I N S I D E Luncheon Co-sponsored by GSH, HAPL, SPE, … · Buying and Selling Production ... the company’s oil and gas exploration ... [email protected] Wulf Massell

GSH Meetings _______________

GSH/HGS Joint Luncheon November 17 ............................................ 1

GSH Technical Breakfast November 10 ............................................ 3

Data Processing SIG ................................... 5

Near-Surface Geophysics ............................ 5

Potential Fields SIG ..................................... 6

Buying and Selling Production ..................... 7

IAGC to sponsor conference focusing on non-exclusive, (spec) geophysical data .... 7

Articles and Comments _______

Editors Note ................................................. 3

From the Past Editor’s Desk: Viewpoint ........ 4

In Memorium ................................................ 7

SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course .......................................... 8-9

SEG Active Membership Benefits You

and GSH ................................................. 10

Welcome To The 30 New Members

Of Our Society ........................................ 10

Luncheon Co-sponsored by GSH,HAPL, SPE, SPWLA, SIPESHosted by HGS

I N S I D E

VOL. 34, NO. 3 NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 1999

REMINDERIf you have a blue address

label on your newsletter, youare deliquent in paying your

dues and will be droppedfrom membership.

Call the GSH office at713/785-6403 to pay via

credit card.

Date: Wednesday,November 17, 1999

Time: Registration andSocial Period -11:15amLunch and talk -11:45am

Location: Hyatt RegencyDowntown, 1200Louisiana

Cost: $20 advanceregistration; $25 atthe door if spaceavailable

Topic:The present and future significance ofenergy industry mergers, particularlythat of BP and Amoco, and on hisgeneral outlook for the energy industryas it enters the next century.

Speaker:David F. Work, BP Amoco Corporation

Biography:David F. Work is

Regional Presidentfor BP AmocoCorporation. In thisposition, Work is thesenior BP Amocorepresentative in theGulf Coast,Southwest and

Rocky Mountain states andconcentrates on maintaining andbuilding relationships with externalaudiences.

Work coordinates hisresponsibilities with the vice presidentsof BP Amoco’s seven exploration and

production business units that arelocated in Houston, as well as theleaders of the oil and chemicalbusinesses located in the geographicalarea. He reports to Rodney Chase,Deputy Group Chief Executive for BPAmoco.

Work transferred to Houston fromLondon, where he was a Group VicePresident in BP Amoco’s Explorationand Production stream and a memberof its Executive Committee. Prior tothe merger between BP and Amoco,he had been Amoco CorporationsSenior Vice President of SharedServices and a member of thecompany’s Strategic PlanningCommittee. He was responsible forthose groups that provided supportservices to the corporations worldwidebusiness operations.

Work’s previous experiencesincluded serving as Group VicePresident of worldwide exploration forAmoco’s exploration and productionsector. Named to that post in February1992, Work had been responsible forthe company’s oil and gas explorationactivities in some 30 countries includingmany in Latin America, Africa, easternEurope, Asia, and the Middle East.

From 1990 to 1992, Work wasPresident of Amoco Egypt. Prior tothat, he had been Vice President ofAmoco’s Houston region and VicePresident of Exploration for the Africaand Middle East region.

Work joined Amoco as a geologistin Denver in 1970 and has spent hiscareer largely in exploration and

Luncheon continued on page 4

2 Geophysical Society of Houston September, 1999

GEOPHYSICAL SOCIETY OF HOUSTONJoan Henshaw, Office Manager • 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 301 • Houston, Texas 77036 • Office Hours 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: (713) 785-6403 • Fax: (713) 785-0553 • Event Reservations Number: (713) 917-0218email: [email protected] • website - http://www.seg.org/sections/gsh/gshhome.html

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

PHONE FAX E-MAILPRESIDENT ............................... Pat Starich* ........................ 281/423-7234 .......... 281/423-7399 .......... [email protected]

Corp. Relations .................. Wulf Massell ....................... 713/650-3820 .......... 713/659-3735 .......... [email protected] ........................... Art Ross ............................ 281/423-5476 .......... 281/423-5202 .......... [email protected] & Awards .............. Wulf Massell ....................... 713/650-3820 .......... 713/659-3735 .......... [email protected] ............................ Tom Fulton ........................ 713/783-4893 .......... 713/783-1075 .......... [email protected] ........................ Pat Starich ......................... 281/423-7234 .......... 281/423-7399 .......... [email protected]

PRES.-ELECT ............................ John Sumner ..................... 713/431-6096 ............................................ [email protected] Liaison ............... Hua-Wei Zhou .................... 713/743-3424Advisory ............................ Lee Lawyer ........................ 281/531-5347 .......... 281/531-5347 .......... [email protected] Ref ................ Sam LeRoy ........................ 281/556-9766 .......... 281/556-9778 .......... [email protected] ............................. Stephen Johnson ............... 281/366-3647 .......... 281/366-5856 .......... [email protected] ................................ Hugh Hardy ....................... 713/729-9208 .......... 713/726-0456 .......... [email protected] ......................... Claire Bresnahan ................ 713/880-5910 ............................................ [email protected]

FIRST VP .................................. Lloyd Weathers .................. 281/296-3453 .......... 281/296-4370 .......... [email protected] Ed .................... H. Roice Nelson ................. 713/974-6907 .......... 713/974-1496 .......... [email protected] ........................... Lloyd Weathers .................. 281/296-3453 .......... 281/296-4370 .......... [email protected] Breakfasts .................. Scott Sechrist ..................... 281/856-8029 .......... 281/856-7445 .......... [email protected] Luncheons ................. Shane Coperude ................ 281/275-7500 .......... 281/275-7660 .......... [email protected] Committee ................. Dave Agarwal .................... 713/650-0325 .......... 713/650-3822 .......... [email protected] Transfer ..................... David Forel ........................ 713/953-6810 ............................................ [email protected]

SIGSData Processing ................. Karl Schleicher ................... 713/782-1234 ............................................ [email protected] Surf Geophysics ......... Steve Danbom ................... 281/293-2636 .......... 281/293-3305 .......... [email protected] ..................... Randy Hoover .................... 713/546-4407 .......... 713/546-8685 .......... [email protected] Fields ................... Mike Kowalski .................... 713/432-6828 ............................................ [email protected]. Geophysics ................. Quincy Chen ...................... 281/265-9897 .......... 281/265-8783 .......... [email protected]

SEC. VP .................................... Scott Sechrist ..................... 281/856-8029 .......... 281/856-7445 .......... [email protected] Meeting .................. Jim Moulden ...................... 281/293-5711 .......... 281/293-2015 .......... [email protected] Banquet ................. Carmen Comis ................... 713/393-4800 .......... 713/393-4801 .......... [email protected] Tournament ................ George Lauhoff .................. 281/275-7500 .......... 281/879-1472 .......... [email protected] Tounament ................. Greg Doll ........................... 713/658-8096 .......... 713/951-0343 .......... [email protected] Peel ....................... Lee Shelton ....................... 713/789-2444 .......... 713/789-4449 .......... [email protected] Clays ................... Steve Bircher ..................... 713/780-8334 .......... 713/780-8335 .......... [email protected] Tounament .............. Joe Jones .......................... 281/438-5626 .......... 281/682-6928

SECRETARY .............................. Kathy Hardy ...................... 281/980-3371 ............................................ [email protected] ........................... Kathy Hardy ...................... 281/980-3371 ............................................ [email protected] Membership .............. Hugh Hardy ....................... 713/729-9208 .......... 713/726-0456 .......... [email protected] Auxiliary .................. Carol Gafford ..................... 281/370-3264 ............................................ [email protected] Rep .......................... Alf Kdaveness .................... 713/468-5123 .......... 713/468-0900SEG Membership ............... Steve Starr ......................... 281/492-1856 .......... 281/398-6669 .......... [email protected]

TREASURER ............................. Phil Inderwiesen ................. 713/954-6244 ............................................ [email protected] Loans .................... Don Ashabranner ............... 713/669-3782 .......... 713/669-3725 .......... [email protected]

EDITOR ..................................... Wendy Jones ..................... 713/783-7837 .......... 713/783-9780 .......... [email protected] Staff .................. Jess Kozman ...................... 713/623-2481 .......... 713/621-9432 .......... [email protected]

Elizabeth Fisher .................. 281/597-1777 .......... 281/597-5377 .......... [email protected] Cardwell .................... 713/783-7837 .......... 713/783-9780 .......... [email protected] Kiely ....................... 713/789-2300 .......... 713/789-5222 .......... [email protected]

Company Contacts ............. Scott Sechrist ..................... 281/856-8029 .......... 281/856-7445 .......... [email protected] Pub .................... Scott Sechrist ..................... 281/856-8029 .......... 281/856-7445 .......... [email protected] ...................... John Freeland .................... 281/423-7223 .......... 281/423-7801Publicity ............................ Scott Sechrist ..................... 281/856-8029 .......... 281/856-7445 .......... [email protected] Store .................. Kathy Hardy ...................... 281/980-3371 ............................................ [email protected] Notices ................. Lloyd Weathers .................. 281/296-3453 .......... 281/296-4370 .......... [email protected]

PAST PRES ............................... Bob Tatham ....................... 713/954-6027 .......... 713/954-6113 .......... [email protected] PAST PRES .................... Bill Gafford ........................ 281/366-7873 .......... 281/366-7569 .......... [email protected] SECTION REPS* ................ Dan Ebrom ........................ 713/954-6252 .......... 713/954-6911 .......... [email protected]

Young KimAlf Klaveness ..................... 713/468-5123H. Roice Nelson ................. 713/974-6907 .......... 713/974-1496 .......... [email protected] Ross ............................ 281/423-5476 ............................................ [email protected]

Alternate SEG Sec. Reps ............. Hugh Hardy ....................... 713/729-9208 .......... 713/726-0456 .......... [email protected] Lawyer ........................ 281/531-5347 ............................................ [email protected] Massell ....................... 713/650-3820 .......... 713/659-3735 .......... [email protected] Agarwal .................... 713/650-0325 .......... 713/650-3822 .......... [email protected] Verm ..................... 713/782-1234 .......... 713/782-1829 .......... [email protected]

September, 1999 Geophysical Society of Houston 3

Technical Breakfast

Technical Breakfast continued on page 4

Editor’s NoteTo insure your information reaches

the GSH society members in a timelymanner it must appear in the in theappropriate newsletter issue. Pleasenote the following deadlines and planyour function’s publicity strategyaccordingly. Items must be receivedon or before the correspondingdeadline date. Materials may be sentto [email protected] or faxed to713/783-9780.

1999 GSH NewsletterDeadlines

Issue ..................... December, 1999Deadline ........... Nov. 12, 1999

Issue ........................ January, 2000Deadline ........... Dec. 13, 1999

GeoEventsCalendar

Make reservations by e-mail [email protected] and includeyour member number (found onBulletin mailing label), or use thephone reservation system at713/917-0218.

Reservation CodesUse these codes to make voice

mail meeting reservations:

Technical Luncheon .......... 601

Data Processing SIG.......... 602

Interpretation SIG ............. 603

Reservoir SIG ................... 604

Potential Fields SIG ........... 605

Environmental ApplicationsSIG ............................... 606

Breakfast .......................... 607

Date: Wednesday,November 10

Time: 7:00 AM - 7:30AMrefreshments andnetworkingSpeaker introduction7:30 - 7:45 AM asattendance dictates.Speaker until 8:20 -8:30 AM, a shortQ&A session, closingremarks/next month’sannouncement andadjourn by 8:30 -8:45 AM.

Location: Chevron Auditorium -1301 McKinneyTake escalators to themezzanine level. Gopast the guard station,through the elevatorcore, and turn right tothe Auditorium.

Parking: 2 Houston CenterSpeaker: Wulf Massell

Title:Closing the Seismic Signal Loop toLink the Geologic Model with FieldAcquisition, Data Processing, andInterpretation

Abstract:Seismic imaging and interpretation

technology has evolved to its presentstate through a series of serendipitousinnovations that continue to push theenvelope of acquisition and dataprocessing parameters. As we reflecton the past and look toward the futureit is prudent to re-examine thefundamentals that govern the seismicmethod and the limitations of thetechniques that shape our opinions.For example, data processing hastraditionally focused on ways to get ridof noise. This paper suggests that wepay attention to the total acousticresponse, and in particular to thesurvival of those events we choose toidentify as signal. We can then addressthe question of how we mightcollectively deal with our manyopinions about acquisition andprocessing parameters to assure that

we are doing enough to recover asmuch useful information as possible.

Dr. Massell will discuss thetradeoffs between incrementallyincreased acquisition effort and theadditional information thus obtained byanalyzing a closed signal loop. Heenters the loop with a geologic modeldescribed by geophysical parameters,such as two way reflection time, signalbandwidth, velocity profiles, and earthattenuation. He then imposessubsurface resolution requirements tomake a viable exploration play andsuggests several quantitative limits onacquisition geometries for a successfulseismic exploration program. The nextstep in the signal loop, followingseismic acquisition, is the dataprocessing flow. This should honor thesignal limitations imposed byacquisition and maximize the reflectionsignal used to describe the subsurface.Depending on the bandwidth, thesignal-to-noise ratio, and the amplitudeaccuracy of the processed data, theinterpreter may be working with eithera structural or a stratigraphic product.Assuming the acoustic response of theearth allows sufficient signal, the datamay ultimately lend itself to AVOinversion. A parameter tradeoffbetween these interpretive goals ispresented. The signal loop closes onitself when the seismic interpretationis used to update the original geologicmodel.

Speaker BioWulf Massell is President and CEO

of EPIC Geophysical, aHouston based seismicdata processingcompany. His industryexperience includesemployment at AmocoProduction Co.,

Geosource, Inc., and as anindependent consultant providingseismic survey design, processing, anddata interpretation services. He hasalso held academic appointments atThe University of Texas at Austin, atthe Federal University of Bahia in


From the Previous Editors Desk: Viewpoint

Apparently, my last columngenerated some controversy. As of thisdate, I have heard from five people whothought that my portrayals ofgeoscientists were too gender-stereotypical. My first response is thatI am just glad someone is reading! Iam also glad that the newsletter issuccessfully fulfilling one of its primarypurposes, which is to promote debateand dialogue. Honestly, folks, I wasonly trying to infuse a potentially dulldiscourse with some creative writingthat might appeal to some of ouryounger members. However, I mustpoint out that of those five complaints,four have been men who felt that theguy in the story came off as a real geek,so at least I’m being sexist in a veryevenhanded manner. Therefore, beforeI begin this column, let me provide thefollowing standard disclaimer:

“The following is a personalviewpoint and does not reflect thepolicies of the GSH. Opposingopinions are welcomed and should beaddressed to Wendy Jones, editor.”

Also, the persons and events aboutto be depicted here are fictional andany resemblance to oil companies livingor dead is purely coincidental. Now,let’s see who we can stir up this month!

I have just witnessed what I wouldconservatively estimate to be my eighthround of layoffs in nineteen years inthe oil and gas business. I have left threecompanies in that time, and only onevoluntarily, so a little math shows thatI have been a survivor more often thannot. Based on that experience, I wouldlike to offer the following tips for:

How to run a downsizing so yourcompany will be the talk of theoil patch!

1) Make sure that rumors about thedate and extent of the cuts circulatefor weeks beforehand. This insuresa total lack of productivity.

2) Hold a meeting of all employees.Tell them that ten percent of themwill be laid off. Instruct them toreturn to their offices and wait fora call.

3) Escort all terminated employeesimmediately to the front door andpost a police guard at the entrance.

4) Have the CEO of the companytake an exotic Caribbean cruise soa new hire from human resourcesgets to deliver the news.

5) Time the workforce reduction tocoincide with the company’spurchase of a new Lear jet.

6) Point out that the layoff is the resultof pressure from stockholders,conveniently ignoring the fact thatwith today’s profit-sharing, stockoptions, and 401K plans, all theemployees being laid off are alsostockholders.

7) Place a recruiting ad in the localnewspaper’s employment sectionon the same day as theterminations.

8) If you have recently boughtanother company, empower themanagers from the acquiredorganization, who haven’t had achance to meet your staff, byletting them make the decisionsabout which employees to keep.

9) Tailor your severance packages,vacation policies, and continuationof benefits to be wildly out of synchwith other company’s recentofferings.

10) Six months later, when oil pricesrebound, rehire some of the same“dead wood” you just cut, but inmore important positions and athigher salaries.

And lastly, make sure you lay offthe people you can really do withoutin a scaled-back business environment.You know, the young employees whoknow how to run the computers, theexperienced hands who still rememberthe lessons of working in the field, andthe techs who keep your data loadedand inventoried. Then blame it on theremaining employees when yourcomputing infrastructure falls apart,you drill dry holes, and you can’t findyour surveys.

Brazil, the University of Houston, andthe Houston Advanced ResearchCenter.

Dr. Massell holds the BS, MA, andPh.D. degrees in Geology andGeophysics. He is an active user anddeveloper of 2-D and 3-D seismicreflection technology. In 1992 hefounded EPIC Geophysical, a divisionof E&P Imaging Corporation. EPIC’sprocessing philosophy focuses onoptimizing parameter choices that willassure undistorted reflection signal flowfrom the seismic source to thesubsurface target, the receiver, theacquisition instruments, through dataprocessing, and finally to the finalinterpretation display.

Wulf is an active member of theGeophysical Society of Houston andof the Society of ExplorationGeophysicists. He has served bothsocieties in numerous capacitiesincluding President of the GSH andFirst Vice President of the SEG.

production operations.He received a Bachelor of Arts

degree in Geology from WesleyanUniversity, Middletown, Conn., in1968 and a Masters of Science degreein Geology from the University ofCalifornia, Santa Cruz in 1970. Healso completed the Executive SummaryProgram at Stanford University in1981.

Work is a board member of theInstitute of International Education. Heis also actively involved in manyprofessional organizations, includingthe American Petroleum Institute andSociety of Petroleum Engineers; andis a board of trustees member of theAmerican Geological Institute,Wesleyan University, Stanford EarthScience Advisory Board and theEnergy and Geoscience InstituteAdvisory Board.

Luncheon continued from page 1

Technical Breakfast continued from page 3


SIG Meetings

Data ProcessingSIGDate: Wednesday,

November 17, 1999Time: Social 4:30

Presentations5:00 to 6:30

Location: Rice UniversityDuncan Hall

Directions: Enter the north side ofRice University atentrance one, thecorner of Main Streetand Sunset Blvd. Atthe T Junction turnright and find thevisitor parking.Duncan Hall is NorthWest of the parkinglot.

Cost: NO COST

Topic:A hands-on primer for using clustersin Seismic DP

Organizers:Allen Foley (GeoCenter Inc),Frank Dumanoir (GeophysicalDevelopment Corp.)

Host:Professor Ken Kennedy, Math ScienceDepartment, Rice University

Speakers:Bee Bednar (Advanced Data Solutions)Ed Steele (Exploration DesignSoftware)

Meeting Outline:• Why clusters?• Hardware issues - Processor,

network and timing issues• Software issues - Protocols,

algorithm suitability & OS issues• Reliability and fault tolerance• Memory usage (type/function)• Throughput relative to single box

soution• Cost considerations• Lessons learned• Question and Answer Session

An organizing meeting of DataProcessing SIG was held on September22 to plan the programs for 1999/2000. The topics scheduled for theyear are:

Oct 20ModelingKurt Marfurt

Nov 17Cluster ComputingAllen Foley & Frank Dumanoir

Dec 15Depth ImagingKarl Schleicher

Jan 19AVOFred Hilterman

Feb 23MultiplesKamel Siddiqui & Bee Bednar

Mar 224 ComponentWalter Kissinger & Lloyd Weathers

Apr 19Pore Pressure PredictionJerry Kapoor

May 17Depth ImagingSide Jin

Sep 20Research Directions and DP needs

or case historiesKarl Schleicher

We also discussed a workshop ona selected exploration problem, forexample processing techniquessuccessful in the deep water. AllenFoley volunteered to look into theworkshop idea.

We usually have two organizerseach month. If you can help organize,offer a meeting place, or present apaper, please call Karl Schleicher at713/782-1234 or send an email [email protected].

GSH Near-SurfaceSIG MeetingDate: Tuesday,

November 16, 1999Time: 5:30 PMLocation: Exxon Production

Research Complex3120 BuffaloSpeedway, SouthTower Building (OnRichmond Avenue)

Speaker:Ms. Diana Dana, Masters Candidate inGeophysics at Rice University

Topic:High-Resolution Seismic Survey Overa Near-Surface Contamination Site

A high-resolution, 2-D seismicsurvey was conducted at the OU-2 site,Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Threeseismic reflection lines, each 36 to 42meters in length, were acquired acrossa buried channel region defined by drillholes, which acts as a collection troughfor DNAPL’s. The seismic target forthe survey was a clay layer at the baseof the channel that serves to preventthe DNAPL’s from entering the localgroundwater system. Brute stacks oftwo of the lines are presented showinglocations of the adjacent monitoringwells for correlation to the loggeddepths to the confining clay layer.

Short Biography of Ms. DianaDana - Ms. Dana holds the BS

degree in Geological Sciences from theUniversity of Redlands and the MSDegree from California StateUniversity at Los Angeles. From 1984to 1995, she was a Staff Geologist /Geophysicist for TRW Ballistic MissilesDivision. She is currently a Masterscandidate in Geophysics at RiceUniversity where her studies aredirected by Dr. Alan Levander, Chairand Cary Croneis Professor of Geologyand Geophysics.


POTENTIALFIELDS SIGA THREE-DIMENSIONALGEOLOGICALLYCONSTRAINED DENSITYINVERSION OF GRAVITYPOTENTIALBYKEVIN CRAIN

Where: HESS building, 5430Westheimer, Houston

WHEN: November 18, 19995:30 Social Hour;6:30 Dinner;7:30 Presentation

Cost: $22.00

Contact: Mike Kowalski, Chair - GSHPotential Fields Group, at 713-432-6828 ([email protected]) byTuesday, NOVEMBER 16, forreservations. E-mail is best because Ican confirm your reservation. PleaseHONOR your reservation! We mustbill no-shows!

Abstract:I am developing a gravity potential

interpretation using 3-D geologicmodels in areas of complex geologyand topography. To illustrate thisinterpretation I will show results forboth regional and detailed geologicinterpretations using gravity potentialdata in and around Jackass Flats at theNevada Test Site. The gravitycontribution at unit density of each 3-D geologic body is computed from thesurface integral computed on a

The Geophysical Society of Houston (GSH) recently elected new officers to its executive board for the 1999-2000 term. Theyare (left to right) Wendy Jones - Editor, Lloyd R. Weathers - First Vice-president, Philip L. Inderwiesen Treasurer, Patrick J.Starich - President, John R. Sumner - President-elect, Scott Sechrist - Second Vice-president and Kathryn Hardy -Secretary.GSH was formed in 1947 to promote the science and profession of geophysics and currently has over 1800 members. GSHholds a technical luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the Houston Engineering and Scientific Societyand conducts an extensive program of technical symposia and seminars open to the public. Visit the GSH website at www.seg.org/sections/gsh/gshhome.html or call the office at 713-785-6403 for information on meetings and membership.

regularly gridded representation of thesurface. I then test the geologicmodel’s consistency using a leastsquares inversion algorithm on density,constrained by the body’s expecteddensities and gravity contributions.Consistency is deemed an adequate fit,and inconsistency requires modificationof the geologic structure or a re-evaluation of the expected rockdensities. The initial regional geologicmodel around NTS had a residual fieldof about 40 mgals and application ofthe inversion left a zero-mean residualof about 15 mgals in the area ofinterest. This residual field clearlyreflects geology not modeled at theregional scale. This regional modelingis a clear improvement over thecomplete Bouguer anomaly in thisarea.


In MemoriumBird Glenn Swan

BIRD GLENN SWAN, age 92, died September 20, 1999 inHouston, Texas. He was born in Cleveland, Indian Territory (Oklahoma)on March 3, 1907, one of 13 children of Kelly and Dollie Swan. Birdwas a gentle man, loved by his family and friends. His wife, Isabelpreceded him in 1988. He is survived by three children, Maria Larsonof San Antonio, Stephen K. Swan, and William B. Swan, both ofHouston. Bird was the only one of the 13 children in his family toobtain a college education, having graduated from the University ofOklahoma in 1928 with degrees in geology and geophysics. He wentto work immediately for Continental Oil Co., now Conoco, Inc., on aseismograph crew, and was a founding Conoco “doodlebugger”. Birdserved in various geophysical positions for Conoco in Ponca City andOklahoma City, OK. before becoming manager of geophysics in theHouston headquarters in 1956. He served Conoco in that positionuntil his retirement in 1972. He was active in the Geophysical Societyof Houston for many years, serving as its president in 1971/72. Birdwas an avid golfer all his life and was a charter member of the ChampionsGolf Club. Bird also loved to sing. He sang with the Kiwanis Glee Clubin Ponca City for many years, and various church choirs the last beingthe choir of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church. After retirement, Birdand Isabel moved to Lakeway, Austin, Texas and lived there until theirreturn to Houston in 1988. Besides his children, Bird leaves two sistersand a brother, eight grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Amemorial service was held in Cleveland, Oklahoma. Remembrancesmay be made in his name to St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 14301Stuebner-Airline Rd., Houston, TX 77069.

IAGC to sponsor conference focusing onnon-exclusive, (spec) geophysical data

It’s a given that 3-D seismic revolutionized the oil and gas industry. Yet, wereit not for the widespread availability of relatively inexpensive non-exclusive (spec)data, the vastly improved drilling success rates of the past several years would beenjoyed only by those companies who could have afforded pricey proprietary data.

With the recent industry-wide spate of cost-cutting, downsizing, mergers, etc.,many of the old rules are being rewritten or severely tested, and spec data, whichprovide the foundation for the bulk of U.S. exploration activity, are being impactedalong with all other areas of the industry.

Even in the best of times, however, the myriad business issues associated withspec data - legal, financial, ethical and others - are often misunderstood/unappreciated by those industry participants who need and use these data.

These issues will be addressed at the upcoming conference, “Current Issues InNon-Exclusive Geophysical Data....The Exploration Tool of Choice”. Sponsoredby the IAGC, the event will be held November 16-17 in Houston at the DoubletreeHotel at Post Oak. For registration information, contact Louise Durham, conferenceco-chairman, at 713/840-1510.

Buying and SellingProductionThursday, December 2, 19998:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Shell Auditorium, One Shell Plaza

Buying and selling productionrequires different focus and skills thanexploration and development activities.Both novice and experiencedproduction traders will learn from thiscourse, featuring the followingpresentations:

Merger, Acquisition, andDevestment TransactionsOverviewDavid L. Bole, VP CorporateResearch & Development, Randall& Dewey, Inc.

Exploring Vs. Buying ReservesDan Olds, Petroleum EngineeringConsultant, Coopers & Lybrand

Structuring the Deal: Who DoesWhat, WhenGeoff Roberts, Madison EnergyAide: Georgia Conger, handlesslides & presentations

Financing the DealPaul Riddle VP Finance, First Union

Auctions vs. Negotiated SalesKen Olive, President, The Oil &Gas Asset Clearinghouse

Luncheon Keynote speaker:John Walker, President & CEO ofEnervest Management Company

This course is intended for anyupstream energy professionalgeoscientist, petroleum engineer,petrophysicist, or landman.

Cost: $75Course is limited to first 50 registrants.Lunch is included.

To reserve a seat, send a check payableto HGS to:HGS, 7457 Harwin, Suite 301,

Houston, Texas 77036,Attn: Networking Course


COURSE DESCRIPTIONMulticomponent studies are

perhaps today at the same stagethat 3-D studies were fifteen yearsago. The renewed interest in shearwaves is obvious, especially in thesubsea environment where millionsof dollars are being spent onacquiring the elastic response ofthe earth. Because shear wave-related techniques are raising theinterest of the E&P industry, thiscourse addresses, through casehistories, the practical aspects ofmulticomponent data acquisition,processing and interpretation.

Although the industry resortsto shear wave propagation whenthe usual compressional responseis poor, the main promise of theshear wave response is in itscombination with thecompressional one. However, thisis possible only when the qualityand resolution of the tworesponses are similar.

The first part of the course isdevoted to overcoming thedifficulties associated with shearwave acquisition. Converted modeoperation is covered in detail usingreal-life examples. Theparticularities of sea bottomreceivers are also examined.

The second part of the coursereviews the processing and themain challenges of the shearconverted modes: staticcorrections, gathering, velocity

analysis and compensation for shearwave splitting in axial anisotropy. Thecourse gives a detailed description ofprocessing sequences. 2-D and 3-Dresults, yielding natural axis orientationof layers, are compared in shear andPS converted modes.

The third part of the course isdevoted to case histories where newattributes, such as Vp/Vs ratio, crackdensity, or fracture orientation, areillustrated in a reservoir characterizationcontext. These case histories can guidethe geophysicist to decide if a particulargeological situation can be best handledusing shear waves.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?For those who are interested in the

potential of the methodology involvingshear waves, it is a good opportunityto learn from one of the leaders in thisfield and to maximize the chances ofgetting the most out of the data whenbig investments are at stake.

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHYRobert J. Garotta graduated from

the Facult=E9 des Sciences in Paris andbegan his career in the geophysicaldepartment of the French NationalCenter for Scientific Research (CNRS),where he conducted work in themagnetotelluric method. He spent 37years at CGG, first in the gravitymethod, then as a seismologist in fieldoperations. Later he joined the GeneralGeophysics Division as an areageophysicist in charge of quality control

SEG DISTINGUISHED INSTRUCTOR SHORT COURSEDecember 7, 1999 • 8:00am - 4:30pm • Houston Marriott Westside

and technical assistance tooperations. His solid technicalbackground, combined with hispermanent involvement in fieldoperations, gave him theexperience to successfully addressthe most complex geophysicalproblems. He concluded his careerat CGG as senior vice president ofgeophysical methods. He is nowadvising the CGG group in the areaof multicomponent seismic datafrom acquisition to interpretation.He has made significantcontributions in various fields ofresearch and development such asvibroseis, velocity analysis, staticcorrections and 3-D survey design,and is the author of numeroustechnical papers. He was one ofthe key promoters of shear waveacquisition, processing andinterpretation in our industry. Hispioneering work on the use ofconverted shear waves led himfrom the first experiments inFrance to active participation in theColorado School of Mines projects.A longstanding member of theSEG and of the EuropeanAssociation of Geoscientists &Engineers (EAGE), he was the co-recipient of the ConradSchlumberger award in 1965. Mr.Garotta has two children and fivegrandchildren, and he spends a lotof time in his vineyard in the Southof France.

SHEAR WAVES FROM ACQUISITION TOINTERPRETATIONBy Robert Garotta


Registration form forSEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course

Shear Waves from Acquisition to InterpretationDecember 7, 1999

Houston Marriott WestsideNW Corner of Katy Freeway IH-10 and Eldridge Parkway

13210 Katy Freeway • Houston, TX

Presentation: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. • Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.

Advance registration is required - Registration is limited to 200.Important: Please complete a separate form for each registrant

Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________ Country:_______________ Postal Code:______________

Phone: ______________________________________________ Fax: ______________________________________________

Email: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

SEG Member? ❏ Yes ❏ No Geophysical Society of Houston Member? ❏ Yes ❏ No

Cost: (Check ONE)❏ Member of SEG and GSH - includes lunch - $50❏ Member of SEG but not GSH - $70 ($20 will be applied toward GSH membership)❏ Member of GSH but not SEG - $120 ($70 will apply toward SEG Associate Membership)❏ Member of neither GSH nor SEG - $140 Please complete both applications

* If you wish to join either GSH or SEG and would like to apply this registration fee to your membership dues, please submit theappropriate membership application form(s) with this registration form.

AMOUNT ENCLOSED: $_______________Make checks payable to Geophysical Society of Houston

Send to: GSH, 7457 Harwin Drive, Suite 301, Houston TX, 77036-2160

Payment by credit card: CARD: ______ Mastercard ______ Visa _____ American Express

PRINTED NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CARD: _________________________________________________________________

ACCOUNT NUMBER: ______________________________________________________________________________________

EXPIRATION DATE: ____________________________________ Signature:_________________________________________

DATE: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

BILLING ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________________________________

If paying by credit card, you may fax to: 713-785-0553

If coming from out of town, for your convenience, the contact information for the hotel:Phone: 281-558-8338 • Fax: 281-558-4028 • http: www.fairfieldinn.com/marriott/HOUWS/


WELCOME TO THE 30 NEWMEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY

It’s always great to see us make progress toward our 31December 1999 membership goal of 2000. These 30members bring our current membership up to 1856 - BUTthere is an ominous black cloud on the horizon. As of thisdate we have 448 members who have not paid their 1999-2000 dues for renewal. These members have to be classifiedas delinquents and the 1st of November is the DROP DEADdate, at which time information of those members will bedropped from the database. We’ve made it as easy as possiblefor members to renew by allowing Joan Henshaw to acceptcredit card information for payment of dues over the phone.I would urge all of our members to support our membershipdrive. DON’T BE A GSH DELINQUENT and FORMERMEMBER.

Most GSH members havepracticed geophysics for many yearsand became active members of theSEG long ago. But many of you areassociate SEG members, eligible to beactive, who for one reason or anotherhave not upgraded the status of yourSEG membership. If you havepracticed geophysics for eight years,including some or all of the time youspent in college, you are likely eligibleto be an SEG active.

Now is a good time to considerupgrading your SEG membership.Active SEG membership is good foryou and GSH. It secures your right tovote in the annual election of theExecutive Committee to the SEGCouncil. You also automaticallybecome an active GSH member andcan vote in our elections and hold GSHoffice. Furthermore, GSHrepresentation at SEG CouncilMeetings is determined by the numberof active SEG members in our section.

I wish to kindly request all GSHmembers who are currently SEGassociate members to review theirstatus and consider upgrading to activeSEG membership. Upgrading yourSEG membership is simple. It will onlycost you a few minutes of time and apostage stamp. Near the back of the

May 1999 “Yearbook” issue of TheLeading Edge, you’ll find an SEGApplication for Active Membership. Ifyou don’t save back issues of TLE, callMarge Gerhart at the SEG office inTulsa at (918) 497-5530 and ask herto fax you the application. Read theeligibility requirements carefully, checkthe box labeled “transfer” at the top ofthe application, and fill in the form.You’ll need to find three active SEGmembers as references. Just call a fewof your professional friends who areSEG actives and ask for theirendorsement. You don’t need theirsignatures. If you don’t know whichof your friends are SEG actives, youcan also find the SEG membershipstatus of every member in the Mayyearbook TLE. If you know any GSHBoard Members, listed on page two ofthis newsletter, call one of us. Betteryet, you can come to the November17 GSH Joint Technical LunchMeeting where many SEG actives willsurely be found. Then drop yourcompleted application in the mail andyou’re on your way to receiving thebenefits of SEG active membership inthe next millennium.

While on the topic of membership,let me remind you of GSH’s goal toreach 2,000 members by the year

2000. Our membership chairmanHugh Hardy has diligently pursued thisgoal through the past year and recentlyreported GSH membership stands at1,856, only 144 from our goal. Sadly,many of our long-time members havenot yet renewed. This lag in returningmembers seems to occur each year andcreates a big job for Hugh and hiscommittee who must try to personallycontact non-renewing members. But,it has never been easier to renew yourGSH membership. In addition tosending a check, you can also mail,phone or fax your credit cardinformation to Joan Henshaw at tel.:(713) 785-6403, fax: (713) 785-0553.If you’re not sure you’ve renewed, justcall Joan. It costs only $20.00 torenew and because GSH is a 501(c)(3)organization, your membershipcontribution is tax deductible. As amember you’ll continue to receive themonthly GSH Newsletter, specialnotices of upcoming events, anddiscounted admission to luncheonmeetings and most technical seminars.My thanks to those who have alreadyrenewed. I pledge to all our membersGSH’s commitment to a continouslyimproving program.

P. J. Starich

SEG Active Membership Benefits You and GSH

Membership Report as ofOctober 7, 1999

ActiveDon R. Bailey • Robert (Brent) Boyd • Michael T. Challis

Sharon L. Cornelius • Mark A. Fortuna • Doyle F. FouquetJohn A. Hefti • Patrick J. Hooyman • Robert W. HornerCraig M. Jarchow • Robert R. Lauck • Kurt J. Marfurt

Matthes R. Martin • Ilkka T. Noponen • John J. O’BrienJoe I. Sanders • Timothy F. Wright

AssociatePreston S. Broesche • David J. Brookes

Kenneth S. Dropek • Steven L. Gillie • Lewis T. GossSteven D. Kalavity • Steven T. Knapp • Robert B. Lathon

Edward S. Meanley • Geerchen M. SchmelingRon D. Smaniotto • Elizabeth P. Turner

Earl P. Underwood


GSH Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation

Have A

Happy

Thanksgiving

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GEOPHYSICAL SOCIETY OF HOUSTON7457 HARWIN DRIVE, SUITE 301

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77036(713) 785-6403

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The Geophysical Society of Houston Newsletter (ISSN 1082-0817) is publishedmonthly except for June and July by the Geophysical Society of Houston,7457 Harwin, Suite 301, Houston, Texas 77036-2190. Subscription to thispublication is included in the membership dues of $20 annually. Periodicalspostage paid in Houston, Texas.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Geophysical Society of HoustonNewsletter, 7457 Harwin, Suite 301, Houston, Texas 77036-2190.

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GSH TechnicalBreakfast

NEWSLETTERDEADLINE

HGS/GSHLunch Meeting

NOVEMBER 1999

IAGC Conference

Potential FieldsSIG

Near-SurfaceGeophysics SIG

Data ProcessingSIG

IAGC Conference

1999 SEGDistinguished

Instructor ShortCourse

GSHBoard Meeting

Documents

I N S I D E Luncheon Co-sponsored by GSH, HAPL, SPE, … · Buying and Selling Production ... the company’s oil and gas exploration ... [email protected] Wulf Massell