Data management for the Mining Act

Data management for the Mining Act

Within the context of the Mining Act, the Geological Survey of the Netherlands (GDN) has the statutory task of collecting data of the deep subsurface of the Netherlands’ mainland and the Dutch part of the continental shelf. We are also responsible for monitoring, storing, and managing the quality of these data, after which, following a confidentiality period, they are released for public use. Within the confidentiality period, the data can be used for advising the government. Once the data become public, they are available for applied and scientific research, including monitoring and exploration activities related to the energy transition.

Commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

Our client is the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK). The Mining Act obliges anyone who performs exploration, production, or storage activities in the Dutch subsurface to provide GDN with a copy of the collected data within a set period of time. The deep subsurface refers to depths greater than 100 metres for minerals or 500 metres for other geo-energy sources.

Quality control and management

The scope of the Mining Act’s obligation includes raw and reprocessed geophysical data, such as 2D and 3D seismic data, production figures, drilling reports, borehole measurements, licences, and production plans. It also includes drilling cuttings and core material, which are stored in GDN’s Central Core House. We perform quality checks on the data we receive digitally. During these checks, we assess whether the data supplied are complete, logical, in the right format, and using the correct units. If necessary, we proactively acquire the (mandatory) information or request clarification. 

Making data accessible to users

When the confidentiality period of a data set has expired, its data are published on the NLOG portal. Local governments, water boards, oil and gas companies, energy companies, consultancy firms, and research institutions, amongst others, use the data we make available. The data are foundational to their applied research, models, advice, and monitoring. The data are also available to journalists, citizens, civil movements, environmental parties, and other stakeholders. 

GDN considers it its task   to provide better and more flexible access to the ever-increasing quantity of raw and processed data and information. In doing so, we aim to reach and inform the widest possible audience. At the same time, we are investigating how we can cluster information for specific target groups. We are working on this in different projects related to data management and geo-information services. Where possible, we integrate new developments and solutions into data science and open source platforms.

Interested in more information? Please contact our Service Desk via the blue ‘mail directly’ button below.