Modernizing BLM Oil and Gas Data Management Systems

BLM's Oil and Gas Data Management Needs

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the entire lifecycle of fluid mineral development on public lands and the federal mineral estate, from the initial permitting stages through well infrastructure abandonment and reclamation of surface disturbances caused by fluid mineral production. The Automated Fluid Minerals Support System (AFMSS) plays a vital role in BLM oil and gas data management, supporting critical programs such as the Fluid Minerals Inspection and Enforcement Program, Environmental Inspections, and the tracking of operational approvals like Applications for Permits to Drill (APD), Well Completion Reports (WCR), and Sundry Notices on both Federal and Indian Trust Lands and Leases.

Key Challenges in Overhauling BLM Oil and Gas Data Management

The BLM faced significant challenges in modernizing a 20-year-old legacy application that had become outdated. The primary goals were to enhance data collection for operators, enforce consistent data standards, and streamline complex business process flows. The legacy system suffered from inconsistencies in data tracking and monitoring, with information spread across 51 disparate databases. Modernizing BLM oil and gas data management also required transitioning from paper applications to web-based software solutions to establish a uniform national standard.

Transforming BLM Oil and Gas Data Management

NexGen provided business transformation, business process reengineering, and IT modernization services throughout a complex multi-year project to replace the legacy AFMSS. NexGen implemented the AFMSS 2.0 as a Business Process Management (BPM) based permitting system that maintains case files associated with the permit applications, adjudications, approvals, rejection, and others. Using open-source technology, NexGen developed an enterprise content management system that integrates with a Business Process Management (BPM) engine to support the case file management needs within the AFMSS2 application.  Due to limitations with the COTS product, our team worked to rearchitect the original proprietary COTS user interface with a modern AngularJS-based mobile responsive solution to enhance the user experience.

Our Team identified and recommended a change to the core AFMSS data architecture, which involved re-orienting the core system to a “well-centric” architecture from an APD-centric data architecture. Since the core architecture is critical to any application’s future fit for use and functionality scalability, this change, drastically reduced the complexity of AFMSS and enabled a more seamless scaling of future functionality such as Sundry processing, Inspection and Enforcement and Well Completion Reporting.

In support of the data migration from AFMSS 1 to AFMSS 2, NexGen completed a detailed data migration plan and architected a uniform enterprise data schema to consolidate data across 51 disparate databases. This extensive effort was further complicated by the fact that these legacy AFMSS databases did not have field level data validation and rules, consequently data could vary considerably within the same field across different data sources. NexGen performed extensive data cleansing and data conversion in support of this complex data migration effort.

The resulting AFMSS 2.0 helps the BLM reduce permit processing times, while also increasing the efficiency and transparency of APD review and approval process.

Outcome

The AFMSS 2.0 meets a key BLM mission objective – availability of a unified, streamlined, web-based national system for submission, processing and tracking of NOSs and APDs. AFMSS substantially improves data quality and consistency and automates the key processes (NOS, APD, Sundry Notices, etc.) using a custom off the shelf (COTS) business process management (BPM) engine.

"Your team has helped with a high volume of complicated work, maintained high quality and this effort has been sustained throughout the project."

Michael D. Nedd, Assistant Director

BLM Energy, Minerals, and Realty Management

I know it has been difficult, stressful and exhausting, but all of your hard work is paying off! I am thankful to all of you and proud of the work you’re doing. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!”

BLM Project Manager/ COR

About NexGen:

NexGen Technologies (NexGen) provides the people, processes, and solutions that help make innovative IT transformation possible across your systems and applications.

We specialize in delivering top-tier IT support services, specifically tailored for the unique needs of the federal government. Our dedicated team combines cutting-edge technology with deep industry expertise to ensure your projects meet the highest standards of quality and security.

For more information, please contact NexGen at info@nexgeninc.com or (720) 377-1800.