【正文】 cting on POSC’s evolving technology focus, Archer said, “We have been through generations of technology – ponent, virtual data stores, unbundled and distributed architectures. In fact CORBA is still too tight – things need to be unbundled further – especially the stuff that we do not control such as security and authentication. All this calls for a web services approach, leveraging technologies like XML, SOAP and WSFL. Another tendency is the move towards Open Source – we are making the POSC Universal Units Converter available as Open Source.”2002The planning process is ongoing, but the current focus is on architecture – the framework – as well as content. Well Header ML is likely to be leveraged by CDA and the MMS. Development continues of Well Log ML (which ultimately should replace the LAS) and Production ML will be extended to incorporate joint venture reporting – this has application both within the enterprise (Shell is looking to use this internally) and for regulatory reporting. Other plans include looking into how a well lifecycle approach could keep track of well data throughout its history. The plan is to use something analogous to an automobile chassis number to uniquely identify a well, and to track associated data as it moves between partners and contractors. More work will be performed internally using web references services to provide a data model dictionary – with dynamic updates of POSC data model changes available on the web. POSC may develop its own Petroleum Industry Data Dictionary (PIDD) with an evolving record of well log mnemonics, and industry reference data. POSC has had a difficult year, especially with a reduced member base due to mergers. These have brought some newers into the fold – such as Paradigm. The Indian ONGC also joined in 2001. The relationship with PPDM is aimed at “avoiding duplication and conflict – by ensuring that both organizations are aware of what the other is doing.”PPDMPPDM President Scott Beaugrand told PDM of his success in bringing Saudi Aramco into the PPDM fold. Aramco’s data modeling and application development group is looking to standardize the data model for use with offtheshelf software. The plan is to ensure that the 50 years of Saudi data will be accessible in a standard, nonproprietary data model.SpatialAt the PPDM AGM this year, Woodside Petroleum presented the results of the first ‘realworld’ implementation of the PPDM Spatial I project. Spatial I uses an intersection table to decouple metadata in PPDM form from a generic spatial database. A new PPDMrelated project, ‘Spatial II’, has been initiated by ESRI. Spatial II will build a PPDMbased ESRI ‘geodatabase’ for the oil and gas industry. Like POSC, PPDM is working to leverage its data modeling work with XML, and has registered XML data exchange specifications with the repository. Beaugrand believes that there is increasing recognition of the importance of data modeling and that funds available for good projects. Data exchange, software applications and other services based on the PPDM model have reduced user and supplier costs and improved the effectiveness of information technology.Version Activity in PPDM’s core business area of data modeling continues with the release of PPDM this month. The new release adds to the seismic and information management modules and enhances the stratigraphy module. New additions to the seismic module provide for li