Seismic Soundoff

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Dr. Whitney Trainor-Guitton on geothermal energy, the featured special section in December's The Leading Edge. This episode is a great start to 2021 with a deep look at geothermal energy. Whitney provides a great primer on geothermal energy, explores the role of induced seismicity and full-waveform inversion within geothermal, and explains why managers should always use the value of information metric when making decisions. Whitney brings a lot of insight and expertise to this topic. Whether you are new to geothermal energy, seeking to get more involved or consider yourself an expert, you will get something from this episode. A highly recommended listen! Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on geothermal energy. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Whitney Trainor-Guitton is an assistant professor at Colorado School of Mines and a Geophysicist at SeaOwl Energy Services. Her research blends spatial statistics, data scienc

Since episode 72, host Andrew Geary has been asking his guests one question - "What is one piece of advice you would offer someone that would like to succeed in this field?" To celebrate 100 episodes of Seismic Soundoff, Andrew has selected the top 10 responses. In reviewing the responses, common themes repeated throughout. These themes included keeping an open mind and staying flexible. Another common lesson was to continue developing your skills and collaborate with others (especially across disciplines). As 2021 begins, the producers hope the advice offered by these top geoscientists provides clarity and insight for your professional career. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes. INTERVIEWS (in order of appearance) * Dave Monk * Aria Abubakar * Patricia de Lugão * Anna Shaughnessy * Sid Misra * Kurt Marfurt * Steve Sloan * Estella Atekwana * Rick Miller * Andrea Crook CREDITS Original music by Zach Bridges. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary at 51 feature

Dr. Lucy MacGregor highlights her 2021 Distinguished Lecturer talk, "Multi-physics analysis: extracting the most from diverse datasets." In this incisive conversation, Lucy shows how combining datasets can compensate for weaknesses in each, how utilizing gravity data improves the seismic image, the biggest obstacle in utilizing datasets, and more. This episode will get you excited to start working with multiple datasets to improve your results. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and the link to Lucy's upcoming tour. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Lucy MacGregor is a leading researcher in multi-physics analysis with particular expertise in the integration of electromagnetic methods into reservoir characterization workflows. She served as SEG Honorary Lecturer in Europe in 2011. Lucy has a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge for research in the field of controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) methods and over 25 years’ experience in marine EM surveying and its application to the detection and chara

Dr. Saleh A. Al-Dossary highlights his 2020 Honorary Lecturer tour, "Improving reservoir characterization using four innovative seismic technologies." In this intriguing conversation, Saleh explores four new techniques to extract new geologic information from seismic data and to enhance the understanding of geologic features in a reservoir. This episode will inform you of the latest technology with a goal to improve hydrocarbon exploration and data processing. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and the link to Saleh's upcoming lecture tour. BIOGRAPHY Saleh A. Al-Dossary began his work at Saudi Aramco in the Dhahran Geophysical Research Group, contributing to edge-preserving and smoothing developments. He now works in the Exploration Application Services Department developing new seismic processing and attributes algorithms. Al-Dossary received his B.S. degree in computer science with a minor in geophysics from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM. He received

Andrea Crook, President of OptiSeis Solutions Ltd., joins the podcast to discuss how to take full advantage of online learning and continuing education. Andrea shares the learning resources supporting her professional development, the activities she considers essential for all geophysicists, how her company has adjusted during the pandemic, and the future of geophysical software. This is a helpful conversation on taking full advantage of the online resources and virtual learning widely available to help you start 2021 on your best path. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and the links to learning resources. BIOGRAPHY Andrea Crook, President of OptiSeis Solutions Ltd., graduated from the University of Manitoba in 2002 with a B.Sc. in Geophysics. She began her career as a seismic processor at Shell Canada and later moved into the Geophysical Operations group where she designed and implemented 2D, 3D, 4D, and experimental seismic acquisition projects. Building on the knowledge she gai

SEG President-Elect Anna Shaughnessy joins the podcast to highlight her 2020 Honorary Lecturer tour, "Developing a successful career in geophysics today." In this timely discussion, Anna shares her insights on navigating your career in a transitional industry, how to stay relevant no matter your discipline, actions to take to set up for a successful career, and offers the key to choosing your career field. It doesn't matter if you are a student, early career, or experiencing a career transition, Anna's valuable perspective will offer support and guidance for your professional path. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and the link to Anna's upcoming lecture tour. BIOGRAPHY Anna Shaughnessy received her undergraduate from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and her MSc. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Her industry career started as a geophysical interpreter and quickly moved to management of technical teams within the energy industry. She has held leadership ro

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Ariel Lellouch and Tieyuan Zhu on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), the featured special section in November's The Leading Edge. Ariel and Tieyuan highlight new developments in algorithms impacting microseismic, new findings for hydraulic fracturing, and discuss their disagreement for the current rate the geophysics industry is adopting and utilizing DAS. This is an exciting conversation on technology that has a wide range of applications for geophysics. Hear the latest in research in 20 minutes! Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on smart city geophysics. BIOGRAPHIES Ariel Lellouch is a research geoscientist and post-doc at Stanford Exploration Project. He is passionate about seismic wave propagation, and more importantly, what we can infer from these waves regarding subsurface properties. Currently, he's working on applications of DAS data to all sorts of geophysical problems: properties of g

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Mehdi Aharchaou on machine learning and AI, the featured special section in October's The Leading Edge. Mehdi shares his expertise in machine learning as we explore the potential and limitations of this cutting edge research. Mehdi highlights how these papers can improve the industry and why he views explainable AI and machine learning as the key to the future. He also explains why he believes the industry needs to do more to adopt and adjust to the digital revolution. This conversation covers important ground essential for all geophysicists and businesses - do not miss it! Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on smart city geophysics. BIOGRAPHY Mehdi Aharchaou is a research geophysicist at ExxonMobil. During his 7 years with the company, he has worked on various cutting-edge signal processing and inversion technologies, on topics such as deghosting, noise suppression, Q compensation, source design

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with author Vladimir Grechka on his latest book, Anisotropy and Microseismics: Theory and Practice. Vladimir highlights why anisotropy and microseismics are a great pairing, how the shift from P-waves to shear waves changed the industry, and reflects on what we will find in seismology books in the next decade. Each chapter of the book starts with a question, followed by what's exciting about it, where the mystery might lie, and what could be the potential value of answering the question. Vladimir shares what question he was most excited to explore and what has yet to be fully answered. This is a conversation not to miss! Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes. BIOGRAPHY Vladimir Grechka received an MSc degree (1984) in geophysical exploration from Novosibirsk State University, Russia, and a Ph.D. (1990) in geophysics from the Institute of Geophysics, Novosibirsk, Russia. He worked in the same institute from 1984 to 1994 as a research scientist.

In this episode, the keynote address and SEG president's State of the Society address from the Opening Session at the 90th Annual Meeting hosted virtually for the first time in its history. First, the SEG President Rick Miller presents the State of the Society address, summarizing the year in applied geophysics and what to expect in 2021 at the Society and in the industry. Then Rick is followed by the keynote address from Dr. Michael Oristaglio. It is not too late to register and get engaged with SEG20! Learn more and register at SEG today - https://seg.org/am. * Rick Miller - 1:00 * Michael Oristaglio (with an introduction by SEG20 General Chair, Wafik Beydoun) - 21:11 BIOGRAPHY Michael Oristaglio is cofounder and inaugural director of the Energy Studies Multidisciplinary Academic Program at Yale University, where he is a senior research scientist and lecturer in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. The project at Yale West Campus under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy Nation

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Dr. Wafik Beydoun, the Chair of the Annual Meeting Steering Committee, to discuss SEG20. Wafik and Andrew discuss what to expect during the all-virtual event, the unique benefits and value of the virtual setting, highlights of the technical sessions, and how networking will be as strong as any SEG. Visit https://seg.org/am to register for SEG20 today! BIOGRAPHY Wafik Beydoun is the Director Americas at the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP). Previously he was Country Chair Total Kuwait and 2018-2019 Chairman of the Board, Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). Past assignments: President & CEO, Total E&P Research & Technology USA; Manager, R&D Division ADNOC UAE; Business Development Manager Technology/R&D Total France; Sr. Negotiator New Ventures Total France; Manager Geophysical Operations and Technology Total France; Area Exploration Manager Total Angola; Project Leader, Geosciences Research Centre Total UK; Project leader, ARCO Plano

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with SEG President Rick Miller to celebrate SEG's 90th birthday. Rick reflects on the milestones of the organization, the role of professional societies in 2020, how the digital transformation has impacted the field, and his future vision for applied geophysics. For long-time members and those just getting started in the science, this episode will trace how far the field has come, its impact on society, and its future opportunities. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes. BIOGRAPHY Rick Miller received a BA in physics from Benedictine College, an MS in physics (emphasis in geophysics) from the University of Kansas (KU), and a Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Leoben, Austria. Since 1983, he has been at the Kansas Geological Survey, a research and service division of KU, where he is a senior scientist and courtesy associate professor of geology. His scientific interests focus on applying shallow-seismic methods to a wide assortment of pro

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Steve Sloan on smart city geophysics, the featured special section in September's The Leading Edge. Steve highlights the wide array of papers highlighting the tools and techniques used to achieve the best results in less than ideal environments. We discuss the importance of geophysics in urban settings, how geophysics is uniquely suited to work in these environments, and the benefits afforded geophysicists in high-noise surroundings. We also discuss the role of privacy in obtaining data in urban settings. This is a great primer on the near-surface and its value in major population areas. Visit https://seg.org/podcast for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on smart city geophysics. BIOGRAPHY Steve Sloan is a Research Geophysicist at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He specializes in near-surface seismology, including high-resolution shal

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Roberto Fainstein on Southeast Asia, the featured special section in August's The Leading Edge. Roberto showcases his vast knowledge of this region of the world while highlighting the geological and geophysical historical developments in this region. Through the papers in this special section, he also outlines the fascinating research path ahead. If you are unfamiliar with the geophysical history of Southeast Asia or want to hear the latest research and future for this important region, this episode has you covered. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9107 for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on Southeast Asia. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Roberto Fainstein is a Geophysics Advisor & SEG Emeritus with more than 40 years of international experience in the oil business, mainly with Petrobras S.A., Atlantic Richfield International, and Schlumberger Limited. His career in Petrobras comprised resistivity and seismic exploration in the Brazilian jun

Staying up to date on the latest techniques and technology is a key part of being a geophysicist. In this episode, Patricia de Lugão provides a helpful analysis of the benefits and uses of magnetotellurics (MT), based on her upcoming 2020 Honorary Lecturer (Latin America) tour called "Environment-friendly exploration using magnetotellurics." Patricia highlights the role of MT in geophysics and mining, discusses the advantages of this method over seismic, and spotlights how MT is ready to play a major role in renewable energy. If you are a student considering your specialization, early-career wanting to stay up to date on the latest techniques, or simply like to know more about a promising tool for the future, then push play on this episode. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9102/ for the complete show notes and the link to Patricia's upcoming lecture tour. BIOGRAPHY Patricia de Lugão received a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering and water resources from the University of South Carolin

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) represent two of the trendiest and important topics in geophysics right now. In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Aria Abubakar on his 2020 SEG-AAPG Distinguished Lecturer tour on the "Potential and challenges of applying artificial intelligence and machine-learning methods for geoscience." This conversation explores machine learning and AI from multiple angles. What is the biggest success of AI and machine learning to date in the geosciences? How can geophysicists tailor AI, machine learning, and data analytics algorithms and paradigms to meet the specific properties of geoscience data? How close are we to translating modern workflows from proof-of-concept works to scalable commercial products? If you are new to these topics or want to hear the latest news in this essential area of knowledge, Aria will be your guide for our current understanding, as well as the future possibilities for machine learning and AI. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with David Johnston on reservoir monitoring, the featured special section in July's The Leading Edge. This conversation covers a great deal of valuable information in a short time. David shares why reservoir monitoring is the specialization for generalists, the future and value of carbon sequestration, and why he believes there is another Copernican Revolution coming. He also breaks down reservoir monitoring in an easy-to-understand way by relating it to how we control the temperature in our home. If you are considering specializing in reservoir monitoring, want to learn how to work better with other disciplines, or simply want to hear a great preview of July's the Leading Edge, this episode will meet your goals. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9081 for the complete show notes and links to this month's special section on reservoir monitoring. BIOGRAPHY David H. Johnston is Managing Director of Differential Seismic, LLC, a geophysics consultancy. Dr. Johnston re

Getting involved in your professional association is the key to unlocking its power. And volunteering is a great way to get started. At SEG, committees serve this vital role of connecting members to the society, as well as to each other. In this conversation with Andrew Geary, Dr. Sergio Chávez-Pérez, Chair of the Research Committee, discusses what the committee does, how to get involved, and how it has impacted Sergio's career. Sergio also discusses why engaging geophysicists outside Houston, Texas is essential for the future of applied geophysics. Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9063 for Sergio's full bio and the link to read May's The Leading Edge highlighting the Committee. BIOGRAPHY Sergio Chávez-Pérez received a B.S. degree in geophysical engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, Mexico City, MEXICO) in 1984 and an M.S. in exploration geophysics from the University of South Carolina (USC, Columbia, SC, USA) in 1987. He began his work as an exploration seismologist in Mex

On June 5, 2020, Hendratta Ali released the "Call for a Robust Anti-Racism Plan for The Geosciences" petition. In the petition, Dr. Ali and her collaborators outline 15 action steps for societies, organizations, companies, and individuals to take to strive toward anti-racism and equity. In this conversation with Andrew Geary, Dr. Ali discusses how the petition originated, what it means for a professional society to be anti-racist and equitable for all members, her personal experiences of racism in the geosciences, and concrete steps organizations can take to better support Black, Indigenous, Latinx People and other minoritized groups in the geosciences. As of June 19, over 19,000 have signed the petition. Read the petition at https://www.change.org/p/geoscientists-call-for-a-robust-anti-racism-plan-for-the-geosciences. For all the resources Dr. Ali mentions in this conversation, visit https://seg.org/podcast. BIOGRAPHY Hendratta Ali is an Associate Professor in the Geosciences Department at Fort Hays Stat

Seismic Soundoff is excited to welcome back Kurt Marfurt. Kurt joined the podcast for our second-ever episode that still remains one of the most popular episodes. For this conversation, Kurt highlights the present state of education and training in geophysics, including the value and benefits of virtual education. He shares his thoughts on the most important area of focus for geophysicists right now, why there's a need to increase your quantitative and programming skills and offers his one piece of advice to succeed in geophysics. As with our first conversation, this one is not to be missed. Join host Andrew Geary and Kurt Marfurt on "The present and future of training and education." Visit https://seg.org/podcast/Post/9056 for the complete show notes and links to Kurt's research articles, books, and courses. BIOGRAPHY Kurt J. Marfurt joined The University of Oklahoma in 2007 where he serves as the Frank and Henrietta Schultz Professor of Geophysics within the ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysi