Seismic Soundoff

Paul Bauman discusses the inaugural Global Sustainability Lecture series, "A Strategy for Improving Rural Water Supply Development in Sub-Saharan Africa." Though 98% of the available freshwater in the world is groundwater, groundwater resources are not easily available in much of the world, where subsurface water is the only option. Today, more than 400 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live in water insecurity, meaning they lack reasonable access to either sufficient quantities of water or water of acceptable quality. For rural populations, a direct consequence of water insecurity is food insecurity. In the Horn of Africa alone, more than 60% of the population is food insecure, with more than 20 million people approaching famine conditions. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Paul highlights how water impacts all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He outlines the impact of two billion people living with water stress and how it could reach over five billion in the next ten y

Professors Kirsten Nicholson and Klaus Neumann lead a Geoscientists without Borders (GWB) project to find safe drinking water for two communities in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. This country most famously is home to the world's favorite trekking destination - the Himalayans. Even though this area is popular with tourists, it struggles with adequate drinking water. Diseases due to unsafe water are some of the most common causes of death, with diarrheal disease accounting for 4.2% of the global burden of diseases. The situation is far worse in less economically developed, semi-arid mountainous regions where communities experience poor health due to contaminated drinking water. At the same time, these high-altitude regions face increasing pressure caused by climate variability, impacting precipitation patterns, seasonal snowpack, and glacial growth. The issues surrounding long-term resource management and the reduction of water-related vulnerability are complex and rarely involve simple solutions. Larg

November's The Leading Edge presents a selection of studies that gives an idea of the breadth of geophysics that aids in mitigating natural hazards, covering natural and induced earthquake phenomena and landslides. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Heather Bedle and Chris Garneau explore public misperceptions of geohazards, the power of experiencing earthquakes, and ways to improve scientific communication with the public. Heather highlights a new tool that helps with one of the greatest seismic data limitations, and Chris breaks down the connection between people's concern about future seismicity and climate change. They also choose the most important areas to mitigate geohazards between geophysics, societal work, and education. This episode breaks down geohazards and their impact on the public and provides actionable steps for geoscientists to study geohazards better and discuss their work with others. Dr. Heather Bedle is an Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma in the School of G

Cara Hunter and Teresa Santana discuss the value and importance of mentoring for geoscientists. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Cara and Teresa highlight Mentoring365, a program that matches students and early career professionals with Earth and space sciences experts. They explain the need for this program, explore networking in 2023, and offer tips for first-time mentors and mentees. Cara and Teresa also elaborate on the two-way aspect of mentorship and how any professional can build their network. The conversation concludes with a reflection on how mentorship has influenced their career and the value of engaging as a mentor. Cara Hunter is the Technical Community Engagement Manager at SLB and SEG Women's Network Chair. Teresa Santana is the Chief Geophysicist, Diversity Officer, and Advisor in Geophysics at YPF S.A. and vice-chair of the SEG Women's Network. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. ABOUT MENTORING365 Mentoring365 matches students and early career professional

Alexander Braun discusses planetary geophysics highlighted in October's The Leading Edge. This is the first special section dedicated to planetary geophysics in the 40-year history of The Leading Edge. And it's timely considering the many international activities evolving rapidly toward exploration of the moon, Mars, and other planets and the availability of exploration geophysics expertise within geophysical communities. This special section features five studies demonstrating applications of geophysical technologies and methods to support future planetary exploration missions. In addition, it offers a glimpse into some developing hot topics in space exploration. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Alex highlights the differences geophysicists should consider when applying their skills to planetary geophysics, the types of geophysical tools and techniques that work well on other planets, and the role of Earth analogue sites in exploring viable geophysical techniques. He also explains why Jurassic

Steve Darnell discusses digital transformation in the oil and gas industry, highlighted in September's The Leading Edge. Complemented by large volumes of usable data, the evolution of computational hardware and software creates new opportunities for technological innovation in the energy industry. Digital transformation adopts existing technologies (such as cloud services) and develops new technologies (such as machine learning applications) that improve business processes. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Steve Darnell discusses how digital transformation improves business processes in-depth. He emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity, how to start the digitalization process, and highlights the common obstacles companies face when embracing digital transformation. He also comments on the common misperceptions and the hidden benefits of embracing digital advancements. This conversation on digital transformation connects to all parts of the oil and gas workflow and showcases the value proposi

Bill Abriel (SEG Co-Chair) and George Koperna (SPE Co-Chair) preview Energy in Data 2022 - How to Solve Data Challenges Without Breaking Your Systems or Your Budget. This Energy in Data Conference is organized by AAPG, SEG, and SPE to bring together multi-disciplinary communities to discuss the data challenges and solutions in areas such as oil and gas operations, critical minerals, geothermal, carbon management, hydrogen, and water. The goal of the conference is to provide a venue to identify and share potential solutions to common data-related issues such as: * Working with diverse data collections * Securely sharing and working with data * Harmonizing data sets from different sources * Emerging technology and innovation In this helpful and insightful conversation, Bill and George highlight how the unique format will help participants discover solutions to their use cases, eloquently highlight the business value for data, discuss a few of the challenges applied geophysicists and petroleum engineers face

Carlos Calderón-Macías discusses his 2022 Latin America Honorary Lecture, "Near-surface scattering in seismic data: from signal to noise and noise to signal." Carlos holistically explores the near-surface scattering problem in this conversation with host Andrew Geary. He highlights ways to understand the problem better and why using the noise as signal approach should be further developed. He also explores the differences in the scattered waves for land, ocean-bottom, and near-surface data. Carlos shares what inspired this lecture, the three groups perfect for this talk, and the questions he hopes attendees will ask themselves. Not only does this conversation highlight the near-surface scattering problem, but it showcases general approaches for solving any geophysical problem. Visit https://seg.org/podcast to read the full show notes and find the complete archive for Seismic Soundoff. RELATED LINKS * Listen to Carlos's course for free (https://www.knowledgette.com/p/near-surface-scattering-in-seismic-data-

Tim Johnson discusses his article in August's The Leading Edge about real-time electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Time-lapse electrical imaging has been used for diverse scientific and engineering problems to monitor changes in the subsurface associated with fluid injections, fluid flow, solute transport, phase changes, and other physical and chemical processes. The burgeoning applications of time-lapse electrical imaging underscore its potential to provide valuable, qualitative insight to support the development of conceptual models of subsurface frameworks and processes. Tim and his co-authors posit that the next step in the evolution of time-lapse electrical imaging is autonomous, real-time monitoring, which has the potential to support real-time management decisions and feedback control of subsurface systems. Tim presents a framework for autonomous, real-time electrical imaging. He also shares two case studies of the framework in action and potential areas of development for this work. This forwar

Roel Snieder discusses his 2022 SEG-AAPG Distinguished Lecture, "Measuring variations in the seismic velocity as a diagnostic of rock damage and healing." Interferometric methods in seismology have made it possible to detect time-lapse changes in seismic velocity with an accuracy of about 0.1%. Combined with using noise as a seismic source, it is under the right conditions possible to detect such velocity changes on a near-continuous basis. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Roel shows surprisingly that the seismic velocity is not constant at all. It varies with the seasons, temperature, precipitation, and ground shaking. He also discusses how logarithmic healing in rocks is a widespread behavior that is akin in its generality to the Gutenberg-Richter law. Roel also provides insights into the role of spirituality in science and offers actionable tips on preventing burnout. This is a wide-ranging conversation with surprising insights into rocks, as well as how to live a successful life. RELATED L

Chris Hanton, Director of Digital Transformation Solutions at Ikon Science, discusses the latest insights using machine learning and artificial intelligence. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Chris highlights one frequently overlooked variable that can undermine the best technology. He also shares how technologists can ensure data is trustworthy and valuable, when cutting-edge analytics can produce better than the best geophysical minds, and presents the use case for investing in machine learning and AI outside of increased efficiency. Chris also spotlights machine learning's role in addressing climate change and ends with some new developments that will surprise people. This is a deep dive into the role of quality data (https://www.oilandgaseng.com/articles/the-common-denominator-that-analytics-hinge-on/) in cutting-edge work and the best ways to harness the benefits of machine learning and artificial intelligence. BIOGRAPHY Chris Hanton oversees the scoping, management, and delivery of soluti

One of SEG's great traditions is the special recognition of individuals and organizations for their contributions to geophysics and the Society. In this special episode, we celebrate Öz Yilmaz and Xianhuai Zhu for their Maurice Ewing Medal and Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal honors, respectively. Bill Abriel opens the episode highlighting the significance of both the Kauffman Gold Medal and the Maurice Ewing Medal. As SEG's past president and current chair of the Honors and Awards Committee, he also shares what the SEG Honors and Awards mean. Andrew Geary then speaks with Xianhuai Zhu about how he discovered geophysics and shares four advice items for his colleagues and geoscientists. Öz Yilmaz then joins the show to reflect on his long and significant career, what this honor means, and the principles and perspectives that have helped him continue to be a successful geophysicist. This is a unique opportunity to hear from the best of the best in geophysics. Read the full show notes at https://seg.org/podcast/Po

Souvik Mukherjee discusses his article in July's The Leading Edge about high-resolution imaging of subsurface infrastructure using AI. The use of drones for geophysical data acquisition and artificial intelligence (AI) for geophysical data processing, imaging, and interpretation are active focus areas in current industry and academic applications. Unlocking their cumulative potential in single-focus applications can have a transformative impact, possibly leading to dramatic cost reductions in key use cases and new application areas for enhanced actionable business intelligence. In this conversation, Souvik presents field study results from Texas and California that show the potential for imaging pipelines and other subsurface infrastructure using AI-based methods on high-resolution aboveground magnetic data. He also highlights the similarities and differences between conventional least-squares inversion and machine learning-based inversion and how he achieved a 100-fold increase in efficiency. Whether exp

Mark Willis discusses his upcoming Distinguished Instructor Short Course, "Distributed acoustic sensing for seismic measurements – what geophysicists and engineers need to know." Geoscientists and engineers are very comfortable using seismic data sets acquired with geophones, hydrophones, and accelerometers because they have a long, well-defined set of standards for acquiring, processing, and interpreting them. However, distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) seismic measurements are rapidly augmenting and, in some cases replacing the data from these conventional tools. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Mark helps geoscientists and engineers build intuition and understanding of DAS seismic technology's value, limitations, and applications. Mark also discusses the most common objection to DAS, when DAS is better than conventional seismic acquisition, and tips for someone planning their first DAS seismic survey. Mark will be teaching this course for the first time at IMAGE, and this is a great preview

Olga Nedorub and Diana Sineva preview IMAGE 2022 and the upcoming panel, "Changing The Dynamics Of Energy Use." Olga starts with a brief overview of the technical program at IMAGE and how Diana reached out to her to host this panel. Next, Diana explains how energy efficiency is the glue to the current energy transition, the difference between energy conservation and energy efficiency, and why attendees should attend the panel. Diana also highlights why 40% of the current energy is wasted, why this estimate is low, and how to improve this number without sacrificing comfort or the bottom line. In Q3/Q4 2022, SEG will also host a short course on this topic. Details will be announced soon. Olga Nedorub is G&G Team Lead - Legacy Assets (Permian, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico) at Apache Corporation and SEG 2020 Technical Program Chair. Diana Sineva is a small business and energy efficiency consultant with over 20 years of experience in the International O&G Exploration industry, focusing on emerging technologies, p

Sara K. McBride discusses her paper, "Evidence-based guidelines for protective actions and earthquake early warning systems," in the January/February issue of GEOPHYSICS. In this engaging and helpful conversation, Sara highlights the various protective actions people can take during an earthquake. She also shares who is most likely to be injured during an earthquake and how seismologists, earth scientists, and engineers can best protect and warn the populations they serve. This serves as an excellent reminder on how to stay safe during earthquakes, the latest research in warning people of danger, and a helpful path forward to continue to save lives during earthquakes. Dr. Sara K. McBride is a Research Social Scientist at the United States Geological Survey. RELATED LINKS * Sara K. McBride, Hollie Smith, Meredith Morgoch, Danielle Sumy, Mariah Jenkins, Lori Peek, Ann Bostrom, Dare Baldwin, Elizabeth Reddy, Robert de Groot, Julia Becker, David Johnston, and Michele Wood, (2022), "Evidence-based guidelines fo

Arnab Dhara discusses his paper, "Physics-guided deep autoencoder to overcome the need for a starting model in full-waveform inversion," in the June issue of The Leading Edge. In recent years, physics-driven machine learning applications have been proposed wherein physics is integrated into the data-driven model to improve the ability of the machine learning methods to generalize and potentially overcome gaps in the physical theories. Solving geophysical problems by using hybrid physics-based and data-driven solutions has the potential to address simplifications in the physical models as well as overcome shortcomings with training data sets. Ultimately, they may refine and improve our understanding of the physics underpinning data sets. In this conversation, Arnab proposes employing deep learning as a regularization in full-waveform inversion. He explains why physics-based solutions with machine learning are challenging to develop, how he made it possible to train the network without known answers, and why

Yanlong Niu discusses his paper, "In-situ physical properties of reclaimed lands in Singapore," from the May issue of The Leading Edge. Reclaimed land construction is crucial for the sustainable development of the land-scarce city-state of Singapore. To characterize the physical properties of two different types of reclaimed lands, Yanlong and his co-authors conducted both active and passive seismic surveys. Yanlong explores the value of multichannel analysis of surface waves to investigate these lands and shares what they discovered with these pioneering tests. These in-situ measurements are crucial for civil engineering constructions and the redevelopment of reclaimed lands in the future. So he also offers tips on how other geophysicists can build upon this study in their communities. RELATED LINKS * Yanlong Niu, Yunyue Elita Li, Siau Chen Chian, Enhedelihai Nilot, and Gang Fang, (2022), "In-situ physical properties of reclaimed lands in Singapore," The Leading Edge 41: 296–303. (https://doi.org/10.1190/

Scott Singleton discusses why you should attend the 2022 Unconventional Resources Technology Conference in Houston, TX. Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTeC) is a premier event focused on the latest science and technology applied to the exploration and development of unconventional resources, emphasizing integrating multiple disciplines. Scott breaks down why every geophysicist should attend. Additionally, he highlights the value and knowledge engineers bring to land-based oil and gas exploration and why the multidisciplinary nature of this conference is the future of the industry. To learn more and register for the conference, visit https://urtec.org/2022/. SPONSOR Geospace Technologies sponsor this episode. For decades, Geospace has delivered robust data acquisition systems of all scales. Geospace's PRM solutions were the first to provide a 4D understanding of marine reservoirs. Today, Geospace leads with Optoseis fiber optic sensing technology for reservoir monitoring. Recently, the

Ariel Lellouch discusses his upcoming Middle East and Africa Honorary Lecture, "Applications of fiber-optic sensing to borehole seismology." Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is an emerging technology that leverages optical fibers to record the seismic wavefield with an unprecedented spatial resolution. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Ariel makes a case for geophysicists to utilize DAS data in their work and why it's essential to look at data without any pre-made ideas. He also outlines the significant benefits of vertical DAS arrays and how to know when to use vertical or horizontal DAS. This is an excellent primer on DAS and a convincing case for why every geophysicist would benefit from engaging with this technology. RELATED LINKS * Register for Ariel's course for free (15 September 2022; 16 November 2022) (https://www.knowledgette.com/p/applications-of-fiber-optic-sensing-to-borehole-seismology) * Discover SEG on Demand (https://seg.org/Education/SEG-on-Demand) * See the entire archive of