ENEL Geothermal Database

Abstract

The different activities related to the exploration, development and utilization of geothermal resources generate a huge amount of data that must be verified, managed and elaborated. The need for an efficient information retrieval system has been recognized as a vital tool for our organization. After an initial period of managing an enormous amount of data collected as paper-files (containing all the historical archives since 1930), an integrated information system was developed aimed at achieving maximum data integrity: Uniqueness, safety, accessibility and security. Our strategic goal was to achieve the completeness and dissemination of data among ENEL units for a variety of purposes. This type of system has the advantage of integrating information from different sources for analysis, elaboration and interpretation. The transfer of all the paper-based data into a structured body of information has required considerable effort, involving both internal personnel and external resources for data-entry. The focus has been on the Logical Information flow among ENEL units with the aim of storing data in the system as soon as they are obtained and measured, i.e., in their infancy. Because ENEL has a split structure, the system adopted is designed on a dual-server architecture - one in Pisa and another in Larderello - with the continuous on-line exchange of data along a designated line and an automatic alignment from the two machines each night. The Man-Machine Interface is based on client-server strategy using windows based products on a PC (Visual Basic, Power Builder).