American Super Computer released to Russia
American Super Computer released to Russia
a business adventure of ROY International Consultancy, Inc.!
May 18, 2000 - Moscow - The first Mainframe High Power Super Computer was exported from USA to Russia. This deal is a part of a long-term contract between the Russian Oil exploration firm Tatneftgeophysika and ROY International Consultancy Inc., headed by Dr.Cherian Eapen, who is shuttling between USA and Russia. Last Christmas day, the Super Computer - Sun Microsystem's "Starfire Enterprise10000" - was installed at the specially prepared site of the client in Bugulma, an interior town of Tatarstan Republic of Russia.
President of Sun Microsystems Corporation, Mr. Scott McNeally, (who challenged Mr. Bill Gates and Microsoft for its technology and legal competency), congratulated the great effort of the President of ROY International Dr. Cherian Eapen, who is shuttling between USA and Russia and made the impossible a possible one. "It was a 'Christmas Starfire', a precious Christmas gift to Russia from America. This is an opening of high power computer usage in this geography for peaceful purposes - a new bridge opened between the two technology Super Powers of the world" - he said.
The Starfire Enterprise10000 is purchased for the seismological data processing center of Tatneftgeophysika, a giant in the geophysical business field in the whole region of the former Soviet Union. In spite of the existing financial and economical problems, the Russian Geophysical firms are struggling hard to stand on their own legs by procuring the most modern technology stream in the field of computerization and processing of geological and geophysical data. By 1999, the majority of geophysical firms of Russia achieved the automation of their production centers. Year 2000 opens with the 2nd phase of modernization and reconstruction of geophysical computing centers, focusing mainly on upgrading of the power and speed of data interpretation.
At present, the Russian seismological survey of Oil and Gas determines all their data based on 2 Dimensional film which should be obtained with 3 Dimensional (3D) film. Without 3D film, it is impossible for accurate and quality identification of Hydro-carbide fields. This 3D procedure increases the cost of complicated research work, with high power computers and software. But this gives a substantial economical advantage to the tune of 20 to 30%.
In order to become competitive in the already saturated 3D seismic market, traditional geophysical firms started spending large amounts to modernize their computing centers. They started inviting companies specialized in this sphere -- Systems Integrators -- with given criterion of price, optimum efficiency, productivity of technical solution, taking into consideration all aspects of technology for processing of geophysical information.
One such experienced Systems Integrators working in CIS is ROY International Consultancy Inc., whose main activity is the project design and realization of corporate computing, especially for computing centers for the oil and gas field. Founded in 1988, ROY International is the leading Systems Integrator specialized in large computer systems development of corporate computing centers. ROY International is the largest supplier of highly reliable and secure UNIX based enterprise wide systems in the CIS. By this period, ROY International designed and installed 300 projects throughout CIS countries to modernize and reconstruct computing centers, installing more than 2000 high power Sun Work Stations and Servers and porting major software, available in the world and networking etc.
Bashkiristan Neftgeophysika, Udmrtneftgeophysika, Khantimansisk Geophysika, Sakhalinsk Neftgeophysika, Moormansk Neftgeophysika, Central Geophysical Expedition, VNIIGAS, Sever Gazprom, Orenburg Gazprom, Lukoil Kogalym, Yukos Moscow, Luk-Arco, Slavneft Tver, etc., to name a few, are the leading computing centers installed by ROY International in the oil and gas field.
At present, ROY International is completing the final installation at Tatneftgeophysika, one of the major geophysical companies of Russia. Within the framework of this project, ROY International is finalizing the execution of the installation of a Sun Supercomputer together with leading software in the world. This complex is specially designed for 3D geophysical data processing.
The world's leading oil and gas producers love the characteristics of Enterprise10000, also called the 'CRAY-Killer'. Starting with new 18 Ultra SPARC-II Microprocessors, TByte Storage Array, TByte ETL Tape Library, more than 100 high power Sun Work Stations and Networking etc., this center is the most powerful computing center in Russia and all CIS countries.
Being the Systems Integrator, ROY International, after several negotiations, selected Paradigm Geophysical software (Israel) for Data Processing and Schlumberger GeoQuest Software (France) for Data Interpretation. This is in addition to the existing Data Processing Software, Landmark, of America. ROY International also has agreements with manufacturers like Storage Tech (USA), Qualstar Corporation (USA), E.R.Mapping (Australia), M4 Data Ltd., (England), Fujitsu (Japan), 3Com (USA), OYO Plotters and Instruments (Japan), etc., and also with various Russian manufacturers and software developers.
Trained Specialists and Engineers of ROY International completed the networking job within two weeks and software installation and training just completed. Four of the ROY International's specialists are with Ph.D. qualifications in this field. Processing and Interpretation of Data are handled by more than 400 highly qualified employees of Tatneftgeophysica.
The General Director of Tatneftgeophysika, Mr.Rinat Kharisov said, "This is the second time we are entering into a new era of major technological modernization of their computing center, which is being executed by ROY International. Six years back, we have modernized our computing center with the help of ROY International. They replaced the Russian ES computers with the Sun SPARC Center2000 which increased our computing power to 20 times. The present installation increases our power to another 70 times. This enables us to find the results of Interpretation Data, saving substantial time and money and we can compete at the global market".
"The new Super Computer project once more confirms that the trend in Russia is to set up large scale information centers, for which high end Super Computers are required", said Dr. Cherian Eapen, President of ROY International. "It was a difficult task to get licenses from all US Govt. Departments. The application for export license and non-proliferation compliance letter etc. were routed through the Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy and through the US Embassy in Moscow to the Bureau of Exports Administration in Washington DC. The procedure took a long time to grant permission to allow the use of the Supercomputer for a civilian customer in Russia as Russia is still under the list of countries for nuclear proliferation concerns. Since ROY International has got a clean record and doesn't have any military deals and since it is strict in working only for a peaceful production activities, it got an advantage on license application. Departments of Commerce, State, Defense, Atom Energy Ecology cleared the license application for this Super Computer earlier and finally, the Department of Energy also gave the green light to lift it to Russia.
This 2 Tons Super Computer complex was lifted from San Francisco to Amsterdam by Lufthansa Cargo and from there to Moscow and to Nabereshni Chelni, a nearby airport of the end user in Tatarstan Republic by a chartered flight arranged by ROY International.
Dr.Cherian Eapen said, "With the highest of security safeguard procedures, we were able to reach the System to the pre-approved and designed site of the computing center, per license requirement. Every moment was tense due to danger of security reasons against any physical diversion during shipment. One of our employees from Moscow, Victor, traveled with the freight forwarders and security crew and informed me each hour the progress of loading and off loading and air and ground transport to the destination. About 4 AM on December 25, Christmas day morning, I got the final call for that day from Victor, asking me to take rest as the job is completed and therefore requesting to allow them to celebrate the installation of the Super Computer, by opening a bottle of Vodka."
