Petrel 2009.

1
System requirements
Updated: Jan 27 2009

Petrel 2009.1 Minimum System Requirements Petrel 2009.1 Recommended System Requirements
Introduction
This document outlines the hardware • Microsoft© Windows© XP Professional (32-bit • Microsoft© Windows© XP Professional (32-bit
(HW) and operating system (OS) (SP2 or later) and Windows© Vista (SP2 or later) and 64-bit,
64
requirements for Petrel 2009.1. To ensure Business/Ultimate (64-bit only) • Windows© Vista Business/Ultimate (64-bit
that Petrel functions and performs as • One CPU (1.5 GHz or greater) only)
expected, we are constantly testing the • 2 GB RAM (4 GB RAM Windows© XP and • Minimum 2 CPUs(Dual core/Quad core)
core
latest hardware available from major Vista 64-bit) • 8 GB RAM
suppliers, as well as optimizing it for
• 2 GB of free disk space • 4+ GB of free high-speed
h hard disk
maximum performance. In our attempt to
minimize unexpected problems and • OpenGL compatible graphics card with • OpenGL compatible Professional 3D graphics
costs, we tend to use branded solutions, dedicated on-board RAM card with 512 MB of dedicated graphics card
such as those offered by HP, Dell, • 1024x768 screen resolution with 32-bit colors RAM or better
AMD/ATI and nVidia. However, we do • Microsoft© .NET Framework Version 2.0 • GB Ethernet
not exclude hardware from other
• Windows experience index > 4. (64-bit Vista • 1600x1200 screen resolution with 32-bit
32 colors
vendors.
only) or better
• Microvision Secure Flexnet 11.3 • Microsoft© .NET Framework Version 2.0
Operating systems
• Windows experience index > 5. (64-bit
(64 Vista
Petrel 2009.1 is available on Windows only)

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32bit and 64bit systems,
The 32 bit version of Petrel 2009.1 runs on performance, we recommend opting for With a 32-bit
bit application (e.g. Petrel
either Microsoft Windows XP the best PC configuration available. 2009.1) running on a 32-bit
32 OS (e.g.
Professional or Windows XP 64bit. The Although Petrel currently utilizes most Windows XP) you can address 2 GB of
64 bit version of Petrel 2009.1 runs only on efficiently only one processor, a multi memory per Application.
Windows Vista Business and Ultimate processors
processors/multi core system offers Windows XP 64-bit
64 gives each 32-bit
editions. It is recommended to run Petrel many advantages to geophysics and application access to an additional 2GB
on Vista 64 due to the extended memory geologic algorithms
algorithms. These have been of memory, increasing the available
capabilities which translate into made multi
multi-threaded in Petrel 2009.1. For memory to 4GB. The total system memory
performance gains under this operating more information, please see the Petrel is recommended to be higher than the
system. Geophysics recommendations. Running memory used by the application. This is
Petrel 2009.1 is no longer supported on Petrel on a multi core system will also to ensure that your Operating
Operati System has
©
Windows 2000. enable you to start ECLIPSE batch jobs in dedicated RAM and so you do not have
an efficient manner since ECLIPSE can to use your page file (disk). In the event
run on separate CPUs as well. that the amount of RAM can not be
Processors Newer core technologies will be tested increased, it is recommended to use
Petrel has been tested in the following as soon as they become available. faster media such as SDHC cards to
environment, A 64 bit processor is needed to run achieve better performance
Single socket Dual socket (CPUs) Windows XP 64 bit and Vista 64 bit To estimate the size of your system, the
(CPU) operating systems. Intel Xeon, AMD following rule of thumb could be applied:
Single and Dual- Dual-Core and Quad- Opteron and Phenom processors are For small data sets (~1GB), the 32bit
Core processor Core processors suitable candidates for a 64
64-bit system. version of Petrel 2009.1 on a Windows XP
The Front
Front-side bus (FSB) speed should be 32bit with 2-3 GB of internal memory is
Processor speed is a determining factor
considered when buying a multiple core sufficient to run Petrel. A medium sized
when it comes to large calculation tasks,
processor. For example, if you purchase data set (~5GB) will run successfully with
such as volume size, property modeling,
a Quad Core computer with a FSB speed Petrel 32bit on a Windows XP 64 bit
and upscaling. The processor also has
of 1333 MHz. and a dual socket Quad
Quad- system with 4GB+ of RAM. Petrel
the function of feeding information to the
Core computer with the same FSB you projects with large data sets, ie: large 3D
graphics board. The minimum
may see a decrease in performance. seismic volumes, regional seismic
requirement for a processor might be
models or big simulation (ECLIPSE) runs,
adequate for simple Petrel usage;
will require Petrel 2009.1 64-bit
64 running on
however, to achieve the highest Memory (RAM)
a Windows Vista 64-bit systems with 32- Integrated graphics cards with no ATI Radeon 256 Workstation
X850XT MB
128 GB of RAM. dedicated RAM are not recommended,
as they will reduce the amount of nVidia Quadro 256 Laptop
FX go1400 MB
memory available for Petrel and the
Petrel Reference Project (RPT
(RPT)
Operating System.
storage recommendation
For maximum Petrel user experience, we Petrel Modeling recommendations
recommend investing in a good monitor, Several modeling algorithms (see
such as a 30 inch LCD monitor, without Release notes for details) in this Petrel
forgetting a high
high-end graphics card. release, take advantage of multiple core
processing. Therefore, increasing the
Recommended tested graphics number of processors will improve the
cards run time of these algorithms. This current
trend
nd of converting algorithms to run in
The latest official nVidia drivers that have
parallel will continue based on algorithm
been tested are 162.65 (Workstation) and
runtime.
175.75 (Laptop). The latest oofficial ATI
Reference projects are usually stored driver tested is Catalyst 8.44. We suggest
on a network drive on a central server. that you always upgrade to the latest Petrel Geobody interpretation
Often times, access to these projects official drivers from your PC vendorvendor’s Petrel 2009.1 recommended
could become a performance issue due home page, this is particularly important requirements are considered minimum
to network traffic; especially when when upgrading your laptop display requirements for the Geobody
multiple users access a single driver. interpretation functionality.
functionality
Reference Project and multiple data Card Name RAM PC Type
items are transferred back and forth Vista 64 bit and 64-64-bit Petrel is the
nVidia Quadro 1.5 GB Workstation
between the local project and the FX 5600 recommended system configuration.
configuration
High--End

Reference Project. Windows Vista nVidia Quadro 768 Workstation Schlumberger has tested various cards

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FX 4600 MB
Ultra High

offers a new remote file system protocol ATI FireGL v8650 2 GB Workstation
in the nVidia Quadro FX card series and
called SMB2. Moreover, SMB2 has ATI FireGL v8600 1 GB Workstation the newest ATI FireGL series. See
been adopted by several File Server ATI FireGL v7600 512 Workstation Graphics card section for detailed
MB
vendors and it has been deployed on information about what graphics cards
nVidia Quadro 1GB Workstation
their new platforms. The combination of FX 5500 you should select.
elect.
Windows Vista and the SMB2 protocol nVidia Quadro 512 Workstation Your graphics card needs to have:
can significantly enhance and promote FX 3700 MB
nVidia Quadro 512 Laptop • Pixel shader 2 or later.
the use of Reference Project workflows FX 3600 M MB
nVidia Quadro 512 Laptop
• An 2 compatible graphics
FX 3500 M MB card.
Choosing the right graphics card nVidia Quadro 512 Laptop
Integrated graphics cards are not
High--End

FX 2500 M MB
Choosing the right graphics card for your supported. In addition,
addition we have noticed
nVidia Quadro 256 Laptop
High

computer is important to optimize Petrel FX 1500 M MB some problems with the nVidia Quadro
visualization performance. There is a ATI FireGL v7350 1GB Workstation FX 350M on the Dell M65 model.
substantial difference in performance ATI FireGL v7300 512 Workstation
MB
between low and high-end graphics ATI FireGL v5600 512 Workstation
cards when using large 3D grids, or when MB Petrel RE considerations
performing seismic volume rendering. nVidia Quadro 512 Workstation If a user wants to run FrontSim or
FX 4500 MB
Graphics card performance depends on nVidia Quadro 1 GB Workstation ECLIPSE on the same PC as Petrel 2009.1,
several factors outside of our control; FX 4500 X2 then a multi-core
core machine is highly
nVidia Quadro 512 Workstation recommended. Windows Vista 64-bit
64 is
such as, Corporate Operating System FX 1700 MB
images, drivers and board manufacturers the preferred Operating System.
nVidia Quadro 256 Workstation
are some of the factors which can impact FX 1500 MB
graphics performance. nVidia Quadro 512 Laptop
Mid--End

FX 350M/360M MB Recommended tested hardware

nVidia’s SLI offering does not currently solutions
Mid

(256 on
give any added benefit to Petrel; card)
ATI FireGL v7200 256 Workstation We regularly test hardware
har from
however, it might be helpful with large MB different vendors; the tables shown
high-resolution monitors, such as the ATI FireGL v7100 256 Workstation below list some of the hardware used in
new 30 inch LCD recently introduced to MB
ATI FireGL v3350 256 Workstation the Petrel 2009.1 commercialization
the market.
w

E
-

MB cycle. Although we have tested the

hardware, we cannot certify it. Problems
outside of SIS control, such as driver and
BIOS bugs and Operating System
limitations may affect the user
experience.
Recommended laptops
High-End Laptops Mid-End Laptops
Dell Dell M4300/M2300
M6400/M6300/M90
HP Compaq 8710w
Note: For 64-bit Windows to run on a
Laptop select a 64-bit capable Intel Core
2 Duo processor or similar
High-
High-End Workstations
HP xw9400 HP xw8600
Dell 690 Dell T7400
Mid-
Mid-End Workstations
HP xw6600 Dell 490
Dell T5400
Low-
Low-End Workstations
HP xw4550 HP xw4600 Petrel Geophysics setup scenarios

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For detailed information please visit the Graphics
Graphics
Geobody
card Seismic
respective vendor home pages. Scenario OS RAM card
memory
render
cache
RAM cache
setting
32-bit Petrel
Windows XP 4 GB 512 MB 512 MB 180 MB 1) 100 MB
Petrel Geophysics Geobody interpretation
recommendations 32-bit Petrel
Windows XP 64 4 GB 512 MB 512 MB 180 MB 1) 500 MB
Geobody interpretation
When using the geophysics module to
view large 2D lines and 3D surveys, and 32-bit Petrel
Windows XP 64 4 GB 512 MB 512 MB 180 MB 2) 1000 MB
Seismic interpretation
when using the volume rendering
64-bit Petrel
feature, we recommend using a graphics Geobody interpretation
Windows Vista 64 8 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 1 GB
card with at least 512MB memory. In
64-bit Petrel
addition, a fast hard drive (such as a SCSI Geobody interpretation
Windows Vista 64 16 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 9 GB

drive or solid state) will increase the 64-bit Petrel

Windows Vista 64 16 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 12 GB
speed at which seismic volumes are Seismic interpretation
interpreted. It is also advisable to install 64-bit Petrel
Windows Vista 64 64 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 1.5 GB 58.5 GB
as much memory as your operating Geobody interpretation
system permits. 1) 32-bit
bit Petrel users should be careful to increase this limit. Petrel may become unstable.
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) disks are 2) Users with a 64-bit OS can try to increase this limit, however system instabilities may occur
common with high-end HW systems. This General setup tips
will have a great impact on performance
64-bit Petrel – Geobody interpretation on Windows Vista 64
for bulk seismic loadings. (SAS 15000 rpm
hard disks are recommended.) Solid X GB of RAM, Y GB of GPU RAM the seismic cache (S) equals:
State disks (SSD) have recently also hit S=X-2*Y-4
the market. They have an extremely low where 4 is deducted for the Operating system
search time and quite high sustained
read/write speeds.
64-bit Petrel – Seismic interpretation on Windows Vista 64
In Petrel 2009.1 several seismic
workflows (e.g. seismic display, attribute X GB of RAM, Y GB of GPU RAM the seismic cache (S) equals:
generation and realize) utilize multi- S=X-4
threading, thus enabling higher usage of where 4 is deducted for the Operating system
any extra processors.
LiveQuest Solutions
For Remote Solutions we can offer Petrel LiveQuest 2009.1 Minimum Requirements for Petrel 2009.1
on LiveQuest, LiveQuest Inside or the Application Server (hosting multiple users*)
new LiveQuest Appliance. LiveQuest is
SIS remote application solution. The table
on this page describes minimum and • Microsoft© Windows© 2008 Server (64-bit)
recommended hardware requirements • Intel or AMD processor (2.7 GHz or greater)
for a Petrel 2009.1 application server. In • 4 GB RAM
this solution more than one user can be
• 10k RPM SAS disk(s) with 1 GB of free disk space
hosted on an application server; the
server sizing depends on many factors • nVidia Quadro FX graphics card with minimum 512MB on-board
on RAM
including number of users and data • Gigabit ethernet connection server side
requirements. However be aware there • LQ TAw Windows RDP plug-in
are other required components. For more
Windows and Terminal Services CALs
information regarding a LiveQuest
solution please see the brochure at
www.livequest.net

About Schlumberger
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superior results and improved E&P
performance for oil and gas companies
around the world. Through our well site
operations and in our research and

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develop products, services and solutions
that optimize customer performance in a
safe and environmentally sound manner.
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is an operating unit of Schlumberger that
provides software, information
management, IT infrastructure, and
consulting services. SIS enables oil and
gas companies to achieve breakthrough
team performance, unlocking the
potential of E&P teams to step-change
their effectiveness and productivity.
Through our technologies and services,
oil and gas companies can drive
business performance and realize the
potential of the digital oil field.

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