A set of draft principles designed to support the energy transition and benefit every user of the North Sea has been published for comment and consideration.
The Data Principles Group, one of the task forces set up by the Offshore Energy Digital Strategy Group, has laid out draft unifying principles that are intended to promote collaboration and data sharing among North Sea users.
Stakeholders in the UK offshore sector will be asked to commit to a set of principles to help the sector achieve the energy transition through digitalization—that is, to embrace targeted, collaborative data-sharing to strengthen predictive models (such as digital twins), optimize operations, and achieve net-zero objectives.
“It’s great to see these data principles being drafted as a key recommendation from the Digitalising Offshore Energy Systems report,” said Nic Granger, Offshore Energy Digital Strategy Group chair and director of corporate at the North Sea Transition Authority. “Sharing data is critical to an integrated energy system that will help to ensure UK energy security and support the energy transition.”
The following six principles lay out desired actions and behaviors:
Leading in the Energy Transition Through a Shared-Data Ecosystem
Companies commit to actively sharing data. This involves collaborating on initiatives that contribute to more efficient operation, reduced carbon, and sustainable practices. The aim is to accelerate progress toward net-zero commitments, ensuring a sustainable and resilient energy future.
Increasing the Value of Internal and External Data
Organizations will increase the value of their internal data while seeking insight and innovation from external data sources. Working with peers to apply artificial intelligence (AI), data science, and robotics on sectorwide data sets will accelerate innovation and develop new insights, unlock new opportunities, and reduce the costs and risks of operations.
Targeted Use Cases, Collaboration for Targeted Solutions
Companies will collaborate to develop targeted solutions on a use-case-by-use-case basis, reducing duplication of effort, with the goal of finding practical solutions to sector challenges.
Advancing Digital Model/Digital Twin Accuracy Through Data Sharing
Companies commit to sharing data and data models to provide better visibility of infrastructure, logistical options, the subsurface, and other aspects of the natural environment.
Facilitating Accessible, Secure Data Repositories for All Stakeholders
Companies are dedicated to reusing or creating stewarded, trusted, secure, standardized, and accessible data sets. This will aid data sharing, fostering an environment of higher quality and applied standards and creating a fertile environment for innovation and knowledge exchange and the application of AI technologies.
Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Reduced Risk Through Data Collaboration
By leveraging this collaboration, companies will streamline operations by integrating shared data into decision-making processes. This will optimize work flows and enhance efficiency through the application of shared data.
The benefits of these data principles are wide ranging; sharing data can enable the development of more accurate and robust predictive models, optimize resource allocation, and lead to better decision-making, as well as offer new insights and foster innovation while reducing risks.
Collaboration on data will lead to more cost-effective problem-solving and quicker resolution of issues and provide access to larger quantities of high-quality data for use of technologies such as AI, while opening new opportunities for learning from industry peers through knowledge exchange.
“By adopting these principles and actively participating in collaborative data initiatives, organizations stand to benefit in many ways,” said Ed Evans, Data Principles Group chair and senior consultant at the Open Data Institute (ODI). “They can gain a competitive edge, contribute to industrywide advancements, and position themselves as socially responsible and innovative participants in the energy transition. In turn, this will enable the UK to take the lead in achieving net zero, a significant aim for the ODI and many of our partners, funders, and wider network.”