Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

designated by the Ministry. She said that the Ministry has designated NPD to
receive the data and information.
She said that as result, NPD has formulated a detailed routine for
reporting. She said that NPD holds a seat on every licensing committee as an
observer. She said that NPD gives operators permission to perform seismic
surveys and drilling among other activities, and that if it is not satisfied with
the information that is submitted, it can request additional reports.
With regard to data and information that are routinely reported to
NPD, Dr. Nyland said that these included the application, the results of
marine scientific research, production, plan for development, period of
production, continuous activity progress report, information on flared gas,
records and results, and fiscal terms.
Dr. Nyland said that in relation to storing facilities, NPD has an
archive system, an electronic archive and a core store. She said that the
archive system is where general reports, all the well data and all the
geophysical data are stored. She said that the electronic archive is where
geophysical, geological and administrative data are stored. She also said that
the core store is where all the cores from the continental shelf and cut samples
are stored. She pointed out that NPD also has a freezer where all the oil
samples are stored.
She said that typically, an exploration well core is divided into five
pieces. Half of the core remains with the licensee; NPD is provided with a
quarter of the core, and the remaining quarter is stored for reference. With
regard to cores from production wells, Dr. Nyland said that half of the core is
given to NPD while the licensee keeps the remaining half.
Dr. Nyland said that the objective of data release is to increase the
understanding of the Norwegian shelf with regard to efficiency in all phases
of activity, and to increase safety during drilling operations. As an example,
she said that if someone had problems during drilling, the information is
passed on to other drillers to ensure that they are aware of the problem and
are able to address it during any drilling that they might undertake.
INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 810