Source: BPThe U.K. Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) launched the U.K. Oil and Gas National Data Repository (NDR), a publicly available dataset that encompasses over 130 terabytes of well, geophysical, field and infrastructure data.

The NDR was formed as a means of promoting technology advancements, new investments and exploration activity while maximizing economic recovery of proven oil and gas reserves. It was launched on March 25 and is considered to be the largest open release of data in the industry.

The NDR is currently available to all offshore petroleum licensee users, operators and owners of offshore infrastructure. This initial release acts to facilitate reporting as is required by the OGA. Outside of statutory confidential periods, the OGA may disclose datasets to any registered user with an anticipated public launch in the near future, which will unlock the dataset to academia and a wider public audience. The NDR is currently being accessed at ndr.ogauthority.co.uk.

The NDR is considered an integral part of the U.K.’s digital infrastructure and is being leveraged to spur innovation. It is an enabler of reporting obligations, disclosure notices and critical petroleum-related data retention. Improved access to timely and transparent data facilitates collaboration and maximizes the value stream associated with petroleum-related information.