By Ulisses Mello, director of the Research Laboratory at IBM Brasil
In the next 25 years, global energy consumption will increase by 50% and, to meet this growing demand, we will need to develop new energy sources. While many countries are already starting to use renewable energy sources, much of the world still depends and will depend on oil.
One of the main challenges facing the oil and gas sector is finding new resources. Whenever new wells are drilled in the earth's crust and at ever greater depths, the Oil industry is faced with a growing need for advanced technologies in data analysis and high computational power to find and evaluate new hydrocarbon reserves.
IBM and Galp are working together to help solve this problem. As a result of a three-year research project, Petrogal Brasil and the IBM Research Brasil team developed, under the encouragement of the regulatory structure of the ANP (National Petroleum Agency), the prototype of a tool that, using artificial intelligence and other technologies cutting-edge, acts as an assistant for geoscientists in the identification and evaluation of exploratory prospects and in the interpretation of seismic images. This advanced computational tool interacts with scientists, bringing insights and suggestions according to the context and can assist them in the development of improved geological models, in the assessment of risks more quickly and efficiently for new exploration prospects and in the optimization of development new exploratory wells.
The tool was trained from the knowledge obtained from various seismic interpretations and field work already in existence, and this knowledge is captured in a knowledge representation system that takes into account the context and practices of its users. The technology developed continuously improves its resources, learning through interaction with users or the insertion of new data. AI-based visual understanding is used to help geoscientists examine large sets of 3D seismic data and quickly identify geological structures that can store oil and gas.
The developed prototype automates the analysis of technical documents (including annotations made by scientists and researchers), provides advice / suggestions on how to interpret images of the subsurface and assists in risk assessments. The prototype integrates relevant information from multiple sources, including seismic images, academic papers, annotations and reports and, using AI techniques, presents evidence-based recommendations to geoscientists as a source of support. This information is captured over time, allowing the transfer and retention of knowledge.
This information, easily and instantly accessible, can make all the difference and streamline the training and skills development process of young professionals. They also allow a transversal and comparable risk analysis, which avoids unilateral views and allows the comparison of information between all the professionals involved.
The prototype is currently being tested by geoscientists and new features are being developed by both companies. We are very excited because we know that this prototype can boost the use of advanced technologies by the Oil and Gas industry and break technological barriers, enabling a better understanding of the potential applications of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector. The prototype of the tool contributed significantly to the growth of the technical and scientific skills of IBM and Galp and, in a broader view, to science in Brazil with potential for application throughout the oil industry.
One of the main challenges facing the oil and gas sector is finding new resources. Whenever new wells are drilled in the earth's crust and at ever greater depths, the Oil industry is faced with a growing need for advanced technologies in data analysis and high computational power to find and evaluate new hydrocarbon reserves.
IBM and Galp are working together to help solve this problem. As a result of a three-year research project, Petrogal Brasil and the IBM Research Brasil team developed, under the encouragement of the regulatory structure of the ANP (National Petroleum Agency), the prototype of a tool that, using artificial intelligence and other technologies cutting-edge, acts as an assistant for geoscientists in the identification and evaluation of exploratory prospects and in the interpretation of seismic images. This advanced computational tool interacts with scientists, bringing insights and suggestions according to the context and can assist them in the development of improved geological models, in the assessment of risks more quickly and efficiently for new exploration prospects and in the optimization of development new exploratory wells.
The tool was trained from the knowledge obtained from various seismic interpretations and field work already in existence, and this knowledge is captured in a knowledge representation system that takes into account the context and practices of its users. The technology developed continuously improves its resources, learning through interaction with users or the insertion of new data. AI-based visual understanding is used to help geoscientists examine large sets of 3D seismic data and quickly identify geological structures that can store oil and gas.
The developed prototype automates the analysis of technical documents (including annotations made by scientists and researchers), provides advice / suggestions on how to interpret images of the subsurface and assists in risk assessments. The prototype integrates relevant information from multiple sources, including seismic images, academic papers, annotations and reports and, using AI techniques, presents evidence-based recommendations to geoscientists as a source of support. This information is captured over time, allowing the transfer and retention of knowledge.
This information, easily and instantly accessible, can make all the difference and streamline the training and skills development process of young professionals. They also allow a transversal and comparable risk analysis, which avoids unilateral views and allows the comparison of information between all the professionals involved.
The prototype is currently being tested by geoscientists and new features are being developed by both companies. We are very excited because we know that this prototype can boost the use of advanced technologies by the Oil and Gas industry and break technological barriers, enabling a better understanding of the potential applications of Artificial Intelligence in the energy sector. The prototype of the tool contributed significantly to the growth of the technical and scientific skills of IBM and Galp and, in a broader view, to science in Brazil with potential for application throughout the oil industry.
Disclaimer: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies.
EN 
PT 
