TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-214-952-9435. AbstractThe drive towards cost-effectiveness in the North Sea petroleum industry also has implications for environmental issues, Operating in one of the globally most productive waters of the world, with significant natural resources, as well as changing and ever stricter regulatory practices, are ongoing challenges for operators on the Norwegian continental shelf. Comprehensive and up-to date information on resource distribution and vulnerability, commercial fishing activities, as well as areas of increased sensitivity and regulatory restrictions are needed by the operator.A series of theme maps are designed, where resource types are separated logically, according to inherent characteristics of resources and relevance for the analysis to be carried out.MRDB is installed at each of the member companies, usually on a server. The system is used as a management tool for the companies HSE staff, forming a cost effective way to carry out environmental assessments. Examples of use include contingency planning, environmental impact assessments of exploration and production activities, environmental risk analyses, applications for exploration drilling, as well as company-specific policy evaluations and implementations.Future options for development include dynamic linking to numerical dispersion models for emissions and discharges, ecological sensitivity, damage assessment, as well as economic costing. The general applicability and relevance of the concept is considered a sound basis for developing management tools also for regions other than Norway.