MGIS Capstone Proposal: Procedures for Standardizing

Geohazard Assessments Sponsor: Shell Oil

Paulina Fernandez Luengo MGIS Candidate

28 March 2011

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Objectives

To develop an EP18¹ document, to be used by Geomaticians around the world, of the procedures required to carry out geohazard assessments.

¹ The term “EP18” is used by Shell to refer to a document defining the preferred standard procedures and work instructions for performing certain tasks/ functions.

Typical maps (created with ArcGIS): • Location Bathymetry• Rendered Seafloor• Seafloor Slope• Geohazards Avoidance

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Background

• Lack of standards for generating sub-surface geohazard maps

• Need for developing preferred workflows and processes to optimize efficiency and reduce costs

• Desire to ensure consistency and standardization across all operating units

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What are the benefits?

• Develop and maintain best practice• Ensure consistency and improve ease of

interpretation • Develop standardized map products• Minimize time required to perform

analyses and prepare deliverables• Facilitate transition of tasking to new

analysts• Provide time/cost-saving benefits through

increased efficiency

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Geohazards Assessment Team

• Identify sub-surface hazards- Shallow gas- Shallow Water Flow (SWF)- Gas hydrates

• Identify seafloor hazards- Slope instability- Fault scarps- Fluid expulsion- Man-made debris- Thalwegs

• Provide advice on pipeline routing and avoidance areas to exploration, development and production

- Sandy depositional systems

- Faulting

- Biological/ chemosynthetic communities

- Pockmarks- Ridges

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Geomatics Team

• Ensure geodetic integrity for all spatial data

• Convert x,y,z point data into raster and vector data

• Create geohazard map deliverables- Location Bathymetry- Rendered Seafloor- Seafloor Slope- Geohazards Avoidance

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Workflow of Geohazards Assessment

Geohazards Assessment Team

Geomatics Team

3D Survey of Area

Survey imported into

Shell proprietary subsurface application

Surfaces interpreted and depth calibrated

Export to ASCII file and convert into raster and

vector data

Geohazard maps

delivered to customer

Archived to appropriate

Shell corporate stores

Location Bathymetry Rendered Seafloor Seafloor Slope Geohazards Avoidance

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Geohazard Maps

Example of Location Bathymetry

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Geohazard Maps (con’t)

Example of Rendered Seafloor

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Geohazard Maps (con’t)

Example of Seafloor Slope

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Components of Deliverables

EP18¹ report documenting the detailed procedures and work instructions required to generate standard geohazard map products. ArcGIS topics that will be documented are:

• Coordinate Reference System• Importing/ Exporting Large ASCII files (conversion)• Gridding algorithms (IDW, Kriging, Spline)• Skewed vs Non-Skewed Grids• Hillshading (Azimuth and Altitude)• Slope• Contouring• Color Ramps• Creating custom style files• Smoothing• Labeling• Editing legend items• ArcScene/ ArcGIS Explorer

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Project Timeline

15-J un 1-J ul 15-J ul 1-Aug15-Apr 1-May 15-May 1-J un15-Feb 1-Mar 15-Mar 1-Apr

Revise based on feedback

Capstone Proposal Presentation (28 March)

Submittal of 2nd draft for interim review

Development of proposal

Create work procedures for Location Bathymetry

Submittal of 1st draft for interim review

Create work procedures for Rendered Seafloor

Revise based on feedback

Create work procedures for Seafloor Slope

Submittal of 3rd draft for interim review

Finalize Capstone

Finalize deliverables and Capstone Presentation to Shell

Review

3x

Revise

Bold = Major milestone

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Project Management Tools

Schedule• Microsoft Project to identify and keep track of

tasks, milestones and due dates (coordinated with Shell)

Communication• Weekly updates on progress via email/phone

(with Shell and advisor)• Regular face-to-face interaction (with Shell)

Quality• Several review cycles of deliverables (with Shell

and advisor)

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Thank You!

Questions?

Comments?

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Acknowledgements

Patrick KennellyCapstone AdvisorThe Pennsylvania State University

Steve LongGeo-Information ConsultantShell International Exploration & Production

Jack VeroudenGeomatics Global Discipline HeadShell International Exploration & Production