National Review of Offshore Physical Data Management
(Petroleum Mining Samples)
On 1 January 2012, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (Titles
Administrator) was established as a Branch of the Resources Division of the Department
of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET). The Titles Administrator provides technical
advice to the Joint Authority and administers offshore titles as per the Offshore Petroleum
and Greenhouse Gas Storage (OPGGS) Act 2006. Prior to the establishment of the Titles
Administrator the administration of this Act and the associated regulations and guidelines
was undertaken by the relevant State/Territory Designated Authority (DA) and RET with
Geoscience Australia providing technical advice.
The Titles Administrator has commissioned a National Review of Offshore Physical Data
Management (NROPDM) to analyse the existing processes and systems for the
administration and ongoing management of the petroleum mining samples (cores,
cuttings, fluid/gas samples, slides and associated data) in consultation with key
stakeholders and to identify a future leading practice model. If the need for major change
is identified, then the Titles Administrator will seek endorsement of the recommended
future approach from the Upstream Petroleum and Offshore Mining (UPOM) Working
Group and, if necessary, the Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER).
This review will be conducted through out February to April 2012 and will focus on the
offshore petroleum mining samples held in the State, Northern Territory and Geoscience
Australia Repositories.
The administration of the petroleum mining samples is defined in the OPGGS (RMA)
Regulations 2011 and Guidelines for Reporting and Submission of Petroleum Data.
Amendments to these guidelines are being developed to incorporate the change in
administration responsibility from the former DAs to the Titles Administrator and the
outcomes and recommendations from this review will feed into these amendments through
consultation with Petroleum Data Consultative Group (PDCG).
Already in place and in addition to the above consultation a Task Force comprising of
representatives from Government, Industry and APPEA was established prior to June
2011 on the recommendation of the PDCG to investigate the possibility of simplifying data
confidentiality periods and submission timeframes. Recommendations have been
presented to (UPOM).
The NROPDM seeks to address the following issues arising from the transfer of
administration responsibility of the petroleum mining samples from the former DAs to the
Titles Administrator:
 Uncertainty of roles and responsibilities of the Titles Administrator, Geoscience
Australia and the States/Northern Territory,
 Inefficiencies in regulatory processes and documentation,
 Delays and confusion of the process for submission of petroleum mining samples,
 Delays and confusion of the process for gaining approvals to access and sample
open file petroleum mining samples,
 Duplication of effort,
 Budgetary constraints,
 Limited Commonwealth/State/Territory repository storage capabilities.
The NROPDM aims to recommend a model that offers the following business benefits:

Provides clarity on the roles and responsibilities for the Titles Administrator,
Geoscience Australia and the States/Northern Territory

Provides protocols for the submission and management of the petroleum mining
samples including dealings with data confidentiality,

Improves asset management,

Increases discoverability of the physical dataset,

Improves access for viewing and capability options for sampling,

Reduces operating costs.
On completion of the review a final report will be compiled with recommendations that will
identify a leading practice model for the future administration and management of the
petroleum mining samples, define the roles of the Titles Administrator and the
States/Territory/ Geoscience Australia Core Repository’s and document required
amendments to Regulations and Guidelines, if inadequacies are identified.
To assist in feedback the Titles Administrator requests that those interested take
the time to complete and submit a short questionnaire that can be accessed by
clicking below
Link to survey URL
If you seek more information on this review submit your request through
data@nopta.gov.au