By Scott Singleton SAME TALK TWO LOCATIONS Got Technical ... · [email protected] Title: Frontier Exploration in the Georgetown Block, Guyana, South America Speaker: Allan Kean, 6 Repsol

Technical Lunch@ PCH

~~~~~~~~~~~~Rock Physics SIG

Technical Lunch@ Omni

HPACLunch

@ BraeburnCountry

Club

Data Processing

SIG@ WesternGeco

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009Time: 7:00 a.m. Social 7:30 a.m. Presentation 8:00 a.m. Q & A Location: Fugro 6100 Hilcroft, Suite 100 Houston, Texas 77274RSVP to: Liz Ivie at Fugro 713-369-5863 or [email protected]: Frontier Exploration in the Georgetown Block, Guyana, South America

Speaker: Allan Kean, Repsol USA Holdings

Abstract:Working in frontier explo-ration areas usually equates to sparse quantities of available Geological and Geophysical (G&G) data. This is certainly the case in Guyana which is located at the southern terminus of the North Atlantic. Here, the rifting episode in Middle Jurassic time was subsequently overwritten by the break-up and drifting of West Africa from northern South America in Middle Albian time, resulting in a complicated geologic history.

This paper focuses on the Georgetown Block in Guyana and summarizes Repsol

NEWSLETTERVOL. 44, NO. 1 SEPTEMBER 2009

President’s Column continued on page 18.

President’s Column

Rock Physics SIG ........................................11

Museum News.............................................13

Multicomponent Seismic Exploration Course ...13

GeoScience Day 2009 ........................ 14 & 15

SIPES Continuing Education Seminar ...........16

Calendar of Events ......................................20

Announcements ............................................3Membership Report .......................................3Houston Petroleum Auxiliary News .................3SEG’s Living Legends ....................................5Volunteers Needed ........................................7GSH Tennis Tournament ........................ 8 & 9Data Processing SIG ....................................10

By Scott Singleton

The Geophysical Society of Houston Newsletter (ISSN 1082-0817) is published monthly except in July by the Geophysical Society of Houston, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77079. Subscription to this publication is included in the membership dues of $30 annually. Periodicals postage paid in Houston, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Geophysical Society of Houston Newsletter, 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77079.

SEPTEMBER 2009 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

Technical BreakfastTechnical LuncheonSAME TALK

TWO LOCATIONSDate 1 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Location 1: Omni Palace (Salon A) 12121 Westheimer Rd. Houston, TX 77077Date 2Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.Location 2: Petroleum Club 800 Bell St. (43rd Floor) Houston, Texas 77002 Downtown HoustonRegister Online: www.gshtx.orgCost: $25/members pre-registered $30/members nonregistered $35/non-membersTitle: “Advances in Spectral Decomposition and Spectral Inversion”Speaker: John Castagna

Abstract: There are a wide variety of spectral d e compos i t i on methods – each of which yields a different time-frequency analysis for a given seismic

Got Technical Talks?

Well, in fact, now that you mention

it -- we do. Put away all those vacation pictures, pack the kids off to school and work through that backlog of email -- we have got a full slate of interesting, invigorating, and enlightening technical luncheon speakers lined up for the entire fall season. Many thanks to 2008-2009 1st VP Bill Fahmy for building up this backlog; it makes my life so much easier.

Before I tell you about our speakers, let me remind everyone that, due to overwhelmingly positive feedback, we will once again try to make it as easy as possible for everyone to attend our technical luncheons. They will be held both in West Houston on the third Tuesday and at the Petroleum Club downtown on the third Wednesday of each month. Couldn’t be easier.

OK, without further delay, here is your celebrity line-up: September starts off with a bang with none other than John Castagna. Dr. Castagna became a household name to geophysicists in 1992

Technical Breakfast continued on page 18.Technical Luncheon continued on page 18.

Inside This Issue

GSHBoard

Meeting

TechnicalBreakfast@ Fugro

GSHTennis

Tournament

2 Geophysical Society of Houston September 2009 September 2009 Geophysical Society of Houston 19

GEOPHYSICAL SOCIETY OF HOUSTONSandra Babcock, Office/Business Accounts Manager • 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250, Houston, TX 77079 • Office Hours 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: (713) 463-9477 • Fax (281) 679-5504email: [email protected] • website - http://www.gshtx.org

GSH Board of Directors = GSH Executive Committee + SEG Section Representatives

Phone Fax/Other EmailPRESIDENT ___________________ Mike Graul ____________ 713-465-3181 _____________________ [email protected] Corp Relations ____________ Frank Dumanoir _______ 713-594-2371 (cell) _________________ [email protected] Historian _________________ Art Ross ______________ 281-360-9331 _____________________ [email protected] Museum ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominating _______________ Mike Graul ____________ 713-465-3181 _____________________ [email protected] Outreach _________________ Lisa Buckner __________ 713-609-4256 ___ 713-609-5666 ____ [email protected] Scholarship Liaison ________ Art Ross ____________ 281-360-9331 _____________________ [email protected]

PRES-ELECT __________________ Bob Wegner __________ 713-899-9023 _____________________ [email protected] Academic Liaison __________ Steve Danbom ________ 713-937-7530 _____________________ [email protected] Employment Referral _______ Sam Leroy ____________ 281-556-9766 ___ 281-556-9778 ____ [email protected] Office ____________________ Dave Agarwal _________ 281-920-4450 ___ 281-920-1576 ____ [email protected] Volunteers ________________ Hamzat Erogbogbo ____ 713-465-3181 _____________________ [email protected]

FIRST VP _____________________ Scott Singleton ________ 713-273-1426 _____________________ [email protected] First VP Elect _____________ Dave Carlson__________ 281-509-8139 _____________________ [email protected] Continuing Education ______ Dave Carlson__________ 281-509-8139 _____________________ [email protected] Speakers _________________ Scott Singleton ________ 713-273-1426 _____________________ [email protected] Tech Breakfasts ___________ Marvin Taylor _________ 713-369-5864 ___ 832-367-3837(c) __ [email protected] Tech Luncheons ___________ Scott Singleton ________ 713-273-1426 _____________________ [email protected]

SIGS Data Processing ___________ Steve Cole ____________ 713-369-5883 ___ 713-408-9405(c) __ [email protected] Marta Woodward ______ 713-689-6153 _____________________ [email protected] Potential Fields ____________ Greg Jorgensen _______ 435-313-1950 _____________________ [email protected] Rock Physics ______________ Ayako Kameda ________ 281-544-4354 _____________________ [email protected] Ronny Hofmann __________________________________________ [email protected] Ezequiel F. Gonzalez ___ 713-245-7841 _____________________ [email protected] Multi-Component __________ John Dai _____________ 713-689-6173 _____________________ [email protected] Mark Lee _____________ 713-689-2479 _____________________ [email protected] Tony Johns ___________ 713-689-6633 _____________________ [email protected]

SECOND VP __________________ Marc Sbar ____________ 281-804-8912 _____________________ [email protected] Second VP Elect ___________ Paul Schatz ___________ 713-975-7434 _____________________ [email protected] Annual Meeting ___________ Jim Moulden __________ 832-636-8665 ___ 832-636-5824 ____ [email protected] Awards Banquet ___________ Steve Davidson ________ 713-202-7838 (cell) _________________ [email protected] Golf Tournament __________ Dennis Sump _________ 713-917-6772 _____________________ [email protected] Salt Water Tournament ____ Bobby Perez __________ 281-240-1234 ___ 281-240-4997 ____ [email protected] Sporting Clays ____________ Steve Mitchell _________ 281-275-7650 _____________________ [email protected] Tennis Tournament ________ Marvin Taylor _________ 713-369-5864 ___ 832-367-3837(c) __ [email protected]

SECRETARY __________________ Tom Riley ____________ 713-369-0377 ___ 713-201-0941 ___ [email protected] GSH Membership _________ David Hammer ________ 713-973-5772 ___ 832-545-5044(cell) [email protected] HPAC (Auxiliary) Liaison____ Nancy Frye ___________ 713-461-7189 _____________________ [email protected] OTC Rep. ________________ Roy E. Clark, Jr. ______ 281-654-5651 ___ 281-654-5891 ____ [email protected] SEG Membership __________ David Hammer ________ 713-973-5772 ___ 832-545-5044(cell) [email protected]

TREASURER __________________ Carmen Comis ________ 713-393-4833 _____________________ [email protected] Finance __________________ Peter Eick ____________ 281-293-3387 _____________________ [email protected]

EDITOR ______________________ Glenn Bear ___________ 713-431-6583 ___ 281-250-4013 ___ [email protected] Photography ______________ John Sumner _________ 713-666-7655 _____________________ [email protected] Publicity __________________ Scott Sechrist _________ 281-856-8029 ___ 281-856-7445 ____ [email protected] Website Coordinator _______ Glenn Bear ___________ 713-431-6583 ___ 281-250-4013 ___ [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENT _____________ Frank Dumanoir _______ 713-594-2371 (cell) _________________ [email protected] PAST PRES. ____________ George Marion ________ 713-408-0147 _____________________ [email protected] SECTION REPS ___________ Lee Lawyer __________ 281-531-5347 _____________________ [email protected] SEG REPS ________ Bill Gafford ___________ 281-370-3264 _____________________ [email protected] Art Ross _____________ 281-360-9331 _____________________ [email protected] Haynie Stringer________ 281-491-2045 ___ 877-552-0178 ____ [email protected] Roy E. Clark, Jr. ______ 281-654-5651 ___ 281-654-5891 ____ [email protected]


Announcements

2009 GSHNewsletter Deadlines

Issue .......................October 2009Deadline ................. August 31, 2009Issue ....................November 2009Deadline ................. October 1, 2009

Editor’s Note: To ensure your information reaches the GSH society members in a timely manner it must appear in the appropriate newsletter issue. Please note the following deadlines and plan your function’s publicity strategy accordingly. Items must be received on or before the corresponding deadline date. Please send any obituary or memorial articles of recently deceased members to Glenn Bear, editor, at [email protected]. If you have any questions please call Glenn Bear at 713/431-6583.

MEMBERSHIP REPORTAs of Aug. 5, 2009

Active 873 Associate 190 Emeritus 58 Students 7 Honorary 28 Lifetime 32 Total 1188

Houston Petroleum Auxiliary Council News

Attention HPAC Members!The first event of the 2009-2010 year is just around the corner.

Join in the fun and have a lovely luncheon at the Braeburn Country Club.

Friday, September 18, 2009Speaker

Sylvia ThompsonProgram

“Reminiscences”

Braeburn Country Club8101 Bissonnet

10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Committee MembersKaren MermisPhyllis Carter

Louise AndersonNancy Lefler

Janet Steinmetz

Technical BreakfastWed., September 9, 2009

GSH Tennis TournamentFri., September 11, 2009

Technical Lunch @ OmniTues., September 15, 2009

Technical Lunch @PCHWed., September 16, 2009

Rock Physics SIGWed., September 16, 2009

HPAC LuncheonFri., September 18, 2009

Data Processing SIGWed., September 23, 2009

President’s Column continued from page 1.

with the development of an empirical transform between Vp and Vs (the Greenberg-Castagna relationship) and then again in 1998 with a redefinition of the original Rutherford and Williams AVO classifications to include Class IV for high impedance sands. He then founded Fusion Geophysical in 2000 which has become synonymous with spectral decomposition methods. His talk will focus on a methodology to broaden the spectrum of an impedance inversion by using the deconvolved reflectivity series (see announcement this issue).

In October, we have the privilege of hearing 2009 SEG Honorary Lecturer Bob Hardage, founder and principle

investigator of the Exploration Geo-physics Laboratory at the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) in Austin. Dr. Hardage is well known for his unwavering support of 4C methods and the incorporation of shear waves into our normal exploration workflow. He will speak on shear wave seismic stratigraphy and how 4C has helped delineate hydrate accumulations in the Gulf of Mexico.

In November, we’ll hear from Geoffrey Dorn, President of TerraSpark Geo-sciences in Denver. His talk will be titled “Techniques for Semi-Automatic ‘True’ Volume Interpretation of Structureand Stratigraphy”.

We will end the year with the SEG 2009 North America Honorary Lecturer Bill Goodway. Those of us in reservoir characterization know Mr. Goodway as the father of the LMR (Lambda-Mu-Rho) method. This method uses the Lame moduli Lambda (degree of incompressibility) and Mu (degree of rigidity) as orthogonal parameters describing the behavior of elastic seismic waves when traveling through rock formations. This, in fact, will behis topic.

So, plenty of enticing topics for your professional enjoyment, all brought to you by your source for technical talks -- the Geophysical Society of Houston.

trace. Interpreters using spectral de-composition should make sure that they are selecting a method that is appropriate for the particular problem at hand. For example, the Fourier Transform is limited in time resolution by the window length and by the dominant wavelength of the signal being analyzed. Factors to consider in selecting spectral decomposition methods include(a) temporal and frequency resolution, (b) side lobes and Gibb’s phenomena, (c) lateral stability, and (d) computation time. Various “wavelet” based methods exist but one should not make the mistake of thinking that they are similar to each other or that they yield equivalent results. In particular, the Continuous Wavelet Transform and related methods are not necessarily better than a properly windowed Fourier Transform. The best combination of temporal and frequency resolution can be achieved with pursuit-based algorithms, such as Matching Pursuit

Decomposition, and improvements such as Exponential Pursuit, which does not require orthogonal wavelet dictionaries. Interpretation of instantaneous spectra from a time-frequency analysis naturally leads to the concept of Spectral Inversion which attempts to find a superposition of layer responses that yields the observed instantaneous spectrum. This process produces a sparse series of impulse pairs or groups which are summed to form an inverted reflectivity series. Such inversions generally exhibit temporal resolution that is far better than the original seismic data. When the inverted reflection coefficients are band-passed filtered with a wide bandpass filter – the result is “spectrally broadened” seismic data with a bandwidth that can far exceed that of the original data. Spectrally broadened data reveals geological features that are not readily apparent on the original data. As the spectrally broadened data has a

more compact wavelet than the original seismic, apparent discontinuities caused by laterally variable side-lobe interferences are removed, and the spectrally-broadened data often shows better lateral continuity than the original seismic data as well as improved vertical and lateral resolution. These concepts are illustrated with a variety of real data examples.

Biography:John Castagna received his Ph.D. in Geophysics in 1983 from the University of Texas at Austin. He then worked for Arco Oil and Gas Co., in various research, operations, and management positions until 1996 when he took a faculty position at the University of Oklahoma. In 2000, he founded Fusion Geophysical and served as President until his retirement in 2007. He currently holds the Robert Sheriff Chair in Exploration Geophysics at the University of Houston.

efforts to maximize the probability of geological and geophysical (Pg&g) success for a frontier exploration project in an offshore deepwater area. The project is ongoing and this is an outline of our approach to evaluating an area pre-drill.

Through the multidisciplinary integration of various geological/geophysical studies and data sets, a reduced Pg&g has been calculated. Utilizing technology allows

for adjustments in the risk factors in either a positive or negative direction. As geoscientists and explorations, one of our charges is to draw conclusions based on science and to use every possible technical means available to insure we recommend drilling a well with low risk and a high probability of success.

Biography:Allan graduated from the University

of Mississipi with a BS in Geological Engineering in 1976 and from Gerogia Tech with an MS in Geophysics in 1978. He started with Amoco Production Company in 1978, and moved to Mobil Oil in 1982. Following the merger of Exxon and Mobil, Allan moved to Coastal and worked with Coatal / El Paso until 2004 when he left to join RepsolYPF. Allan is currently responsible for Repsol’s activities in Suriname and the Guyanas.

Technical Luncheon continued from page 1.

Technical Breakfast continued from page 1.


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September 2009 Geophysical Society of Houston 516 Geophysical Society of Houston September 2009

SEG’s Living Legends

Look for the Living Legends and the Historical Preservation Committee in the SEG Pavilion at SEG 2009 in Houston. Come

visit your mentors and view the display of geophysical artifacts while you are there!

Three years ago Tom Fulton devised a plan to recognize senior members of the geophysical community who have made significant contributions through their ideas and hard work in the building of our industry. Recognition is accomplished primarily by providing the opportunity at the annual meetings of the SEG for those honorees to congregate and visit with each other as well as with those of us whom they have mentored. The project came to be known as “Living Legends”, appropriate in that Webster’s definition of a legend is “a notable person whose deeds or exploits are much talked about in his

or her own time”. The list of Legends has grown to more than 100 names since its inception.

There was a Living Legends booth at SEG 2007 in San Antonio and at SEG 2008 in Las Vegas, where Legends congregated and met each other. Thanks to hourly scheduled appearances advertised on nearby posters, colleagues and former students visited their mentors there.

For SEG 2009, Living Legends will join with the Historical Preservation Committee (HPC) to provide a meeting place for the Legends at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Again, hourly schedules naming the Legends, will be placed on posters in the Registration area and in the SEG Pavilion where the HPC booth is located. An informal Meet and Greet party is also scheduled for the Legends and their spouses, in the booth on Monday afternoon, October 26, from2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Legends Don Winterstein, Marion Bone, and Elwin Peacock trade stories at SEG 2008 in Las Vegas in the Living Legends booth. Photo: March 2009 TLE.


■ ■

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GEOSCIENCE DAY 2008An Overview of Geological and GeophysicalMethods for Individuals New to the Industry

Find out about the Life of an Oilfield from Prospect to Retirement

Field Acquisition DemonstrationsPresentations

Docent Aided Displays of “Tools of the Trade“

Gain Perspective For Discussing Projects With A Broad Audience

Understand What Work Goes On In Areas Other Than Your Own

Learn What Difficulties And Problems Must Routinely Be Solved

Presented byGeophysical Society of Houston &

Houston Geological SocietyThursday, October 23, 2008 - 7:30 - 4:15

at University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology11611 W. Little York Road, Houston, Texas 77041

$75.00 (Limited to 100 Registrants)

Contact email: [email protected] Tel: 713-463-9477 Fax: 713-963-9160

Hurry!Seating IsLimited To TheFirst 100Registrants!

For more details

or online

registration, visit

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Contact email: [email protected] Tel: 713-463-9477Fax: 713-963-9160


For more

details or online

registration, visit

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Killer whales produce whistles, clicks, pulsed calls, low-frequency pops and jaw claps for two

overlapping functions—to communicate and echolocate.

For years PGS has been communicating closely with operators in exploration basins world-

wide to help locate new prospects, to expand production from existing ones and to lower find-

ing and development costs. Recent significant successes from our depth imaging teams are

giving geoscientists clear images by using state-of-the-art migration algorithms and advanced

velocity model building workflows. To find out more about the bottom line benefits of PGS

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A clearer image www.pgs.com

PGS_Ad_GSH_Jun08_HpgBW_Q6.qxd:PGS Ad 12/8/08 3:33 PM Page 1

SEPTEMBER 2008 Geophysical Society of Houston 7

Attendee Name:First: _______________________________________________ Last: __________________________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: _______________

Telephone: ______________________ Cell: _____________________ Email: __________________________

Company: _________________________________________________________________________________

Years of Experience in Industry: ______________ Job Title/Function: _______________________________

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Contact Telephone: _________________________________________________________________________

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Platinum $2000.00 ❒Gold $1500.00 ❒Silver $1000.00 ❒Bronze $500.00 ❒

Individual Event Registration Fee _________________Sponsorship Fee _________________TOTAL _________________

Pay by check or credit card: ❍ AMEX ❍ VISA ❍ MC

Credit Card Number: ______________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________

Name on Credit Card: _______________________________________________________________________

Make Checks Payable to: Mail To:The Geophysical Society of Houston The Geophysical Society of HoustonGeoScience Day 2008 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250

Houston, Texas 77079

GEOSCIENCE DAY 2008Registration and Sponsorship Form

Registration Fee: $75.00 per attendee.(Registraton is limited to 100 participants)Please complete a form for each attendee.


SEPTEMBER 2008 Geophysical Society of Houston 722 Geophysical Society of Houston SEPTEMBER 2008

GSH MEMBERSHIPREPORT

As of July 10, 2008

Active 891 Associate 186 FT Students 11 Emeritus 56 Honorary 30 Lifetime 31 Total 1205

New MembersEmeritus - 0Associate - 0Student - 0

Active - 7Mohammad WahabHesham Moubarak

Greg JorgensenMike PlumleeRichard VennDonald AdamsFred Schroeder

The early years of seismic exploration involved much experimentation and development of field acquisition parameters. A bothersome event

was called a Ghost Reflection, i.e., a reflection which had an initial upward direction. Depending on the reflection coefficient of the boundary above the shot, a Ghost event can have significant amplitude. To reduce that amplitude, multiple charges were placed in the hole and fired sequentially from top to bottom. The idea was to increase the downward traveling energy relative to the upward traveling energy. One clever method of enhancing downward traveling energy was the “Broomstick Charge”. Instead of connecting multiple charges, detonating cord was wound around a long pole of some kind, perhaps tens of feet long. It was capped at the upper end. This created a downward detonation of the charge, hopefully timed (because of the winding) to the velocity of the downward traveling seismic waves.

Broomstick charges had mixed results. Fortunately, the Ghost reflection problem was reduced by introduction of multifold data acquisition (CDP).

By Lee Lawyer

Attendee Name:First: _______________________________________________ Last: __________________________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: _______________

Telephone: ______________________ Cell: _____________________ Email: __________________________

Company: _________________________________________________________________________________

Years of Experience in Industry: ______________ Job Title/Function: _______________________________

T-Shirt Size: ❍ XL ❍ L ❍ M ❍S

Sponsorship Fee:Sponsorship Company: ______________________________________________________________________

Contact Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

Contact Address: ____________________________________________________________________________

Contact Telephone: _________________________________________________________________________

Contact Email: ______________________________________________________________________________

Platinum $2000.00 ❒

Gold $1500.00 ❒

Silver $1000.00 ❒

Bronze $500.00 ❒

Individual Event Registration Fee _________________Sponsorship Fee _________________TOTAL _________________

Pay by check or credit card: ❍ AMEX ❍ VISA ❍ MC

Credit Card Number: ______________________________________________ Expiration Date: ___________

Name on Credit Card: _______________________________________________________________________

Make Checks Payable to: Mail To:The Geophysical Society of Houston The Geophysical Society of HoustonGeoScience Day 2009 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 250 Houston, Texas 77079

GEOSCIENCE DAY 2009 Registration and Sponsorship Form

Registration Fee: $90.00 per attendee.Event date: Thursday, September 24, 2009

(Registraton is limited to 100 participants)Please complete a form for each attendee.


The SEG is seeking volunteers to help withthe events surrounding this year’s meeting in

Houston, Texas.

Sunday, October 25ththru Friday, October 30th

Visit http://seg.org/meetings/volunteerhou09and sign up online!

Contact the Volunteer Coordinator Chairman or the SEG Business Office

Haynie Stringer • [email protected]

SEG Business Office • 1-918-497-5500


Tournament Sponsorship Opportunities

As with some functions sponsored by the Geophysical Society of Houston, contributions from individuals/companies, such as you, afford the participants a way to enjoy the function more economically. The Tournament is a fundraiser

for the GSH scholarship fund. Portions of the proceeds will generate scholarships for Geosciences students at Texas A&M, UT-Austin, LSU, Texas Tech, Rice, and U of H, to name a few.

Your support will be greatly appreciated by all the tennis players who will be participating in this event. If you would like to be a sponsor for the 2009 GSH Tennis Tournament, please complete the sponsorship form on page 9 and return it as indicated, with your donation, at your earliest convenience.

Please check the item(s) you would like to sponsor.In addition to the specific benefits listed under each category, all sponsors receive recognition with on-site signage and at the awards ceremony.

qTournament Sponsor (1) - $3,000 üCompany name prominently listed as sponsor üA company representative may assist in the awards ceremony, if desired ü4 Complimentary registrationsqLuncheon & Beverages (beer & soft drinks) (4) - $1,000 üCompany name & logo listed as sponsor on all signage

qDoor prizes (15) - $500 üCompany Name & logo listed as sponsor on all signage

qCommemorative Tournament Shirt (5) - $500 üCompany Name & logo listed as sponsor on all signage

qTournament Trophy Sponsor (4) - $500 üCompany Name & logo listed as sponsor on all signage

*All contributors will be recognized in the GSH Newsletter and the HGS Bulletin following the tournament. This is a great way to entertain friends, family, business associates, and clients. So spread the word!

Please see page 9 for Sponsorship Registration form.

2009 GSH TENNIS TOURNAMENTREGISTRATION FORM

Friday, September 11, 2009Houston Racquet Club

10709 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 7702411:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Send a check for $50.00 and entry form to:GSH Tennis TournamentAttn: Liz IvieFugro Multi Client Services, Inc.6100 HillcroftHouston, Texas 77081

Direct: 713-369-5863Cell: 832-620-8864Fax: 713-369-5860E-mail: [email protected]

THE HOUSTON PRESERVATION (Museum) COMMITTEE will review the

history of our industry at the SEG convention this year. The industry went through a period of rapid development in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. This revolutionary period of our history was brought about when the industry realized

that Geophysics was needed to reduce drilling costs. Volunteers are always welcome to assist us with a 1925 Ford Pickup, a highlight of the display representing recording trucks.

HISTORICAL SOUVENIRSAmong our paper artifacts are some 80 actual field reports of GRC (Geophysical Research Corporation -- predecessor of Geophysical Service, Incorporated). While some of these reports contain only the verbal and a refraction arrival time plot, others contain interesting maps. Downstream Pure Oil would develop these into prospects. Would you be interested in a sample of these documents from the ‘20s? How about a copy of the first technical papers of the SEG circa 1930? We have many such gems in our collection.

PHOTOSWe will also display some of the now-famous Schander photos that document early exploration with both seismic refraction methods and Torsion Balance exploration. We hope to give you the feel of a camp, requiring army cots, mosquito nets, etc. Just now we need an old canvas cot, so please search and let us know if you have one we could borrow. Please stay tuned as we search for a location to stage our display.

Museum NewsBy Tom Fulton

SEG 2009, October 25 - 29

. . . Here’s My Card . . .

Sad News

As we prepared to go to press for the September issue of the GSH newsletter, we were saddened to hear of Tom Fulton’s untimely passing on August 7th, 2009.

The geophysical world has lost an ardent, lifelong committed supporter and tireless promoter of our profession. He was also a teacher and never passed up an opportunity to help young people learn about Geophysics. We feel certain that everyone who had a chance to either work with him or be involved with him in the various societies of which he was a member had only praise for him. We are sure Tom would have liked that the word of his leaving us appears in the GSH Newsletter next to the announcements for the activities that he held so dear: the Museum and the Living Legends initiative at the SEG conventions.

Tom was a kind and gentle man with a keen sense of humor. He embodied all the qualities that we should strive to achieve as human beings.

We will miss him.


GSH Tennis Tournament Sponsorship RegistrationReturn this form to: Marvin Taylor or Liz Ivie @ Fugro Multi Client Services, Inc. by Fax: (713) 369-5860 or by mail:

Fugro Multi Client Services, Inc., Attention Marvin Taylor or Liz Ivie, 6100 Hillcroft St., Houston, TX 77081.

For more information or questions regarding sponsorship opportunities call Marvin Taylor @ (713) 369-5864 or Liz Ivie @ (713) 369-5863.

Future Sponsorship Opportunities:As you prepare your 2010 budget, please include sponsorship of the following planned

GSH Annual Tennis Tournament.

Payment Information:

Check Enclosed in the amount of $_______________ (Please make checks payable to GSH Tennis Tournament, Attn: Marvin Taylor or Liz Ivie, 6100 Hillcroft St., Houston, TX 77081.)

GSH Tennis Tournament Sponsorship Registration FormCompany: ________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Contact: _______________________________Title: _____________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Office #: ________________________________________Mobile #: _________________________________

Fax #: __________________________________________Email: ____________________________________

Type of Sponsorship: _______________________________________________________________________

Cost of Sponsorship: _______________________________________________________________________

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Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.Location: WesternGeco 10001 Richmond Houston, TXSpeaker* 1: Abhijit Gangopadhyay, BPAuthors: Abhijit Gangopadhyay*, Robert Lauck, Fabian Wirnkar, BP America, T. Chris Stiteler, Stiteler Consulting, Ron Berryman, Mike Jaffke, Patrick Ng*, Jose Rodriguez, Jaime Stein, Bill Thomas, Geotrace, and Frank Mixon, Mixon EnterprisesTitle: “An Anisotropic Seismic Depth Migration Workflow to aid Interpretation for Tight Gas Prospectivity in the Mountain Front Region of the Anadarko Basin”Summary:We describe a seismic depth imaging workflow that helps delineate tight gas prospectivity in the Mountain Front area of the Anadarko basin in the mid-continent United States. Our workflow involves extensive pre-processing of the seismic data, pre-stack Kirchhoff time and depth migration incorporating appropriate velocity models, and accounts for local anisotropy. Compared to previously available time migrated seismic data from the Mountain Front region, the resulting depth migrated seismic data from the application of our workflow shows substantial improvement in revealing the complex structural geology of the region. Improved clarity of the subsurface image, particularly in the deeper areas around the Mountain Front, leads to improved interpretability of the data, and hence puts us in an advantageous position to generate prospects which in turn helps make sound business decisions. Our workflow also has the potential to serve as an example for evaluating tight gas prospectivity in similar tectonic environments.

Speaker* 2: Patrick Ng, GeotraceTitle: “Lessons Learned – Processing and Imaging of Tight Gas Plays”

ROCK PHYSICS SIG

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Location: CGG Veritas 10300 Town Park Dr., Houston, TX 77072 (Visualization Center, 3rd floor)

Speaker: Ratna Sain, Stanford University

Topic: “Effect Of Diagenesis On Elastic And Transport Properties Using Computational Rock Physics In A Realistic Pore Microstructure”

Abstract:We present the evolution of elastic and transport properties due to diagenetic effects in realistic pore microstructure using computational rock physics tools. We generate compacted spherical random packs using a granular dynamics simulation. The output from this process-based simulation is gridded at fine resolution (5 microns) and used for diagenesis modeling. Different

computational diagenetic methods are employed to recreate the effects of cementation on the initial compacted pack. The microstructures obtained after diagenetic modeling are used for estimating elastic and transport properties. A finite element model is used for elastic properties, while Lattice-Boltzmann method is used for estimating permeability. The bulk and

Biography:

Ratnanabha Sain is currently pursuing his PhD in Geophysics at Stanford University with the Stanford Rock Physics and Borehole Geophysics group (SRB). He holds a Bachelor degree in Mining Engineering from Institute of Technology – BHU, India. His primary interests are computational rock physics, theoretical effective medium modeling in granular media and carbonate rock physics.

Data Processing SIG continued from page 10.

shear moduli from the reconstructed microstructures are compared to clean sandstone samples and are found to be reasonably close. We present different diagenetic trends in the elastic, transport and cross-property domains. The present workflow can be used to simulate different geologic “what-if” process scenarios and their corresponding cross-property trends.

DATA PROCESSING SIG

Summary: Over the past few years, with the advent of improved drilling and fracturing technologies, extraction of unconventional gas has become commercially viable in an expanding portfolio of alternate energy supplies. Some may say that unconventional natural gas is a victim of its own success because the rapid surge in supply, further amplified by economic slow down after the credit crisis, led to a glut in the market.

While it is a commercial challenge in the short term, the outlook for tight gas is robust over the longer term. This is evident in recent acquisitions and investments made in North America by BP, BG, ENI, Shell, Statoil, and the announcement of new find in British Colombia by ExxonMobil.

The focus of this presentation is the application of proven seismic technologies to help operators lower the cost while pursuing exciting new possibilities. We will not focus on a single algorithm, nor any one technique, but more on the integration of geology, geophysics and engineering disciplines. Our goal is to transform what we have learned into best practice. And there is a parallel. Recall AVO as emerging technology around the mid 80s and witness its use as standard practice today. The challenge for geophysicists is to accelerate our collective learning. We aim not for a quarter of a century integration period, but a much compressed time frame to learn how to exploit information afforded in a totally new dimension (azimuth vs. offset) made possible with new full-azimuthal acquisition, through development of techniques and field project feedback.

Biographies:Abhijit Gangopadhyay is a Geophysicist at BP America working in its Gulf of Mexico Developments – Tubular Bells/Kodiak asset. He joined BP in 2007 following a post-doctoral assignment at University of Texas at Austin – Institute for Geophysics working in computational seismology modeling waveforms of teleseismic earthquakes to invert for the crustal velocity structure of the Earth. He obtained a Ph.D from the University of South Carolina developing numerical

models to better understand the causes of continental intraplate earthquakes for use in seismic hazard estimations. He has co-authored about a dozen research articles in peer-reviewed journals and also a chapter in a book on continental intraplate earthquakes published by the Geological Society of America. He has presented his research findings at various national and international conferences. He has won several academic awards at the

university and national levels. He is an active member of SEG, GSH, AGU, SSA, and GSA. He is also a regular reviewer of technical articles submitted to Geophysics, Geophysical Prospecting, Journal of Earth Sciences, and project proposals of the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation. Patrick Ng is Vice President, Reservoir Imaging for GeoTrace. He joined GeoTrace in May 2006. He was

previously employed by Schlumberger-WesternGeco and Parallel Data Systems. Past assignments spanned R&D, processing, marketing and management of business units in London, Gulf of Mexico and Latin America. He Worked on AVO / inversion technology in the mid 80s, and on 4D and depth imaging since the mid 90s. Patrick is a member of the AAPG, SEG and HGS.

Data Processing SIG continued on page 11.

Abhijit Gangopadhyay

Patrick Ng

Ratna Sain

Documents

By Scott Singleton SAME TALK TWO LOCATIONS Got Technical ... · [email protected] Title: Frontier Exploration in the Georgetown Block, Guyana, South America Speaker: Allan Kean, 6 Repsol