CiSoft is a USC-Chevron Center of Excellence for Research and Academic Training on Interactive Smart Oilfield Technologies. The Center was established in December 2003. Participating research scientists at CiSoft are from various departments in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California and from Chevron. Two important entities associated with the Viterbi School of Engineering, IMSC (Integrated Media Systems Center) and ISI (Information Sciences Institute) are closely associated with CiSoft. Expertise of participating USC faculty includes Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering. Research areas include:
  • Integrated Asset Management
  • Well Productivity Improvement
  • Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
  • Embedded and Networked Systems
  • Reservoir Management
  • Data Management Tools
  • Immersive Visualization

In addition to its research program on smart oilfield technologies, effective Fall Semester 2004, the Center has been offering a new academic degree in this area. The new MS degree is given in the Petroleum Engineering Program with an emphasis on Smart Oilfield Technologies. This MS degree is intended for the benefit of current technical staff at the worldwide Petroleum Industry as well as a new generation of engineering graduates who will be taking responsibility for management of the evolving digital oilfields.