SS: GIS Applications in Marine Geohazards special session: Developing A GIS Data Model For Seabed Site Surveys

Abstract

Abstract Data acquired from site surveys provide an essential resource to various exploration and production activities, such as field development planning, well positioning, and subsea equipment positioning. For many years, site survey data has been delivered as a Computer-aided Design (CAD) product. As operators move into a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment, shortfalls from CAD-based workflows have become obvious. This paper presents a method of managing site survey data based on geo-information management principles and practices. The methodology presented in this paper defines a GIS data model for seabed survey data interpretation that satisfies GIS query, presentation, and data exchange purposes. This paper also defines a standard for GIS seabed survey data deliverables from contractors to operators, including methods and processes to move the model to/from CAD-based applications. The implementation of the data model has proven to be a relative success and allows for a better integration of subsurface applications internally. The results have helped define an efficient contractor-operator data exchange process by eliminating data ambiguity and enabling seamless GIS data transfer. Results have also produced a more intelligent seabed survey GIS dataset with rules and behaviors capability offered by an ArcGIS Geodatabase embedded into the data model. Use of a standard GIS data model and a standard list of GIS data deliverables required from contractors to operators will allow project teams to fully embrace the power of GIS data integration and allow nearly seamless and lossless movement of CAD/GIS representations of the model. Introduction In order to reach maximum potential benefit of data provided from seabed site surveys throughout the E & P lifecylcle (Figure 1), there is a need to ensure that data delivered from survey contractors to operators is done so in a structured, efficient, and consistent manner.