data procEssing & intErprEtation 37
for example technical information on Unix, Linux and seen as a top priority for live projects, it is also essential
Windows machines, as well as reports and spreadsheets that all objects within an archive have the proper security
from Windows. This diverse environment must be implemented to restrict access. It is also advisable and
considered so that the project storage paths and intra- often a regulatory requirement to maintain auditable
project references are maintained for future restores. records that show all transactions on the archive.
Dependable project archiving can only be achieved by
understanding each application’s unique requirements.
Archiving solutions
First, project data structures must be understood, and Enigma Data Solutions has applied more than 20 years’
the process for archiving these researched. The most experience delivering data management solutions for
appropriate information to describe a project dataset the world’s oil companies. This knowledge is applied in
(the Metadata) must be identified so that archives can be its PARS (Project Archive and Retrieval System) software
properly located in the future. suite, giving data managers a direct link into these
Many mainstream geotechnical applications to specify the important
applications provide utilities that are project data and Metadata directly
designed to capture their project data from the mainstream E&P applications
in a manner that maintains consistency of Landmark, Schlumberger, and
and ease of restore. Where possible, an Paradigm, and numerous other
archiving solution should harness these geotechnical tools used by its
utilities to store all project information customers during the reservoir
and index all Metadata from each characterisation process.
application in a single, central archive This archiving software automates
location. the archiving of complex oil
exploration projects, whilst preserving
Central location
all of the structured database
There are a number of advantages to information, unstructured data files
having a central archiving solution for Fig. 2. Data locked in archives and intra-project references required
all application-based and unstructured could become valuable again. for a reliable and consistent archive.
data (individual files). Archiving jobs are configured using
At this central location, a detailed search index of all a step-by-step wizard tailored to the application, so
archives can be made available containing each archive’s that all of the required data and decision information for
associated Metadata. When Metadata is properly each project is preserved. In practice, it is common for
captured, this central database can be so powerful that in archiving schedules to become sporadic and the scope to
some cases the index description may provide all of the vary according to human error.
required information without the need to restore any of Using an archiving solution such as PARS, the process
the actual project data. is fully automated from this central administration using
This also has important benefits for regulatory the archiving settings that have been configured for each
compliance, because the same index can be used to application.
identify all components that need to be deleted should Because the capture of application Metadata is both
ownership of data need to be relinquished. standardised and automated using the step-by-step
Metadata capture should be standardised and wizard, a very powerful search index is automatically
automated to avoid storing inconsistent information updated as new archives are added. This search can be
that would make searching the archives impossible. By used by the end users in E&P departments directly to
capturing the geospatial characteristics of a project, it quickly and accurately locate the correct project to restore
is even possible to visually correlate archives against without relying on the IT department. This eliminates
live data to identify all the data that might be held for a costly operational delays and allows geoscientists to
specific area. resume work on an asset within a fraction of traditional
Maintaining a central repository for archive data restore times.
also makes storage easier to manage and maintain and Platform independent technology ensures that the
consolidates a company’s intellectual property in a single software operates across Solaris, Linux and Windows
location. Operating systems. The archives can be written to disk or
a broad range of tape and virtual tape storage solutions
Invisible storage
and are automatically verified to ensure that the data is
Complex storage solutions should be invisible to the user successfully stored. l
so that the user only needs interact with the archiving
solution. In this way, the user need only be made aware Enter 37 or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/ihss
of storage failures and can take successes for granted.
Verifying data written to archives is essential to ensure Peter Copley is Managing Director, Enigma Data Solutions,
that an archive is an exact copy of the data on disk. While Uckfield, Sussex, UK. www.enigmadata.com
www.engineerlive.com
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