Empirically evaluating virtual reality’s effect on reservoir engineering tasks

By leveraging the strengths of virtual reality (VR) technologies, we have created a prototype reservoir model analysis VR tool aimed to advance reservoir analysis workflows beyond conventional methods by improving how one understands, analyzes, and interacts with reservoir model visualizations. We present and discuss the results of a usability study conducted with reservoir engineering experts to evaluate this tool and help determine in what ways virtual reality may offer an improved experience over conventional approaches when performing three common reservoir model analysis tasks: the spatial filtering of model cells using movable planes, the cross-comparison of multiple models, and well path planning. The study found that accomplishing these tasks with our VR tool was generally regarded as easier, quicker, more effective, and more intuitive than traditional model analysis software while maintaining a feeling of low task workload on average. Overall, participants provided positive feedback regarding their experience with using VR to perform reservoir engineering work tasks and found VR improved multi-model cross-analysis and rough object manipulation in 3D, indicating the potential for VR to be better than conventional means for some work tasks. They also expressed they could see it best utilized as an addition to current software to assist reservoir model analysis workflows, however, there were some concerns voiced that would be best addressed before VR was fully adopted into their work.