Unlocking the Future of Seismic Interpretation: Demonstrating Real-World Impact of the OSDU® Data Platform

With the goal of having more accessible, trusted, and interoperable data that supports more efficient business workflows and better business decisions, hundreds of companies in the energy industry have been developing the OSDU® open source data platform via the OSDU Forum. Over time, that vision has progressively turned into a practical reality. As members of the OSDU Forum, we are all invested in ensuring that our collective efforts translate into tangible value for geoscientists, engineers, and a clear return on investment for decision-makers. As part of its efforts, the OSDU community has worked with the operators to identify and prioritize the business workflows that have the highest impact for digital transformation, with Seismic Interpretation at the top of that list. We are excited to share a milestone that underscores the OSDU Data Platform's readiness for real-world business workflows — a collaborative achievement by a US-based supermajor, Microsoft, and EPAM.

A Collaborative Leap Forward

Recently, this supermajor, Microsoft, and EPAM joined forces to develop a well-architected demo application that showcases the OSDU Data Platform's ability to support the Seismic Interpretation Workflow. The demo app uses real, publicly available data, ensuring transparency and reproducibility. This goes beyond the theoretical to give a practical demonstration of how OSDU can underpin critical subsurface workflows that drive business value.

Validating a Core Business Workflow

The workflow validated by this demo application is central to subsurface interpretation and reservoir characterization. It begins with the picking of fault sticks and horizons from post-stack seismic volumes — a task familiar to every geophysicist. In the workflow, these picks are then converted from the time domain to the depth domain using a velocity seismic cube, a crucial step for accurate subsurface mapping. The result is a set of interpreted data in the depth domain, including gridded surfaces, which are essential inputs for the next major workflow step: Earth Modeling.

The demo app does not mimic the activities of a geoscientist, but rather assumes those activities while it proves the ability of the OSDU Platform to store and retrieve critical data objects. The app also functions as a template that other application developers, from operators and software vendors, can follow. By demonstrating the seamless transition from seismic interpretation to earth modeling, the demo shows that the OSDU Data Platform is ready for integration into daily operations, supporting the workflows that matter most to our industry.

Harnessing the Power of OSDU Technical Components

The demo application leverages several key OSDU technical components:

• The catalog data model ensures that all data is discoverable and accessible, breaking down silos and enabling efficient data management. It also preserves full traceability and lineage, allowing users to track data from source to consumption. In addition, it supports technical and quality assurance processes, ensuring data integrity and trust across the OSDU Platform.

• Core services and APIs provide the backbone for secure, scalable, and reliable data operations related to the catalog data model.

• The Seismic DDMS (Domain Data Management Service) and Reservoir DDMS are instrumental in managing domain-specific data content, ensuring that seismic and reservoir information is handled with the rigor and flexibility required by modern workflows.