Explorationists with Ampolex (USA) Inc. in Denver are using a suite of sophisticated digital database products to enhance exploration and mapping efforts on several major oil and gas prospects in the western United States and Gulf Coast.

Senior geologist Steven G. Fryberger and senior explorationist Paul Matheny have increased productivity and mapping accuracy significantly by integrating digital database solutions for their mapping efforts. This ability to create detailed maps within a common platform has enabled Ampolex to more clearly define oil and gas prospects, thereby expediting the decision-making process while saving time and money.

Ampolex is committed to an exploration strategy that emphasizes methodologies which assess exploration and reserve replacement potential in value terms, as distinct from those relying exclusively on measures such as aggregate production or reserve growth. Exploration investment decision-making across the company has been normalized to ensure a high level of objectivity in choosing prospects and in deploying investment funds for exploration. Management's objective is to allocate exploration funds in a manner commensurate with the potential value of exploration targets. The use of state-of-the-art computer mapping products is a vital tool in this regard.

"The ability to import data across a common platform is the key to increased productivity," Fryberger says. "The primary software that we use is a geographic information system from GeoGraphics," of Denver, Colo. He has found a digital database product from WhiteStar Corp., Denver, that fits seamlessly into this system, allowing us to create a series of cultural and topographic layers that help identify viable prospects. The marriage of these two products creates a very useful, accurate exploration tool, and one we have used successfully on several important projects."

By importing digital databases directly to the GIS software, Ampolex can overlay multiple layers on a single map, Fryberger says. "On a given prospect, for example, we may have specific layers for posted wells, digitized structures, digitized faults, digitized dikes, land grid, prospect well tops, county cultural data and topographic contours. When we create a map, we can select the specific information, or layers, that we want. By zooming in on a given area, we can more readily identify a legitimate prospect. It's an excellent exploration tool."

Fryberger and Matheny have used several WhiteStar databases, including the Enhanced County Culture databases for 10 U.S. counties, plus 17 Digital Elevation Models developed from 7.5 minute USGS quads, in their GIS to help evaluate prospects in several key U.S. basins, including the Eastern San Juan, Paradox, Williston and along the Gulf Coast.

"For example, on one particular play, we needed to combine our gravity data with other information in order to create a single map that we could make sense of," Fryberger says. "We used a custom database that enabled us to use this gravity data within our GIS system. We gained a wealth of useful information from this gravity map conversion project. Again, the ability to use information on a common platform is the key."

Quadrangle-based contour files from the USGS that have been cleaned, edge-matched and contoured can be imported from the CD-ROM into the computer and the data can be accessed using "plug-and-play" capability.

"We try to understand the application or business problem the customer is trying to solve, then apply technology as appropriate," WhiteStar President Robert White says. "For example, we can develop a data set one mile on either side of a pipeline, or provide 10-foot contours for three quads in Montana, along with Public Land Survey from the BLM. In this instance, the user is freed from having to tailor the data."

"The speed with which we can acquire data from WhiteStar is exceptional, and the accuracy of the data is more than adequate for our needs," Matheny says. "What distinguishes their products from the mainstream is that they all come in a format that can be used on a common platform. This is an absolute necessity. And because this data is ready to use, we no longer have to conduct the conversion process in-house, which increases productivity."

WhiteStar's Enhanced Culture Database incorporates data from numerous sources to create a comprehensive, cartographic county database. This database includes detailed city boundaries, county boundaries, roads, railroads, hydrology and miscellaneous transportation features such as airports, pipelines and powerlines. The company's Railroad Commission products provide intelligent, polygonized land survey files based on state records compiled by the Railroad Commission of Texas.

This is one example of how integration of spatial data speeds exploration efforts. By combining even more data in the future, geologists will continue to gain better insights into the areas in which they are interested.

Doug Leirle is a freelance writer based in Denver, Colo., who specializes in energy and related topics.