In our rollout of Petrosys 17.3 the two features that have probably shown the broadest appeal are the dramatically improved ability to map and analyse data directly from Excel spreadsheets, and the superb layered and georeferenced PDF output.

Being accessed as another data source through Petrosys’ flagship multiple connectivity, it’s easy to miss the Excel connection. (Hint: a good reason to follow Petrosys webinars and lunch and learn events).

Using spreadsheets has become second nature to most of us with a technical or financial background, and the Petrosys link lets us use map posting and surface modeling in a wide range of workflows

  • Rapid overview and quality control of ad hoc collections of well data
  • Well tie of a seismic derived depth surface where no well database has been established
  • Posting of short term computations related to well data such as engineering parameters
  • Surface modeling of velocity fields from research applications for use in depth conversion
  • Coordinate conversion of Excel data and output to an Arc shape or Google Earth KML file
  • Geostatistical analysis of stream sediment and other surface sample data

Excel input is currently available as a point data source in Mapping – Display/GIS, Exchange – Spatial Data Translator and Surface Modeling, where the point data can be used for grid creation and other processes requiring point data such as well tie.

On being shown the Excel connectivity a long term Petrosys user from Oklahoma saw this as having the potential to give him back a lot of time for more valuable tasks. “I spend a lot of time and concentration creating ad hoc text files from Excel and then having to go through complex input operations to work with them. This will really streamline my operations.”

Layered and georeferenced PDF’s, created using Export/PDF from mapping, use a completely new PDF generating technology accessible on Windows and Linux. The layered georeferenced PDF’s are a particular favourite of Petrosys CEO, Volker Hirsinger, who sees them as the ultimate in digital map publication.  “An investment in designing a really high quality map layout can now be recovered many times over when it is implemented as a template in an exploration or reserves cataloguing workflow,” Volker notes. “The PDF format rewards attention to detail by allowing zooming to the finest level, whilst the Adobe Reader accessible layering makes the results universally accessible.”

Petrosys staff at the recent CMP12 convention in Mexico City noted that when they drilled through multiple Petrosys map layers of a reservoir structure in Adobe Reader it ‘put a smile on the faces of seasoned geoscience managers’.

Information that might formerly have required lengthy Powerpoint sequences or cumbersome collections of files can now be provided to joint venture partners, regulators and investors as one elegant high resolution document which can be opened using one of the most ubiquitous document viewing tools available.

Following the PDF demonstrations we have had numerous queries on 3D PDF generation. A working prototype of this has been developed, but we have chosen not to release a 3D PDF at this stage owing to licensing, IP and performance issues.