Software supplier Landmark would develop the database, Crown Minerals said yesterday.

The aim is to improve understanding of New Zealand’s geological potential through companies being able to access greater volumes of geotechnical data.

Crown Minerals group manager Adam Feeley said the database would not only be used to house new petroleum data, but would also provide public access to all petroleum, coal and minerals exploration data acquired over the past 30 years through the website portal.

”The system will allow explorers from any location throughout the world to search, review and assess vast quantities of data including exploration reports, geological and geophysical surveys and results from a wide range of drilling and other exploration activities,” Feeley said.

Explorers would have free access to the easy-to-use portal.

Landmark’s experience as a leading international supplier of software and services for the upstream oil and gas industry was a key factor in its selection.

Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven has said - that not having freely-available data has been the single biggest barrier to attracting new explorers to New Zealand.