Sourcing petrophysics data

In my previous blog I summarised a variety of ways in which petrophysical data can provide insight into a range of geoscience fields. But what use is this if you don’t have any data to work with? So I thought this might make a useful next topic – sourcing petrophysics data.

The short list below details a few ways of acquiring publicly available petrophysics data. As I work within the IODP my knowledge-base is a little skewed, that said however, the list is in no particular order.

1. IODP

Let’s start with the obvious, or at least the most obvious to me - the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The IODP is an international marine research collaboration that explores Earth's history and dynamics using ocean-going research platforms to recover data recorded in seafloor sediments and rocks, and to monitor subseafloor environments (source). Throughout its 50 year life-cycle the IODP has drilled, logged and collected samples from almost every geological setting around the world’s oceans (Goldberg, 1997). Such a useful resource that IODP data is even fed into the Neftex Earth Model, and IODP microfossil data into Nannotax.

This breadth however sometimes means that finding targeted data can be challenging for researchers that are not fluent in IODP language and structure. For this reason I will try and simplify the various databases below.

The IODP consists of three operating platforms, the JOIDES Resolution, the Chikyu and the Mission-Specific Platform (MSP) (see below). These operating platforms each have individual online databases for the data they collect. Data types stored in these databases include all data from core analyses both on whole round recovered cores (e.g. multi-sensor track system data) and split/slabbed core (e.g. core images, colour reflectance data); as well as all sample-based analyses (e.g. discrete measurements, chemical analyses etc.). For a complete list of standard measurements collected on every expedition click here.

Logging data (as opposed to core/sample-based data) recovered by IODP on the other hand is simple data to find - with all three operating platforms depositing data in the IODP log database.

Databases associated with each IODP platform

Links:

Downhole logging database		HYPERLINK "http://brg.ldeo.columbia.edu/logdb/" http://brg.ldeo.columbia.edu/logdb/scientific_ocean_drilling/ HYPERLINK "http://brg.ldeo.columbia.edu/logdb/"
MSP/Pangea		http://iodp.pangaea.de/
Chikyu		http://sio7.jamstec.go.jp/
JOIDES Resolution:	Overview	http://web.iodp.tamu.edu/OVERVIEW/
	JANUS (Pre Exp. 317 - 2009)	http://iodp.tamu.edu/janusweb/links/links_all.shtml
	LIMS (Post Exp. 317 - 2009)	http://web.iodp.tamu.edu/LORE/

But what if you wish to find data on a specific lithology or structure? Or what about from a particular ocean/region? The IODP has undertaken nearly 300 scientific exploration expeditions during its lifecycle and so knowing where they all went and what they all drilled is a near impossibility.

There are 2 main ways that I prefer to browse expeditions and find relevant data. The first is to download the latest IODP KML file, load it into Google Earth and fly around the world’s oceans. Each data point has associated expedition data and it’s a great way to find the extent of IODP exploration in the area.  

IODP drillsites plotted in Google Earth from KML download

The second way is to use the Scientific Earth Drilling Information Service (SEDIS) database. The SEDIS database is a web-based search tool designed to increase the accessibility of IODP data through various search functions. These include searching for datasets by keyword/lithology, geographic area, map coordinates and date. It is also possible to search IODP publications for keywords to find references to related lithologies, structures or fields of research etc.

Searching for lithologies in the SEDIS database

2. MGDS

IODP is not the only source of publicly available petrophysics data. The Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS) provides a service for free public access to marine geoscience research data. Since 2010, MGDS has also been part of the Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance (IEDA). This is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded service for solid earth geoscience data. One way of easily and visually browsing for data is by going to the IEDA data browser and searching geographical locations by changing layer information. Layer data includes:

1. Integrated geochemistry data from PetDB, SedDB, MetPetDB, GEOROC, NavDat, USGS, and GANSEKI.
2. MGDS Cruise Tracks - Marine geoscience research data acquired throughout the global oceans and adjoining continental margins. Very useful if you are searching for cruise data in specific locations.
3. Geochronology - Community contributed database of U-Pb, (U-Th)/He, and Ar-Ar geochronology and thermochronology data.
4. GMRT - Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis
5. SESAR catalogs and preserves sample metadata profiles and operates the registry that distributes the International Geo Sample Number (IGSN).
6. Seismic Data - Marine seismic data from active source studies conducted for academic research are managed through the Academic Seismic Portals (ASP) of LDEO and UTIG.

Seismic data lines shot in the Caribbean region and stored in the IEDA database.

Another way of visualising the vast quantities of data stored in the MGDS is through the GeoMapApp. GeoMapApp is free software that, once downloaded, provides a map-based application for browsing, visualizing and analysing data. With a huge number of options and functionality, you may want to make use of the Youtube tutorials to get the most out of the software.

Ice flow velocity, plate velocity vector data, and seafloor crustal age data available inside GeoMapApp

3. NDR

For petrophysical data that centres on the UK, the UK Oil and Gas authority released this year 130 terabytes of data in the form of the new National Data Repository (NDR). This data comes in the form of more than 12,500 wells, 5000 seismic surveys, and 3000 pipelines around the UK. Much of this data are historical, however there are also data on wells as recent as February 2019.

Even if this data is not directly applicable to your research area, finding real data on similar geological settings can be extremely useful for training both people and machines in the pursuit of learning.

Oil and gas fields with available free data inside the National Data Repository

So there it is, three ways of sourcing free and publically available petrophysics data to help answer all your marine geoscience questions. Happy searching.