Postconvention Workshops
W-1 Technologies for Improving Seismic Acquisition: Efficiency, Effectiveness, Resolution, Innovations
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Ray Abma, University of Texas - Austin
Modern seismic data are being acquired to support both activity sets such as onshore and offshore wind, traditional hydrocarbon exploration and development, as well as CCUS monitoring and geothermal. The evolution in seismic acquisition in both land and marine settings is driven by the need to balance increased survey design requirements for high-density shot and receiver sampling with more efficient, lower cost operations, as well as considerations for lower carbon emissions, reductions in acoustic emissions, and a license to operate both in and around existing infrastructure.
With any new technology, questions will arise as to speed of adoption, pitfalls, minimum technical and regulatory requirements, and ultimately, cost. This workshop will address some of these topics from the viewpoints of the contractor, the customer, and additional stakeholders.
W-2 Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing in Applied Geophysics
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Ge Jin, Colorado School of Mines
Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), Distributed temperature sensing (DTS), and Distributed strain sensing (DSS) are the three distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) technologies that have drawn much attention in recent years, both in and out of the oil industry. Sensing fibers can be deployed in places that are otherwise inaccessible due to small size, high endurance to harsh environments, and long sensing range as well as limited cost. This workshop focuses on sharing the recent development of the hardware, software, and interpretation methods of DFOS applications in all fields of applied geophysics.
W-3 FWM (Full Wavefield Migration) or FWI Imaging: Exploring New Concepts of Seismic Imaging
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Mariana Gherasim, PGS
In recent years, new cutting-edge seismic technologies are emerging, utilizing and inverting a broader portion of collected wavefields beyond primary reflections. Latest case studies have shown the value of being able to image both primaries and multiples, either separately or simultaneously. There are currently two approaches with promising potential: one is based on modified LS migration (full wavefield imaging), the other on FWI engine (FWI imaging).
The aim of this workshop is two-fold. First, we will highlight the potential of these imaging concepts on real-world examples. Second, we will discuss advantages, disadvantages, similarities, and differences of the two strategies in contrast to each other (Are they really that different? Are they complementary?) as well as in the context of the future of seismic imaging.
W-4 High-Performance Computing – What Does the Future Look Like?
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Eileen Martin, Virginia Tech
With rapid adoption of cloud computing across industries and disciplines, the case for on-premise dedicated compute for high-end scientific computing is getting challenged. In this workshop, we would like to explore different viewpoints that we might want to hear about to inform our choices.
W-5 How to Address “Value of Information” of Geophysical Data (2D/3D/4D Seismic, VSP, Microseismic, DAS, etc.) in the Language of Reserves/Resources Evaluation and Management for Petroleum and CCS
Sponsored by: SEG Oil and Gas Reserve Committee
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Richard Xu, NexGeo Resources
This workshop will discuss the concepts and best practices to understand, evaluate, and incorporate the VOI of geophysical data (including 2D/3D/4D seismic, VSP, microseismic, DAS, etc.) especially the new advances and technologies in acquisition, processing, and integration with geologic/reservoir models, into the broader scenarios under reserves/resources evaluation and management [Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) in particular], which cover the full life cycle of an oil/gas field for both conventional and unconventional plays.
W-6 Infrastructure Geophysics
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Sergio Chávez-Pérez, IMP
The workshop on Infrastructure Geophysics will consider the application of exploration geophysics to the mining, communications, civil engineering, and construction industries. Beyond “urban geophysics,” explorationists can have a bright future assessing water resources, mines, sites for transmission lines, pipelines, highways, solar pedestals, wind towers, crane crawl routes, etc. This workshop invites geophysical researchers and practitioners to relate their case histories serving hydrologists, earthquake and foundation engineers, cable networks, mining engineers, civil engineers, and geotechnical engineers.
W-7 Machine Learning Applications for FWI and Seismic Imaging
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Weichang Li, Aramco Americas
This workshop will focus on applying Machine Learning (ML) techniques in velocity model building, seismic imaging, and inversion. ML has been used successfully for some time in seismic interpretation, e.g., fault detection, salt body and horizon identification, and facies classification. More recently, ML has had some success in seismic processing, including denoising, ground roll suppression, and wavefield separation. In this workshop, we would like to hilight a few case studies, understand the benefits and limitations of ML in velocity model building and imaging, and discuss the path forward. Download Flyer
W-8 Machine Learning in Accelerating Energy Transition and Enabling Low-carbon Economy
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Haibin Di, Schlumberger
Significant interest rises in the topic of the energy transition, including both producing renewable energies, such as wind, geothermal, and hydrogen, and reducing energy-related CO2 emissions. While some pioneering work has shown great potential for machine learning in certain topics such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCS/CCUS), there certainly are more opportunities and greater challenges in which machine learning could play a role and make its contributions. In this workshop, we aim at collecting and showcasing how machine learning further facilitates the process of the energy transition
W-9 Measure, Monitor, Validate (MMV) in the Geophysical Realm of New Energy
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Erkan Ay, Shell
The objective of this workshop is to reignite the conversation regarding the measure-monitor-validate value chain in relation to the field of new energies. Topics to be considered are the purpose of monitoring (e.g., safety, economics, model calibration, remediation, legal, etc.), spatial set-up, timeline of monitoring, constraints (legal, technical, practical, etc.
W-10 GEM Methods (Gravity, Magnetic, Electrical and Electromagnetic) for Environmental Applications
Sponsored by: SEG Gravity and Magnetics Committee and SEG Near Surface Geophysics Techncial Section
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Irina Filina, University of Nebraska
This workshop plans to feature presentations on the broad spectrum of topics including (but not limited to) drone magnetics, microgravity, EM, remote sensing, and chemical sensors applied toward infrastructure characterization and monitoring, UXO surveying, groundwater, and site surveying. Presentations are encouraged from various sectors: oil/gas industry, service companies, environmental firms, and academia to have a wide range of presentations to set the stage for open and diverse discussions.
W-11 Rock Physics Challenges for Carbon Sequestration and Geothermal Energy
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Colin Sayers, University of Houston
Energy transition projects often involve pumping fluids (CO2, water, hydrogen) into the subsurface and require geophysical monitoring of the distribution of injected fluids in space and time. Such monitoring requires a good understanding of the geophysical signatures of fluid saturation, pressure, and stress distribution. Rock-physics relationships developed for petroleum geophysics can be extended to address the challenges faced by projects designed to aid in the energy transition. The purpose of this workshop is to present recent developments and to discuss rock physics challenges resulting from these new applications.
W-12 Geophysical Aspects of Smart Cities
Sponsored by: SEG Near Surface Geophysics Technical Section
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Yunyue Elita Li, Purdue University
As the space where more than half of the Earth's population resides, cities are heavily instrumented with sensors such as cameras for vision, microphones for hearing, thermometers, vibration sensors for touch, and chemical sensors for smell and taste. These sensors have generated and continue to generate a large amount of data. In this workshop, we seek to explore the opportunity where all urban infrastructures may become nondedicated, multipurpose sensors and a “city brain” may be developed to integrate all senses to tackle the toughest challenges in urban mobility, urban resilience against climate change, and urban socioeconomic equality.
W-13 Subsurface Characterization: How Can Monitoring Impact Energy Transition?
Sponsored by: SEG Development and Production Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Samarhjit Chakraborty, BP
This workshop will highlight key subsurface uncertainties that may impact bulk rock volumes and fluid flow in reservoirs. The case studies will demonstrate reservoir characterization methods that incorporate the integration of geophysical surveillance data with geomechanical, petrophysical, and geologic data for improved interpretation and better risk management of subsurface uncertainties.
W-14 Subsurface Uncertainty Description and Estimation – Moving Away from Single Prediction with Distribution Learning
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Felix Herrmann, Georgia Institute of Technology
Uncertainty quantification has received significant focus in the geophysics community in recent years extending from general simulation-based approaches to measure the amount of variation in the system under study, to more complex Bayesian modalities which incorporate statistical ideas to model and study the uncertainty present in the geophysical system. In this workshop, we will discuss these various types of common subsurface uncertainties and techniques to quantify them. We will explore how conventional workflows can be changed to produce candidate solutions drawn from the posterior distribution, which assigns probabilities informed by the data and (learned) priors.
W-15 The Role of Geophysics in Sustainable Energy and Carbon Neutrality — Geothermal, Wind, Hydrogen, and CCUS
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-12:00pm
Lead Organizer: Erkan Ay, Shell
Geothermal, Wind, and Hydrogen as energy sources are becoming more important as we move to carbon zero targets. While geophysics for CCUS has gained much interest academically and commercially, the use of geophysics in sustainable energy is attracting relatively less attention. In this workshop we will look at multidisciplinary geophysical technologies that can help sustainable energy development from exploration, planning, construction, to operations in addition to enabling CCUS.
W-16 Value of Shear Waves from the Overburden to Reservoir
Sponsored by: SEG Research Committee
1 September 1:30pm-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: James (Jim) Gaiser, GGC
This workshop examines the continued advancements in shear wave (S wave) technology that significantly impacts subsurface characterization, from the near surface to the reservoir. A key goal of the workshop is to identify/quantify the value of S waves for a number of applications. This ultimately depends on reducing uncertainty associated with determining velocities for imaging and the risks of production.
W-17 - What's Next for FWI and its Derived Products?
Sponsored by: SGE Research Committee
1 September 8:30am-5:00pm
Lead Organizer: Xukai Shen, BP
The goal of this workshop is to summarize current approaches and discuss alternatives to the long offset acquisition requirements. Many case studies have proven the impact of long offset on the quality of the FWI velocity models. However, large offsets translate into high costs, which are not favored in the current environment. We will review previous results and discuss what else needs to be done.