Recognizing Data Uncertainty in Petroleum Exploration · قفاوملا هـ1440/ ñ/92...

ـه الموافق 92/5/1440 االثنينالعلوم دعوتكم يوم والجيوفيزياء بكليةيسر قسم الجيولوجيا

لمحاضرة عامة بعنوان: ظهرا 2 م الساعة4/9/9022

“Recognizing Data Uncertainty in Petroleum Exploration”

Presented by / Dr. Mahdi H. Almutlaq Strategic Planning & Optimization Team (SPOT), Prospect Portfolio Development Department, Saudi Aramco

Biography:

Dr. Mahdi Almutlaq joined Saudi Aramco’s Exploration Department in 1998 after graduated with BSc in

Geophysics from Boise State University.He started his career as seismic data processor and in 2001 he

joined Southern Area Exploration Division as an explorationist and seismic data interpreter. Between 2005

and 2009, Mahdi was seconded to the Upstream Joint Venture SRAK (a joint venture between Aramco,

Shell, and Total). From 2013 to 2015, Mahdi lead projects in the Upstream Joint Venture Department. Since

2016, Mahdi has been with the SPOT team working as an Exploration technical advisor. Mahdi has a MSc

and a PhD in geophysics from KFUPM and University of Calgary, respectively. Mahdi is an active member

of several societies including DGS, SEG, EAGE, and AAPG.

Abstract:

At the heart of oil and gas exploration is a complex workflow of acquiring, processing, and analyzing data

that enables the industry to continue to discover and characterize subsurface hydrocarbon resources. New

technologies have made such workflows faster, cheaper, and more accurate than decades ago. However, a

known fact about data which is often ignored, is that there are inherent problems with accuracy as a

consequence of variable uncertainties, such as noise. These inaccuracies need to be recognized and

minimized in every step of data acquisition, data processing, and data interpretation. Realizing such issues

or uncertainties is vital for achieving the main objective of hydrocarbon exploration.

In this lecture, I will begin with restating the data uncertainty definition and how it’s perceived in practice.

Then I will focus the discussion on: 1) how to recognize data uncertainties, 2) what can we do to minimize

data uncertainties, and 3) could there be opportunities knowing these uncertainties. The discussion will be

supported by examples from encountered problems in seismic data processing and interpretation.

It is important to realize that solutions are not unique, therefore, it is necessary to formulate a range of

values with confidence levels to express solution uncertainties. Finally, recognizing data uncertainty and

minimizing it with the appropriate technique, such as calibration of seismic data to existing borehole data,

is imperative. This practice will lead to a more accurate result, minimize overall workflow time, avoid

repeatability of work, and achieve exploration business requirements.

من المعلومات يمكن ولمزيد ( 2الدور 4تقام المحاضرة بقاعة محاضرات قسم الجيولوجيا والجيوفيزياء بكلية العلوم )المبنى

.(2114464212التواصل مع القسم على الهاتف رقم )