ELECTRONIC RESOURCES FOR NM OIL AND GAS DATA

Based on workshops sponsored by PTTC's Southwest Regional organization in New Mexico and Midland, Texas in Spring 2003.

BOTTOM LINE

GO-TECH, the Gas and Oil Technology Exchange and Communication Highway, was founded in 1994 as a free access website to New Mexico oil and gas production information. The User Guide for Electronic Resources and the accompanying CD ROM database provides valuable information to New Mexico independent operators on resources and data and how to access them.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED

The state of New Mexico recognized a need to help producers who could not afford high priced software and data subscriptions to conduct oil and gas operations in New Mexico. Creation of GO-TECH and continued funding to respond to the requirements of New Mexico producers for fast, efficient, accurate and low-cost data and software is funded by the State of New Mexico and grants from the U. S. Department of Energy and the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council (PTTC).

KEY WORDS:

Electronic Resources, GO-TECH, New Mexico Online, New Mexico User Guide, Online Maps, Pool Search

SPEAKERS

Martha Cather, Petroleum Recovery Research Center/NM Tech
Annette Carroll, Petroleum Recovery Research Center/NM Tech
Richard Inge, New Mexico Oil Conservation Division

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

The New Mexico Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC) is meeting the needs of New Mexico independent operators for new and historical oil and gas resource information, maps and production data. The GO-TECH website is updated on a continual basis and has historic production data dating back to 1970. The workshop and provided guidebook are designed to acquaint independent producers with the kinds of information available and how to access that information in the most efficient and timely manner. The Producer Advisory Group of the Petroleum Recovery Research Center at New Mexico Tech provides input and guidance for the GO-TECH project. 

On-Line Petroleum Data
Data for the GO-TECH system has been provided by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (OCD) of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Division, the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department's Oil and Natural Gas Administration and Revenue Database (ONGARD), the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, the New Mexico State Land Office, the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, the Petroleum Technology Transfer Council and some New Mexico producers. The website for the GO-TECH system is a hard line connection and a dedicated line for speedy access. The URL is http://octane.nmt.edu.

The On-line data section gives a complete description of the kinds of information and searches available and the date and other limitations necessary for successful searches. Trouble shooting searches is discussed in a section on how to define or redefine search terms. The main features of the site include New Mexico oil and gas production data, comprehensive well information database, current price sheets and lease sale notices, well activity, electronic downloadable software applications, GIS functionality, and on-line databases and tools for produced water issues. All the databases can be searched by key words, and the User Guide provides information on the most useful search words and helpful tips to increase customer confidence and speed in accessing the databases. The most used search modes are for location by township, range and section number, by county, or by pool name. (Editor's note: New Mexico uses the terminology of pool name rather than field name used in most states).

The historical data presently in the databases dates to 1970 from the ONGARD system. Pre-ONGARD data from some counties exists in state archives and files back to 1900. Data from Scout Cards are currently being digitized and will be added to the on-line databases. Lease sale information dates only to 1997, while petroleum price data dates from 1984. During the 1990s price information was updated on a weekly basis, now the updates are preformed daily.

On-Line Maps
This feature provides a statewide well map showing well spots, which may be clicked on to link to production data and current status. Maps show pool boundaries and the extent of oil and gas pools irrespective of pool name or stratigraphic position. Subsurface sample maps are linked to digital maps of drillhole locations and subsurface data. Because of the large file size of the map images, a high-speed modem is required to read the maps. The map tool bar has icons for functions allowing zoom, navigate and query capabilities. Forming a box or polygon can outline a specific portion of the base map, and then all information in the databases for that area can be queried. One feature, which is currently being added to the map database, is maps showing the location of cores and cutting held in the Subsurface library at New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. 

Other Resources 
To increase the ease and low-cost use of the data provided, the GO-TECH system has a software package that can be downloaded. It uses a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet template. The spreadsheet is designed to look like the standard C-15 reporting form used by the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division. The software package contains modules for several useful functions: decline curve plotting, infill drilling locator, and decline curve analysis. Links to current petroleum industry news, on-line calendar features, links to relevant oil and gas information websites, and a link to the Petroleum Recovery Research Center (PRRC) library provide the independent operator with a wealth of free, easily accessible information. PRRC's website (http://baervan.nmt.edu/publications/publications_fr.html) contains links to published reports and papers on current and past oil and gas research projects at New Mexico Tech. Additional data is available from the Subsurface and Core libraries of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and a link to these sites shows what data is conserved for public use. 

New Mexico Well Locations 
The state of New Mexico does not have a single public repository for all oil and gas well location information. A CD is provided with the User Guide to Electronic Resources. Data represent PRRC's efforts to compile all these multiple databases into a single file. This section discusses the use of public data, how to install the software and provides a quick reference guide to how to navigate the CD database.

New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Web Site Tour. 
New Mexico's newest website from the Oil Conservation Division is OCD Online (http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/ocd/). This site includes on-line permit applications, and access to well information on environmental issues. Electronic Permitting is expected to significantly reduce the amount of time, paper work and money involved in obtaining drilling or other necessary permits required for oil and gas operations in New Mexico. Access to the Risk-Based Data Management System is also discussed. A troubleshooting section discusses how to fill out forms, what information is required, how to respond to code error messages, and how to submit forms. Information is supplied to allow the user to construct cross-sections, manipulate and print logs, and download information from OCD. A final list of acronyms used in petroleum and environmental permitting is included in the OCD on-line tour.

CONNECTIONS:

Martha Cather
Petroleum Recovery Research Center, New Mexico Tech
801 Leroy Place, Campus Station
Socorro, NM 87801
Phone: 505.835.5685, Fax: 505.835.6031 
martha@prrc.nmt.edu

For information on PTTC’s Southwest Region and its activities contact:

Dr. Robert Lee, Project Director, Petroleum Recovery Research Center
801 Leroy Place-Campus Station
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Phone: 505-835-5938 Fax: 505-835-6031
Email: lee@prrc.nmt.edu

Disclaimer: No specific application of products or services is endorsed by PTTC. Reasonable steps are taken to ensure the reliability of sources for information that PTTC disseminates; individuals and institutions are solely responsible for the consequences of its use.

The not-for-profit Petroleum Technology Transfer Council is funded primarily by the US Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy, with additional funding from universities, state geological surveys, several state governments, and industry donations.

Petroleum Technology Transfer Council, 16010 Barkers Point Lane, Ste 220, Houston, TX 77079
toll-free 1-888-THE-PTTC; fax 281-921-1723; Email hq@pttc.org; web www.pttc.org