Analysis, Reservoir Properties, Local Grid Refinement (LGR) and Upscaler, Reservoir Simulation Interface, and Production Data Analysis. Contact your Paradigm sales associate or sales_info@pdgm.com for more information.

For sales information, please contact sales_info@pdgm.com or your Paradigm sales associate; for technical Information, contact tech_info@pdgm.com. To learn more about our product , please visit the Paradigm SKUA website.

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Upcoming Lunch and Learn

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Common Reflection Angle Migration (CRAM): Next Generation Imaging in the Local Angle Domain

"Paradigm CRAM depth migration is an anisotropic multi-arrival solution that uses the entire wavefield making it ideal for solving complex imaging objectives including overthrust and subsalt delineation.  The common reflection angle migration performs its imaging in the local angle domain to achieve uniform illumination of all image points producing amplitude preserved angle-dependent gathers and reflectivities.  The angle gather outputs are ideally suited for seismic reservoir characterization objectives. An overview of the CRAM algorithm will be given followed by several examples including "Thrust Belt" and "Heavy Oil" applications."

October 22nd, 2008 - 11:45am to 1:00pm
Paradigm Calgary Office
 

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Paradigm SKUA Launch

"This new next-generation software environment for 3D subsurface modeling empowers novice-to-advanced geoscience users to easily produce highly accurate and realistic models in record time!"

We would like to invite you to the official launch for Paradigm SKUA.
If you would like to learn more about SKUA, please visit the SKUA website.
We look forward to your attendance at this event!

October 30th, 2008 - 11:30am to 1:00pm
Westin Hotel, 320-4th Ave SW -Barclay Room

To reserve your seat, contact Ashley Millar or call 403-750-3521.

Upcoming Training

Make the most of your investment in Paradigm technology by taking advantage of September and October training sessions at the Paradigm Calgary Training Center.

Featuring Nikola Nikic

Nick_NikicTell us what you do at Paradigm
I am a geoscientist in the seismic imaging group at our Calgary office.

Why did you choose to come to Paradigm?
I used to work for a company that became acquired by Paradigm. I was also interested in working at Paradigm because I knew a lot of skilled Paradigm employees that I respected.

When did you join Paradigm and what do you like best about working here?
I re-joined Paradigm 3.5 years ago. I really enjoy being creative and being on the leading edge of subsurface knowledge. I enjoy working for Paradigm because of the breadth and depth of service we provide. There is a unique link between the company software and consulting services. 

What was the first job that brought you into the oil industry?
My father was a petrophysicist for 40 years. In those days, geophysicists did everything from acquisition and processing to interpretation. As a kid I followed my father on his trips around the world and that's how I fell in love with geophysics. 

What special interests outside of work do you enjoy?
I used to play competitive volleyball in an East European league. Today, I am an assistant coach for a youth volleyball team in Calgary. My team is very successful and is one of the best in Canada.  

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 
I am most proud of processing the first 4D pilot on the Alaskan North Slope. 

What is your favorite phrase, or word, that motivates you?
Do what you believe in.

 

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Wide Eye - A Full Azimuth Exploration and Development Imaging and Interpretation System

Recently a huge investment has been made in acquiring wide and rich azimuth seismic data to improve the illumination of reservoirs beneath complex structures (e.g. deep water Gulf of Mexico, offshore Brazil, offshore West Africa, etc.) The amount of recorded data in such surveys can exceed hundreds of terabytes. In addition, the azimuth "richness" of 3D onshore data acquisitions and marine OBC/OBS acquisitions is on a steady increase as geoscientists are seeking better reservoir (e.g. fracture orientation and density) and hydrocarbon (e.g. fluid contact) signatures from the seismic data... (read more)

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Modelado de Subsuelo - Paradigm, de regreso a la Geología (article in spanish)
El mundo del Petróleo, August 2008

Bullet_Grey_Square 3D pore pressure used to optimize well design
Robert Innes and Doug Gilmour, Oil & Gas Journal, August 2008.
Bullet_Grey_Square Upstream IT advances enabling 'digital oil field' of future to become reality today
Oil & Gas Journal - Technical Supplement Forum, September/October 2008.
Bullet_Grey_Square What if people could choose their assignments?
Digital Energy Journal, September/October 2008.

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Deterministic Methods for Computing Lithology and Porosity in Complex Carbonates

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Fred Jenson,
Petrophysical Advisor Corporate Strategic Consulting.

 


The title of this presentation is somewhat misleading in that both Deterministic and Multimin methods of determining lithology in complex carbonates are evaluated. This case study is of a Smackover field in the Gulf Coast of the United States.

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Fig. 1: Cross Section of Smackover Wells

The Smackover is a carbonate formation with a mixed lithology of limestone, dolomite, sandstone and anhydrite. Determining the lithology of an interval is a critical factor in petrophysical analysis and limestone dolomite formations containing free gas are especially difficult.

Thin section core photographs and whole core analysis are used to grade the methods of lithology determination and select the best technique to use in this particular Smackover example.

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Fig. 2: Thin Section Photograph of Smackover Matrix

The core photographs show the different matrix types clearly and allow an empirical evaluation of the multiple lithology predictions. The whole core analysis is used to decide which methodology is most accurate in this case study.

This Smackover case study demonstrates the two primary methods of lithology determination in Geolog and has neat core photos for the viewers to enjoy.

If you want to learn everything about these methods and their results, click here to access the webinar and view the full presentation!

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... These data acquisition changes, however, have not translated into a full return on investment for the seismic program. Resulting seismic images only carry some of the benefits from these rich acquisitions. Clearly, conventional seismic imaging, characterization, and interpretation technologies require a necessary "upgrade" that deals with this extra dimension of azimuth in an accurate and comprehensive manner.

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Fig. 1: New insights from
Wide Eye's full azimuth angle

Currently, multi-azimuth and wide-azimuth datasets are often processed and imaged independently by dividing the recorded data into a small and manageable number of offset-azimuth sectors. This type of process is quite rudimentary, especially for long offsets, and does not properly make use of the entire recorded wave field. Furthermore, the seismic images constructed from conventional azimuth sectors carry information associated with surface source-receiver offsets and orientations, rather than true in-situ angle domain azimuth information sampled at subsurface image points.

The Wide Eye technology is based on an innovative solution for generating full-azimuth, angle-dependent images, using the full recorded wavefield in a new and extremely efficient manner. The method generates and extracts high resolution data and information related to the subsurface angle-dependent reflectivity with simultaneous emphasis on continuous and discontinuous (e.g., faults, and small scale fractures) subsurface features. The revolutionary nature of the Wide Eye system is that it enables geophysicists to use the entire rich-azimuth data in a continuous fashion directly in the angle domain, resulting in continuous full-azimuth angle images and illumination coverage (Fig.1).

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Fig. 2: Wide Eye's Directional Seismic Attributes

The multi-dimensional information contained within the full-azimuth images is displayed very clearly, leading to a more accurate and detailed description of the subsurface. These full-azimuth angle images can be generated for regional scale surveys or at target-oriented resolution directly at the reservoir location or along a specific area of interest, such as well trajectories or between well locations. Since these angle gathers carry both full azimuth reflection (amplitude) and directional (dip and azimuth)information (Fig. 2), the geoscientist is able to generate and work with a new set of deliverables for uncovering physical and geometric properties of the subsurface. Indeed, the main advantage of the technology is its ability to extract unprecedented value from wide-azimuth data, both in marine and land environments.

The Wide Eye system is based on a combination of innovation and invention and years of experience in Paradigm in the development of seismic imaging and interpretation technology. The Wide Eye system offers a truly revolutionary approach to the seismic method that has the potential to bring unprecedented benefits to the oil and gas exploration and production industry. Because of the scope and breakthrough nature of the Wide Eye technology, it is only being presented and offered to a select group of customers seeking a higher return on investment from their seismic programs and willing to accelerate the deployment of emerging technologies in their organizations.

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