Computing facilities

Students and staff at ASP have access to a number of separate computer systems. The hardware and software are on a par with that available at many oil companies in Australia.

ASP PC Network

Windows-based personal computers throughout the ASP are networked together to share resources such as disk space, printers and plotters. All postgraduate students have a PC of recent vintage on their desks, and there are two PC labs for undergraduate use, and for teaching and research. These machines have Office, web browsers and email installed, often along with image processing and drafting packages, and, increasingly, technical application software.

ASP Unix Network

The ASP also maintains a network of Unix workstations. A large suite of industry-standard software is installed on these workstations, including code for seismic data processing and modelling, mapping, wireline log analysis and display, geohistory analysis and maturation modelling. The Geoquest software suite, which resides on the Sun workstations in the Schlumberger/ASP Research and Training Suite (see below) can also be accessed remotely from these machines.

Schlumberger/ASP Research and Training Suite

This state-of-the-art facility has been established by Schlumberger Oilfield Australia Pty Ltd and the ASP on the ground floor of the ASP building.

The training facility consists of a network of high-performance Unix workstations and PCs running Linux. A complete suite of Schlumberger's state-of-the-art Geoquest exploration and production software for the oil and gas industry is installed on the system. This software permits the display, analysis and interpretation in an integrated environment of all the various types of data used by geoscientists and engineers to explore for and develop hydrocarbon fields. The commercial value of the software totals more than $9 million, and would normally cost $1.8 million per year in maintenance. Schlumberger has provided both the hardware and the software, and funds the running costs of the facility. ASP students and staff have access to this system for training and research, while Schlumberger uses the facility for training their clients in the use of the software.

By providing a venue for training courses for oil and gas companies, service companies, academics and students, the School is serving as an industry focal point, and further strengthens the collaborative links between the University of Adelaide and the petroleum industry.