Infield launches global oil and gas data mapping..

09 June 2009, 3:15pm

Infield launches global oil and gas data mapping system with ESRI (UK)

Infield, the independent energy data analysts for the oil and gas industry has launched the industry’s first online global mapping information database service, the ‘Infield Offshore EnergyGateway’, which has been developed using ESRI’s ArcGIS Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. The new GIS provides real-time data on existing and future offshore oil and gas field development activity taking place all over the World.

The online GIS mapping and data system enables Infield to offer its clients a geographic view of critical data, such as existing and future oil and gas fields, current operator and field ownership, pipelines, fixed platforms and floating production systems, bathymetry (water depth), offshore liquefied natural gas terminals, major ports etc. With over 1 million data points of reference on the World’s coastline alone, the Offshore EnergyGateway gives unique insight to each operator’s current and future operations, which is valuable information for operators, contractors, subsea contractors within the oil and gas sector, as well as the financial community.

One example of the Infield EnergyGateway’s use was the tracking of offshore oil and gas structures at risk from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike as both swept through the Gulf of Mexico in late August and early September 2008. As the predicted path changed, Infield tracked the potential dollar risk changes from wellheads and pipeline to platforms and production.

Having successfully piloted the mapping system with ESRI’s ArcView software, Infield joined the ESRI Developer Network (EDN) which gave it access to an ArcGIS Server deployment license and additional developer training and support from ESRI (UK). On completion of the new mapping system, Infield purchased ESRI’s ArcGIS Server enabling it to go-live with the Offshore EnergyGateway. Through this, it can now offer its clients customised access to an easy to use, web based mapping system with multiple and sophisticated layers of industry specific information.

Quentin Whitfield, director of Infield Systems Limited said: “With ESRI’s ArcGIS Server, Infield has developed an enterprise GIS system that will increase our revenue streams by expanding our customer base and creating the medium for online advertising panels on the website. For people with no previous experience of mapping data, the ESRI (UK) solutions based on core ESRI technology are extremely user friendly. Being able to prove the worth of the project to our management team by developing the system with the ESRI Developer Network prior to purchasing the full solution has been crucial to the success of the project.”

Peter Wilkinson, head of technical solutions group, ESRI (UK), said: “ESRI (UK) worked closely with Infield over the past two years to support its development of a project that not only meets its current requirements but is scaleable so will also grow with the company. This visionary project has already attracted high calibre customers in the oil and gas industry such as Cameron, Single Buoy Moorings, FMC, Total, Hallin Offshore and Clough Engineering and access is currently being rolled out to the national oil companies, major oil companies and the independents.”

Through the EnergyGateway System, Infield can also offer its clients printed maps of specific worldwide regions marked with specific points of reference. Future plans will include Infield developing the solution to allow its clients to import their own data onto the existing GIS mapping system.

A further example of the diverse applications for the EnergyGateway is that it was used as part of the due-diligence work for one of the biggest corporate acquisitions in the history of the offshore oil and gas oilfield services industry. Infield’s team of analysts used the system to work out the number of helicopter kilometer journeys and journeys that would be required to service the 5,500 existing and 1,300 future offshore platform facilities with helipads.

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