What’s new in exploration

 Vol. 233 No. 4

Actually, only five owl species* were reported from Gulf of Mexico platforms, according to Robert Russell’s OCS Study for the MMS (2005-009) about the interactions between migrating birds, and oil and gas platforms.

But we’re here to discuss the latest release of the Offshore Well and Lease (OWL) database.  OWL 7 was introduced by Houston-based Lexco Data Systems LP earlier this year.

This PC-based product streamlines data gathering in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico, providing offshore well and lease information, including production and well logs, in an easy to use format. It’s used by many operators in the Gulf, but is seldom seen in the industry press.

History. The OWL database was built originally for landmen, according to Lexco V.P. Scott Kiester, because there was no PC-based program available. It was developed on a Paradox database in 1989-1990, an d the first client was Pogo. In 1991-1994, the system was DOS-based, and the company picked up 40-50 clients. In 1995, OWL was ported to Windows, and the client list reached 100, peaking later at 170. Currently, 155 industry clients subscribe.

The Offshore Well and Lease (OWL) Database is a relational database specifically designed to search, report and map almost any piece of digital OCS data in less than a minute. Version 7 is organized around subject themes that allow users to focus on an individual item or area of interest, such as Area/Block, Lease, Pipeline, Platform ID, Well, Prospect, Field and Unit.

Data sources. The primary source of information for OWL 7 is the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).  Well log information comes from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Lexco greatly enhances these data, using proprietary processing techniques that it established over the past 23 years while working with offshore data.

[OWL data were previously obtained from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), which was formerly the Minerals Management Service (MMS). On Oct. 1, 2011, BOEMRE was replaced by BOEM and BSEE as part of a major reorganization.]

Lexco sweeps the data weekly, then checks and approves all the data before updating the OWL database. Every month, Lexco completely replaces the data tables. Monthly updates are not versioned, however. In addition, timely lease sale information is available from the Lexco website the day after Gulf of Mexico lease sales. The data can be downloaded, updated and run by subscribers.

New in OWL 7. The database engine used in OWL 6 was completely rebuilt for OWL 7. The OWL 6 database will be supported until Dec. 31, 2012, but users are expected to transition to the new database by 2013.

In OWL 7, users can easily focus their efforts on a specific data type or theme. Data Screens, Reports and Map contents have been reorganized around the eight themes.

The OWL Navigator system allows users to quickly search and compile data by theme. The OWL Navigator is readily accessible throughout the program. It is designed with a theme pick list that offers the eight different methods for “driving” OWL 7.

There is newly added capability to view data screens, graphs, reports and maps on multiple monitors for comparison and analysis. Data screens are derived from linked data grids, with an option to add and arrange data columns and a new undocking feature that allows displaying across multiple monitors.

It is now possible to generate production figures over any period of time. Users can create production reports and graphs for individual wells or for an entire field.

Reports. A new report console offers easy-to-use filters to quickly create and customize any data grid for export, map displays, or printable reports.

There are now more than 40 different OWL Reports divided into 11 topics or themes that allow users to amass data specific to their interests. Printable Screen Reports are also available. The Report Console allows users to quickly create and customize a compiled data grid.  Default settings provide certain data columns, sorting and formatting for every report.

Many reports have been enhanced, and new ones added, such as “Idle Wells.” This report shows users which wells have potential liability for decommissioning under BOEM guidelines.   Lexco was in the process of adding legal descriptions of pipelines at the time I previewed the software. 

Maps. OWL 7’s much improved mapping system generates any map for the Gulf of Mexico quickly and easily, with colorful, informative displays. The new Map Console makes it simple to create and customize a map using theme settings and color scheme filters. Users also have greater flexibility in displaying the map contents—you can easily change colors, patterns, placement, and font size for posted data. An expanded array of tools is available to measure distance and area while annotating any map with lines, polygons, quarter/quarter illustrations and areas of interest. Map annotations are saved in .lxa files. Text boxes can also be added separately or attached to any annotation on the map. It really seems quite easy to navigate.

Labeling is versatile, but labels are not vector objects, so you may get some overprinting. This is another minor quibble, but there is no print preview functionality yet. Map setup is WYSIWYG, and the standard map print size is 81/2 in. 3 11 in. However, OWL7 supports maps up to 96-in. long for plotters.

*Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Flammulated Owl, Burrowing Owl, and Barn Owl.