Irreplaceable G&G Data is at Risk
What the industry told us in 2025 and in 2026, and why the risk is growing
Geological and geophysical (G&G) data underpins exploration, licensing, and long‑term asset value. Yet a significant proportion of that data remains fragmented, inaccessible, or at risk of permanent loss.
In 2025 and again in 2026, Ovation Data surveyed geoscience and energy professionals globally to understand how legacy G&G data is being managed and where the biggest risks remain. Taken together, the findings show that pressure on organizations is increasing faster than their ability to respond.
Two years of insight
Across both surveys, respondents consistently report that large volumes of valuable G&G data are not digitized or readily usable in modern workflows.
The key difference between 2025 and 2026 lies in the scope of the questions and the signals they reveal. The 2025 survey focused primarily on the state of legacy data and internal barriers to digitization. The 2026 survey expanded to examine downstream impacts, capturing concerns that were not explicitly measured the year before.
In the 2026 survey, respondents report:
- Large portions of G&G data that remain non‑digitized or inaccessible
- Increased concern about the risk of permanent data loss
- Slow responses to new licensing or exploration opportunities due to data access constraints.
Key themes from 2025-2026
The exposure gap is widening
In 2026, more respondents reported that over half of their G&G data is not digitized or easily accessible, indicating that remediation efforts continue to lag behind growing data.
Risk concerns are intensifying
Concern remains high across both years, with more respondents in 2026 describing themselves as extremely worried about permanent data loss.
Budgets are the primary barrier
Financial constraints have overtaken ROI skepticism as the main obstacle to action. The challenge is no longer why legacy data matters, but how to address it affordably.
Inaccessibility limits responsiveness
New questions introduced in 2026 show that nearly 60% of respondents say inaccessible legacy data is limiting their ability to act on new opportunities.
Digitization alone is insufficient
Scanned or migrated data often remains unusable without proper metadata, standardization, and integration into modern systems.
Why this matters
The cost of inaction is no longer limited to inefficiency. Organizations unable to quickly locate and trust legacy data face missed opportunities, reduced competitiveness, and increased exposure during periods of disruption.
Organizations with accessible, well‑managed legacy data are better positioned to:
- Act within compressed licensing windows
- Enable AI‑assisted interpretation
- Preserve institutional knowledge as experienced staff retire
- Protect irreplaceable records in high‑risk environments.
Download the reports
How Ovation Data can help
- Data audits and risk assessments
- Phased, cost‑controlled digitization programs
- Metadata, standardization, and system integration
- Long‑term preservation aligned with business and regulatory needs
Talk to our team about assessing and unlocking the value of your irreplaceable G&G data.