Integrated Collaboration Working Environment Acts as Catalyst in Leading Upstream Improvement Strategy
Authors: Scholtz E , Meares J , Wood L 
Published: December 2014

A key objective was created to reposition PetroSA (a new entity formed of the state-owned oil companies of South Africa - Soekor and Mossgas), supported by its favoured service companies, to develop an upgraded and updated upstream improvement strategy, supported by its favoured service companies. Its aim was to develop and expand the exploration department, building upon current known hydrocarbon resources and reserves replacement. Strategic focus areas included improved collaboration through state-of-the-art technology and integrated software platforms, improved upstream processes through information management, and detailed personnel development. A catalyst in these developments was the implementation of a collaborative working environment (now renamed as ‘Ulwazi’, meaning ‘a place of knowledge’ in local language).

This paper discusses the four principal themes behind the development of Ulwazi and its plans to be the catalyst for further improvements in exploration. These themes are: Improved collaboration: Ulwazi has transformed peer reviews into geotechnical debates, where asset teams test theories and interrogate data more rigorously than before. A register provides ongoing measurement of the facility's use. Subsequent corrective action allows for better alignment with PetroSA's company strategies. The close co-operation between the client's internal data office and its chosen service company has, in addition, resulted in the establishment of support structures for application users, an overhaul of project and corporate data repositories, improved use of interpretation licences and the optimization of collaboration within the exploration department.Advanced upstream processes: the exploration lifecycle is now more streamlined, incorporating significant milestone stagegates to enable improved integration of asset teams, consistent information throughout a project lifecycle and a standardized approach to exploration and production. Ulwazi aids this collaboration acting as the platform for key stagegates in the process, defining required deliverables at each stage within the exploration and field development life cycle. Each stage is supported by documentation of best practice for each stagegate session.Innovative personnel development and mentoring: a unique aspect of the strategy is the close collaboration between PetroSA and its preferred service company which provides petrotechnical mentoring and personnel development. Onsite support has encouraged the development and adoption of PetroSA best practices.Enhanced data and knowledge management: close collaboration has resulted in further plans to replace current, dated corporate data management solutions with an architecturally-sound, integrated, solution that also includes the use of knowledge management tools to improve team collaboration and knowledge management at the asset level.

Ulwazi has become a central collaborative platform upon which key business decisions are made. This is streamlining the upstream processes and pushing PetroSA to the forefront of exploration and field development in Africa.