Computer modeling and simulation is common in many industries today. In the early days of computing, simulation replaced physical experimentation only in simple cases where the simulations executed faster than the associated physical experiments. Since the late 1970s, however, advances in numerical modeling and the use of finite element methods (FEM) to model all types of systems has mostly displaced older, inflexible finite difference (FD) techniques in many industries.

As an industry, E&P rarely relies on rigorous reservoir modeling in the development phase, and even less during exploration. Reservoir modeling is not just for mature reservoirs anymore. Technology exists today that will bring E&P modeling into the 21st century.

Since the inception of 3-D seismic, geological and geophysical disciplines have dominated exploration software advancement. Progress in seismic interpretation, mapping and the like has been plentiful along the way. However, software for analyzing and producing unconventional plays, where success is not dependent upon geological characterization alone, has not reached full potential.