Optimizing Extraction Once promising sites are identified and secured, GIS assists companies in developing the best methods of extracting resources. Poor planning can inflate the cost of developing these sites and, in some cases, may mean that not all of the ore or oil can be removed. BJ Services Company of Houston, Texas, a leading provider of pressure pumping services to oil and gas companies, is hired by clients from around the world to increase the rate at which gas and oil are extracted and enhance the recovery potential of reserves. BJ Services developed PowerVision, an application that uses MapObjects and Spatial Database Engine to help engineers quickly design well stimulation treatments as well as retrieving and analyzing well data. Ruggedized field computers are used to develop real-time mine surveys.
Surveyors can verify accuracy on the spot.
Engineers and surveyors can upload surveys directly to mine equipment such as shovels, drills, and bulldozers and provide equipment operators with a real-time view of their workspace. These databases were developed for managing a nuclear waste repository and various mining projects. The author identifies potential links between GIS and other three-dimensional software packages used in the energy industry. To efficiently deliver gas or electricity to customers, companies are constantly working to streamline operations, drive down costs, and improve customer service. The capabilities of GIS go far beyond mapping wires, pipes, and valves.