One of the most persistent challenges in offshore energy is the sheer volume of legacy information that organizations depend on. Many operators are still managing decades’ worth of drawings, scanned documents, spreadsheets and archived emails that sit across old servers, personal drives or physical storage rooms. These documents contain critical knowledge about the field, yet they often remain out of reach at the moment teams need them most. The problem is not the value of the information, but the lack of structure around it.

Engineers might locate a drawing quickly but still be unsure whether it aligns with the most recent field modification. An installation report might sit in a contractor’s folder long after the project team has moved on. Even something as simple as retrieving the latest procedure can become a time-consuming task. When time pressures are high, this scattered landscape creates frustration and risk. When offshore activity is involved, it creates real financial impact. 

When information is hard to trust

This challenge becomes a direct barrier to digital transformation. Before any organization can fully benefit from digital tools, the underlying data must be in a form that is reliable and easy to navigate. Without consistency, structure and proper context, information remains fragmented. Teams cannot make fast, confident decisions when they cannot validate which version of a document is correct or determine whether information is complete.

Data readiness is the first essential step to effective transformation. It does not mean scanning every document or migrating every file into a new system. It means establishing clarity. Operators need standard naming conventions, clear revision control, meaningful metadata and a way of organizing information so that teams can quickly understand what they are looking at. 

What data readiness really means

This is where modern visual platforms offer a significant advantage. Instead of presenting teams with endless lists of files, digital workspaces like FieldTwin tie information directly to the field layout. When a document is linked to the piece of equipment it relates to, its purpose becomes instantly clear. Engineers can select an asset in the model and immediately see its relevant drawings, maintenance history, installation notes or inspection results. This eliminates guesswork and accelerates alignment between teams.

We have seen how this transforms workflows. A team evaluating a modification does not need to wonder whether they have the right version of a drawing. They can see it in context, compare it with other data and understand how it fits into the bigger picture. A new engineer stepping into an asset role can orient themselves quickly because the information is presented visually and logically rather than buried in archives. 

Turning legacy files into usable context

Moving to a digital platform also reduces the financial risks associated with incomplete information. In the past, a missing detail could trigger a repeat survey, a new inspection or even additional offshore work. These activities are not minor costs. They can add days or weeks to a schedule and hundreds of thousands of dollars to a budget. By ensuring that knowledge is centralized and accessible, organizations reduce the likelihood of rework and improve decision-making.

FieldTwin was built with this principle at its core. It serves as an integrated visual workspace where documents, models and operational context come together. As teams continue to work within the platform, the quality of the data improves. Updates are captured, knowledge accumulates and the digital representation of the field becomes more accurate and more valuable over time.

Organizations that take the time to contextualize their legacy information will see the benefits throughout the entire lifecycle of their assets. Decisions become faster because the right information is easy to find. Collaboration becomes smoother because teams share the same understanding. And knowledge becomes a long-term resource rather than something that disappears when people move on.

The offshore industry is moving into a future where data quality, accessibility and context will define success. By rethinking how information is organized and bringing it into a modern visual platform, operators can unlock the full value of the knowledge they already possess and ensure it supports them long into the future.