The Technology
The Technology is
incorporated into the Company's proprietary software. Our ExplorationStation
allows an expert user to perform unbiased and exhaustive quantitative
analysis of geological, production and well data compiled for
large geographic areas containing up to 30,000 wells.
To
learn more about the ExplorationStation...
The probable locations of undrilled oil or
gas fields result from the discovery of key relationships between
geological variables, which best "explain" the locations
of existing producing fields. In many cases, these relationships
have proven to be counter-intuitive and undetectable by traditional
exploration approaches. After a lead has been identified through
the use of the ExplorationStation, it is then subjected
to traditional forms of scrutiny, such as seismic surveys and
log analysis, to determine if it is indeed a drillable prospect.
Our Technology focuses
on mature oil and gas producing regions, whose numerous existing
wells represent large concentrations of high quality data. The
premise underlying the sixteen year development effort has been
that significant additional exploration knowledge remains hidden
in such data. The key aspects of this technological advance are:
Integration
and simultaneous analysis of multiple databases;
Sophisticated
techniques to detect and eliminate data errors;
Analysis
of huge volumes of hard data;
Great
speed, which makes analysis economically practical;
Diminution
of human bias; and
Ability
to identify unexpected relationships and conclusions.
Our Technology consists
of four interrelated processes:
1. Production
Analysis
Zavanna has performed its own Production Analysis in
all major U. S. basins, many minor U. S. basins and several foreign
basins. Zavanna's Production Analysis produces a strategic
planning document that indicates which basins and formations
have the potential for large remaining undiscovered oil and gas
reserves. Production Analysis is the tool which guides
Zavanna to high-potential geologic formations in high-potential
geologic basins. These analyses indicate that there are distinct
areas where the opportunity to discover large fields remains.
Such areas are classified as Areas
of Opportunity.
2. Database
Construction
Once an Area of Opportunity is selected through Zavanna's
Production Analysis, a well database is constructed using
the ExplorationStation. This involves data acquisition,
organization, computerization and verification of geological
and engineering data for oil and gas producing wells and dry
holes. The component parts of a well database include the following:
Production
Data. Actual oil and gas annual production.
Completion
Card (Scout Ticket) Information. This includes operator and
well name, location, spud date and completion date, field name,
elevation, total depth, intervals and presence of oil and gas
shows in cores, drill stem tests, perforations, initial and final
shut-in pressure data, bottom hole temperature and initial potential.
Correlated
Log Tops. Formation picked by geologists with correlations
based on lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic horizons
and recorded in digital format.
Lithologic
Data. Gross lithologic (rock type) data is interpreted from
electric logs, cores and sample logs.
All data components are merged into a single new database
using WorldLoader, Zavanna's proprietary data merging program.
The next step is analysis...
3. Well
Database Analysis
Well Database Analysis is the search for relationships
in the data, explaining existing production in the Areas of
Opportunity. Applied statistical and graphical methods (multivariate
analysis, multiple linear regression, discriminant function analysis,
exploritory data analysis, conventional and proprietary mapping
methods, and neural networks) are utilized in Well Database
Analysis.
Since the1960s, exploration data has been accessed by computers.
But, with almost no exceptions, the intent was to do nothing
more than automate what an explorer routinely does. Zavanna's
ExplorationStation is based, however, on a totally different
paradigm: to provide tools that an explorer would not normally
have, to provide sophisticated and, sometimes, counter-intuitive
information, to find an advantage over other explorers by knowing
what others do not even ask.
The ExplorationStation
is the centerpiece of Zavanna's Technology. It allows
the explorer to investigate whether or not the information necessary
to detect undrilled fields is contained in the data. It not only
provides the explorer with information, but it does it quickly.
ExplorationStation performs tasks swiftly that are traditionally
not undertaken by users of other workstations due to the amount
of time required to perform the tasks.
The ExplorationStation is continually evolving...
4. Acquisition
Analysis
Acquisition Analysis is a new software module within
the ExplorationStation. which focuses on the evaluation
of producing properties as acquisition targets. For example,
we have developed methods to identify the following types of
producing properties:
Wells
with potential uncompleted reserves behind pipe;
Shallow
wells and fields with additional deep potential;
Fields
with additional potential for offset and in-fill drilling;
Underperforming
wells, candidates for stimulation.
Each acquisition target is accompanied by a list of neighboring
wells which support its selection. Prospective acquisition targets
may be further categorized by additional production potential,
operator, producing formation and various other criteria.
