REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION - NATIONAL REPOSITORIES

NATIONAL OIL AND GAS DATA REPOSITORIES

The focus of the repositories has been different in different parts of the world. Either governments, specific contractors or consortia of oil companies have set up the repositories. A common factor is that oil companies are involved. Several major oil companies are now members, or users, of more than one repository and are reviewing their global data management strategies based upon the emergence of these repositories.

The DTI in the UK have been asked if they would host a meeting of interested parties to determine whether the various national repositories can "work together". Neither CIDAI or the UK DTI wish to assume any global leadership role related to repositories. They are hoping to facilitate a "global project team" to provide global benefits for the oil industry in the area of data management.

"Work together" has not been defined. It is certainly not the intention that all repositories would be the same technology or run by the same company; each country will have their own specific requirements. There is a view that if there are common, or standard, ways of storing and exchanging data then oil companies can start to realise efficiencies across national boundaries with mutual benefits to all.

The belief is that we all start from the realisation that there is now little business advantage in storing data. The business advantage is obtained in the way that companies manipulate and interpret data. The storage and acquisition of quality data is a business cost that is shared and duplicated across all companies.

The current proposal is that DTI will host an initial meeting in London, tentatively in April.

The objectives of this first meeting will not be onerous; they will be

• to meet colleagues involved in similar projects
• to establish friendly contacts
• to freely exchange ideas
• to explore possibilities for co-operation

• POSC compliance
• Data entry
• Data exchange
• Data release
• What standards are used
• Organisation
• Charging methods

The current intention is to invite to this first meeting only those organisations who have set up repositories or who are actively setting them up. The first meeting will be relatively informal and numbers will be restricted.

At the end of the page is a list of repositories likely to be invited and the other parties copied for interest.

POSC will also be invited to give a short presentation and as observers.

I realise that London will not be an ideal venue for everyone. People who cannot attend but wish to be involved in any possible follow up meeting or action should let me know. I will let everyone know what was discussed. A possible follow up meeting and venue will be an item on the agenda.

Getting contacts at all the National repositories has not been easy.

The current contact list is below. If anyone knows of others please let me know.

Active repositories

In planning stage

Interested

Stewart Robinson