Draft Energy Transition Related Principles Published for North Sea Players

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, a statement sent to Rigzone recently by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said.

The statement noted that the Data Principles Group, which it highlighted is one of the task forces set up by the Offshore Energy Digital Strategy Group (DSG), has laid out draft unifying principles which 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,” the statement said.

“That is, to embrace targeted, collaborative data-sharing to strengthen predictive models (like digital twins), optimize operations, and achieve net-zero objectives,” it added.

The principles read as follows in the statement:

Principle: Leading in the energy transition through a shared data ecosystem:

• The company commits 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 towards net zero commitments, ensuring a sustainable and resilient energy future.

Principle: Increasing the value of internal and external data:

• An organization will increase the value of its internal data while seeking insights and innovations from external data sources. Working with peers to apply AI, data science and robotics on sector wide datasets will accelerate innovation and develop new insights, unlock new opportunities and reduce the costs and risks of operations. 

Principle: Targeted use cases, collaboration for targeted solutions: 

• The company will collaborate to develop targeted solutions, on a use-case by use-case basis, reducing duplication of effort, with the aim of finding practical solutions to sector challenges.

Principle: Advancing digital model/digital twin accuracy through data sharing:

• The company commits to sharing data and data models to provide better visibility of infrastructure, logistical options, the subsurface and other aspects of the natural environment. 

Principle: Facilitating accessible, secure data repositories for all stakeholders:

• The company is 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, creating a fertile environment for innovation and knowledge exchange and the application of AI technologies. 

Principle: Enhancing operational efficiency and reduced risk through data collaboration:

• By leveraging this collaboration the company will streamline its operations by integrating shared data into decision-making processes. This will optimize workflows and enhance efficiency through the application of shared data. 

The statement said the benefits of these data principles are wide ranging.

“Sharing data can enable the development of more accurate and robust predictive models, optimizing resource allocation and leading to better decision making, offer new insights and foster innovation whilst reducing risks,” it added.

“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, whilst opening new opportunities for learning from industry peers through knowledge exchange,” it continued.

The statement outlined that the industry has been asked to contribute to the final version of the principles.

When Rigzone asked the NSTA when the DSG expects to publish the final version of the principles, an NSTA spokesperson said, “the principles will form a valuable building block in facilitating and supporting data and digital collaboration among North Sea users for decades to come”.

“As such, it is important that they are as good as they can be from the outset, and we will take the time necessary to ensure they are fit for purpose, while still working at pace to complete them,” the spokesperson added.

Rigzone also asked the NSTA if the DSG expects a lot of oil and gas industry organizations to contribute to the final version of the principles. Responding to that question, the NSTA spokesperson said, “we are pleased to be already working with a long list of industry stakeholders  who have contributed to the draft and are confident that more will follow”.

Rigzone has asked industry body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) if it intends to contribute to the final version of the principles. At the time of writing, OEUK has not yet responded to Rigzone’s request with a comment.

The NSTA highlighted to Rigzone that it is part of the DSG and that there are a number of separate task forces under the DSG. The statement sent to Rigzone by the NSTA shows that the Data Principles Group task force comprises representatives of the NSTA, Kellas, Shell, DNV, the Crown Estate, Petrofac, OFGEM, the University of Glasgow, Storegga, and the Open Data Institute (ODI).

Ed Evans, the Data Principles Group Chair and Senior Consultant at the ODI, said in the statement, “by adopting these principles and actively participating in collaborative data initiatives, organizations stand to benefit in many ways”. 

“They can gain a competitive edge, contribute to industry-wide advancements, and position themselves as socially responsible and innovative participants in the energy transition,” he added.

“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,” he continued.

Nic Granger, the Offshore Energy Digital Strategy Group Chair and Director of Corporate at North Sea Transition Authority, said in the statement, “it’s great to see these data principles being drafted as a key recommendation from the Digitalizing Offshore Energy Systems report”. 

“Sharing data is critical to an integrated energy system that will help to ensure UK energy security and support the energy transition,” Granger added.

To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com