• National Hydrocarbons Data Archive files now accessible through the National Data Repository
• Offshore well and survey information available at the touch of a button 
• Huge boost to varied North Sea projects 

The search for carbon storage and windfarm sites has received a significant boost with the transfer of valuable files from the National Hydrocarbons Data Archive (NHDA) to the National Data Repository (NDR).

More than 4,000 files, some dating back to 1978, but most from the 1980s and 90s, and containing information about wellbores and seismic surveys, have been uploaded to the NDR and are now available for users including those from industry and academia. 

The data was moved from the NHDA, held at the British Geological Survey, to the North Sea Transition Authority’s (NSTA) NDR –- a freely-available archive which already contains one petabyte of North Sea data, including seismic surveys and wellbore information – in order to consolidate legacy information in one place and help users. 

The information, which includes offshore surveys and well data, now more easily supports various potential energy transition use cases, such as carbon storage and offshore wind. 

There is some seismic survey information covering areas in and around carbon storage licence and wind farm developments in the East Irish Sea, as well as carbon storage areas of the Central North Sea. This includes original ‘raw’ data that can be reprocessed using modern techniques to potentially shed new light on the subsurface. 

The process required careful review of the NHDA's contents to determine which had 'reportable information' and which overlapped with the existing NDR collection. The remaining files - 2,437 related to wellbores and 1,892 related to surveys – were migrated with the assistance of Moveout Data, an NDR service subcontractor.

The integration of data previously reported to the NHDA into the NDR marks a significant step in streamlining petroleum licence information management. This consolidation ensures consistent management and enhanced accessibility for stakeholders requiring this data.

The NSTA/BGS collaboration has enabled the formulation of plans for the NHDA's decommissioning after nearly two decades of operation.

Andy Thompson, NSTA NDR Manager, said: 
“This initiative reflects both organisations’ ongoing commitment to improving access to data to enable the UK’s energy transition, while maintaining energy security. “ 

Emma Bee, Head of National Geoscience Data Centre, said:
“By working collaboratively with the NSTA, we have enhanced access to this nationally important data archive to support the UK’s energy transition.”

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