NO327319B1 - Data handling system - Google Patents

Abstract

A data processing system (700, 710) for controlling a configuration of products with system software for monitoring and / or controlling a complex system (200, 250, 310) is described. The data processing system (700, 710) consists of data processing hardware (700) capable of running products with system software (750) for assimilating information and / or data from the complex system (250, 310) and for transmitting information and / or data thereto to monitor and / or keep track of the complex system (250, 310). The data processing system (700, 710) is provided with products with interface software (800) that can be run on the data processing hardware (700) for implementation of a data interface (400, 420) between personnel (70) and the products with system software (750 ) and / or directly to the complex system (250, 310). The products with interface software (800) implement workflows defined in a top-down strategy. The workflows define filters and / or collectors of data for selective filtering and / or collection of information and / or data obtained from the complex system (250, 310) and / or from the products with system software (750) for presentation to the personnel (70) via the products with interface software (800) for selectively reducing the amount of data to be interpreted by the personnel (70). The data processing system (700, 71 0) is particularly suitable for the extraction and / or production of oil and / or gas, renewable energy systems, but is not limited to this.

Description

DATA HANDLING SYSTEM

The field of invention

The present invention relates to a system for data management, for example a system for data management capable of controlling configurations of subordinate software products capable of processing measurement data obtained from the hardware and data from databases to provide signals indicating the status of the hardware and thereby provide a tool for keeping track of the hardware; or if you like, the hardware is a complex configuration of at least one of oil wells, gas wells, wind turbines, solar cells, geothermal sites, aquatic wave energy units and the like. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods for controlling configurations on subordinate software products in order to process measurement data from hardware and data from databases in such systems for data management in order to provide signals that indicate the status of the hardware and thus provide a tool for keeping track of the hardware. In addition, the invention relates to software products that can be run on hardware for data handling in order to implement such methods and associated systems for data handling.

Background to the invention

A published US patent application no. 2004/0015619A1 describes a system and a method for monitoring and controlling devices. The system includes a central unit that monitors the state of each device, displays the current status of the devices, and controls the devices to the desired state.

In a published US patent application no. 2004/0162902A1, a system and a method for remote monitoring of subsystems in a network are described. When the method is implemented, information related to each subsystem is transferred and displayed using software in a central.

Software products that can run on a data management hardware to control logistics within complex systems are known. For example, in a granted Norwegian patent no. NO 320468B1 (National Oilwell Norway AS), a software tool is described for keeping track of a specific group of tasks regarding maintenance routines in relation to a plant for the production of oil. Furthermore, such software products are used to control logistics, for example, to control the movement of containers on maritime cargo ships between different ports. Alternatively, such software products can be used to control the movements of vehicles that distribute goods over a geographical area, in which operational problems such as engine stalls of the vehicles, traffic accidents that slow down the movements of the vehicles, bad weather conditions, and so on, may occur. The software products are able to dynamically adapt to problematic situations that occur in the system that they are configured to control and keep track of.

A problem arises when own software products have gradually been brought in to monitor and keep track of very complex systems. For example, an oil and/or gas field, shown generally at 10 in Figure 1 consists of many thousands of oil and/or gas wells from which oil and/or gas is extracted to a large extent continuously; an example of an oil and/or gas well is shown at 20. For example, the oil field 10 includes approximately eleven thousand oil and/or gas wells. Equipment 30 for the extraction and treatment of oil and/or gas associated with each of the oil and/or gas wells 20 tends not to be completely reliable, namely they can occasionally break down and thus need maintenance. Not only that, physical conditions such as the pressure in the well can vary dynamically in each of the oil and/or gas wells 20, thereby affecting the yield of oil and/or gas obtained from the wells. A control center 50 that includes hardware for data management 60 capable of running software products is set up to communicate with sets of sensors 40 included in the recovery and processing equipment 30 in the well 20 of the oil and/or gas field 10. The control center 50 can is run with a group of personnel described with 70, the group 70 uses hardware for data handling 60 to monitor and keep track of the operation of the oil and/or gas wells 20 by means of signals which are supplemented by the sets of sensors 40 to the hardware for data handling 60.

The hardware for data handling 60 itself is illustrated schematically in Figure 2. The hardware for data handling 60 consists of, for example, data memory 90 to store a plurality of databases 100 and computers 110 with one or more associated display monitors 120. The one or more display monitors 120 are spread out so that they can be seen by the group of personnel 70. The computers 110 can be run so that they can receive the aforementioned signals and store data from these in the databases 100. Furthermore, the computers 110 can be run, under the control of the previously mentioned software products, to extract selective data from the databases 110 and/or the aforementioned signals from the sets of sensors 40 to present different categories of information to the group of personnel 70.

A technical problem encountered in practice in the control center 50, for example implemented in an area such as a control room where the group of personnel 70 is present, is that the group of personnel 70 is often overwhelmed by the large amount of data from the sets of sensors 40 so that it is difficult for the group of personnel 70 to prepare a clear general indication of how the oil and/or gas field 10 functions so that they can make quick decisions. For example, data stored in the databases 100 is rarely cross-related due to the gradual manner in which the software products running on the data management hardware 60 have been brought into operation during the development of the oil and/or gas field 10. Also, another problem arises when that the software products often come from more than one source and are therefore not designed to work together. Such progressively incorporated software products include, for example, a software product of a type described in the aforementioned published Norwegian patent no.

NO 320468B1.

Another issue is that the group of personnel 70 is affected by human characteristics such as impatience and limited concentration over time that make it difficult for them to process a large amount of information presented to them by the data management hardware 60 in which the data management hardware 60 runs various products with system software. The group of personnel 70 can easily choose to ignore some of the information they are presented with, but risk overlooking important things that prevent the oil and/or gas field 10 from being operated in an efficient manner, for example the group of personnel 70 overlooks a possibility of extracting larger quantities of oil from certain oil and/or gas wells 20 in which the pressure is particularly high by disregarding data with pressure measurements that apply to certain oil and/or gas wells 20.

Thus, a common course of action to deal with the technical problems described above is to run several contemporary proprietary software products on the data management hardware 60 to process measurement data coming from the oil and/or gas field 10 to generate several different sets of processed output data for measurements and rely on the group of personnel 70 to manually correlate the sets of output data to extract the necessary information therefrom to keep track of the operation of the oil and/or gas field 10.

Although the technical problem to which the present invention addresses has been elucidated above, for example in relation to the oil and/or gas field

10, it must be understood that similar technical problems arise in the control of other types of complex systems, for example control systems that include one or more rows of solar cells, wind turbine plants consisting of rows of wind turbines, sets of wave energy plants along the coast, arrays with geothermal boreholes and so on.

Summary of the invention

A first object of the invention is to provide a system for data management capable of keeping track of a configuration of products with system software that can be run to set up interfaces for a complex array of hardware, for example an oil and/or gas field consisting of, but not limited to, a plurality of oil and/or gas wells, already provided with associated data management hardware capable of running one or more software products already installed, and/or one or more subsequent installed software products to collect data from the complex array of hardware and to keep track of the complex array of hardware.

Another object of the invention is to provide a software product that can be run on a hardware for data management to participate with one or more products with system software already installed, and/or one or more subsequently installed products with system software to collect data from a complex arrangement with hardware, for example an oil and/or gas field consisting of several oil and/or gas wells although it is not limited to this and to keep track of the complex arrangement of hardware.

A third object of the invention is to provide a method for engaging one or more system software products that have already been installed, and/or one or more subsequently installed system software products that can be run on a data management hardware to collect data from a complex arrangement of hardware, for example an oil and/or gas field consisting of several oil and/or gas wells although it is not limited to this and to keep track of the complex arrangement of hardware.

It will be possible to address one or more of these purposes of the invention with the present invention as defined by the attached patent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a data management system is provided which is defined in the attached patent claim 1: a data management system is provided for controlling a configuration of one or more products with system software to keep track of and/or monitor a complex oil and /or gas system, the data management system consists of data management hardware capable of running one or more system software products to assimilate data and/or information from the complex oil and/or gas system and to send information and /or data thereto to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system,

characterized by

the data management system is further provided with one or more products with interface software that can be run on a data management hardware to provide, during execution, an interface for data and/or information between one or more personnel and at least one of: the one or more products with system software directly to the complex system,

the one or more interface software products capable of implementing one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, the one or more workflows defining one or more data filters for selective filtering and/or collection of information and/or data provided from the complex system and/or from the one or more products with system software to present to the one or more personnel via the one

or several products with interface software for selectively reducing an amount of data and/or information to be interpreted by one or more personnel.

The invention has an advantage because by using workflows and associated selective filtering of information, it is able to reduce the amount of data that one or more personnel need to interpret in an operation to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system.

In the foregoing, "filtering of data" is to be taken to mean, for example, making a selection of a subset of data and/or information from a set of data and/or information; for example one set of data belonging to oil and/or gas pressure from all the oil and/or gas wells on an oil and/or gas field, and a filtered subset of this corresponding to well pressure of oil and/or gas in an oil and/or gas field which produces 80% of the total oil and/or gas from oil and/or gas fields. Furthermore, "data filtering" can also be seen as, for example, selecting a subset of products with system software capable of processing particular types of data or information, thereby indirectly making a selection of a subset of data and /or information from a set of data and/or information. Furthermore, in the foregoing "data collection" corresponds to a selection of data from more than one data set; for example, a data aggregation corresponds to a collection of data, including 3-D images of oil and/or gas wells that produce the majority of the oil and/or gas from an oil and/or gas field together with the operating procedures together with 3-D layered images of geological structures below the oil and/or gas wells that produce the majority of the oil and/or gas; or if desired, 3-D layered images of geological structures can be calculated in advance of such a collection, for example stored in a database for reference. Similar considerations apply mutatis mutandis to information regarding the oil and/or gas field. It must be understood that such filtering of data and/or information, as well as such collection of data and/or information can potentially be implemented in many different ways as indicated by the use of one or more products with interface software according to the present invention. "Monitoring" shall be understood to include functions such as collection of measurements, communication of data from sensors and associated data and data processed for display. "Keeping track of" shall be considered to include directing and controlling at a higher cognitive level than simple feedback control although it does not exclude simple feedback control as part of such management when appropriate.

It is optional in the data management system if one or more system software products are able to make the interface for data and/or information to be at least partially visible and/or at least partially controllable from a location removed from the location where one or more personnel are located.

It will be explained later that filtering and/or collection of data and/or information is carried out in the present invention as defined by one or more workflows, or steps included in such workflows. For example, a workflow contains one or more steps, where each step is likely to have one or more system software products defined to be associated with it; as the steps in the workflow are carried out in practice, appropriate software products are thereby called up automatically, for example data collection software products that offer specific selection of data for one or more personnel using the system for data management, such selection is analogous to providing filtering of data. Such filtering is capable of selectively presenting one or more personnel with an optimal amount of information to avoid stressing such personnel. Furthermore, data collection tends to combine information from different sources as defined by one or more workflows, so that relevant data and/or information is presented in combination to one or more personnel on an appropriate occasion without the one or more personnel having to use time looking for data and/information in complex databases and the like.

It can be selected in the data management system whether one or more interface software products are provided when running data management hardware with access to at least one dedicated database, the at least one dedicated database being used by one or more of the interface software products to to store data provided by one or more products with system software depending on the filtering and/or collection of data as defined by the one or more workflows. Use of the dedicated database means an increased response sensitivity for the data management system when presenting results and related information to one or more personnel.

It can be selected, in the data management system, whether one or more interface software products can be run to communicate the presentation of data to a series of one or more screens that can be viewed by the one or more personnel in the operation, the presentation of data is derived from at least one of:

(a) intermediate data and/or information processed

of one or more products with supporting data from measurement data

provided by the complex system;

(b) measurement data acquired directly from the complex system of the one

or more products with interface software; and (c) selective filtering and/or selective collection of stored data that has been generated by the one or more interface software products when operating from data provided by the one or more data support products and/or directly from the complex system.

It is optional in the data management system whether one or more interface software products, when executed on the data management hardware, can be run to enable the one or more personnel to define one or more workflows in a top-down and -ned strategy, the one or more workflows define one or more filter parameters for use in filtering and/or collecting data and/or information to be presented to the one or more personnel during execution. When using a top-down strategy to set up workflows, one is able to specifically identify data that is relevant to the workflows in order to avoid that one or more personnel are presented with irrelevant information to be interpreted in potentially stressful situations.

It is optional in the data management system whether one or more products of interface software may be used when running on the data management hardware to enable the one or more workflows involved in response to at least one of: (a) one or more invoked instructions; generated from one or more other workflows; (b) one or more physical conditions occurring in the complex system;

and

(c) one or more instructions entered into the data handling hardware by the one or more personnel via the one or more interface software products.

Such automatic or semi-automatic calling of work processes potentially reduces the workload of monitoring processes carried out by one or more personnel during operation. It is appropriate, when one or more workflows are invoked automatically or semi-automatically, that the data handling system is said to be "event-driven".

It is optional in the data management system whether one or more data management interface products are capable of causing the one or more workflows to be configured in an interdependent hierarchical manner; for example, certain workflows are hierarchically higher and their steps tend when performed to invoke one or more workflows that are hierarchically relatively lower. It is optional whether such an interdependent hierarchical way of arranging workflow can be an "event-driven" and/or a "workflow-driven" construction. Such hierarchical dependence is necessary when keeping track of intricate processes occurring in the complex system, particularly processes that are prone to exhibit many potentially complex operational states; such conditions can for example correspond to high production, medium production, low production and unexpected events.

It is optional in the data management system whether the one or more interface software products are capable of causing the one or more workflows to be configured to be executed in a mutually compatible manner. In the complex system, many processes potentially occur simultaneously and they need to be monitored and kept under control. The one or more interface software products, when run on the data management hardware, are capable of handling the monitoring and helping to keep track of such multiple parallel processes represented by mutually parallel workflows.

It is optional in the data management system if the arrangement of one or more screens includes a plurality of screens and/or display areas consisting of: (a) a first screen or first display area for presenting a spatial representation of the complex system; (b) a second screen or other display area to present one or more workflows facilitated by the one or more interface software products; (c) a third screen or third display area for presenting filtered data relating to the one or more workflows added

correction of one or more products with interface software; (d) a fourth screen or fourth display area for presenting one or more operational procedures relevant to the one or more workflows displayed on the second screen.

Such configuration of screens has been shown to work ergonomically advantageously when implementing the present invention for a group of personnel, namely to generate a work environment that has a reduced stress level when in use. It can also be chosen whether the first screen or display area should be located centrally in relation to the second, third and fourth screens or display areas.

It is optional, in the data management system, if the one or more interface software products include a data integration software product services to define an interface for data between the one or more interface software products and the one or more products with system software, the one or more products with data interface software that can be used to act as a data filter and/or data collector to reduce an amount of data to be presented to the one or more personnel in connection with one or more associated workflows that are presented there. Thereby, an information filter is provided which is capable of reducing the amount of information needed to be presented to one or more personnel to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system.

More optionally, to increase the usability of the data management system, the software products are capable of being edited to adapt the one or more interface software products to run with different types of the complex system. Even more optionally, the data management system can be configured using the one or more interface software products so that it can be used to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system when the complex system is implemented as at least one of: ( a) a configuration of oil and/or gas wells; (b) a configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms; (c) a configuration of wind turbines that can be operated to generate electricity; (d) a configuration of solar cells that can be used to generate electricity; (e) an installation that generates electricity using nuclear energy; (f) a network for the distribution of electricity; (g) a configuration of marine wave energy units operable to generate electricity from maritime wave motion; (i) a configuration of dams and/or locks;

(j) a conventional electricity generation unit based on fossil fuels

fuel;

(k) a configuration of coal mines for the extraction of coal;

(I) a configuration of geothermal sites for the collection of geothermal

Energy;

(m) a logistics configuration for the distribution of goods.

Such configurations of the complex system are prone to behave in complex and complicated ways that are potentially stressful for one or more personnel to monitor and/or keep track of. The present invention is amenable to making such monitoring and/or handling easier to implement.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a software product stored or communicated via a data carrier is provided, the software product is executable on a hardware for data management for implementing a system for data management according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method is provided for processing data in a system for data management to control a configuration of one or more products with system software to monitor and/or keep track of a complex oil and/or gas system, the system for data management consists of data management hardware capable of running one or more system software products for assimilating information and/or data from the complex oil and/or gas system and for sending control information thereto to monitor and/or keep manage the complex system,

characterized by

the method includes steps of:

(a) installing in the data management system one or more interface software products that can be run on the data management hardware so as to provide in operation a data interface between one or more personnel and at least one of: the one or more

products with system software, directly to the complex system; (b) using one or more products with interface software to implement one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, the one or more workflows defining one or more filters and/or collectors for selective filtering and /or collection of information and/or data provided by the complex system and/or from the one or more system software products to present to the one or more personnel via the one or more interface software products to selectively reduce an amount with data to be interpreted by one or more personnel.

It is optional whether one or more products with interface software are able to communicate with the complex oil and/or gas system to any particular extent via one or more of the products with system software.

It is optional if a method is provided that includes a step of configuring the one or more interface software products so that it can be executed to set up an interface for data and/or information to be at least partially visible and/or at least partially controllable from a place that is remote from the place where one or more personnel are staying.

It will be clarified later in the document that filtering and/or collection of data and/or information is carried out in the present invention as defined by one or more workflows or steps included in such workflows. Such filtering is able to selectively present one or more personnel with an optimal amount of information to avoid stressing the personnel. Furthermore, data collection tends to combine information from different sources as defined by one or more workflows so that relevant data and/or information is presented together to one or more personnel at an appropriate opportunity without the one or more personnel needing to spend time on looking for data and/or information in complex databases and the like.

It is optional if the method includes a step of:

(c) to provide the one or more Interface Software Products when running on data management hardware with access to one or more dedicated databases, the one or more dedicated databases used by the one or more Interface Software Products to store data acquired by one or more of the products with system software depending on the filtering and/or collection of data and/or information as defined by one or more of the workflows.

It is optional if the method includes a further step of:

(d) to communicate via one or more of the products with interface software, presentation of data to a set of one or more screens visible to the one or more personnel in operation, data for presentation is developed from at least one of: intermediate data calculated by one or more products with supporting data

from measurement data provided by the complex system;

measurement data provided directly from the complex system to it

one or more of the products with interface software; and selectively filtered and/or selectively collected stored data that has been provided by one or more of the products with software for interfacing during operation from data and/or information provided by the one or more of the supporting data products and/or directly from the complex system.

It is optional if the method includes a step of:

(e) to enable one or more of the Products to interface software when running on a data management hardware for the one or more personnel to define one or more workflows in a top-down strategy, the one or more of the workflows defines one or more filter parameters and/or collection parameters for use in filtering and/or collection of data and/or information to be presented to one or more personnel during driving.

It is optional if the method includes a step of:

(f) configuring the one or more of the products with interface software that will be capable of causing the one or more of the workflows to be invoked in response to at least one of: one or more invoking instructions generated by a or more

other work processes;

one or more physical conditions that occur within the complex

the system; and

one or more instructions entered by one or more personnel into the computer hardware via one or more of the interface software products.

It is optional if the method includes a step of:

(g) arranging the one or more products with interface software to be capable of enabling the one or more workflows to be configured in an interdependent hierarchical manner.

It is optional if the method includes a step of:

(h) arranging the one or more products with software to interface to be capable of causing the one or more workflows to be configured so that they can be executed in a mutually compatible manner.

Furthermore, it is optional when the method is implemented whether the set of one or more screens includes a plurality of screens and/or a plurality of screen areas consisting of: (a) a first screen or a first screen area for presenting a spatial image of the complex system ; (b) a second screen or a second screen area to present one or more workflows facilitated by the one or more interface software products; (c) a third screen or third screen area to present filtered data relevant to one or more of the workflows facilitated by the one or more of the interface software products; (d) a fourth screen or a fourth screen area to present one or more operating procedures relevant to the one or more workflows presented on the second screen or the second screen area.

It is optional, when the method is implemented, whether the first screen or first screen area is centrally located relative to the second, third or fourth screen or screen area.

It is optional, when the method is implemented, if the one or more interface software products include a data integration software product service for defining a data interface between the one or more interface software products and the one or more system software products, the interface software product is capable of acting as a data filter and/or aggregator of data to reduce the amount of data to be presented to the one or more personnel in connection with one or more associated workflows presented thereto.

More optional when implementing the method is whether the data integration software product service can be edited to adapt one or more of the interface software products to operate with a number of different types of the complex system. Even more optional with respect to the method is whether one or more of the interface software products can be configured to be used to monitor and/or control the complex system when the complex system is implemented as at least one of:

(a) a configuration of oil and/or gas wells:

(b) a configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms; (c) a configuration of wind turbines that can be operated to generate electricity; (d) a configuration of solar cells operable to generate electricity; (e) an installation of nuclear power plants generating electricity; (f) a network that distributes electricity; (g) a configuration of marine wave energy units operable to generate electricity from maritime wave motion; (i) a configuration of dams and/or locks;

G) a conventional facility for the generation of electricity based on fossil fuels

fuel;

(k) a configuration of coal mines for the extraction of coal;

(I) a configuration of geothermal sites for the collection of geothermal

Energy;

(m) a logistics configuration for the distribution of goods.

It must be understood that the features of the invention are susceptible of being put together in any combination that differs from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Description of the diagrams

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying diagrams, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an oil and/or gas field that includes a set of oil and/or gas wells that are monitored and controlled from a simultaneous control center connected to communicate with the collection of oil and/or gas wells; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of data management hardware included in the concurrent control center shown in Figure 1, the data management hardware is capable of running system software products to receive signals provided from the oil and/or gas wells included in the oil and /or the gas field and process such signals to generate information indicative of the operation of the oil and/or gas wells and to generate and send further control signals to be communicated back to the oil and/or gas wells to control their operation; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an integrated operation which represents a way of working in an oil and/or gas industry which relates to the present invention; Figure 4 is an environment created by the present invention for a group of personnel who monitor and control the integrated operation of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a qualitative diagram illustrating the performance of the group of personnel in Figure 3 under different working conditions; Figure 6 is a qualitative diagram showing a relationship between the number of measurements from the integrated operation that is potentially possible to achieve in comparison with a quantity of measurements that is necessary for optimal handling and monitoring of the integrated operation in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a bottom-up illustration of processing of information generated by the integrated operation of Figure 3 in accordance with known contemporary practice, and in addition top-down processing of such information used in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 8 is a schematic plan of a set of screens used in generating the environment shown in Figure 4; Figure 9 is an illustration of a configuration of hardware for data management and software products used to implement an embodiment of the present invention, the products with software are a combination of previously known own products with system software and new products with software for interfaces in accordance with the the present invention; Figure 10 is an illustration of software products comprising a software product group for implementing the present invention; Figure 11 is an illustration as in Figure 9 with a further addition of one or more remote members capable of viewing and/or controlling the configuration of software and hardware from one or more remote locations relative to the configuration; Figure 12 is an illustration of the integrated operation in Figure 3; Figure 13a is an illustration of an image representing the integrated operation of Figures 3 and 12; Figure 13b is an alternative illustration of an image representing the integrated operation of Figures 3 and 12; Figure 14 is an illustration of subfields of the images in Figures 13a, 13b; and Figure 15 is an illustration of the flow of information that occurs within

the integrated operation in Figures 3 and 12.

In the following diagrams, a number accompanied by an associated arrow is used to point to a given object. Furthermore, an underlined number is used to denote an object over which it is superimposed. A number associated with a connecting line is used to denote an object at the end of which the connecting line distant from the number terminates.

Description of embodiments of the invention

In an overview, the present invention relates to a system for data management for use in controlling a configuration of one or more products with system software to keep track of and/or monitor complex systems, for example complex sets of hardware; such sets of hardware are for example;

(a) a set of oil and/or gas wells included in an oil and/or gas field; (b) a set of wind turbines on a wind turbine installation; (c) a set of marine wave power generators for electricity; (d) a distributed set of controllable solar cells; (e) nuclear power plant facilities;

to name a few examples.

In simultaneous implementations, such complex systems are provided with sensors that are distributed around the system to measure various operating parameters of the system, the sensors provide measurement signals that are sent on, for example by telemetry, to the control centers that are connected to the systems. Such control centers include in contemporary implementation one or more computers to receive the measurement signals from the sensors that belong to them. One or more of the computers are configured to run one or more software products that are capable, when run, of causing the one or more computers to perform various functions such as:

(f) receiving the measurement signals, processing the measurement signals for storage in the memory of the computer, for presentation or for use as feedback to keep track of the associated complex system; (g) to receive instructions from a group of personnel consisting of one or more persons, such instructions to direct the operation of the

complex system;

(h) to provide a line of communication to personnel dealing with

the complex system, for example field personnel.

It often happens in today's practice that software products that can be run on one or more computers at a control center are different special software products that have been put together to make the control center work. It is potentially very uneconomical to develop products with software that is specially designed for each complex system. Furthermore, software support for a wide range of products with customized software represents an expensive solution. Furthermore, in use, current software products tend to result in the group of personnel at the control center being loaded with data so that they are unable to respond in an optimal manner. Also, many of today's software products are unable to provide sufficiently fast processing of data for real-time presentation to the group of personnel due to the amount of measurement data provided from the complex system to be processed.

In summary; the present invention is able to address such technical problems by providing one or more interface software products that enable the handling and associated collection of the information with signal measurements from the complex system to be implemented in a top-down manner in contrast to the conventional bottom-up solution as shown in Figure 1 with configuring today's software products to work together to process measurement signals and present corresponding information to the group of personnel. By using such a new top-down approach, the group of personnel is able to define in a top-down manner a number of processes (P), for example process steps, to take place in the complex system, together with: (i) defining associated information to be obtained by a data filter and/or data collector from the measurement signals to generate filtered and/or collected information to support the execution of the series of processes (P); (ii) to define a manner in which the filtered and/or collected information shall be presented visibly or so that it can be heard by the group of personnel; such filtering can be made possible if desired by involving one or more products with system software for performing specific types of filtering of information and/or data; (iii) defining subsidiary data to be retrieved from a database at the control center to be associated with the filtered information; for example using data collection; and (iv) to define how the filtered information is to be used as automatic or semi-automatic feedback to keep track of the operation of the complex system.

The importance of points (i) to (iv) above can be appreciated on the basis of the well-known incidents at the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear reactors in Russia and the USA respectively. In both of these incidents, it was claimed that the group of personnel responsible for controlling the respective nuclear reactors were not given sufficiently clear information quickly enough to enable them to evaluate the technical processes occurring in the respective reactors. Consequently, actions to shut down the respective reactors were not initiated sufficiently quickly to avoid the occurrence of operational problems and subsequent disaster. The present invention is able to address such operational problems. In connection with oil and/or gas fields, breakdowns of equipment can occur and you can also experience exceptional pressures in oil and/or gas fields that need immediate attention.

The invention will now be further clarified by describing embodiments of the invention.

Figure 3 shows an illustrative representation of an integrated operation relating to the oil and/or gas industry. The integrated operation is generally shown at 200 and consists of a land area 210 including an operations center 220, sales offices 230, corporate offices 240 and expert sources 250. In addition, the integrated operation 200 further consists of an offshore maritime area 300 including a multitude of offshore oil and/or gas platforms 310 .The integrated operation 200 consists of a complex system for the search for and production of oil and/or gas that needs to be managed with the coordination of many contributing components as indicated by enclosing arrows 350. In order for the integrated operation 200 to function, is a complex interaction technology, denoted by 360, people, denoted by 370 and processes, denoted by 380, all factors in the operation. As indicated at 390, the operations center 220, the sales offices 230, the corporate offices 240, the expert resources 250, and the oil and/or gas platforms 310 are all interconnected in a complex manner so that the integrated operation 200 is able to function. Furthermore, making the integrated operation 200 work involves complex interactions between given personnel with other personnel and personnel with technical equipment. The integrated operation 200 is controlled from the operations center 220 in connection with general directives communicated to the operations center 220 from the company offices 240, for example expected yield from production, extraction rates for oil and/or gas and so on.

The oil and/or gas platforms 310 are equipped with a large set of sensors, for example temperature sensors, sensors for the flow of liquids, sensors for rotation of drilling parts, chemical sensors, seismic sensors, sensors for pressure measurements, to name a few examples. Signals from the sensors are sent by telemetry via local data processing provided on the oil and/or gas platforms 310 back to the operations center 220. Accordingly, a wide range of data is provided to the operations center 220. An operational problem that the present invention attempts to address is to provide a method on handling the large range of data that comes to the operations center 220 in combination with, for example, input from the expert resources 250, input from the sales offices 230 and instructions with guidelines from the company offices 240.

Reference is made to Figure 4 where the present invention provides an environment shown generally at 400, which contributes to the group of personnel 70 receiving messages and information showing the condition of the offshore oil and/or gas platforms 310; The offshore oil and/or gas platforms 310 may be considered generally equivalent to the oil and/or gas fields 10 shown in Figure 1. The illustrated environment 400 includes the group of personnel 70 seated at a control table 410 or similar desk arrangement in a control room set aside to display a set of one or more screens for display generally shown at 420.1 an embodiment of the invention, the set 420 consists of a single large screen in which one or more sub-areas or sub-regions thereof can be selectively allocated to present specific types of associated information; sub-areas or sub-regions are advantageously definable under computer program control, for example in response to control of a mouse or control of a cursor at the control table 410.1 another embodiment of the invention, the set of screens 420 includes a relatively large central screen 450, upper and lower screens on the right side (RHS ), respectively 460U, 460L and upper and lower screens on the left side (LHS), respectively 470U, 470L. It is optional in an embodiment of the present invention whether the central screen 450 is implemented using a screen projector 480, for example implemented as a liquid crystal screen image or an activated micromirror set as a projection unit. The right-side screens 460U, 460L and the left-side screens 470U, 470L are optional in the example of an embodiment implemented as a panel of plasma display screens or a panel of liquid crystal (LCD) screens. The screens 420, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L are advantageously placed in an arrangement as shown in Figure 4, although other arrangements of the screens are within the scope of the present invention. An arrangement of displays shown in Figure 4 has been developed by the inventors to provide an ergonomically satisfactory presentation to the group of personnel 70. Further, the displays 420, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L are advantageously capable of presenting certain specific categories of information that will be described in more detail later.

Figure 5 shows one diagram that includes an abscissa axis 500 denoting inspiration or personal motivation (In) in the group of personnel 70, and an ordinate axis 510 representing operational performance (Pr) for the group 70. Also shown is a vertical line 520 parallel to the ordinate axis 510 showing a condition for optimal performance for the group 70. Furthermore, a curve 530 shows a performance of the group 70 that is realizable at least qualitatively. A first area shown at 540 on the right side of the vertical line 520 corresponds to a situation in which the group 70 is provided with an excess of information, for example by being unsustainably overmotivated, resulting in a stressful situation and thus over a period of time, suboptimal performance with regard to the monitoring and management of the integrated operation 200. And conversely, a second region denoted by 550 on the left side of the vertical line 520 corresponds to a situation in which the group 70 is not provided with sufficient information, for example by being poorly motivated or inattentive such that the decisions in the monitoring and control of the integrated operation 200 are not fully evaluated and also result in suboptimal performance of the group 70. A compromise between the first and the second regions 540, 550 represents an optimal performance that the present invention seeks to provide and maintain when the environment 400 shown in Figure 4 is generated.

In achieving the aforementioned optimal performance, the inventors have appreciated when devising the present invention that group 70 needs to be provided with an optimal amount of information for any given process being monitored and/or controlled. Such optimal amount of information varies, for example, temporarily dynamically in response to events occurring in the integrated operation 200.

Figure 6 shows a diagram having an abscissa axis 560 denoting time (T) from left to right and an ordinate axis 570 denoting opportunities or chances (MUL) provided to the group 70 to monitor or keep track of the integrated operation 200; the possibilities or chances increase from the bottom to the top along the ordinate axis 570. A first curve 580 (MEA) denotes a cumulative number of measurements that it is potentially possible to collect with time from the integrated operation 200 to the operation center 220 where the group 70 resides. Furthermore, a second curve 590 (OBS) shows an optimal cumulative number of observation measurements necessary for optimal monitoring and handling of the integrated operation 200. It must be understood from Figure 6 that a degree of

selective filtering of measurement data coming from the integrated operation 200 is needed so that the group 70 will be able to optimally monitor and keep track of the integrated operation 200, taking into account human limitations such as concentration and ability to pay attention. Generating a filter to provide such selective filtering of measurement data is a complex task when the integrated operation 200 is of a very complex nature. The present invention provides a method of realizing such a filter.

The inventors of the present invention have appreciated that the understanding of, and the definition of, processes and associated workflows within the integrated operation 200 is of great importance. Figure 7 shows a hierarchy of steps defined in Table 1.

A conventional way of monitoring and keeping track of the integrated operation 200 that has been used so far corresponds to the bottom-up (BU) method shown by an arrow 650 and described in the preceding Figures 1 and 2. With such conventional method, the measurements from the integrated operation 200 are collected in step 640 (MM) and then processed in a standard way so that data 630 (DATA) is provided and presented to the group of personnel 70. Some parts of this data 640 (DATA) are relevant to keeping track of the integrated operation 200 at any given time while other pieces of data 640 (DATA) are irrelevant, or potentially confusing; sorting out irrelevant from relevant data at any given time can cause the group 70 to operate in the stressful area 540 shown in Figure 5. With knowledge 620 of processes (KOP), namely workflows that take place within the integrated operation 200, for example personal experience of certain persons in the group 70, it is possible to interpret the data 630 (DATA) to identify which process steps of a work flow denoted by 610 (PS-WF) have been achieved in any given part of the integrated operation 200. When a corresponding relevant course of work has been identified, a discussion, denoted by 600 (DSC), may then take place in the group 70 to determine a correct course of action for keeping track of and monitoring the integrated operation 200. Such a conventional course of action as shown with the arrow 650 (BU), is not only stressful for group 70, but potentially also opens the door for suboptimal decisions to be made, for example in a similar way to those made in kj the nuclear power plants in Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. This "bottom-up" way of working, denoted by arrow 650, arises from the gradually increasing way in which specific products with software are configured to provide a conventional type of tool noise to keep track of the integrated operation 200.

In contrast, as shown by an arrow 660 (TD) in Figure 7 representing a top-down approach, the inventors have appreciated that it is more efficient to develop the environment 400 so that it contributes to more effective monitoring and control of the integrated operation 200, for example under generally normal production conditions. The present invention is capable of being implemented by one or more software products that can be run on a data management hardware to provide the aforementioned top-down operation. The top-down approach represented by arrow 660 in Figure 7 involves a discussion and subsequent determination within the group of personnel 70 as to how the integrated operation 200 is to be monitored and controlled. Once an appropriate course of action to carry out such monitoring and handling has been determined, process steps and corresponding workflows are defined by the user in advance to be implemented in practice; a workflow is defined as a temporarily implemented sequence of events with process steps. One can choose whether the process steps are to be entered by the user via the aforementioned one or more software products that implement the invention, or selected by the user from a predefined list presented by one or more of the software products that implement the invention. Based on the experiences and knowledge of the user, for example one or more people in the group 70, categories and types of data 630 that are necessary to support the process steps and associated workflows 610 are then defined, for example in a predetermined way. Such categories may represent one or more of: (a) a selection of a subset of data developed from a given set of data; (b) a collection of a plurality of subsets of data from a plurality of corresponding sets of data; (c) a sample of a given set of data;

(d) a collection of many given sets of data; and

(e) a collection of at least a first set of data with at least a subset of

data derived from a second set of data.

The categories and types of data 630 are likely to be invoked, for example, by defining one or more system software products capable of acquiring, collecting, processing and/or analyzing data. Thus, the sets and subsets of data can be developed from a given product with system software. Alternatively, the sets and subsets can be generated from a variety of system software products.

Once the categories and types of data 630 have been defined, the measurements necessary to generate such data are determined, for example, automatically by the one or more software products from information provided therefor with respect to the structure of the integrated operation 200.

By adopting such a top-down approach made available with one or more software products in accordance with the present invention, group 70 is able to track and monitor the execution of integrated operation 200 with respect to process steps and workflow without it being necessary to take into account, on a real-time basis when it comes to workflow, which data and associated measurements it is necessary to have access to; such a way of operating potentially significantly reduces stress for the group of personnel 70. When there are a large number of offshore platforms 310, or oil and/or gas wells, the group of personnel 70 in the environment 400 is thereby not overwhelmed with information according to the present invention and is therefore able to optimally monitor and keep track of the integrated operation 200 as shown with the axis 520 (Op) in Figure 5. With such optimal driving, the risk of accidents with equipment and the like can potentially be reduced considerably and the benefit from the production of oil and/or gas can be substantially optimized by using the present invention.

In the environment 400 illustrated in Figure 4, a central region of the set of one or more screens 420 as illustrated in Figure 8 is advantageously used to present a spatial map of the integrated operation 200; for example, the central screen 450 can be advantageously used for such a purpose. It can be chosen whether the spatial map is movable in space in the row of screens 420. That such a map is advantageous in a three-dimensional (3-D) perspective display will be presented in more detail later. Symbols and/or sub-regions of the perspective representation can be highlighted by one or more personnel 70, for example through a 3-D portal, to call up one or more workflows, operating procedures, measurement data, results from analyses, and so on, regarding the highlighted the symbols and/or the subregions. One or more workflows, operation procedures, measurement data, results from analyses, and so on can be presented on mutually different screens or screen areas in the row 420. Such workflows, operation procedures, measurement results and analysis results that are presented graphically can themselves function as portals for further information and /or data; for example, clicking a mouse and/or a cursor on given data results may elicit information regarding sensors used to provide data results along with a procedure for measurements used using sensors.

An area at the top left of the set 420, such as the screen 470U at the top left, is advantageously used to present process flow information to the group of personnel 70. Furthermore, an area at the bottom left of the set 420, such as the bottom screen of left side 470L, is advantageously used to present data used by the one or more products with software running on a data management hardware to implement the present invention in the environment 400. Furthermore, an area at the bottom right side of the set 420, for for example the bottom screen 460L on the right side, is optionally used to present a given selected operating procedure. An upper right area of the set 420, such as the upper right screen 460U, is optionally used for various purposes, such as presenting items on a selected agenda to the group of personnel 70. However, it must be understood that the screens 450,460 U, 460L, 470U, 470L are prone to be respecified by the consumer with respect to information that they present while driving when creating the environment 400. It may be advantageous that the side screens 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L present information elicited by moving a cursor or the like around graphic symbols and images that are presented on the central screen 450, for example in the same way as on the 3-D portals described earlier. As made clear in the previous section, calling up a given area or screen in the set 420 advantageously calls up corresponding calculated results and/or data that fit there in the operation without the group of personnel 70 needing to assess in real time from which databases or files the results and /or data is stored in; such details are provided when definition of given workflows is initiated.

Examples of implementing one or more products with software that can be run on the hardware for data handling at the operations center 220 will now be described with reference to Figure 9. The operations center 220 includes the control table 410 and the set of screens 420 as described previously. Furthermore, the operations center 220 includes or is associated with hardware for data management 700 including one or more computers. The hardware for data handling 700 is directly or indirectly connected via a data communication line 720 to other parts of the integrated operation 200, for example to the offshore oil and/or gas platforms 310. In addition, the hardware for data handling 700 is also connected to data storage 710 including databases 770 , 830; the databases 770, 830 are physically located at one or more of: locally at the operations center 220, remote from the operations center 220. The data management hardware 700 is capable of running one or more of its own system software products denoted by 750; the one or more own products with system software 750 can advantageously be existing computer programs that have been used, before implementation of the present invention, for control functions in the integrated operation 200 in a suboptimal way. The one or more proprietary products with software 750 are able to use a data link 760 to access the databases 770 to store data results, log data, provide access to pre-calculated information and so on.

One or more products with software denoted by 800 represent an embodiment of the present invention. The one or more software products 800 are configured to run on the data management hardware 700 together with one or more prior releases of proprietary system software products 750 and also to interoperate with these via a data link indicated by 780. Also, during execution one or more of the products with software 800 is able to provide access to their own special database 830 via a data link 820. Furthermore, one or more of the products with software 800 is able to selectively communicate data to the one or more own products with system software 750 to have processing of data carried out therein, after which results of such processing of data are sent back to one or more products with software 800 for subsequent handling therein, for example for storage in database 830 or to be presented to the group of personnel 70 via the set of one or more screens 420.

One or more of the products with software 800 are able to create the environment 400 as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, one or more of the products with software 800 are developed so that they are advantageously added to one or more of the own products with system software 750 from the past such that introduction of one or more of the products with software 800 to the present invention advantageously does not result in disruptions in the operation of the integrated operation 200. Such disruptions are not only potentially costly but also potentially dangerous if, for for example, the security service of the integrated operation 200 is temporarily disrupted during the installation of one or more of the products with software on the hardware for data management 700. The present invention is amenable to avoiding all events such as such disruptions while maintaining the normal operation of the operation.

As described above, one or more of the software products 800 create the environment 400 needed for the group of personnel 70 to use the previously presented top-down approach to manage and/or monitor the integrated operation 200 as outlined in Figure 7. One or more of the products with software 800 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 10.

One or more of the products with software 800 is, in an example of an embodiment of the present invention, configured as shown in Figure 20. The components in Figure 20 are defined in Table 2.

The database 830 may conveniently be referred to as being an "ERA database" to support one or more of the products with software 800 which is simply referred to as an ERA software setup. The software setup 800 includes an ERA client 1000 which is a software product runnable on a data management hardware 700 to enable data communication to the assembly of one or more displays 420 and to the control board 410 to receive instructions entered therefrom during operation. . ERA customer 1000 includes an ERA workflow developer 1010 which is a software product that can be run on data management hardware 700 to present the group of personnel 70 with a graphical user interface (GUI) for example on screen 470U at upper left, to assemble, namely, define and/or input a new workflow that can be used to control the integrated operation 200. In addition, the ERA client 1000 also includes an ERA workflow facilitator 1020 which is a software product that can be run on a data management hardware 700 to provide access to a given workflow defined by the group of personnel 70 using the workflow developer 1010 and to implement the given workflow in the integrated operation 200. The ERA workflow facilitator 1020 advantageously provides a mechanism by which event-driven workflows can be invoked when appropriate. A work process can be of different nature, for example one or more of: (a) carrying out maintenance on one or more of the offshore platforms 310; (b) installing one or more new items of equipment on one or more of the offshore platforms 310; (c) to modify one or more speeds of the production of oil and/or gas on one or more of the aforementioned offshore platforms 310 for optimal control of the pressure at the wellhead; (d) to modify an operational routine or operational procedure at one or more of the offshore platforms 310; (e) to perform one or more special measurements or tests that are not routine at one or more of the offshore platforms 310, for example: a series of seismic measurements; a series of borehole pressure or flow rate measurements; a chemical analysis of materials from boreholes, and so on.; (f) to transport personnel to and/or from one or more of the offshore platforms 310; (g) to arrange collection of oil and/or gas from one or more of the offshore platforms 310;

and so on.

ERA client 1000 within the setup with ERA software 800 is able to communicate with one or more products with software for ERA services 910. Software products for ERA services 910 include one or more of: a workspace service 920, an ERA 3D service 930, a collaboration service 940, Web services 950 and R-T analysis services 960. The workspace service 920 is called up by the ERA customer 1000 when the group of personnel 70 wants to see a given workspace, for example displaying a floor plan of one of the offshore platforms 310 on the central screen 450; workspace service 920 thus has the task of creating a graphic environment to be seen by the group of personnel 70 when it looks at the collection of one or more screens 420. When a given workspace on the collection of screens 420 is called up, one can choose between specific displays of databases, calculated results, measurement data, background information, operating procedures and so on associated with the given workspace. Furthermore, the ERA 3D service 930 is brought forward when the ERA customer 1000 needs a 3-D image, namely a perspective 3-D image in a two-dimensional format to be generated for presentation to the group of personnel 70, for example a 3-D image of layers of geographic strata underlying a given offshore platform 310 through which a well is to be drilled, a perspective map image of a facility to be monitored and/or controlled; The ERA 3D service 930 may be run to provide, for example, the aforementioned 3-D portal. The collaboration service 940 is called up when the group of personnel 70 needs to communicate with other groups of personnel when a given workflow is to be implemented, for example communication with other relevant specialist sources 250; for example, in connection with the implementation of a new operation for drilling a borehole, geologists with special knowledge need to be contacted to be available on a given offshore platform 310 while the drilling of the new borehole is taking place, in the event that complications arise with the drilling . You can choose whether the collaboration service 940 should be run to establish a video conference without the group of personnel 70 needing to use a lot of energy during the operation to find telephone numbers and the like for the geologists. Moreover, the collaboration service 940 is apt to be called up from a defined step in a workflow presented in advance.

The web services 950 are called up by the ERA customer 1000 when a given workflow is implemented or a given workspace is called up on the set 420, for example when there is a need for access to external networks for data communication, such as remote databases with information, web sites and the like, which is available online. Furthermore, R-T analysis services 960 are called up by the ERA customer 1000 when specific types of data processing are needed when a given workflow selected by the group of personnel 70 is implemented during the operation; such processing of data is potentially called up when a given workflow and/or workspace is selected by the group of personnel 70, for example when the workflow needs graphical analysis of results to be shown to the group of personnel 70.

The ERA customer 1000 is preferably written, at least partially, in a common computer language such as standard C++ and C#.

It must be understood that the ERA customer 1000 is able to support the execution of several workflows at the same time. In addition, ERA enables the customer 1000 progress on each of the overlapping work processes to be run and which are kept track of, for example in a mutually independent way. Furthermore, a given workflow that is carried out via ERA the customer 1000 is inclined to call up several of the services 920, 930, 940, 950, 960 at the same time; for example, seismic measurements performed during a data acquisition step in a given workflow need a subsequent step in the workflow to be processed with the R-T analysis service 960 and analysis results generated are thereby processed in 3-D dimensional graphical format using the ERA 3D service method 930 for generating an image for presentation on the set of displays 420. Some of the services 920, 930, 940, 950, 960 potentially need access to data management provided by one or more of the prior proprietary products with software 750 to perform various tasks with calculations, for example data analysis and statistical calculations, provided by the aforementioned link 840.

It can be chosen whether the workflow entered in ERA customer 1000 can be of a hierarchical nature, namely certain workflows will be subordinate parts of other workflows of a higher order. The subordinate workflows are advantageously called up via execution of higher-order workflows. Alternatively, the workflow may be defined in a top-down manner isolated from other workflows of the integrated operation 200. It may be selected whether execution of certain workflows may be automatically initiated by the ERA software setup 800 in response to certain physical conditions, such as conditions such as too high pressure in oil and/or gas wells or excessive flow of oil that may occur in the integrated operation 200; such automatic initiation is usually referred to as event-driven initiation of workflows. In such situations, the setup for EPA software 800 is capable of automatically making visible and/or audible, i.e., "flagging" the workflows that are automatically called up to the group of personnel 70. Alternatively, or in addition, certain workflows may be terminated automatically by the ERA software setup 800 in the event that physical conditions causing the workflows to be called up no longer prevail, for example reduction in pressure in an oil well or special equipment starts working again completely unexpectedly.

The database 830 associated with the software setup 800 is particularly advantageous in that the operation of one or more of the prior products with software 750 is not interrupted or compromised due to the installation and subsequent operation of the ERA software setup 800; thereby, the ERA software setup 800 is potentially capable of being installed in a substantially seamless manner. Also, for rapid presentation of information on the assembly of one or more displays 420, the ERA software setup 800 can be run to provide quick access to data from the database 830 that is advantageously not open to one or more of the prior proprietary software products 750 Such an arrangement to provide the ERA software setup 800 with its own database 830 allows the ERA software setup 800 to respond quickly to instructions and requests entered by the group of personnel 70 at the control table 410. Such rapid presentation potentially reduces work stress for the group of personnel 70.

It should be understood that the ERA software setup 800 is not only sensitive to be used as described by way of example for the integrated operation 200, but is also sensitive to be used to control other types of complex systems as described above, for example energy plant with wind turbines, system with rows of solar panels, and so on. The present invention is thus highly appreciated to tackle the contemporary problems associated with "Peak Oil", namely that the world's production of oil and gas peaked in the year 2005 and that the remaining reserves of oil and gas need to be managed with care, as well as alternative sources of renewable energy need to be properly introduced and managed so that an economic collapse can be avoided in many technically advanced countries in the world in the near future.

For example, although use of the ERA software setup 800 in the operations center 220 is described, the software setup 800 is likely to be used as an alternative, or additionally, at one or more of the platforms 310. Thus, the software setup 800 is likely to be used at a multiple spatial locations in a hierarchical manner with the integrated operation 200. Even more optionally, the setup with ERA software 800 can, when used multiple times in a complex system, be run to define its own hierarchy in the same manner as a "peer-to-peer" network by mutual communication between the plurality of the concurrent software setups 800.

Such flexible adaptation of the ERA software setup 800 is possible by means of a data integration service software product 900 that forms part of the ERA software setup 800 in which definitions are provided for the exchange of data between one or more of the early proprietary system software products 750 and ERA the software setup 800. One can choose whether the data integration services software product 900 can be automatically self-regulating to accommodate introduction of the new system software into the operations center 220 and/or at one or more of the platforms 310. When the ERA software setup 800 is adapted to a given task, for for example keeping track of a specific type of integrated operation, definitions are entered on interfaces, for example by professionals with data handling experience via the data integration service 900.1 in the event that one or more of the own software products 750 are later upgraded with additional software products, can e.g the data integration service 900 can be called, if desired, so that an additional definition can be inserted so that the ERA software setup 800 is able to access such additional products of software.

The data integration service 900 is apt to receive configuration instructions or configuration data entered using a high-level control language, such as via Java, Javascript, or the like. Use of such high level language enables the data integration service 900 to be used to adapt the software setup 800 to various applications as described above using instruction codes that are easily understood by computer personnel.

When a given step of workflow is entered via the ERA workflow developer 1010 that needs access to measurements and/or previous measurement data stored in one or more databases 770, the given step will for example define that a given service 910 needs to be called up, for example R-T the analysis service 960. The R-T analysis service 960 has access to certain processing facilities in one or more of the products with software 750 which it reaches via the link 840, the link 840 is also defined via the aforementioned data integration service 900. In addition, the data integration service 900 is also used to define which data to be copied from the one or more databases 770 and stored in the database 830 for quick access for the R-T analysis service 960; with respect to this, the data integration service 900 is able to establish a selective data filter. By using such a course of action, the ERA software setup 800 is made very receptive to the group of personnel 70 and able to quickly present the group with relevant information that is indicative of the conditions within the integrated operation 200, for example in response to the group 70 calling up a given workflow for assessment. Using the ERA software setup 800 is potentially capable of providing a very optimal course under normal operating conditions. Also, for example, the ERA software setup 800 can be selected to be used to avoid unwanted technical events from occurring when complex systems are monitored and controlled, such as events that occurred at the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear reactors.

A mode of presentation provided by the software setup 800 on the central screen 450 is also advantageously set up to reduce stress experienced by the group of personnel 70. For example, the central screen 450 is advantageously used as described above to present spatial map information in perspective format. It is optional whether spatial maps can be relocated among the set of screens 420 for example under mouse-based or cursor-based or similar screen control types. Colored areas and/or symbols are superimposed by the ERA customer software products 1000 in geographic areas with map information, for example an increasing well pressure at a given offshore platform 310 that needs attention via a workflow defined by conditions for a high production. For example, it is normal that in the range of 1% to 5% of oil and/or gas platforms 310 are responsible for about 20% to 40% of the total production of oil and/or gas from the integrated operation 200, attention for optimizing production from highly productive platforms 310 is very important. However, it must be understood that the integrated operation 200 is a dynamically varying system such that certain oil and/or gas platforms 310 where production of oil and/or gas was low at the beginning may later become very productive and vice versa. Complex situations can potentially arise during operation, for example boreholes can be blocked due to breakdown and/or deposition of gas hydrates in the well.

Such colored areas and/or superimposed symbols are advantageously used to indicate safe zones, for example safe zones with a radius of 150 meters around one or more facilities, for example offshore platforms 310 where an accident has occurred, such as high pressure in an oil and /or gas well. Alternatively, such colored areas and/or symbols may be used to present information to the group of personnel 70 indicating the current yield of oil obtained from the offshore platforms 310, or indicating energy generated by wind turbines on a wind turbine installation for example, or the flow of power which takes place at different places in a distribution network for electricity, and so on.

The aforementioned collaborative software services product 940 also tends to enable one or more areas of the set of one or more displays 420, such as one or more of the displays 450,460U, 460L, 470U, 470L, to be able to to support video conferencing for example when the group of personnel 70 needs to quickly communicate with specialist sources 250 should a case of high production occur. In dealing with the high production situation, a workflow defined via the ERA products with customer software 800 has as one of its steps calling up a video conference with the specialist sources 250 and will establish such a conference, for example by calling up the specialist sources 250 in advance for to alert them that a video conference will take place, as well as to establish lines of data communication from the operations center to the specialist sources 250 at an appropriate time. Such use of the ERA software products 800 is able to reduce stress for personnel in the environment 400 considerably and thereby provide for a more efficient operation and/or a reduced risk of accidents or similar incidents to occur.

In the foregoing, a "workflow" is advantageously defined as consisting of a series of steps to be performed in a defined, timed sequence. Moreover, the steps may be of different types with respect to processing activities necessary to support the environment 400 as well as activities to be performed in different parts of the integrated operation 200. For example, a type of a workflow related to installing an item of equipment on a given offshore oil and/or gas platform 310 may invoke workflow steps such as: (a) automatically marking at an appropriate moment in time two within the environment 400 when installation of equipment is required on a given oil and/or gas platform 310; (b) presenting to the group of personnel 70 corresponding operating procedures that need to be taken into account when installing the equipment; (c) automatically arranging a video conference with specialist sources 250 in charge of installing the equipment; (d) retrieving information, for example operational procedures from database 830 relating to the installation of equipment and presenting the information to the group of personnel 70 and/or to the specialist sources 250; (e) sending a specification of the equipment to the sales offices 230 so that it can be procured; (f) then selectively collecting measurements from monitoring sensors at the given oil and/or gas platform 310 , for example cameras located at different locations and filtering the measurements to generate corresponding monitoring data when installing the given equipment on the given oil and/or gas platform 310 and storing monitoring data in the database 830; (g) accessing the database 830 to extract monitoring data to automatically report back at defined intervals to the group of personnel 70 and/or to the specialist sources 250 regarding the progress of the installation of the equipment; (h) when the equipment has been put into operation on a given oil and/or gas platform 310, collecting operational measurements from the sensors associated with the equipment, selectively filtering the operational measurements to generate operational data, storing operational data in the database 830 and then to gain access to the database 830 at a given moment in time ten defined in the workflow, to present operational data developed from operational data to the group of personnel 70;

and

(i) to be able to choose whether a subordinate workflow for initiating a process for maintenance or locating and correcting errors in a case where the equipment installed on the oil and/or gas platform 310 does not

behaves in accordance with defined specifications.

The example workflow is presented in a top-down manner using the ERA software setup 800 before the given equipment is purchased. The example workflow defined in steps (a) through (i) includes a number of different steps to be performed in a timed sequence in which the information presented to the group of personnel 70 is defined in advance in a workflow set up on a top-down down way.

It should be understood that workflows entered into the ERA software setup 800 may be associated with one or more operating procedures. It can be selected whether the operating procedures are stored in the database 830. Moreover, specific types of data relevant to the workflows are also likely to be defined by the group of personnel 70. Accordingly, the given workflows are presented on the set of one or more screens 420, the corresponding procedures and associated data that are relevant can be presented at the same time if desired. A graphical presentation of data can be superimposed on the spatial presentation provided during operation on the central screen 450 if desired. It can be chosen whether one or more workflows can be presented simultaneously on the row of screens 420 together with a mutual relationship between the workflows, for example their hierarchical dependence and/or their relationship to different, potentially relevant procedures.

The present invention is not limited to being used only with regard to the integrated operation 200 as described above, namely a complex configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms 310. It is, for example, potentially possible to adapt the present invention to one or any of the following: (a) a configuration of oil and/or gas wells; (b) a configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms; (c) a configuration of wind turbines operated to generate electricity; (d) a configuration of solar cells operated to generate electricity; (e) an installation of nuclear power plants generating electricity; (f) a network for the distribution of electricity; (g) a configuration of marine wave energy units operated to generate electricity from wave motion; (i) a configuration of dams and/or locks;

(j) a conventional facility that burns fossil fuels to generate

electricity;

(k) a configuration of coal mines for the extraction of coal;

(I) a configuration of geothermal sites for collection of geothermal

Energy; and

(m) a logistics configuration for the distribution of goods;

(n) a water distribution network;

but is not limited to this.

It must be understood that the ERA software setup 800 as defined in the foregoing is capable of being provided with additional facilities without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Modifications of embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are thus possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached patent claims.

If desired, the assembly of one or more displays 420 may be implemented as a single display, such as an expansive projection display, with subareas allocated to present information in much the same manner as described for displays 450, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L and variations thereof as described above. If desired, the workspaces presented on the collection of one or more screens 420 can be moved around in relative juxtaposition in response to what is preferred by the group of personnel 70, for example by means of one or more mouse devices or cursor devices at the control table 410.

The ERA software setup 800 is advantageously run on a Linux, Microsoft or similar highly stable computer platform that forms part of one or more proprietary software products 750.

Figure 11 shows situations potentially arise in which one or more members 1500 of the group of personnel 70 who are able to keep track of the integrated operation 200 via the environment 400 need to work far away from the environment 400. The ERA software setup 800 is advantageously provided with functionalities for remote monitoring and remote control to allow one or more of the members 1500 to view at least a subset of the one or more of the displays 420 from a remote workplace; such remote control can preferably be provided, for example, from a remote laptop computer connected via a communication network, for example via the web or a

telecommunications network to the environment 400. A plurality of members 1500 are, for example, spread out over distant locations A1 and A2; the members 1500 at location A1 are only allowed to view the screens 450, 470U, 470L of the environment 400, and the members 1500 at location A2 are only allowed to view the screens 450, 460U. Allocation of access rights to selectively view one or more of the screens 450, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L is advantageously controlled from the environment 400. If desired, alternative allocation or additional allocation to selectively view one or more of the screens 450, 460U , 460L, 470U, 470L are issued remotely from the environment 400.

Such functionality of selective remote access to view one or more of the screens 450, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L allows a skilled worker located, for example, at a part of the plant or equipment of the integrated operation 200 to participate in discussions taking place within the environment 400, for example in discussions concerning the utilization of part of the plant or equipment. This functionality leads to improving the efficiency of the operation of the integrated operation 200 by enabling problems at a given location within the operation 200 to be dealt with on the spot.

In addition, the ERA software setup 800 further provides a remote control functionality if desired so that one or more of the members 1500 are selectively able to be allocated with remote control for one or more of the displays 420. The remote control functionality allows a person skilled in the art to far from the environment 400 can visually accompany images presented on one or more of the screens 420 in addition to remote control markers and other similar installations for indication; if desired, the person skilled in the art residing far from the environment 400 may be able to at least partially control the operation from the ERA software setup 800. These functionalities make the environment 400 dynamically flexible, namely extending to remote members 1500 in response to needs and/or or instances that occur within the integrated operation 200. Invoking remote collaboration can either be implicitly included in the workflows of the environment 800 or invoked in an expedient manner in response to immediate needs that arise within the integrated operation 200. Additionally, as an alternative, to calling up remote collaboration can be event-driven automatically within the integrated operation 200 using the ERA setup 800.

Such remote control functionality is thus amenable to being dynamically called up or canceled depending on events occurring within the integrated operation 200. Furthermore, the remote control avoids a need for personnel to travel so that they are physically in place at locations where one or more 420 of the screens are localized, thereby saving resources and travel time for personnel. When the integrated operation 200 is located across several continents, avoiding the need for such travel is a considerable economic advantage, especially with regard to the aforementioned implications of "Peak Oil".

The environment 400 generated by the software setup 800 is capable of participating in multiple alternative versions to the group of personnel 70.

If desired, the ERA software setup 800, namely the interface software, can be run to use one or more system software products to provide a communication route from the one or more remotely located members 1500 that are far from the location where the one or more personnel is located as shown in Figure 4.

In overview, the data management hardware 700 includes a network of computer devices configured using appropriate software to provide real-time dynamic information obtained from the integrated operation 200 and advantageously present to the group of personnel 70 a three-dimensional representation of the integrated operation 200 on a or multiple two-dimensional displays 420 in a manner known as a "3-dimensional portal" or "3-D portal". If desired, the representation on one or more of the screens 420 is slanted, namely rendered in perspective. The angle of inclination of the display can be continuously varying so that the group of personnel 70 is able to see the display from above and below.

The group of personnel 70 is also able to selectively activate one or more categories of main symbols for the representation corresponding to equipment, facilities, buildings, personnel or the like within the integrated operation 200 and receive subsidiary symbols for example symbols representing an underlying geological formation . The group of personnel 70 is then able to interrogate the subsidiary symbols to obtain more information such as technical data relating to the properties of a geological layer, drill heads used to drill through a geological layer, probable yields of oil and/or gas in a given geological layer, one or more names of technical experts who can be contacted and who have special knowledge with respect to the given geological layer, relevant websites, and so on. The main symbols as well as the subsidiary symbols along with associated data are continuously updated in real time on one or more of the displays 420, for example as personnel move around within the integrated operation 200 as equipment is installed and/or decommissioned from the integrated operation 200 and/or as one or more events take place in the integrated operation 200. The integrated operation 200 is as described above: (a) an installation for prospecting for oil and/or gas; and/or (b) an installation that produces oil and/or gas,

although the integrated operation 200 may be of many different types, for example mining installations, geothermal installations for generating electricity, an underground storage for radioactive waste.

In Figure 12 another illustration of the integrated operation 200 is shown. 1 the integrated operation 200 includes a multitude of computers that exchange data between them. Flow of data between a first part of the integrated operation 200 and a second part of the integrated operation 200 included in the operations center 220 is performed via a data transmission cable shown at 720. The data transmission cable 720 includes at least one of: wireless communication, fiber optic communication, electrical wire communication, physical exchange of data carriers (for example, exchange of data CDs, exchange of portable data loggers). The operations center 220 is, if desired, included as an essential part of the integrated operation 200.

The integrated operation 200 includes one or more facilities, for example an oil and/or a gas platform 310. In addition, there are also personnel, vehicles, vessels and similar elements 250 that move dynamically within the integrated operation 200. The one or more facilities and personnel are preferably provided with computer-based communication equipment, for example wireless personal digital assistants (PDAs), to provide an interface via the data transmission cable 720 to the operations center 220.

The operations center 220 is implemented at one or more locations. If desired, the operations center 220 is placed on a ship, on an oil platform, on a gas platform or on land. In addition, the operations center 220 includes the previously mentioned hardware for data handling 700 to receive and send operational data from the operation respectively from and to the data transmission cable 720. The operations center 40 also includes the aforementioned one or more databases 770, 830 and/or a communication connection to one or more external databases for example via the web or similar data communication networks. In addition, the hardware for data handling 700 is connected to the aforementioned one or more screens 420 for visual display. One or more of the displays 420 may advantageously be implemented as described previously as a set of wall-mounted plasma or liquid crystal displays (LCD); alternatively, one or more of the screens 420 are implemented as projection screens as described previously.

The hardware for data handling 700 is also provided with a data input device implemented as the control board 410. The control board 410 can advantageously be implemented as one or more of: (a) one or more keyboards and/or pointing devices such as a mouse for a computer or a trackball; (b) voice recognition hardware and/or software for interpreting the voice of one or more personnel and converting the voice into corresponding data to instruct the data handling hardware 700; (c) a wireless interface for receiving instructions from a wireless device;

and

(d) an input of image data for example in response to hand and arm

movements performed by one or more personnel.

Figure 13a shows an example form of a 3-dimensional image displayed on one or more of the screens 420; the example form is generally indicated by 2000. A perspective display 2010 of the integrated operation 200 is presented including graphic icons 2020, 2030 representing various equipment and technical facilities in the integrated operation 200. In addition, one or more icons 2040 representing personnel, vehicles for alarm services are also presented , vessels, service vehicles and the like presented in real time in the integrated

operation 200; one or more positions of the one or more icons 2040 in a perspective representation 2010 is representative of a corresponding distribution of their corresponding structures present in the integrated operation 200. The data management hardware 700 is apt to be user configured to selectively display a or more preferred categories of these graphical icons in the perspective display 2010. For example, the data management hardware 700 is apt to be user configured to selectively display only

icons representing wellheads, only icons representing interconnected pipelines or a combination of wellheads, pipelines and personnel.

A pointing icon 2050 is also presented, for example in the form of an arrow or a cross, which one or more personnel are able to handle using the control table 410. When the pointing icon 2050 is superimposed on or close to one of the icons that are representative of a unit of the integrated operation 200 on the one or more of the screens 420, the data management hardware 700 is able to display a subsidiary field 2100. The subsidiary field 2100 is, if desired, displayed next to its corresponding icon as shown in Figure 13a or alternatively on a side screen next to the perspective representation 2010 remote from the corresponding icon as shown in Figure 13b. The subsidiary field 3000 advantageously represents geological data below the unit, for example providing physical information with respect to strata properties, possibilities of oil and gas yield from the same strata, porosity of the same strata, and so on; other information is provided at the same time in the subsidiary field 2100, for example names of experts and specialists who can be consulted and who have knowledge of this type of strata. Alternatively, when the pointing icon 2050 is superimposed on or close to an icon 2040 representing one or more members of personnel, the subsidiary field 2100 advantageously includes details of the competence of the one or more personnel, contact details, to which team or group the one or several personnel belong to, details of when one or more personnel are available to perform tasks inside the installation and so on.

The pointing icon 2050 is advantageously prone to be manipulated by one or more personnel to effectively zoom toward or away from the features of the perspective representation 2010 in a manner that generally appears to fly toward or away from the perspective representation 2010, for for example from either above or below one or more of the objects shown in the perspective representation 2010. When the objects are wellheads, one or more personnel are thus able to see the objects from different angles and use the pointing icon 2050 to call up subsidiary information by calling up the icons corresponding to the items. The subsidiary information can be obtained, for example, by using the pointing icon 2050 to call up one or more icons that cause associated software applications to be executed in the data management hardware 700 to search for relevant data from the one or more databases 770, 830, and/or real-time data from one or more sensors included in the integrated operations 200.

Figure 14 shows an example of a subsidiary field 2100, wherein the subsidiary field 2100 corresponds to a representation of a vertical section including geological layers 3010 to 3060 which is presented to go from a most superficial layer 3010 to a deepest layer 3060. Also shown is a underground reservoir 3040 below a layer 3030, the reservoir 3040 includes oil and/or gas recovered from a borehole 3400. Moving the pointer icon 2050 to lie above one of the layers 3010 to 3060 causes a subordinate subsidiary field 3450 to appear and provides more information regarding the composition and mechanical properties of the layer. Moving the pointer icon 2050 over to the reservoir 3040 provides data pertaining to the reservoir 3040, for example: a volume of the reservoir 3040, a rate of recovery of oil and/or gas from the reservoir 3040, a measured composition of oil and/or gas recovered from reservoir 3040. Also, moving the pointer icon 2050 over the representation of the borehole 3400 results in the subordinate subsidiary field 3450 to display details of the size of

the drill, one or more of the tools used to produce the borehole 3400, the depth of the borehole 3400, whether boreholes 3400 are rammed or not and so on.

As clarified previously, data for generating the subsidiary field 2100 and the subordinate subsidiary field 4050 is developed from one or more databases 770, 830, where data is stored relationally, in which the data content is mutually associated by relational links as it defines a Euclidean probability of associations between the different the parts of the data content. The data management hardware 700 is capable of monitoring how often the one or more personnel at the operations center 220 move the pointing icon 2050 to a given symbol on the one or more of the screens 420 to locate a particular piece of data content. The data handling hardware 700 is capable of associating greater Euclidean probabilities to symbols and portions of the data content that are often evoked in combination. With such a course of action, the data management hardware 700 is able to provide information in the most efficient and expeditious manner to the one or more personnel at the operations center 220. Although only the subsidiary field 3000 and the subordinate subsidiary field 4050 shown in Figure 14 must it is understood that further levels of subsidiary fields, for example sub-subordinate subsidiary field, are possible in a subfield with many layers. Sub-sub-fields are produced by moving the pointer icon 2050 over specific parts that are in a list or are presented graphically in the sub-field 2100. Parts of data content that are often called up are, if desired, able to develop lower-order sub-fields into higher-order sub-fields and finally approach subfield 2100 in response to how often they are called.

Figure 15 shows how data is continuously communicated in the integrated operation 200. During operation, the data management hardware 700, as shown by an arrow 4500, sends instructions generated by one or more personnel at the operations center 220 to the integrated operation 200, for example to instruct personnel working in the integrated operation 200, for direct remote control of equipment in the integrated operation 200 and so on. Equipment present in the integrated operation 200 includes hardware for data handling that is distributed locally throughout the operation. In addition, the data management hardware 700 is also capable of obtaining data as shown by an arrow 4510 in Figure 15, for example real-time data from the integrated operation 200, for example the status of equipment in the integrated operation 200, positions and identities of personnel in the integrated operation 200 and so on; data thus acquired is stored as appropriate in the database 770 , 830 along with Euclidean probability data associated with data acquired with other data present in the database 770 , 830 .

The data management hardware 700 with its one or more displays 420 operating in cooperation with the integrated operation 200 is inclined to provide an information portal for the one or more personnel present at the operations center 220. Due to the fact that software products transmitted on one or more data carriers and run during operation on the data management hardware 700 at the operations center 220 provides the environment experienced by the one or more personnel present at the operations center 220, the software products are capable of providing a visual 3-dimensional representation and are in practice referenced to such as creating a "3-D portal".

The present invention is apt to be defined in a manner as in a priority patent application for the present invention, such definition being provided here for completeness.

A data management system is provided for keeping track of and/or monitoring a complex system, the data management system consisting of data management hardware capable of executing one or more system software products to assimilate data and/or information from the complex system and to send information and/or data to it in order to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system

characterized by

the system for data management is further provided with one or more products with software interfaces that can be run on the hardware for data management to provide during operation an interface for data and/or information between one or more personnel and at least one of: the one or more products with system software , directly to the complex system,

the one or more interface software products are capable of implementing one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, the one or more workflows define one or more data filters for selective filtering and/or collection of information and/ or data provided from the complex system and/or from the one or more system software products for presentation to the one or more personnel via the one or more software products for selectively reducing an amount of data and/or information to be interpreted by one or more personnel.

It is optional in the data management system whether one or more products with an interface software are provided when running on a data management hardware with access to at least one dedicated database, the at least one dedicated database used by the one or more software products for interfaces to store data acquired by the one or more system software products subject to filtering and/or collection of data as defined by the one or more workflows.

A method of data management in a data management system is also provided for monitoring and/or keeping track of a complex system, the data management system consisting of data management hardware capable of running one or more system software products to assimilate information and/or data from the complex system and to send control information to it in order to monitor and/or keep track of the complex system,

characterized by

the method includes steps of:

(a) installing in the data management system one or more products with interface software that can be run on the data management hardware to provide in operation a data interface between one or more personnel and at least one of: the one or more products with

system software, directly to the complex system:

(b) applying one or more of the products with interface software to implement one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, the one or more workflows defining one or more filters and/or collectors for selective filtering and/or collection of information and/or data provided from the complex system and/or from the one or more system software products for presentation to the one or more personnel via the one or more interface software products for selectively reducing a amount of data to be interpreted by one or more personnel.

It is optional whether the method should include steps with:

(c) to provide the one or more interface software products when running on the data management hardware with access to one or more dedicated databases, the one or more dedicated databases used by the one or more of the interface software products for to store data that is provided by one or more products with system software that is subject to filtering and/or collection of data and/or information as defined by the one or more workflows.

Expressions such as "consist of", "include", "contain", "incorporate", "is", "have" and the like are intended to be interpreted in a non-exclusive manner, namely to allow for other items or components that are not explicitly defined to be present. Reference to singular forms shall also be interpreted as referring to plural forms.

Numerals included within parentheses within the appended claims are intended to assist in understanding the claimed content material and are not intended to determine the scope of the claims.

Claims (27)

1. A system for data management (700, 710) to control a configuration of one or more products with system software to keep track of and/or monitor a complex oil and/or gas system (200, 250, 310 ), said system for data management (700, 710) consists of hardware for data management (700) capable of running said one or more products with system software (750) for assimilation of data and/or information from the complex system (250, 310) and to send information and/or data thereto in order to monitor and/or keep control of said complex system (250, 310), characterized by said system for data handling (700, 710) is further provided with one or more products with interface software (800) that can be run on said hardware for data handling (700) to provide during operation an interface for data and/or information (400, 420) between one or more personnel (70) and at least one of: said one or more products with system software (750), directly to said complex system (250, 310), said one or more interface software products (800) are able to implement one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, said one or more workflows define one or more data filters for selective filtering and/or collection of information and/or data provided from said complex system (250, 310) and/or from said one or more products with system software (750) for presentation to said one or more personnel (70) via said one or more products with software for interface (800) for selectively reducing an amount of data and/or information to be interpreted by said one or more personnel (70). 2. A system for data management (700, 710) in accordance with claim 1, in which said one or more products with interface software (800) can be run to make said interface for data and/or information to be at least partially visible and /or at least partially controllable from a location that is remote from a place where one or more personnel stay. 3. A system for data management (700, 710) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one or more products with interface software (800) are provided when running on said hardware for data management (700) with access to at least one dedicated database ( 830), said at least one dedicated database (830) is used by said one or more interface software products (800) to store data provided by said one or more system software products (750) which is subject to data filtering and/ or collection as defined by said one or more work processes. 4. A data management system (700, 710) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) are operable to communicate presentations of data to a set of one or more displays (420) that can be seen by said one or more personnel (70) during operation, said presentation data is developed from at least one of said at least one of: (a) intermediate data and/or information calculated by said one or more products with supporting data (750) from measurement data provided by said complex system (250, 310); (b) measurement data acquired directly from the complex system (250, 310) to the one or more interface software products (800); and (c) selectively filtered and/or selectively collected stored data that has been generated by said one or more products with software to interface (800) during operation with data provided from said one or more products with support data (750) and/or directly from said complex system (250, 310). 5. A data management system (700, 710) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) when running on said data management hardware (700) are capable of enabling said one or more personnel (70) can define one or more workflows in a top-down strategy, said one or more workflows define one or more filter parameters for use in filtering and/or aggregating data and/or information to be presented to said one or more personnel (70) during operation. 6. A data management system (700, 710) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) are capable, when running on said data management hardware (700), of obtaining said one or multiple workflows to be invoked in response to at least one of: (a) one or more calling instructions generated from one or more other workflows; (b) one or more physical conditions occurring within said complex system (250, 310); and (c) one or more instructions entered by said one or more personnel (70) into said data handling hardware (700) via said one or more interface software products (800). 7. A data management system (700, 710) according to claim 1, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) are capable of enabling said one or more workflows to be configured on an interdependent hierarchical manner. 8. A data management system (700, 710) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) are capable of enabling said one or more workflows to be configured to run on a interdependent concurrent manner. 9. A data management system (700, 710) in accordance with claim 4, wherein said array of one or more screens (420) includes a plurality of screens (450, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L) and/or display areas comprising: (a) a first screen (450) or first display area for presenting a spatial representation of the complex system (250, 310); (b) a second screen (470U) or second display area for presenting one or more workflows facilitated by one or more interface software products (800); (c) a third screen (470L) or third display area for presenting filtered data relating to said one or more workflows facilitated by one or more interface software products (800); and (d) a fourth screen (460L) or fourth display area for presenting one or more operating procedures that are relevant to said one or more workflows that are displayed on said second screen (470U). 10. A system for data handling (700, 710) in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first screen (450) or display area is centrally located relative to said second, third and fourth screens or display areas. 11. A system for data management (700, 710) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said one or more products with software for interfaces (800) includes a product with software for data integration services (900) for defining a data interface between said one or multiple interface software products (800) and said one or more system software products (750), said one or more data interface software products (800) operable to act as a data filter and/or collector of data for reduction of a quantity of data to be presented to said one or more personnel (70) in connection with one or more associated work processes that are presented thereto. A data management system (700, 710) according to claim 11, wherein said data integration service software product (900) is executable to be edited to adapt said one or more interface software products (800) to operate with a variety of types of said complex system. 13. A system for data management (700, 710) in accordance with claim 12, wherein said one or more products with interface software (800) can be configured to be used to monitor and/or keep track of said complex system (200 , 250, 310) when said complex system is implemented as at least one of: (a) a configuration of oil and/or gas wells; (b) a configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms; (c) a configuration of wind turbines operated to generate electricity; (d) a configuration of solar cells operated to generate electricity; (e) an installation of a nuclear power plant generating electricity; (f) a network for the distribution of electricity; (g) a configuration of marine wave energy units operated to generate electricity from wave motion; (i) a configuration of dams and/or locks; G) a conventional facility that burns fossil fuels to generate electricity; (k) a configuration of coal mines for the extraction of coal; (I) a configuration of geothermal energy collection sites; (m) a logistics network for the distribution of goods. 14. A software product (800) stored or communicated via a data carrier, said software product (800) can be run on a hardware for data handling (700) to implement a system for data handling (700, 710) as requested in patent claim 1. 15. A method of data management in a data management system (700, 710) for controlling the configuration of one or more products with system software for monitoring and/or keeping track of a complex oil and/or gas system (200, 250, 310), said system for data management (700, 710) consists of hardware for data management (700) which is capable of running one or more products with system software (750) for assimilating information and/or data from the complex system for oil and/or gas (250, 310) and to send control information thereto to monitor and/or keep track of said complex system (250, 310), characterized by said method includes steps of: (a) installing in said data management system (700, 710) one or more interface software products (800) runnable on said data management hardware (700) to provide in operation a data interface (400, 420) between one or more personnel (70) and at least one of: said one or more products with system software (750), directly to said complex system (250, 310); (b) applying said one or more of the interface software products (800) to implement one or more workflows defined in a top-down strategy, said one or more workflows defining one or more filters and/or collectors for selective filtering and/or collection of information and/or data provided by said complex system (250, 310) and/or from said one or more products with system software (750) for presentation to said one or more personnel (70) via said one or more products with interface software (800) for selectively reducing an amount of data to be interpreted by said one or more personnel (70). 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said method includes a step of configuring said one or more products with interface software that can be run to make said interface for data and/or information to be at least partially visible and/ or at least partially controllable from a location that is far from a place where one or more personnel are located. 17. A method according to claim 15, including a step of: (c) providing said one or more products with interface software (800) when running on said data management hardware (700) with access to one or more dedicated databases (830), said one or more dedicated databases (830) used by said one or more interface software products (800) to store data acquired by said one or more system software products (750) which are subject to data and/or information filtering and/or aggregation defined by said one or more workflows. 18. A method according to claim 17, including a further step of: (d) communicating presentation data via said one or more products with interface software (800) to a set of one or more displays (420) viewable by said one or more personnel (70) during operation, said presentation data is developed from at least one of: intermediate data calculated by said one or more products with supporting data (750) from measurement data provided by said complex system (250, 310); measurement data acquired directly from the complex system (250, 310) to the one or more interface software products (800); and selectively filtered and/or selectively collected stored data that has been generated by one or more products with interface software (800) when operating from data and/or information provided from said one or more support products for data (750) and/or directly from said complex system (250, 310). 19. A method according to claim 15, including a step of: (e) making said one or more products of interface software (800) when running on said data management hardware (700) for said one or more personnel ( 70) capable of defining one or more workflows in a top-down strategy, said one or more workflows defining one or more filter parameters and/or aggregation parameters for use in filtering and/or aggregating data and/or information to is presented to the aforementioned one or more personnel (70) during operation. 20. A method according to claim 15, including a step of: (f) configuring said one or more interface software products (800) to be capable of causing said one or more workflows to be invoked as responding to at least one of: one or more eliciting instructions generated from one or more work flow; one or more physical conditions that occur inside said complex system (250, 310); and one or more instructions entered by said one or more personnel (70) to said data handling hardware (700) via said one or more interface software products (800). 21. A method according to claim 15, including a step of: (g) arranging said one or more interface software products (800) to be capable of enabling said one or more workflows to be configured on a mutual dependent hierarchical manner. 22. A method according to claim 15 including a step of: (h) arranging said one or more interface software products (800) to be capable of enabling said one or more workflows to be configured to run on a mutual simultaneous way. 23 A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said array of one or more screens (420) includes a plurality of screens (450, 460U, 460L, 470U, 470L) and/or a plurality of screen areas consisting of: (a) a first screen (450) or first screen area for displaying a spatial presentation of the complex system (250, 310); (b) a second screen (470U) or second screen area for displaying one or more workflows facilitated by said one or more interface software products (800); (c) a third screen (470L) or third screen area for presenting filtered data relating to said one or more workflows facilitated by said one or more interface software products (800); (d) a fourth screen (460L) or fourth screen area for presenting one or more operating procedures that are relevant to said one or more workflows that are displayed on said second screen (470U) or second screen area. 24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein said first screen (450) or first screen area is spatially located centrally with respect to said second, third and fourth screens or screen areas. 25. A method according to claim 15, wherein said one or more interface software products (800) includes a data integration service software product (900) for defining a data interface between said one or more interface software products ( 800) and said one or more products with system software (750), said product with interface software can be run to act as a data filter and/or data collector to reduce the amount of data to be presented to said one or more personnel ( 70) in connection with one or more associated work processes that are presented there. 26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said data integration service software product (900) is capable of being edited to adapt said one or more interface software products (800) to operate with many different types of said complex system. 27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein said one or more products with interface software (800) are configurable so that they can be used to monitor and/or control said complex system (200, 250, 310) when said complex system is implemented as at least one of: (a) a configuration of oil and/or gas wells; (b) a configuration of offshore oil and/or gas platforms; (c) a configuration of wind turbines operated to generate electricity; (d) a configuration of solar cells operated to generate electricity; (e) an installation of nuclear power plants generating electricity; (f) a network for the distribution of electricity; (g) a configuration of marine wave energy units operated to generate electricity from wave motion; (i) a configuration of dams and/or locks; (j) a conventional facility that burns fossil fuels to generate electricity; (k) a configuration of coal mines for the extraction of coal; (I) a configuration of geothermal energy collection sites; (m) a logistics configuration for the distribution of goods.