WVGES Releases Publication of Oil and Gas Well Data
WVGES Releases Publication of Oil and Gas Well Data
The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey (WVGES) is making available for purchase a digital publication
of its oil and gas well data on DVD, as a tool to aid in the exploration and development of the Mountain State's
oil and gas resources and the understanding of the State's subsurface geology.
Developed over the past 43 years, the Survey's digital database of more than 145,000 completed and permitted
oil and gas wells contains data for wells completed in West Virginia since the late 1800's. The digital
database was originally created by WVGES staff primarily to support the research and information programs
of the Survey, and secondarily to support information requests from the public. Now, the Survey is releasing
the data to help develop a better understanding of the subsurface geology of the State and to encourage a
more active pursuit of exploratory and development drilling programs in the State. The database can be used to support
industry, government, and public needs for geologic, geographic, and production data for oil and gas wells
in the State.
Released as Digital Data Series-5 (publication DDS-5), WVGES Oil and Gas Well Data for West
Virginia, these files were designed to be used in a relational database system. The files, however,
can be adapted for use in other types of systems or used individually.
Content:
The publication contains eight data types. Coded data fields are translated. The data types/tables/files
include:
- well locations (coordinates in latitude/longitude in decimal degrees, latitude/longitude in miles
south and west, UTMs; tax district, quadrangle, etc.);
- well completion and ownership (spud and completion dates, elevation, total depth, deepest formation,
IPs, completion method, farm name and number, operator, etc.);
- pay, show, and water intervals (depth to top and bottom of interval, formation at top and bottom
of interval, etc.);
- stratigraphy (formation tops and thicknesses, etc.);
- production reported since 1979 (monthly and annual gas and oil, year, operator, etc.);
- plugging (date and depth);
- e-logs available in the Survey's log library (log types, depths, etc.); and
- well samples and cores available in the Survey's sample library (tops and bottoms of intervals,
formations, etc.).
Record formats for the data files and a "ReadMe" file are provided in PDF format.
Format Options:
The publication consists of a DVD that contains the same well data in two formats: as ASCII text files and
as a generic Microsoft ® Access database. Records are keyed on the 10-digit API number, which is used to
link data between the files/tables.
ASCII Files:
The ASCII files contain "raw" data, with the expectation that the user will import the files into application software such as a relational
database like Microsoft® Access, SQL Server, or Oracle, or similar application. Most of the files will not import in whole into a
spreadsheet such as Microsoft ® Excel, becasue the number of records in most of the individual files exceeds Excel's limit of 65,536 records in
Excel versions prior to 2007; the production file even exceeds Excel's limit of 1,000,000 records in the 2007 version of that program.
The ASCII text files are comma-delimited, with data fields enclosed in double quotes. The eight ASCII files total of more than 519 MB of data.
Access Database:
The same basic well data are also provided in the publication in a generic Microsoft ® Access (2002) database format, a relational database,
with the data organized into individual tables based on data type. No relationships have been setup in this generic database.
The generic Microsoft ® Access .mdb file exceeds 519 MB in size.
Cost:
Cost of the publication is $495. This includes delivery via first class U.S. mail; shipment via other means
is available for an additional charge. Credit cards (VISA and MasterCard) are accepted.
Updates:
Periodic updates to the electronic publication are planned and will be available at a reduced price.
Alternatives:
As always, the Survey will still be creating customized database retrievals per a customer's specifications
in order to make available smaller, more manageable files for those customers who don't need all of the well
data. These customized service requests are available at a small fee.
To Order:
To order the publication or a service request, contact Susan Kite at (304) 594-2331.
Further Information:
Contact Katharine Lee Avary or Mary Behling at (304) 594-2331.
Page last revised: March 13, 2009
Please send questions, comments, and/or suggestions to webmaster.
Page created and maintained by:
West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey
Address: Mont Chateau Research Center
1 Mont Chateau Road
Morgantown, WV 26508-8079
Telephone: 304-594-2331
FAX: 304-594-2575
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday
Permission to reproduce this material is granted if acknowledgment is given
to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey.
