Currently each oil company keeps individual copies of the Geotechnical data to which it is entitled. This results in unnecessarily high costs in the reproduction and subsequent storage of multiple copies of the same data. By providing a "common entitlements index", CIDAI will remove the need for multiple copies and thereby minimise data storage and reprographic costs. This index will also facilitate data trading, brokerage and the release of information. By enabling the exchange of digital data, CIDAI will also provide a framework for sharing the costs of moving towards a high-quality on-line digital data set for the industry.
Under the status quo, mechanisms for the acquisition, trading and public release of technical data give rise to unnecessary costs through multiple storage and copying of identical data items. For many individual companies the cost of maintaining all of this data in perfect condition has been prohibitively high and, inevitably, there has been a decline in data quality and coverage. To compound this, a historical lack of standards with regard to the form and content of the data have resulted in a hugely inefficient and inconsistent approach to data management.
The CIDAI approach to the solution of this problem represents a paradigm shift for data management in the UK oil industry. By centrally maintaining only single copies of each data item CIDAI will reduce costs and bring about an improvement in data quality and coverage. Secure access to this data will be controlled by a computer database, the 'Entitlements Index', to which participating companies will be linked electronically. The database will control access to data and provide a vehicle for the retrieval of items to which companies are entitled. The ability to retrieve data in a standardised manner represents a large improvement in data accessibility.
A Consortium has been formed to progress the initial phase of CIDAI which will focus on well log data and which has, after an extensive year-long consultation and tendering process, announced their intention to work with a QC Data/Schlumberger-GeoQuest joint venture to further the CIDAI Initiative. The joint venture will build upon the particular expertise of both companies.
Subject to finalisation of contractual terms, QC Data will act as prime contractor and brings direct experience in operating a similar system for the Canadian oil and gas industry as well as related petroleum experience in other countries. GeoQuest, a part of Schlumberger, one of the largest suppliers of technology services to the oil and gas industry world-wide, brings additional strength in specialised data processing systems. The joint venture proposal will provide demonstrated operating expertise, expandability, proven data management systems technology and procedures directly relevant to the needs of CIDAI.
In anticipation of start up of the first phase of the project, a shared UK well logs data management facility, the CIDAI Consortium is to establish a governing and control body to act as the focal point for all future activity. This focal point will be Common Data Access Limited - a non-profit information utility owned by its members.
In phase one, CIDAI will focus upon the management of one particular type of data - Wireline logs. The next phase is likely to incorporate seismic data. In principle, there is no limit to the extendibility of CIDAI in the future in terms of next-generation applications software add-ons, the incorporation of new types of data and the growth of new services offered to CIDAI participants.
Digital data will be stored 'live' on a central database and retrieved to clients' sites in standard formats, primarily using telecommunications lines. Hardcopies will also be available for retrieval. To allow this, storage locations will be held in the Entitlements Index to facilitate retrieval from existing data storage contractors� warehouses.
In the spirit of this, the CIDAI Company (Common Data Access Limited) will be an non-profit information utility owned, managed and steered by its members. It is intended that the system be open to all companies, as well as researchers and public bodies. For all phases of the project it will be the policy of the CIDAI Company to exploit best of breed technology, with the intention of compliance with the standards laid down by the Petrotechnical Open Software Corporation (POSC).
The government believes that the increase in the availability of public data afforded by CIDAI will improve the attractiveness of the UK oil province to potential new investors. At the same time the burden on the government to provide national information services directly will be much reduced. The use of CIDAI is already being considered by the DTI as another official method for the public release of data and the data deposit mechanism.
There will be many other benefits from such a system. For instance, traditional data producers and resellers will be invited to use the Entitlements Database as a 'shop window' for their products. The increased visibility and availability of these products through a database linked to many oil companies will be a great enhancement to this business sector.