LUKOIL: LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT FOR THE WEST QURNA OILFIELD IN IRAQ

OBJECTIVES

The main objective is to improve logistical management of the Iraqi West Qurna oilfield – owned by Lukoil, Russia’s largest oil company – through implementation of a geographical information system.

The specific project objectives are as follows:

• collection of available information;
• creation of a database with significant information;
• development of specific applications;
• creation of a geoportal for access to data and specific applications depending on the user’s role;
• integration with existing systems;
• training for local users on identified problems and technologies used.

DEVELOPMENT

The project adopted a cascade methodology, with sequential macro-phases in which specific activities were identified to achieve the planned objectives.

The macro-phases of fundamental importance for the development of the project were:

• analysis of the current status, with a study of the situation before the project began and analysis of available data, software applications, hardware infrastructure, domain knowledge of users and the organisation’s operating structure;
• design of the various project components, including the data model to structure the central database, analysis of the central platform functional requirements, selection of software applications and the hardware architecture, plus development of a user training program;
• implementation of the activities covered by the design project, including physical modelling of the database, input of data into the database, development, personalisation and installation of the platform. The final stage was roll-out of the planned training activities.

In addition to these main phases, a series of pre- and post-project operations were planned, such as a meeting to brief operators involved in the process and plan milestones and conclusive on site and remote consultancy.

CHARACTERISTICS

The main platform characteristics are as follows:

• Client/web server model, with a Geospatial Content Management System (Geo-CMS) structure, a geospatial information portal with management of content including documents (Doc, Pdf, etc.), spreadsheets (Excel), images, video, etc.
• Access with profiled credentials based on users’ roles. Users interact with the system using common Internet browsers (Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Mac Safari) without requiring local installations or additional plug-ins.
• Archiving of published information in a database.
• Standard GIS navigation functions: display of geospatial layers, thematic maps, alphanumeric attributes, searches, printing, etc., plus the following specific functions:
  • management of areas to be de-mined;
  • excavation management;
  • display of real-time sensor and vehicle monitoring;
  • calculation of best route.
• ESRI software technology for development of the platform, with a variety of components. The data collected from surveys was loaded, together with existing data, into the database and made available, with appropriate symbols.
• Online and field training, with practical exercises on real cases. The sessions were organised for specific roles: user, data administrator, system administrator.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Lukoil East Limited had the support of GeneGIS GI, whose years of experience enabled it to offer:

• detailed specific knowledge of the Oil & Gas sector;
• detailed knowledge of ESRI technology, both for key applications and for extensions;
• international experience in implementing GIS systems and geoportals for large service providers.