One of the major capabilities of the NGDRS Metadata Catalog system is that of enabling users to load data from multiple data sets covering a particular geographical area. This is a traditional need of the geosciences professional.

Once a technical project is initiated geoscientists begin the process of searching, gathering and organizing the data to support their activities. This is commonly a painful process that requires gathering and acquiring data from a variety of internal and external sources. This portion of the overall job often consumes 30-50% of the time available for the critical work

If the data is pre-organized, as presented to the users by the NGDRS Metadata Catalog, considerable time can be freed to dedicate to the analytical aspects of the process. The NGDRS presents the data to the users as if the initial phase of data gathering has been done. As of this writing, this is true only for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) geological province. It will become true for other geological basins or geographical regions as more and more data sets are added to the system.

Once the initial phase of data gathering is completed what comes next? Below are some of key tasks that will confront the professional:

• Select or filter from the available data sources the exact data required for the project.
• Ascertain the data quality and content. Define gaps or data missing.
• Ascertain if there are data providers willing to sell the data needed.
• Review upcoming data availability - for example, 3-D Seismic being acquired.

The NGDRS Metadata Catalog objective is to provide as much help as possible to all those tasks. Below is a suggested procedure to accomplish much of the data management activities required by the tasks.

• Step 1. - Enter GeoTrek
• Step 2. - Choose the area of interest as close as possible to the area required by your project. GeoTrek is set to work in physical area occupying about 16 MMS blocks (an area of four-by-four blocks). For larger area GeoTrek displays, not the data, the number of objects (such wells) enclosed in "tiles" dynamically established by the system. Basins studies occupying large areas, therefore, will require the user to partition the basin area into multiple project sub-areas.
• Step 3 - Select the data of interest and export to Excel or send an email to the data owner

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