Those interested in purchasing the Canadian Offshore Environmental Database
CD should contact: Paul Vandall, 902/422-0444, canadax [at] fox.nstn.ca
Dear Arctic Researchers,
My firm is the exclusive supplier of a new and unique CD-ROM (developed
by the National Energy Board and Fisheries and Oceans Canada) that
contains historical meteorological (weather, ice and iceberg) and
oceanographic (waves, currents, tides, temperatures and salinities) data
collected at more than 375 offshore well locations in Canada (12 in the
Beaufort Sea, 2 in the Davis Strait, 1 in Hudson Bay, with the remainder
fairly evenly split between the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and the Nova
Scotia shelf. This is the only comprehensive dataset available in a
single uniform format.
The data is clearly essential for offshore environmental assessments, risk
assessments, scientific research, etc.
I have also attached answers to frequently answered questions for your
information.
The total cost of the product is $495.00 Canadian plus shipping.
Paul E. Vandall Jr.
Canadax Industrial Group Limited
6173 Pepperell Street,
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 2P1
Phone: (902) 422-0444
Fax: (902) 425-1606
canadax [at] fox.nstn.ca
COED FAQ
1) Where can I find a listing of the data on the COED CD?
In addition to the inventory on the CD, an inventory of the offshore data
is also available at
http://www.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/meds/databases/neb/inventory_e.html
Data is collected as required under the "Guidelines Respecting Physical
Environmental Programs During Petroleum Drilling and Production
Activities on Frontier Lands" (Joint Publication of C-NOPB, C-NSOPB
and NEB, - April, 1994 and its preceding editions. A copy of the latest
guidelines is available from the following:
The Library
Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board
Third Floor, TD Place
140 Water Street
St. John's, NF, A1C 6H6
Telephone: (709) 778-1449
Fax: (709) 778-1473
Although the document is free, there is a $10 shipping and handling fee
that must be paid in advance, see
http://www.cnopb.nfnet.com/general/catelog.htm#GUID
An electronic version of part of the document is available on the
Internet at http://www.neb.gc.ca/pubs/phenvgl.htm
Previous versions of the guidelines are available from
Canadax Industrial Group Limited for $15.
2) What types of data are contained on the COED CD?
The CD contains:
a) Physical oceanographic data - moored current meter measurements
(generally near surface, mid depth and near bottom) with simultaneous
pressure, conductivity and temperature measurements at a sampling
frequency of at least once per 30 minutes.
* current profiles, as required
* tidal elevations (not required at all locations) - sampling
frequency of at least once per 60 minutes.
b) Wave Measurements
wave spectral measurements (usually employing an accelerometer buoy)
Recording periods were from 17.5 to 35 minutes every 3 hours.
Continuous measurements were taken during storm events.
c) Meterological Observations
* taken as per the following AES manuals - MANMAR (Manual of Marine
Weather Observing), OWOS (Offshore Weather Observing Station
Manual) in the Beaufort Sea, and SAWRS (Supplementary Aviation
Weather Observations Manual). Manuals are available from the AES.
* observations were normally taken every 3 hours
d) Ice (Pack and/or Icebergs)
Once daily when conditions warrant, in addition to requirements under
MANMAR
* icebergs: time, position, type, source and area surveyed
* sea ice: ice boundary, type, concentration and area surveyed
3) What information is contained on the CD?
Three types of information are contained on the COED CD:
* an inventory of well locations,
* physical environmental data files and,
* explanatory metadata files (scanned images).
4) What are metadata files?
The metadata files are scanned images of over 2500 documents filed with
the original data that describe the circumstances associated with the
collection of data, formats, who collected and processed the data
mooring diagrams, etc.
5) What is the format of the data on the COED CD?
In general data files are compressed (Zipped) ASCII data files with
fixed field lengths. The format is determined by the type of data and
the conventions used for archival by the AES and the MEDS. The data
files are accompanied by explanatory metadata files.
6) How do I access the data files on the COED CD?
Double click the wellsite of interest in the inventory, select the data
record of interest and click on View Raw Text. The data is then
presented in the user-selected text editor. User can then save the data
as text (ASCII) for use in another analysis program (spreadsheet or
otherwise).