Using video-game technology to find oil, gas

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Arthur B. Weglein director of the Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program at the University of Houston is pictured with IBMs Cell Broadband Engine (CellB.E.) system. The CellB.E. employs computer technology originally co-designed by IBM for video-g ...
Arthur B. Weglein, director of the Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program at the University of Houston, is pictured with IBM’s Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.) system. The Cell/B.E. employs computer technology originally co-designed by IBM for video-game consoles, and UH seismic researchers are employing this extremely fast technology to more effectively target oil reserves. UH’s M-OSRP has the Cell/B.E. as part of a very exclusive 'Loaner Program' from IBM. Credit: Thomas Shea

What do video games and seismic explorations have in common? Both require very demanding computer applications that call for the ability to process massive quantities of data rapidly. Using computer technology originally co-designed by IBM for video-game consoles, University of Houston seismic researchers are employing this extremely fast technology to more effectively target oil reserves.


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