GX Technology introduces web-based service for advanced seismic imagingHouston 28 July 2000 GX Technology Corporation (GXT) announced today the introduction of BLink E-Service, the oil industry's first online, Web-based service for advanced seismic imaging. This new technology-to-business e-commerce solution provides worldwide, desktop collaboration and control throughout the course of imaging projects conducted with GXT.
Clients can access BLink through GX Technology's new secure Web site. At the
client's choice, the connection may be established through the Internet or via
point-to-point networks. After entering an account name and password, the client
may choose from an array of authorized services. The cornerstone of these
services is desktop collaboration, allowing the client and his GXT imaging team
to interactively collaborate during the review and interpretation of velocity
models and seismic data, each without leaving the office. Desktop collaboration
may be used to complement more traditional face-to-face meetings whenever the
client wishes. With the addition of BLink video conferencing, desktop
collaboration provides an integrated data, video and audio environment for
communications between the client and his GXT imaging team.
BLink's desktop collaboration is made possible through an Application Service
Provider (ASP) framework developed by GX Technology. GXT's EarthWave(TM)
software runs on its Houston-based clustered supercomputer and is "served" for
use upon customer request via the Internet or dedicated networks. This model for
application usage is platform independent for the customer. Oil company users
control the software through Web browsers running on relatively inexpensive,
less compute-capable "client" computers such as Windows personal computers or
UNIX workstations. When a performance upgrade is desired, it is GX Technology,
not its customers, that upgrades or replaces its computers, insulating the
latter from an otherwise ongoing and very significant expense.
"BLink's desktop collaboration and the underlying ASP mechanism have been
operating successfully at a major client site for nearly a year, giving us the
experience and confidence to now offer BLink on a worldwide basis," said Kevin
Donihoo, senior vice president of marketing. "Now all of our clients will be
able to benefit from the collaboration and convenience afforded by BLink."
Other BLink services include online, on-demand access to GXT's computing
intensive EarthWave applications, project monitoring and management, and
accounting and contracts control. With these additional management tools, the
client is better able to control and monitor the progress and quality of
outsourced imaging projects.
"The financial implications of BLink to our clients are enormous," said Randy
Finch, chief financial officer of GX Technology. "Oil companies are increasingly
focusing on minimizing their capital expenditure, and one of their most
expensive capital items is the specialized supercomputer and associated software
and maintenance required for in-house prestack depth imaging. By outsourcing
such projects to GX Technology and using BLink to manage them as closely and
effectively as if they remained in-house, oil companies are able to transfer the
high capital cost of the associated equipment to GXT while actually improving
control and quality," Finch added.
BLink also provides a cost-effective way to extend the reach of GX Technology's
advanced seismic imaging solutions to the global oil and gas community. "Instead
of spending millions of dollars installing and supporting supercomputers at
regional offices all over the world, we will use BLink to provide all of our
Service Centers with interactive access to our Houston facilities," added
Lambert. "This means that BLink will be a key factor both in extending the
highest quality service to a global client base and in controlling our operating
costs."
Ad Emmen |
 |