The Repository

Last updated:3 November 2022

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Geoscience Australia houses one of the world's largest collections of open file offshore natural resources data. Much of this data is open file and available to industry, research organisations and the public. The collections include geophysical survey data, well data and physical samples submitted by industry under legislative requirements, and data collected by research projects and marine surveys undertaken by Geoscience Australia or other government agencies or institutions. Openly accessible data is critical in supporting the responsible development of Australia’s offshore energy potential and emission reduction, as committed to by Geoscience Australia (Strategy 2028).

The collections comprise three kinds of data:

  • Physical specimens and samples of geoscience material such as samples from petroleum wells and stratigraphic drill holes including; down hole drill cores and cuttings, side wall core samples, thin sections, reservoir plugs, liquid and gas hydrocarbon samples
  • Digital data such as:
    • Hard-copies submitted during the pre-digital era including seismic sections and other analogue formats.
    • 2D and 3D geophysical survey field data, navigation data, processed data, velocity data, observer's logs, operational reports, processing reports, bathymetry data, potential field data (gravity and magnetic)
    • well completion reports, well logs, destructive analysis reports, vertical seismic profiles, core photography, special studies
  • databases compiled from data/reports/interpretations from government activities or submitted by industry under legislation
Geoscience Australia Repository

Data Discovery and Access

The National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System (NOPIMS) has been developed as a collaborative initiative by WA Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety, Geoscience Australia and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) to provide access to technical data related to offshore wells and surveys.

No registration is required to view data listings or download data. The system is compatible with all major browsers and includes an intuitive interface, predictive search boxes and HTML 5 Map, which means that the map can be accessed on all platforms including tablets and mobiles.

NOPIMS supports data discovery, access and delivery by providing direct user access to metadata listings and, for the majority of open file digital data items, the ability to download data directly from the web portal via cloud-enabled web services. NOPIMS is progressively updated as new activities occur.

Our client services team responds to requests for any items not directly downloadable, more bespoke data requests and provide support and advice regarding the collections. Requests can be submitted either via NOPIMS or via email to ausgeodata@ga.gov.au. Fees are charged to cover the cost of copying data and delivery. See the current Price Schedule [ PDF 79.8 KB] [ DOC 340.5 KB].

The related information provides various links to our partners and State and Territories geoscience agencies as well as links and related information about Geoscience Australia and its partners.

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