Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Automated electrical financial or business practice or...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2003-02-11
Trammell, James P. (Department: 3621)
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
Automated electrical financial or business practice or...
C705S022000, C702S006000, C702S014000, C709S217000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06519568
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates generally to electronically delivering oil exploration and production data from an acquisition site to a delivery site. More particularly, the invention is a global electronic data delivery system and method of use for managing the delivery of oil exploration and production data. The present invention uses a workflow process that manages the flow of data from an acquisition site to a delivery site using a centralized data hub for real-time, point to multi-point data communications that includes a global communications network for secure and efficient data delivery.
BACKGROUND
In the oil and gas industry, operating companies that own and/or manage hydrocarbon wells evaluate the wells by wireline logging. In wireline well logging, one or more tools are connected to a power and data transmission cable or “wireline” and are lowered into the well borehole to obtain measurements of geophysical properties for the area surrounding the borehole. The wireline supports the tools as they are lowered into the borehole, supplies power to the tools and provides a communication medium to send signals to the tools and receive data from the tools. Commonly, tools are lowered to a depth of interest in the well and are then retrieved. As the tools are retrieved, they send data about the geological formations through which they pass through the wireline to data acquisition and processing equipment at the surface, usually contained inside a logging truck or a logging unit.
The data acquisition and processing equipment, including software, compiles the data from the tools into a “log,” a plot which presents the geophysical information concerning the geological formations encountered by the well, frequently by depth. Logs can also be used to evaluate current production from producing wells or to inspect the integrity of production equipment in a producing well. In any case, the data gathered during the logging operation is generally presented on the log by depth, but may also be presented by time, or any other index by which multiple physical entries are recorded. The data acquisition and processing software may send the log data to a viewing monitor, where the well logging professional (usually a “logging engineer”) conducting the logging operation can view the log as it is being compiled. After the log is compiled, it can be transmitted to the operating company's headquarters for interpretation and review by management.
The data acquired by logging is often crucial to the decision-making process on what will be done with the well being logged. Take, for example, a well that has just been drilled and logged. Depending on the results of the log, the well could be drilled deeper, plugged and abandoned as non-productive or cased and tested—or perhaps the decision will be that additional logs are required before the decision on the disposition of the well can be made. The results of the log may also help determine whether the well requires stimulation or special completion techniques, such as gas lift or sand control. In any case, these decisions are crucial and have to be made very quickly. Mistakes or even mere delay can be extremely expensive.
The operating company which is drilling or producing the well frequently desires to have its own personnel viewing the log data as the well is being logged. But the operating company may be located half a world away from the well itself. Drilling and production activities are often located in remote locations and it is difficult for the operating company to have its own personnel, such as a geologist or petrophycist, join the wireline company's logging engineer on site during the logging operation. Sometimes logistics or severe weather conditions prevent the operating company from sending anyone to the wellsite for the logging operation. Furthermore, sending personnel to wellsites is expensive and exposes them to all of the hazards of the drilling or production operation, as well as the hazards and inconvenience of travel. As a consequence, tentative decisions often have to be made before the operating company can complete its review of the actual logging data, relying solely on the interpretations conducted at the wellsite.
The oilfield operating company may have one or more service partners to provide technology, processes and services that bring increased operating efficiency at reduced costs. Among the partner's needs are the acquisition, processing, management and delivery of quality data.
Each operator has unique views about and preferences for what is needed. These needs vary widely and depend on the work ongoing, and result in a variety of the data to be handled. Some are currently focused on getting real-time data delivered directly to the desktops of all project members (employees, partners and service company experts), while others believe it is paramount to work towards a more comprehensive solution that includes data processing, management and product support. At the same time some operators prefer direct communications links, while others insist on only “pulling” data off of a secure, centralized, company-neutral server. There are as many permutations on the data delivery theme as imaginable based upon technological capabilities, existing infrastructures within both the service company and operator domains, and operator preferences. In some cases, the lack of a standard process for setting up data delivery services causes operators and service companies to miss or even consciously pass up the opportunities presented by the technology.
Further, the world is rapidly assimilating advances in electronic communications and web-based central data hubs demanding ever faster, more secure and reliable transfer of all data types around the globe. The exploration and production (E&P) industry is no exception to this trend. It desires time-efficient data acquisition with real-time and/or immediate post-job interaction with and integration of data to assist with project collaboration and decision-making.
Acquisition sites are often temporary and in remote areas, lacking an established communications infrastructure. It is vital that a contractor's acquisition unit is able to leverage all possible communication methods it may encounter. For example, as many operators extend their Intranets to the acquisition site, contractor hardware must be capable of capitalizing on this, while providing the specific network security required by all parties involved. Transmission protocols designed to get the data from the acquisition site must be able to overcome what is often the least reliable link in the transmission chain. The protocol needs to be robust, efficient and maximized in recovery functionality. The data delivery system must accommodate several different time frames: real-time, post-job and long-term. Standard processes and facilities for creating links to oil acquisition sites and between companies must be established to facilitate use on more and more projects.
World-class data delivery can only be achieved when the data transmitted is of the highest quality and adheres to industry standards. Quality data is critical for making sound decisions and reducing risk. Such data, available as and when required by end users, is a common goal throughout all the data business segments: acquisition, processing, interpretation and management. Data content and composition vary widely, from the numerous industry standards to locally devised data formats. To be truly seamless, a delivery system must handle all formats and data types encountered, converting between these formats if and when necessary.
Likewise, data can only be considered successfully ‘delivered’ when it is incorporated smoothly into the client's domain and is available for immediate use and decision-making. Thus, software applications must accompany hardware developments to facilitate data reception, handling and manipulation in the user's domain. All data transmitted must be traceable and well managed, if it is to be supported and used efficiently
Alvarado Juan C.
Anigbogu Julian C.
Fogelsong Bruce A.
Harvey Diane M.
Kaan Keith G.
Batzer William
Jansson Pehr B.
Ryberg John J.
Schlumberger Technology Corporation
Trammell James P.
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