Biota Technology, a pioneer of industrial genomics, spotted a disruptive business opportunity: Apply innovations in medical and scientific DNA sequencing and genomics to industrial use, specifically for subsurface exploration in oil and gas.

The Biota team knew that being first to market with industrial genomics was critical to success. Their innovations could be greatly beneficial for customers, especially energy companies under pressure to improve capital efficiency and reduce operating cost while also challenged with gathering, tracking, and integrating diverse data, something Biota excels at.

However, due to the complexity of genomes and biological material, Biota's genomics vision was extremely difficult to accomplish and scale. Microbes add a data layer needed to characterize fluid movement in an oilfield, so drillers know which layers of the subsurface are producing oil and gas. Biota surveys subsurface microbes at different locations, depths, and times, and organizes them into DNA markers. A single Biota sample has around 20,000 sequences describing around 100 DNA markers. In practice, Biota stores and categorizes hundreds of thousands of microbial data points, then analyzes the data so it can be used for informed business decisions.

To become the first industrial genomic company, Biota Technology needed a comprehensive analytics solution. The company turned to TIBCO Spotfire analytics for its extensive capabilities for supporting partners and customers who want to create custom analytics and data science applications.

Using TIBCO Spotfire analytics, Biota integrates multiple data sources, visualizes multifaceted data, and queries this data synchronously—providing a single workflow log analysis of a well or group of wells.

Spotfire data transformations, data relations, and markings are critical to providing a holistic view of oil wells. The software simplifies data structures into intuitive visuals and quickly queries them. Biota’s engineers can then provide customers with logs and conclusions so they can make decisions.

With Spotfire software, Biota launched Genesis AI, a platform for developing the digital oilfield by syncing and analyzing multiple data sources into a single, clean workflow. Biota’s total fluid contribution log—that accurately assesses fluids in subsurface depths—is the flagship capability. Genesis AI combines crossreference DNA data, probability log data (based on the microbes present, the likelihood that an area has water and oil), and oil and gas metadata to provide customers with a comprehensive, live narrative of the subsurface. The results bring insight into development progress and opportunities.

Interactive workflows help users develop insights faster and with more confidence. Biota’s customers have saved millions in operating costs by improving development plans and using resources effectively. Customers no longer have to guess about the health of their oil field or the best drilling practices— Genesis AI tells them precisely what they need to know.

According to Matthew Haggerty, senior data scientist, "Genesis AI, built on Spotfire software, has cumulatively saved customers $400 million in operating costs."

The environmental future is bright as Biota paves the way for DNA sequencing in industrial settings. Customer confidence has increased substantially, and Biota has saved billions of gallons of water with data-generated insights made possible by TIBCO.