Solving Engineering Problems With PC-Based Relational Databases

Information management and instant access to information is increasingly important in the day-to-day operation of oil and gas fields, ant the data are only as valuable as the ability to use them to solve problems. This paper presents an example of a project-driven approach to engineering information management of large engineering projects, such as integrated reservoir studies. By project-driven, the authors mean that the design and content of the database are project-specific and custom-built to fit the needs of the project. This approach has the advantage of addressing the specific requirements of a particular project and providing the end users of that database with a customized interface to access the data. The authors used a PC-based relational database from existing engineering data as part of a larger integrated study. The data were originally in a variety of formats. The RDBMS allowed the authors to construct rapidly a database specific to the needs of the project. The database includes forms and reports for data entry and review and graphics for displaying data. In addition, the database is very flexible, allowing changes to be made quickly and easily as the project progresses or if the objectives of the project change along themore » way. Finally, the database can import a wide variety of raw-data formats and export data to other engineering analysis applications.« less