The Development Of An Environmental Database
Chritine Grant · Offshore Technology Conference · 1988
ABSTRACT The paper describes the development of a relational database management system (DBMS) for the archiving and analysis of BP'S worldwide meteorological and oceanographic data. It highlights the need for a detailed and methodical approach to the development of a DBMS and discusses the important role that systems analysis techniques can play in such development. The techniques discussed will be of interest to other oceanographers and meteorologists, particularly those engaged in database development or operation, but they also have more general application in the development of any DBMS for an offshore related activity. Introduction BP, as a major oil and gas company, has extensive worldwide exploration and production activities. These activities generate large quantities of meteorological and oceanographic data (hereafter jointly referred to as "metocean" data). Much of this data is used in real-time to assist routine rig and platform operations. Most of the metocean data, collected during measurement programmed or platform monitoring, i.e. recorded and stored (b: contractors) on computer tapes. The data from mobile drilling rigs is, by contrast, frequently recorded and stored only in manuscript form in marine logs. All this metocean data, after careful checking and quality control, can provide the basis for a variety of statistical analyses. Subject to sufficient data availability, these analyses can be used to provide criteria to assist in such activities as:- prospect and concept evaluations, structural design criteria and certification, drilling rig selection and operational planning. The full value of the data can be realised only if it is effectively organised and readily available. After careful consideration, the Ocean Engineering Group in BP International determined that the beet way to achieve the optimum use of BP's metocean data was to establish a metocean database. This database, appropriately structured, provides a tool for rapid and efficient data organisation and analysis. The objectives of the metocean database development were:–to store all available metocean data within a single system, accessible from a computer terminal.–to provide accessibility, and comparability of, the different data types stored.–to provide online access to the database in order to achieve a rapid turnround on requests for data from clients within the B1 group of companies.–to maintain flexibility of the database structure for future developments.–to optimise the efficient use of BP's metocean specialists by allowing them more time to devote their skills to data interpretation and analysis rather than the mundane tasks of identifying and locating data sources.–to provide an improved service to clients by minimizing the response time on requests for data and giving products and analyses with greater quality and consistency than currently achievable. The following sections discuss the manner in which the database was implemented. Review of Existing Databases Before the review, a few definitions are required. A database is simply a collection of data that different people use for different reasons and -indifferent ways. It is a shared resource, which implies access to the information in the database by more than one user.