This strategic planning support assessed a global reservoir simulation market and outlook over a 10-year period. ADI examined the commoditization of black oil simulators and the competitive pressure from GPU-based cloud computing and data analytics alternatives. The work surfaced critical trade-offs between physics-based accuracy and the speed required by a shrinking reservoir engineering workforce.
The client
Reservoir modeling software provider
The situation
High decision risk in a commoditizing software market facing disruption from data analytics and integrated subsurface platforms.
ADI’s contributions
Multi-scenario TAM modeling
ADI used proprietary model layers to segment market growth across asset classes, including shale, heavy oil, and EOR projects.
Voice-of-customer insights
Over 35 interviews with global operators provided clarity on the requirement for integration between Petrel and simulation tools.
Competitive benchmarking
The analysis detailed how competitors utilize bundling and OSDU platform migration to lock in market share despite price premiums.
M&A target identification
ADI profiled 30 potential acquisition targets across the value chain, prioritizing G&G and well-spacing analytics for inorganic growth.
Key outcomes
- Repositioning of software offerings for specific asset classes and an inorganic growth roadmap focusing on G&G and frac modeling.
More insights
How will the 2026 mid-term elections impact energy markets?
Democrats won control of the House and the Senate on November 3 and flipped the governorships of Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Nevada, and Iowa. Energy was a central issue in many of these races, particularly the cost of electricity and the growth of data centers. Power prices have risen in many states in recent years. Data […]
Newsletter: Gas prices, Permian bottlenecks, and midstream growth
In the November 2026 edition of the ADI Newsletter, ADI examines the implications of EQT’s acquisition of Range Resources and what the deal could mean for natural gas markets in Appalachia and at the Henry Hub. The newsletter also explores the growing role of oil and gas capabilities in supporting the energy transition, from geothermal […]
Permian’s next bottleneck is basin connectivity
As ADI discussed recently in Trends shaping the U.S. midstream outlook, rising LNG exports, growing power demand from AI data centers, and continued oil and gas production growth are driving a new wave of midstream investment. Much of the industry’s recent focus has been on relieving Permian gas takeaway constraints through projects such as Kinder Morgan’s […]