a System of Industry Metocean data for the

a System of Industry Metocean data for the Offshore and Research Communities (SIMORC) by Dick Schaap - MARIS Supported by the European Commission as part of the 6 th Framework Programme sub-priority 1. 1. 6. 3 – Global Change and Ecosystems EC contract no. 518078 Status March 2007

The issue • A major share of metocean in situ observations for the oceans and seas is collected by research institutions and governmental organizations, operating monitoring stations and performing field surveys. • In addition a very substantial volume of metocean in situ data is collected by private industry, in particular by or under contract to major oil & gas companies. • However there is not a common awareness of available data sets and no systematic indexing and archival of these data sets within the industry. • Furthermore there is only limited reporting and access to these data sets & results of field studies for other parties, in particular the scientific community.

Some history • Autumn 2003, Pat Hyder introduced the idea to OGP Met. Ocean Committee for restricted release of the global commercial ocean data set for research (in particularly to evaluate ocean models) with technical support of the International Pacific Research Centre. • The Committee agreed to compile a cross-company inventory and, in principle, to making data available in a restricted manner for future research. Total, BP and Shell agreed to take the proposal forward. • Early 2004, Shell discussed the idea with MARIS at Oceanology International and it was agreed that MARIS would compose a partnership and compile a proposal to the EU. • This was submitted in Autumn 2004 and successfully evaluated (24 out of 25 points) in January 2005. The project was officially launched in June 2005.

Objectives • Create an internet based central index, including a geographical user interface, of metocean data sets, collected globally by OGP members (oil & gas industry) both in the past and ongoing • Harmonise the quality and formats of the data sets and store these in a central database, linked to the central index, for unified retrieving and access of the metocean datasets by internet • Define a SIMORC Data Protocol with rules agreed by OGP members for access and use of data sets by scientific & educational users, and by other users. • Promote and disseminate the SIMORC facility in the oil & gas industry, scientific communities and developing countries to achieve an increasing number of contributing parties and users

Partnership & Framework Project, financially supported by the European Commission Limited Interest Project (LIP) of OGP Metocean Committee to enable participation of increasing number of OGP members ØOGP – supported by Task group of Shell, Total and BP Amoco ØMARIS (coordinator and system development) ØBODC (quality control and harmonisation of all datasets) ØIOC-IODE (dissemination and education) Ø LIP signed by: Shell, Total, BP, Chevron, Statoil, and Hydro. Considered by Conoco. Philipps, Exxon. Mobil, … Ø Supported by international Advisory Board

Formats • Metadata format for data sets, based upon Sea-Search / Sea. Data. Net Common Data Index (CDI) format and XML schema; ISO 19115 compliant • Metadata format for publications/ analysis reports, based upon Dublin Core model for bibliographic interoperability • Formats for delivery of data sets: Net. CDF and BODC ASCII • Manual with QC & formatting procedures, based upon international practices

Internal metadata and data Flow OGP Member XML record per Data set file Data sets QC Format Publications Possible other sources MARIS BODC SIMORC Metadatabase Data set file Net. CDF Data set file BODC-Ascii SIMORC Data set Files QC Doc page per Data set file at BODC server Meta data record per Publication SIMORC Publication Metadatabase Publication File (doc / pdf) SIMORC Publication Files

Data delivery and progress • Shell • June 2006: DVD of data from Shell • 1878 data files, waves, currents, met. including wind • One format, well documented • Ca 600 now included in SIMORC and further work by BODC underway • BP • May 2006: First batch of data from Fugro. GEOS ADCPs • August 2006: Second batch of data from Fugro. GEOS ADCPs • February 2007: Third batch of data from Fugro. GEOS Current Meters • up to 300 more series to deliver from Fugro. GEOS • Extra from BP Office for e. g. Caspian Sea underway • Contact with BP USA for Gulf of Mexico data sets • Ca 30 sets now included in SIMORC and further work by BODC underway

Data progress • Total • October 2005: First data received • December 2005: Second data sets received • April 2006: Further data from Total (Gulf of Mexico) • June 2006: DVDs of data from Total • June 2006: Boxes of 5. 25 inch floppies • January 2007: Aditioanl data sets delivered • Many problems to resolve due to lack of documentation; limited transfer to SIMORC database so far • Support from Total top management to hire additional staff for one year to support BODC in QC and harmonisation of these data sets • Conoco Philips • Release of high-quality data set for Ekofisk Field – North Sea from 1980 to present – soon to be transferred to BODC

Protocol - Access Principles • Searching and browsing in the SIMORC metadatabases of available data sets and related publications is a public internet service • Data sets and related publications are managed by SIMORC in a secure domain behind a firewall and measures have been taken to prevent unwanted access • Ordering of data sets and delivery by downloading of data sets can only be done by registered users and requires a valid User License Agreement

Access principles Users Scientific Users Non-Scientific Users Restriction Data sets labelled: Direct access LI = Available under licence Request forwarded to owner Data sets labelled: RS = Restricted Request forwarded to owner

Order flow diagram Search in metadatabase Meta database Register license Results scientific institutes Register Other users Order list Shopping Basket Submit Order (specify filetype + Publication yes/no) User Register Log in User Check YES Scientific YES Non-Scientific NO Info about Conditions, Registration etc

Order flow registered scientific users YES Scientific User Register Shopping Basket Submit extended Order Form with motivation Confirmation mail to user and (split to) owner(s) Check on status LI / RS Data sets Publications All activity administered Transaction Register LI RS User to download Yes Owner to consider Data set(s) + Requests Publication(s) No Order delivered User notified

Order flow registered other users YES Non-Scientific User Register Shopping Basket Submit extended Order Form with motivation Confirmation mail to user and (split to) owner(s) RS Data sets Publications All activity administered Transaction Register LI User to download Yes Owner to consider Requests Data set(s) + Publication(s) No Order delivered User notified

System Modules • SIMORC Metadatabase and User Interface: • Searching and browsing of metadata of data sets and related publications, stored in SIMORC • SIMORC User Register: • Details of users, their organizations and addresses, contract period, Id-Passwords, type of user • SIMORC Shopping Basket: • Preparing a user request of multiple data sets, handling validation of users, and routing requests to the Transaction Register • SIMORC Transaction Register: • Processing and administration of all requests and data deliveries (downloads), for users and owners. Master level to oversee all transactions.

SIMORC Service is operational ! www. simorc. org

User dialogue User interface for searching data sets

User dialogue Resulting data sets

User dialogue At present ca 650 data sets, more underway

User dialogue Resulting data sets Include in Shopping basket

User dialogue Submit order Check shopping basket

User dialogue Submit order Log on required or first registration

User dialogue Order confirmation after Log on

User dialogue Definitive confirmation and order no.

User dialogue Transaction register for users and data owners

User dialogue User can check status of orderlines and download agreed data sets

User dialogue Data owner can check status of orderlines and agree / deny requests

Training • SIMORC has been integrated in oceanographic data management training courses, organised by IOC-IODE • So far more than 15 training courses have been held • Overall more than 300 participants from 75 countries have been made aware of SIMORC and have received training in its use • SIMORC training curriculum will be included in the IODE Ocean. Teacher system. These tools are used during the IODE Training Courses and can also be used for self-training and continuous professional development. It was recently agreed that WMO will use the Ocean. Teacher as a main training tool for Marine Meteorology. • Targets are creating wide awareness in scientific communities and developing countries

Present state • Substantial database of data sets • Processes, methods, standards and systems in place and operational to process and include new data sets and to serve users • Service includes: • Transparant overview of available data sets • Delivery of harmonised and documented data sets • QC of submitted data • Supporting further use and exchange of data sets

Future • Further processing of received data sets for inclusion in SIMORC Service • Extension of EC contract requested till December 2007 to allow for spending of remaining budgets on processing of more data sets • Strong recommendation to other OGP members => make use of this and supply additional data sets soon!! • Promotion of the service to scientific institutes and developing countries => registration of users via Licence Agreements • Preparing an LIP arrangement with OGP members for coming 3 years of SIMORC Service operations for further expansion of the SIMORC database with new / fresh data sets from existing suppliers and old data sets from other OGP companies • Providing OGP members with manual to use towards subcontractors for standard QC, formating and documentation of new Metocean data sets for a smooth processing.

SIMORC Service is operational!!! SIMORC Service is operational ! Visit the SIMORC Service at www. simorc. org