Oil and gas exploration

Optimizing hydrocarbon exploration and production processes

Our goal is to reduce the time it takes to start the production process, increase efficiency, and develop technologies that assist in each phase of an oil field's life cycle, all the while ensuring that we are meeting our commitments in terms of safety and sustainability.

Inside view of subsoil on a computer

Viewing subsoils before drilling

Big Data and High Performance Computing (HPC) allow us to see under the layers of subsoil to perform comprehensive assessments of oil fields. In doing so, we are able to pursue optimal development plans that reduce uncertainties about subsoils and minimize the risks involved in the drilling process. Thanks to these latest advances in computing, we can improve the development of oil fields.

View of a rock and its composition generated by a computer

Creating digital versions of rocks to predict their behavior

By combining data science, physics, and numerical analysis, it's now possible to create digital representations of subsoil rocks in order to obtain data on their properties, such as porosity, permeability, and interaction with fluids contained in their pores, therefore minimizing the number of samples needed, reducing the analysis period, and eliminating the need to transport samples to labs.

These 3D rocks allow us to predict the mechanical behavior of rocks, as well as their fractures and faults, throughout the life cycle of an oil field. 

Picture of a microchip on a person's finger

Nanoparticles that change the physical characteristics of materials

By adding magnetic nanoparticles to liquids, we can alter their temperature and viscosity, therefore simplifying their transport. Another use for magnetic nanoparticles is in Smart Cement, where these particles, along with a sensor system, tell us the status of the material at all times to anticipate possible repairs or maintenance. We are also working on projects so that the cement self-heats, as well as developing solutions using “Nanosqueeze". 

A plant with a chemical composition picture behind it

Measuring ecological diversity through DNA

We have developed an advanced system for evaluating biodiversity in the areas where we operate using DNA samples of the terrain.

Organic material (water, fecal samples, etc.) is collected from the area; and the DNA is analyzed using Big Data, Machine Learning, and other algorithms to create conclusive maps of the area's biodiversity. This analysis can tell us about the animals in the area and detect changes or warning signs in their activity, like a shortage of large predators.

With this information, we are able to discover variations or imbalances in the environment and take specific action toward conservation.

View of 3D modeling on a control room screen

Forecasting the life of an oil field for up to 50 years

One major challenge in Oil and Gas is predicting how the properties of rocks in an oil field will behave and change as production increases over time.

Technology plays an important role in allowing complex processes like seismic interpretation and statistical and dynamic modeling of the fields to be carried out automatically, therefore cutting down the analysis period and allowing for more informed decision making.

View of 3D modeling on a control room screen

Artificial Intelligence applied to daily challenges

We are working to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the energy sector as a part of our strategy to make the company more data driven.

AI has applications throughout much of the value chain, for example in learning and forecasting the production of an oil field - key for decision making, in assisting in data collection and analysis, and in proposing the best options for materials, logistics, etc. Thanks to its use in the optimization of wells, we are now able to predict production in real time with adaptive dynamics models.

Platform in the middle of the sea

Innovation throughout the life cycle of oil

At the Repsol Technology Lab we aim to make the oil and gas cycle more efficient and sustainable.

Both in Upstream (exploration and production of oil and gas) and Downstream (activities related to the transformation of hydrocarbons and their eventual commercialization), the initiatives carried out at Repsol Technology Lab have contributed to making us one of the most advanced and sustainable Oil & Gas companies in the world.

Partnerships for bringing high tech to Oil & Gas

Apart from our own developments, Repsol Technology Lab collaborates with innovative companies who are applying and adapting the latest technologies to processes like land exploration and efficient drilling.

Advanced technology for subsoil exploration

Emerson is an engineering and technology company with whom we have a strategic partnership for creating software and advanced technology for subsoil geophysics that significantly reduce the time spent searching for and producing the first oil.

More on Emerson

Cutting down evaluation times with Artificial Intelligence

Through Repsol Corporate Venturing, we are working with the North American company Belmont, which is specialized in the application of Artificial Intelligence in the exploration and production fields. The platform developed by Belmont Technology can obtain more complete analyses, which in turn allow us to make better informed decisions.

More on Belmont