OILFIELD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080162248A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Huguet, Kerry James, Vachon, Juliani
• Granted Patent: US 8,086,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing and performing oilfield operations for an oilfield having geological formations and reservoirs therein are disclosed. The systems and methods provide a graphical user interface that allows a user to graphically define, edit, and automatically run a workflow for managing and performing oilfield operations. Lines are used in the workflow to express both execution flow and data flow. In this way, both execution flow and data flow may be represented in a single workflow diagram. The workflow management systems and methods also allow users to dynamically modify the workflow to add contact information for one or more other users to at least one work step. Users may then use the workflow management systems and methods to suspend running of the workflow at any modified work step and request consultation, collaboration, and/or approval from the other users whose contact information was added to the work step.

Claims

1. A system for collaboratively managing oilfield operations for an oilfield having geological formations and reservoirs therein, comprising:

a network;

a workflow server connected to the network, the workflow server configured to execute a workflow manager, the workflow manager allowing a user to graphically define, edit, and automatically run a workflow for performing oilfield operations; and

a plurality of user computers connected to the workflow server over the network, each user computer configured to allow a user to access the workflow manager and the workflow;

wherein the workflow manager is configured to allow users to collaborate in defining, editing, and running the workflow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow comprises a plurality of work steps and the users collaborate by dynamically entering contact information for one or more users into at least one work step via the workflow manager.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more users are selected from a predefined list generated by the workflow manager based on a given work step.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the users further collaborate by sending electronic messages to the one or more users via the workflow manager, the electronic messages containing information regarding the at least one work step.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the workflow manager allows the users to suspend the at least one work step while waiting for the one or more users to respond to the electronic messages.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the workflow manager is configured to lock the workflow upon validation of the one or more users by the workflow server and to subsequently unlock the workflow.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the workflow manager is configured to allow the one or more users to access all work steps in the workflow.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the workflow comprises a plurality of work steps, each work step being connected to one another by vertically flowing lines and horizontally flowing lines, the vertically flowing lines representing execution flow and the horizontally flowing lines representing data flow.

9. A method of collaboratively managing oilfield operations for an oilfield having geological formations and reservoirs therein, comprising:

providing a workflow manager on a workflow server;

allowing users to define, edit, and automatically run a workflow for performing oilfield operations via the workflow manager, the workflow having a plurality of work steps;

receiving contact information for one or more users for at least one work step via the workflow manager; and

sending a request for consultation, collaboration, and/or approval to the one or more users via the workflow manager.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more users are selected from a predefined list generated by the workflow manager based on a given work step.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the request is an electronic message containing information regarding the at least one work step.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the users to suspend the at least one work step via the workflow manager while waiting for the one or more users to respond to the request.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising locking the workflow upon validation of the one or more users by the workflow manager and subsequently unlocking the workflow.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the one or more users to access all work steps in the workflow via the workflow manager.

15. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions for allowing users to collaboratively manage oilfield operations for an oilfield having geological formations and reservoirs therein, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

execute a workflow manager, the workflow manager configured to allow a user to graphically define, edit, and run a workflow; and

allow users to access the workflow manager over a network and collaborate, via the workflow manager, in defining, editing, and running the workflow.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the workflow comprises a plurality of work steps and the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to allow the users to collaborate by dynamically entering contact information for one or more users into at least one work step via the workflow manager.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to allow the users to select the one or more users from a predefined list generated by the workflow manager based on a given work step.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to allow the users further collaborate by sending electronic messages to the one or more users via the workflow manager, the electronic messages containing information regarding the at least one work step.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to suspend, via the workflow manager, the at least one work step while waiting for the one or more users to respond to the electronic messages.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to lock, via the workflow manager, the workflow upon validation of the one or more users by the computer and to subsequently unlock the workflow.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the computer-readable instructions further comprise instructions for causing the computer to allow, via the workflow manager, the one or more users to access all work steps in the workflow.

22. An article of manufacture for use in collaboratively managing oilfield operations for an oilfield having geological formations and reservoirs therein, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium connected to the processor, the computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions for causing the processor to;

present a workflow to a user;

allow the user to define, edit, and automatically run the workflow, the workflow having a plurality of work steps for performing oilfield operations;

receive contact information for one or more contacts from the user for a given work step; and

send a request to the one or more contacts to consult, collaborate, and/or provide approval for the given work step.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the one or more contacts are selected from a predefined list for the given work step.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the request is an electronic message containing information regarding the given work step.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to allow the user to suspend the given work step while waiting for the one or more contacts to respond to the request.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to lock the workflow upon validation of the one or more contacts and to subsequently unlock the workflow.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the processor to allow the one or more contacts to access all work steps in the workflow.