Status of Emerging Standards for Data Definitions and Transfer in the Petroleum Industry

WINCZEWSKI, LARAMIE M., Landmark Graphics Corp., Houston, TX

Leading-edge hardware and software to store, retrieve, process, analyze, visualize, and interpret geoscience and petroleum data are improving continuously. A babel of definitions and formats for common industry data items limits the overall effectiveness of these computer-aided exploration and production tools. Custom data conversion required to load applications causes delays and exposes data content to error and degradation.

Emerging industry-wide standards for management of geoscience and petroleum-related data are poised to overcome long-standing internal barriers to the full exploitation of these high-tech hardware/software systems. Industry technical organizations, such as AAPG, SEG, and API, have been actively pursuing industry-wide standards for data transfer, data definitions, and data models. These standard-defining groups are non-fee and solicit active participation from the entire petroleum community. The status of the most active of these groups is presented here.

Data transfer standards are being pursued within AAPG (AAPG-B Data Transfer Standard), API (DLIS, for log data) and SEG (SEG-DEF, for seismic data). Converging data definitions, models, and glossaries are coming from the Petroleum Industry Data Dictionary Group (PIDD) and from subcommittees of the AAPG Computer Applications Committee. The National Computer Graphics Association is promoting development of standards for transfer of geographically oriented data. The API Well-Number standard is undergoing revision.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)