Identifying 'Golden Spike boreholes' for the National Borehole Information Capture Project [abstract only]

Kingdon, Andrew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4979-588X; Aldiss, Don; Lawrie, Kenneth. 2008 Identifying 'Golden Spike boreholes' for the National Borehole Information Capture Project [abstract only]. [Lecture] In: Exploiting Geoscience Collections, London, 12-13 May 2008. 22-23.

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Abstract/Summary

Geological mapping and modelling generally proceed from the known to the unknown. For example, mapping work uses exposures and quarry faces to control an interpretation of intervening unexposed ground. Similarly, 3D geological subsurface models use borehole records as ‘tie-points’: the only locations where the geology is observed directly. ‘Borehole records’ can encompass several separate inter-related datasets including geophysical, lithological and stratigraphic logs. The British Geological Survey (BGS) holds more than 1.2 million borehole records from across the UK landmass, a unique resource for geoscience research and surveying. Identifying those boreholes which are of value as tie-points for modelling has thus far been reliant on the experience of BGS’s experts on UK geology and stratigraphy, augmented by laborious manual searches. With many of these geologists approaching retirement there is an imperative to capture their accumulated knowledge before this expertise leaves the organisation. Geologists tend to re-use borehole records that they know, or that have been cited before. With new borehole records being added to the archives, can they be sure that they still using the best available data? The National Borehole Information Capture (NBIC) project aims to define the ‘Golden Spike Boreholes’ that will collectively describe the deep geology of the UK. These are the borehole records that should act as ‘tie-points’ in geological models. They are being chosen by BGS’s District Geologists (so exploiting the expertise of these individuals), assisted by software tools developed for this project, including a tailored database interface and GIS view showing borehole locations. The project utilises recent advances in BGS’s databasing capability which allows linking of multiple datasets in real time, in particular the creation of a single primary key and its propagation across all BGS’s borehole data holdings. Key to the project success will be the ability to match metadata derived from one dataset to other datatypes as it may act as a quality constraint on other types of data for the same borehole. This will enhance the exploitation of these records by maximising their value. This will allow geologists to make a rapid assessment of the quality of all the various datasets held for a particular borehole and so more rapidly choose those boreholes of greatest value and stratigraphic importance. Preliminary results and detailed selection criteria will be presented.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Lecture)
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2008 > Information Management
Additional Keywords:	Boreholes, Information
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	03 Nov 2008 15:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/4791

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