Petroleum Technology Digest: Affordable software simplifies operations, improves productivity for independent

Well-designed software is critical for a growing E&P company like Wichita, Kansas-based Vess Oil Corp. There is software available for all of the technical aspects of operations, including complex data analyses and geophysical interpretations. There are also accounting and back-office solutions. But there is very little available to tie the activities of people and the organization together, and managing projects of the many companies and partnerships in which Vess participates. Vess describes each of the projects as a juggling act, where there are many different balls (tasks) in the air. The firm wanted to organize and manage the tasks better to gain productivity. Management needed capabilities for: • Defining and scheduling projects and tasks, team members, and job responsibilities. • Coordinating employees and contractor activities, regardless of whether they are in the office, at a well site or at any other location. • Helping all project team members share information (communication and collaboration).