Spotlight on R&D: Promoting R&D in Management and Information
Authors: Spath Jeff , Judzis Arnis 
Published: February 2015

Spotlight on R&D series - This is the seventh of a series of articles on the state of research and development (R&D) in the major upstream technological disciplines. The Spotlight on R&D Series, comprising articles published in JPT during 2004 and 2005, is available as a collection on OnePetro (SPE-101432-JPT).

Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of articles on the state of research and development (R&D) in the major upstream technological disciplines. The articles are part of the mission of the SPE R&D Advisory Committee, which was created in 2002 to foster the continuing development of petroleum engineering technology through collaborations of academia, industry, and government worldwide.

During 2004, guest authors described R&D challenges and needs for SPE’s disciplines related to drilling and completions; facilities and construction; reservoir description and dynamics; production and operations; and health, safety, and environment (HSE). A compelling case was made for increased R&D activities and awareness in each of these areas. Our topic, management and information, provides a challenging focal point for a discussion of R&D needs because management processes and information systems play important roles in the upstream business.

The sphere of management and information is undeniably crucial in enabling the upstream oil and gas industry to continue to develop the petroleum engineering technology vital to meet future needs. Central to the topic of R&D in management and information is the need for vision and leadership, especially as R&D affects management systems; techniques and performance; project management; education, training, and competence; and information systems. Additionally, for operators and service companies, there remains a need to articulate the case for management and information R&D to the potential suppliers of management and information technology.

In the next few paragraphs, we will describe some issues pertinent to today’s concerns from those seeking increased use of new technologies.

A Quality Management and Information Discipline

The next major challenge in the oil & gas industry is cost-effective, easy access to information, allowing individuals or companies to do their jobs better and more efficiently. In many large companies, strategic data are collated at a very high organizational level. However, gaining full value from this information depends on making it accessible at functional levels companywide that support domain and discipline workflow. With the potential of the “big crew change” (Fig. 1) in 4 or 5 years, it is essential to develop tools and processes to allow the knowledge of experts to be captured and transferred easily to others in the industry. The vital task for our industry is to make sure we do not lose this knowledge and information, but capture and use it to take us to the next level of performance in the 21st century. As the workplace expands to all corners of the world, the oil and gas industry must continue to invest in improving connectivity and developing tools and processes not only to manage its own knowledge and information, but to connect all accessible information around the world, including from academia, research institutes, and potential customers.