Data Governance – The exercise of authority, control and shared decision-making (planning, monitoring and enforcement) over the management of data assets. Data Governance is high-level planning and control over data management.Data Architecture Management – The development and maintenance of enterprise data architecture, within the context of all enterprise architecture, and its connection with the application system solutions and projects that implement enterprise architecture.Data Development – The data-focused activities within the system development life-cycle (SDLC), including data modeling and data requirements analysis, design, implementation and maintenance of databases data-related solution components.Database Operations Management – Planning, control and support for structured data assets across the data life-cycle, from creation and acquisition through archival and purge.Data Security Management – Planning, implementation and control activities to ensure privacy and confidentiality and to prevent unauthorized and inappropriate data access, creation or change.Reference & Master Data Management – Planning, implementation and control activities to ensure consistency of contextual data values with a “golden version” of these data values.Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence Management – Planning, implementation and control processes to provide decision support data and support knowledge workers engaged in reporting, query and analysis.Document & Content Management – Planning, implementation and control activities to store, protect and access data found within electronic files and physical records (including text, graphics, image, audio, video).Meta Data Management – Planning, implementation and control activities to enable easy access to high quality, integrated meta data.Data Quality Management – Planning, implementation and control activities that apply quality management techniques to measure, assess, improve and ensure the fitness of data for use.
1. Exploration SeismicFollowing a licence award, oil and gas companies usually conduct seismic surveys. Seismic surveys use sound waves to create maps of the sub seabed geology. These maps help to identify rock formations under the seabed which may contain oil or gas. Other survey techniques may also be used, including gravity, magnetic and electro-magnetic. If results show structures exist that are potential hydrocarbon reservoirs (prospects), an oil and gas company (operator) may then proceed with site surveys.2. Site SurveysSite surveys are carried out to gain more information including seabed data, water column and the environment in a potential drilling location. If the results support the identification of a prospect and a safe and environmentally viable drilling location is identified, the operator may proceed to exploration drilling.3. Exploration DrillingOne or more exploration wells are drilled in the seabed to determine if a prospect exists and gain further data on the subsurface conditions. If a hydrocarbon reservoir is encountered the well is normally tested to see whether the reservoir is viable for production, in which case the operator may proceed to appraisal drilling. If no viable reservoir is encountered an operator may carry out further drilling if the initial results indicate that hydrocarbons may still exist elsewhere in the license area. Wells unsuitable for further development are sealed below the seabed and tested to ensure they are fully secure before being abandoned.4. Appraisal DrillingIf promising amounts of oil and gas are confirmed, field appraisal is used to establish the size of the field and the most appropriate production method, in order to assess whether the field is commercial. Appraisal may take several years to complete. Appraisal wells are drilled to confirm the size and structure of the field. Well logging (analysis) provides data on the hydrocarbon-bearing rocks. Well testing provides hydrocarbon samples and information on flow rate, temperatures and pressures. If appraisal confirms a commercial reservoir, the operator may then proceed to development.5. DevelopmentOnce a prospect has been shown to be technically and commercially viable a development plan is submitted to the relevant authorities for approval. Before a field is developed, materials and services are procured and equipment is manufactured and installed, including a system for transporting oil or gas. In some cases production wells may be drilled horizontally to extend many kilometres from the well head. Once development drilling is complete, the facility is tested to achieve a stable production level. Finally the development comes on-stream and starts production.6. ProductionFields produce hydrocarbons in many different ways depending on the type (oil or gas), location, water depth and environmental conditions. Production may be entirely offshore, with product exported directly from the offshore facility, or it may be connected to a near-shore or onshore facility for processing and export. Once the development is on-line, production is gradually increased until it reaches peak production. This is maintained for a number of years before production starts to decline. It may be feasible to inject water or gas into the reservoir to maintain production levels, or drill new wells in nearby reservoirs and connect these to the facility.
