Stratum Reservoir Custom Training: An introduction to industrial geoscience for the service industry

Thank you for attending the “Introduction to Industrial Geoscience for the Service Industry” training and participating in our discussions. We have compiled the key messages and highlights of the discussions into a collection of videos. There is a comment section available for each video where you can engage in a conversation with your colleagues and post-follow-up questions.

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Video 1 Objectives of the course and definitions of Risks and Uncertainties in subsurface characterization             Duration 8:14

The purpose of this training exercise is to provide insight into the Client Operators' perspective of their workflows and understand the phases of typical projects utilizing subsurface characterization in Petroleum and other industries (for example Carbon Capture and Underground Storage). The training covers applications of geoscience knowledge, reducing uncertainties in Project outcomes, identifying risks and the opportunities to mitigate them, and outlining some of the human biases that may make that challenging. Throughout the training, we highlight opportunities for Stratum Reservoir staff to communicate the value of your company's expertise and services to the clients appropriately in the context of goals during the Project lifecycles.

Video 2a Project examples from Stratum  Duration 13:21

What makes the project a success? Team discussions with Stratum examples. Part 1

Learning from the existing Stratum Reservoir projects and communications with clients:

• The Early-stage Project, collaborating on data collection for subsurface characterization for CCUS. This requires guidance to the clients on data collection requirements and practices, the benefits of the acquired data both for experiments/analyses conducted at Stratum, and how the results of the analyses will benefit the types of modeling that could be done by the client for storage site selection and monitoring. The aim is to have a mutually beneficial relationship, wherein the client appreciated the value of data collection and therefore brings more work to Stratum.
• An example of how the long-t is a result of quality work and good communication with the client over a period of more than a decade. The longevity of the Project has benefitted significantly from excellent internal communications between different Stratum offices as well as communication between the clients (which are a large NOC and IOC) and those offices. Importantly, coordination is handled centrally. A note of caution is that the NOC coordinators are pre-filtering information which is practical yet limits Stratum project managers in learning the complete set of requirements. This long-term project is a perfect project for learning communications and building relationships.
• Field Operations in West Africa: Example of how the core analysis results would have impacted the operators' decisions on whether or not (in this case not) to go ahead with the DST program. The data from cores and fluid sampling are usually assumed by operators to be contributing to a bigger understanding of the field. In this case, however, if “hot shot” analysis had been done at the well-site, or if the client had waited for core analysis results before selecting the intervals for DST, there would have been a more positive outcome.  This operator has modified their well site procedures and now takes core plugs at the rig site and analyzed them immediately, using an on-site facility designed and built by Stratum. Time is the essence and optimized logistics of the core handling deliver multimillion-dollar savings to the client.

Video 2b Project examples from Stratum  Duration 20:13

What makes the project a success? Discussion Part 2

Examples include:

• A recent example of the calibration of the multiphase meter (MPM). A client came to Stratum because they recognized that the mix of skills and ability in the labs could be of help to them. The innovative process involved iteration between the Stratum lab, the producer of the MPM, and the client, with gas and fluid samples being sent to and from, and Stratum equipment being modified to achieve the measurement ability required by the client. The outcomes are that Stratum has secured a long-term contract with the client, and has also developed a technique that can be sold as a service to other clients.
• An example of an Internal LEAN Project (all tools and equipment “in its place”) to help with Lab efficiency. Planned where it would be beneficial and what scope was appropriate, executed the project at the planned scope, but are maintaining a “watch” on how it can be continued for maximum benefit and minimum effort. The end result is an optimized “Slim LEAN” lab!
• The client requested suggestions from Stratum to implement changes to the procedure for assessing SWI. The change suggested by Stratum was implementing a centrifuge process with desaturation initially by gas, and subsequent reflooding with oil. The client was very pleased with the results obtained from the upgraded setup.
• The client requested a change to the protocols for PVT measurement from a condensate-producing field because of an increase in mercury and H2S content. They were specifically interested in the partition of mercury between the liquid and gas phases in the transfer line, because of the economic impacts of commingling with fluids from other fields. A process was developed combining experimental and modeling/ analytical tools to provide solutions for both the mercury and H2S pollutants. The protocol has also been adapted for wax/asphaltene precipitation from co-mingled fluids, so now has a much broader application. Stratum-Norway managed effective communications between multiple partners on the client-side and various  Stratum experts.
• Change management in the middle of a project due to more complexity of the samples from the unconsolidated core than expected, arising from the discovery of lower-than-expected permeability, possibly as a result of the incompatibility of the samples with water used to undertake the permeability experiment A good example of “recycling a project” after a review with the client, taking it back to an earlier stage.
• The “Routine” lab in Norway works in a variety of ways, both onshore and offshore to satisfy client requirements. CCUS projects are on the rise in Norway. First well drilled for CO2 injection by Equinor – Stratum delivered results (from plugging, CT scan, slabbing a) from 125m of core from the water-wet formation (so a rapid cleaning process!) in two weeks, 50% ahead of the expected schedule to the full satisfaction of the client.

Video 3 Project management and a Stage-Gate process  Duration 31:12

The Stage-Gate process is a framework for decision-making. In this video, Kevin introduces the points in the process that represent opportunities for Stratum Reservoir to manage ongoing interactions with the clients in the context of the client's needs for products and services during each stage of the Project. Our purpose is to demonstrate that new business opportunities may arise as a result of understanding the different stages of the client's project life cycle by Stratum Reservoir personnel. Products and Services could be explained and proactively offered in the context of the understanding of clients' business needs.

Video 4 Regional characterization of the basins and selection of the CCUS injection site - a short version Duration 20:59

At the Regional scale of subsurface characterization, Stratum Reservoir contributes to risk reduction in the definition of the critical components of Petroleum Systems (presence and quality of Source, Reservoir, and Seal) in sedimentary basins. In the assessment of the regional settings to understand the suitability of a region for CCUS injection sites, clients will be interested largely in characterizing Reservoir and Seal properties. The evaluation processes followed for the two types of characterization are very similar, with timely collection and analysis of the appropriate data for subsurface characterization being critical. Sometimes, there may be a challenge in communicating the value of the geoscience data collection and analysis to clients focused on cost management.

Video 4 Regional characterization of the basins and selection of the CCUS injection site - a long version Duration 40:32

A full version of the “Regional-scale of subsurface characterization” session

Video 5 How can Stratum services help in prospect/storage container characterization Duration 18:10

At the location-specific phase of the subsurface characterization(either a prospect to be drilled in the oil business, or a site for injection in CCUS), Stratum Reservoir contributes to the understanding/management of risk and quantification uncertainty ranges in container definition for commercial hydrocarbon accumulation or storage capacity at the CCUS injection sites. As has been noted in previous talks, these two evaluation processes are very similar, and in both types of project data collection and analysis is a critical factor in understanding the prospects/sites from a commerciality point of view.

Video 6 How companies deal with risk and uncertainty and how Stratum Reservoir can help Duration 40:57

First, we consider how companies try to assure that estimates of risk and uncertainty associated with critical prospect elements are made as objectively as possible utilizing a team approach. Most of the video is concerned with how those estimates must be supplemented/better understood during the early phases of a project in the event that the exploration well is successful. The participation of external experts in peer reviews, and the input of SMEs from Stratum, often ensures more objective assessments as a result of the reduction of the human biases that are often found in the evaluations of teams who do not seek objective external input.

Video 7a Challenges and Opportunities: Examples of Conversations with Clients    Part1     Duration 14:41

Individuals from both Service Companies and Operators have different sets of experiences working on industrial geoscience projects, both in terms of depth in a particular dataset and geographical breadth of experience. Mutual understanding and of those experiences can bring value to both parties. The conversations in this video highlight both the value that Stratum can bring to the clients and the difficulties sometimes encountered for cultural or individual reasons that may arise in those conversations.

Video 7b Challenges and Opportunities: Examples of Conversations with Clients    Part2     Duration 30:56

This is the last collection of challenges and opportunities discussed at the end of the training sessions.  How can Stratum Reservoir use this awareness of the project lifecycle in business development explaining the value of the services to the clients?