As energy operators face the challenge of managing increasingly complex reservoirs and an explosion of subsurface data, the need for scalable, AI-driven solutions has never been greater. On October 6, SLB announced that Chevron Technical Center has officially joined its long-term digital subsurface collaboration with TotalEnergies.
Known as Arena, the collaboration focuses on accelerating the development of next-generation reservoir engineering and geoscience technologies to transform how the industry makes subsurface decisions.
What Chevron Brings to the Table
Chevron’s entry into the Arena collaboration adds significant momentum. The company is contributing investment, intellectual property, and specialized technical expertise—particularly in the realm of uncertainty analysis.
By integrating this expertise with digital technologies and AI-enabled workflows, the partnership aims to:
- Improve decision quality in the field.
- Accelerate insights from growing volumes of subsurface data.
- Enhance overall operational efficiency.
“Chevron is working to advance digital capabilities to unlock greater value from our subsurface resources,” noted Jitendra Kikani, Chevron Vice President of Subsurface. “Through Arena, we are combining our world-class expertise in uncertainty analysis with digital technologies and AI-enabled workflows.”
A Unique Collaborative Model
What makes Arena distinct is its embedded working model. Rather than operating in silos, subject-matter experts from both TotalEnergies and Chevron will work directly within SLB technology centers.
This embedded approach is designed to:
- Shorten Feedback Loops: Bring operator experience directly into the technology development cycle.
- Ensure Real-World Relevance: Bridge the gap between product developers and the end-users operating in the field.
- Deliver Scalability: Focus on creating open, extensible, and scalable digital subsurface technologies.
Rakesh Jaggi, President of SLB’s digital business, emphasized the value of this direct connection: “This collaboration brings SLB's digital and subsurface expertise together with operator knowledge... Chevron adds valuable experience and perspectives that will help strengthen how we address complex subsurface workflows and field development decisions.”
Building on a Proven Foundation
This isn’t the first time these three energy giants have joined forces. The Arena collaboration builds on the companies' successful historical cooperation that delivered the industry-leading Intersect reservoir simulator.
With Arena, SLB, TotalEnergies, and now Chevron are taking another major step forward, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digital subsurface engineering and ensuring the industry is equipped to handle the complex reservoirs of the future.
