Multiuser oilfield domain analysis and data management

1. A method of oilfield data management, comprising:

collecting oilfield data from an oilfield;

generating a global instance, based on the oilfield data, to represent an oilfield object, wherein the global instance is stored in a global data structure of a central repository;

executing instructions on a first processor of a first workstation to perform a domain analysis of the oilfield data by a first analysis team to generate a first local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a first oilfield function,

wherein the first analysis team comprises a plurality of users who analyze the oilfield data relating to the first oilfield function, and

wherein the first local instance is stored in the first workstation and comprises a first level of abstraction;

executing instructions on a second processor of a second workstation to perform the domain analysis of the oilfield data by a second analysis team to generate a second local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a second oilfield function,

wherein the second analysis team analyzes the oilfield data relating to the second oilfield function, and

wherein the second local instance is stored in the second workstation and comprises a second level of abstraction; and

selectively synchronizing, a first link and a second link coupling the first workstation and the second workstation, respectively to the central repository, the global instance, the first local instance, and the second local instance to generate a synchronized result,

wherein the synchronizing comprises:

updating, by the first link and in response to the first analysis team updating the first local instance, the global instance by converting a first data item in the first local instance from the first level of abstraction to the global data structure, and

updating, by the second link and in response to updating the global instance, the second local instance by abstracting the first data item in the global data structure according to the second level of abstraction.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synchronizing is performed by a process coordinator.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selectively passing the oilfield data between the plurality of users and the central repository.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the first and second oilfield functions comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of a geological function, a geophysical function, and a reservoir engineering function, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of users comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a geologist, a geophysicist, and a reservoir engineer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

cloning at least one selected from a group consisting of the first local instance, the second local instance, and the global instance.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the domain analysis is performed offline.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein selectively passing the oilfield data comprises transporting the oilfield data in a portable format.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein selectively passing the oilfield data comprises transporting oilfield data in a size-tiered format.

9. A computer readable medium, embodying instructions executable by a computer for oilfield data management, the instructions comprising functionality to:

collect oilfield data from an oilfield;

generate a global instance, based on the oilfield data, to represent an oilfield object, wherein the global instance is stored in a global data structure of a central repository;

perform, on a first processor of a first workstation, a domain analysis of the oilfield data by a first analysis team to generate a first local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a first oilfield function,

wherein the first analysis team comprises a plurality of users who analyze the oilfield data relating to the first oilfield function, and

wherein the first local instance is stored in the first workstation and comprises a first level of abstraction;

perform, on a second processor of a second workstation, the domain analysis of the oilfield data by a second analysis team to generate a second local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a second oilfield function,

wherein the second analysis team analyzes the oilfield data relating to the second oilfield function, and

wherein the second local instance is stored in the second workstation and comprises a second level of abstraction; and

selectively synchronize, using a first link and a second link coupling the first workstation and the second workstation, respectively to the central repository, the global instance, the first local instance, and the second local instance to generate a synchronized result,

wherein the synchronizing comprises:

updating, by the first link and in response to the first analysis team updating the first local instance, the global instance by converting a first data item in the first local instance from the first level of abstraction to the global data structure, and

updating, by the second link and in response to updating the global instance, the second local instance by abstracting the first data item in the global data structure according to the second level of abstraction.

10. A system for oilfield data management, comprising:

a plurality of sensors located at an oilfield for collecting oilfield data;

a central data repository configured to store a global instance in a global data structure to represent an oilfield object;

a processor for executing a data management application, operatively connected to the central data repository, configured to generate the global instance based on the oilfield data

a first workstation configured to perform a domain analysis of the oilfield data by a first analysis team to generate the first local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a first oilfield function, wherein the first analysis team comprises a plurality of users who analyzes the oilfield data relating to the first oilfield function;

a first user-controlled communication link coupling the first workstation to the central data repository;

a second workstation configured to perform the domain analysis of the oilfield data by a second analysis team to generate a second local instance to represent the oilfield object focusing on a second oilfield function,

wherein the second analysis team analyzes the oilfield data relating to the second oilfield function, and

wherein the second local instance is stored in the second workstation and comprises a second level of abstraction; and

a second user-controlled communication link coupling the second workstation to the central data repository,

wherein the processor executing the data management application is further configured to selectively synchronize, using the first user-controlled communication link and the second user-controlled communication link, the global instance, the first local instance, and the second local instance to generate a synchronized result, and

wherein the synchronizing comprises:

updating, by the first user-controlled communication link and in response to the first analysis team updating the first local instance, the global instance by converting a first data item in the first local instance from the first level of abstraction to the global data structure, and

updating, by the second user-controlled communication link and in response to updating the global instance, the second local instance by abstracting the first data item in the global data structure according to the second level of abstraction.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the central data repository is further configured to clone at least one of a group consisting of: the first local instance, the second local instance, and the global instance.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the central data repository is further configured to selectively pass the oilfield data to the plurality of users.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a seismic server configured to provide expanded workstation resources.

14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

an application server configured to allow the first workstation to access the central data repository indirectly such that a linked system comprising the first workstation requires no reconfiguration when the central data repository is modified.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the domain analysis is performed while the first user-controlled communication link is offline.

16. The system of claim 10 ,

wherein the first and second oilfield functions comprise at least one from the group consisting of a geological function, a geophysical function, and a reservoir engineering function, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of users comprises at least one from the group consisting of a geologist, a geophysicist, and a reservoir engineer.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the oilfield data is transported in a portable format.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the oilfield data is transported in a size-tiered format.