Introduction
The programme “Using Geographic Data in Strategic Planning” develops professional practice in Oil and Gas. It connects the subject with workplace challenges by examining existing evidence and practices and choosing methods appropriate to the organization and its available resources.
The learning progresses from spatial analysis and geographic information systems to process safety, barriers, and management of change, with practical work on data analysis and decision support, strategy formulation and prioritization, the oil and gas value chain and operations. Participants prepare outputs to support workplace application and review the quality and results of implementation.
Learning objectives
- Prepare a spatial analysis connecting data quality to a specific service or planning question in an application related to “Using Geographic Data in Strategic Planning”.
- Turn available data into documented analysis that supports a specific professional decision.
- Translate strategic direction into actionable objectives and initiatives.
- Analyze an oil and gas value chain process and connect performance to reliability and safety.
- Analyze an operational hazard scenario and review barriers and change control responsibilities.
Learning areas
1. Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems
- Define the spatial question, unit of analysis, geographical boundaries, and beneficiary groups, and select data that serves the required decision.
- Organize layers, coordinates, metadata, and update sources, checking spatial accuracy, coverage, and consistency across files.
- Select appropriate join, proximity, coverage, or classification operations, document assumptions, and avoid interpreting the map beyond the limits of data quality.
- Design a map with a clear scale, symbols, legend, source, and date, considering privacy and permissions for publishing sensitive locations.
- Present a planning or service allocation scenario using the results, identifying additional data and an update plan before approving the decision. The application examines a case related to “Using Geographic Data in Strategic Planning”.
2. Data Analysis and Decision Support
- Frame an analytical question linked to a specific decision, and define the unit of measurement, time period, and data needed to answer it.
- Check data quality for completeness, accuracy, consistency, and duplication, and document cleaning steps and limitations on reliance.
- Select appropriate comparisons, indicators, and charts, and distinguish statistical correlation from causal explanations of results.
- Interpret results in the work context, test assumptions and unusual values, and present alternatives and their associated uncertainty.
- Prepare an analytical report containing the finding, recommendation, data source and date, review owner, and next follow-up step.
3. Strategy Formulation and Prioritization
- Analyze the internal and external environment using available data, and distinguish opportunities from assumptions that require verification.
- Define a specific strategic problem and connect it to the organization's mission and the value sought by beneficiaries and stakeholders.
- Set measurable objectives with a baseline, target, and time horizon, and assign a clear owner to each objective.
- Prioritize initiatives according to impact, feasibility, resources, risks, and interdependencies, explaining the reasons for the trade-offs.
- Build an implementation roadmap covering phases, owners, resources, review gates, and a mechanism for adjusting priorities when circumstances change.
4. The Oil and Gas Value Chain and Operations
- Understand the links between exploration, development, production, processing, and transportation, and define process boundaries, participants, and intended outputs.
- Read a training process diagram, identifying material and energy flows, measurement points, critical equipment, and their relationship to product quality.
- Analyze production, downtime, losses, and resource consumption data, distinguishing measurement problems from process or equipment problems.
- Define coordination requirements among operations, maintenance, safety, and contractors, and document handovers and changes under facility procedures.
- Prepare a process improvement proposal covering hypotheses, controls, resources, and review criteria, using a training case without unauthorized field operations.
5. Process Safety, Barriers, and Management of Change
- Identify sources of hazardous materials and energy and process boundaries, distinguishing process safety from individual occupational safety in the case presented.
- Analyze the sequence, causes, and consequences of a hazardous event, and identify preventive and mitigating barriers and evidence for verifying their readiness.
- Review work permits, isolation, and coordination among parties under facility procedures, and identify hold points requiring specialist approval.
- Prepare a change request identifying its rationale, risks, and effects on documents, training, and emergencies, with technical review before implementation.
- Conduct a tabletop exercise involving a hypothetical barrier failure or leak, and document escalation and response actions, lessons, and the subsequent verification plan.
Practical outputs
- A thematic map, data dictionary, and report on spatial analysis limitations.
- A dashboard and decision memo explaining the data, assumptions, and alternatives.
- A strategy map and a priority matrix for proposed initiatives.
- An oil operations process map, requirements matrix, and operating indicators.
- A register of risk scenarios and barriers, and an operational change review plan.
Who should attend
- Engineers, technicians, supervisors and operations staff whose work relates to the programme subject.
- Managers and teams working in oil and gas, according to their practical responsibilities.
- Professionals responsible for applying the outputs of “Using Geographic Data in Strategic Planning” within their organizations.
Prerequisites
- Working familiarity with the programme field and the ability to discuss a professional case or challenge.
- Confirm the suitability of your experience and any specialist prerequisites with the Union before participation.
Conclusion
The programme “Using Geographic Data in Strategic Planning” brings together concepts, case review and a practical application. Participants prepare steps that can be adapted to their responsibilities and organizational resources, with an indicator to follow application and review results after returning to work.
Participation arrangements and any special requests are specified in the confirmation issued by the Union.