Oil and gas production handbook An introduction to oil and gas production

Figure 32. SCADA system topology (typical) 
 
Remote terminal units (RTU) or local controls systems on wells, wellhead 
platforms, compressor and pump stations, are connected to the SCADA 

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system by means of the available communication media. SCADA systems 
have many of the same functions as the control system, and the difference 
between them is mainly their data architecture and use of communications. 
8.2 Digital oilfield 
In the oil and gas industry digital oilfield (DOF) is a generic term for new 
solutions and technologies for operation, work processes and methods that 
are being made possible by adopting innovations in information technology. 
Other names such as Integrated Operations (IO), E-Field, Smart Fields, i-
Field and Integrated Asset Management are used for the same concept.  
Intelligent Energy is a general umbrella term adopted by Society of 
Petroleum Engineers (SPE).  
 
Central to this concept is collaboration between people; where data, 
information, knowledge shared between a number of parties in digital form. 
This often supported by technologies such as video conferencing and  
augmented reality for personnel in remote locations or in the field. In this 
environment we add solutions for optimal performance, security, 
maintenance.