IPIMS.ep is divided into three major subdivisions:

• ep.Knowledge,
• ep.Learning and
• ep.Communication.

They, in turn, are divided into several components as explained below.

ep.Knowledge consists of two major content data-bases:

• Background Knowledge and
  
• Practical Knowledge.

Background Knowledge is an extensive content database of the current technology and practical know-how of the four major E&P disciplines: Petroleum Geology, Petroleum Geophysics, Petroleum Engineering and Formation Evaluation. The content, which consists of all forms of media (video, text and graphics) is vast. It includes over 100 hours of digitized video, 17,000 graphics and 10,000 pages of text and, in the CD version, consists of over 56 CDs. It is organized around an E&P Knowledge Map that allows the user to find specific content with ease. The content is expanded and updated on an ongoing basis by IHRDC specialists in response to recommendations of IPIMS licensees and changes in Technology.

Practical Knowledge is both a template and a database. The template allows licensees to capture recommended practices, processes or job related guide-lines and store them in a database for later retrieval and application to job assignments. This component is organized around the same Knowledge Map that is used for Background Knowledge. (View Screenshot)

ep.Learning

ep.Learning allows users to pursue both knowledge-based (Background Learning) and competency-based (Action Learning) Learning Plans in E&P technology on an interactive, self-directed basis.

Background Learning is a powerful virtual learning resource that allows users to learn about upstream petroleum technology. It consists of 228 interactive Learning Plans in all areas of E&P technology. Carefully built around the award-winning video, text and graphics of Background Knowledge, this major new interactive learning component includes over 3000 multiple-choice self assessment questions that allow a user’s progress to be measured and recorded.

The Learning Plans are broad in scope and application. Some are ideal for those with non-technical backgrounds; others will be of interest only to technical specialists. A user may select his or her own Learning Plan, or follow one of many development plans that have been specified by IHRDC or your company. A Learning Plan may be limited to an individual Topic (e.g., Selection of Grid Systems) or Module (e.g., Fundamentals of Well Testing) or it may consist of a comprehensive self-development program (e.g., Reservoir Engineering).

Challenging self-assessments allow users to obtain immediate feedback on their understanding of the material presented and to record their progress. This system allows a company to identify Learning Plans for each of their employees, which they can pursue on a self-paced basis at their desktop. This system component is available only in the Internet/Intranet format.

Action Learning relies on the old adage that "People learn best on-the-job". The foundation of this unique IHRDC learning component is the completion of challenging virtual assignments that are based on actual field data and job competencies that have been identified by senior industry specialists. During the learning process, users complete substantial sets of simulated assignments in order to demonstrate job competency. Pre-selected Background Knowledge is available as needed to support the learning. The performance of each learner is measured and recorded in his or her personal record. The first set of competency- based Learning Plans to be offered is in Integrated Reservoir Management. These were developed by IHRDC in alliance with Petroleos de Venezuela and are based on existing Venezuelan reservoirs and 46, performance competencies identified by senior PDVSA specialists. Each Learning Plan is approximately equivalent to a one-week course of instruction. This system component is available only in the Internet/Intranet format.

ep.Communication consists of Knowledge Communities and Industry News. Timely Presentations and Management Updates will soon be added. The Knowledge Communities consist of E&P Discussion Groups and soon the ExpertNet Yellow Pages, an industry registration and networking system. In addition there will soon be timely reports on energy business topics, desktop video presentations by international specialists, focused news reports and other resources that allow the user to reach out and access knowledge and learning that improves know-how and job performance.

User Access to IPIMS
A company may license and gain access to IPIMS directly from IHRDC’s Internet server or through its own Intranet. The major benefit of a Web-based license is that it can be accessed by many types of platforms (Windows 95/98/NT and Unix) worldwide. For maximum usage a licensee may elect to have access on both its Intranet and the IHRDC Internet site at www.ipims.com. Using the IHRDC Internet site avoids the administrative and maintenance burden on internal IT departments and gives users access to content as soon as it is posted on the IHRDC server.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Setting Up a 30-day IPIMS Trial Account
If your company is seriously considering installing a web based learning system and feels that IPIMS meets some or all of your needs, we recommend that you contact one of our sales personnel (ipims.info@ihrdc.com) to establish a 30-day trial account. This will allow you to evaluate the complete system before making a formal license commitment. Most of our licensees have followed this approach. During the evaluation, we recommend that you use our IPIMS evaluation guidelines. You may also ask us to prepare learning programs that satisfy your competency models or integrate IPIMS smoothly into your learning management system (LMS) before the license agreement becomes effective. This way you will gain the maximum benefits from the system when it is installed.

Review of License Agreement
Once you are ready to review an IPIMS license agreement contact us at ipims.info@ihrdc.com. We will be happy to discuss the licensing option that is most appropriate to your company. Once we receive your executed copy of the agreement, our Media Group will assist you to install the system, make sure that it is fully operational and that your personnel are using it with ease.

Workshops
IHRDC has developed a special new workshop, Achieving Higher Performance with IPIMS.ep, to help IPIMS.ep licensees realize corporate-wide substantial value from this important resource. The workshop introduces the critical factors involved in successfully introducing and effectively using IPIMS.ep as a corporate knowledge and learning system, and in creating a corporate-wide IPIMS.ep Implementation Action Plan.

During the workshop an IHRDC specialist will:

• lead your IPIMS.ep users in hands-on sessions to show the system’s features, functionality and major uses;
• demonstrate the effective use of Background Learning and how it can be used to build development plans for everyone in the organization;
• practice creating a Practical Knowledge data base that links recommended practices and lessons learned to IPIMS.ep Subtopics
• show how IPIMS.ep Action Learning Plans are designed and how you can use them to stimulate job competency learning within your organization;
• explain how the Communications features can be customized to build effective in-house networks; and
• assist you in building an internal Implementation Action Plan.

The workshop can be customized to meet your company’s needs, and it will be useful to all IPIMS.ep users. Past participants have said that this workshop "really opened my eyes to all the potential that IPIMS holds." This workshop is a 1-2 day session that can be expanded, as needed, to accommodate IPIMS.ep users in multiple locations. For more information on this workshop please contact one of our corporate offices.

Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs Using IPIMS
IPIMS.ep is the foundation of IHRDC’s recently announced e-learning Certificate Programs in Oil and Gas Technology Management and a Diploma Program in Upstream Oil and Gas Management. These programs cover the following major topics: Reservoir Management; Drilling and Well Completion Practices; Production and Operating Practices; Upstream Natural Gas Management; and General Management and Business Practices. IHRDC expects to announce shortly that it has joined with one or more major universities to offer its IPIMS users the opportunity to obtain Master Degrees where "distance learning" using IPIMS is a major component of the degree requirements. For additional information on these programs contact us at ipims.info@ihrdc.com.

 

Certificate, Diploma and Degree Programs Using IPIMS
IPIMS.ep is the foundation of IHRDC’s recently announced e-learning Certificate Programs in Oil and Gas Management and a Diploma Program in Upstream Petroleum Management. These programs cover the following major topics: Formation Evaluation; Reservoir Engineering Practices; Petroleum Reservoir Management and Exploitation Strategies; Drilling and Well Completion Practices; Production and Operating Practices; Upstream Natural Gas Management; and Petroleum Engineering Practice (for non-Petroleum Engineers). IHRDC expects to announce shortly that it has joined with one or more major universities to offer its IPIMS users the opportunity to obtain Master Degrees where "distance learning" using IPIMS is a major component of the degree requirements. For additional information on these programs contact us at ipims.info@ihrdc.com.

 

Contact us for a Demonstration or to Review a License Agreement
If you would like to have a demonstration of IPIMS or review an IPIMS Agreement, please contact any IHRDC regional office or its head office in Boston (ipims.info@ihrdc.com). We will then send you a License Agreement or set up your trial account on the IPIMS Web Site. Once we receive your executed copy of the Agreement, our Media Group will work with you or others in your company to install the system, make sure that it is fully operational and that your personnel are using it with ease.

• visit us at www.IPIMS.com,
• Contact IHRDC Online,
• call one of our corporate offices, or
• talk to your company’s IPIMS.ep coordinator.