The SIS technical solution is based on the latest technology advances in infrastructure and will provide open access to the DISKOS repository, improved workflow be seamlessly integrating DISKOS data into company internal solutions, and increased value through easy access and availability to end users.

"It is clear that SIS shares our vision of an open, easily accessible and efficiently maintained repository to create value and improve resource management," DISKOS project manager Eric Toogood said.

"Schlumberger's expertise and technical infrastructure will enable the NPD and the DISKOS Group to efficiently manage the data and make it readily available to a broader group of users, increasing the value of repository for the oil and gas industry and for Norway."

The DISKOS repository is an online installation containing 60 Terabytes of seismic data and well information that provides petroleum experts in oil companies with secure access to data from their respective workplaces.

"Data is the nucleus of real-time exploration and production workflows," SIS president Ihab Toma said. "Due to the forward thinking of DISKOS, the common repository has already proven to be tremendously valuable by saving the industry millions of dollars in direct costs and enabling geophysicists and geologists to have instant access to high-quality data."

Under phase one of the contract, due to begin in January, SIS will establish the hardware and software for the data repository and migrate existing data to the new system.

Under the second phase of the contract, starting January 2004, SIS will manage, operate and maintain the DISKOS to ensure that data is updated, efficiently stored and made accessible to users on a continual basis.