Articles
Tsunami Thoughts
Steven N. Ward and Simon Day
Truth to say, for most of the three decades that we’ve been involved, tsunami research has been a fairly sleepy field. There happened the occasional tsunami in Japan or Central America and the odd Pacific warning issued for never-materialized waves [“tsu-NO-mi” broadcast the next day’s headlines], but not much grabbed…
The Tsunami in Southeast Asia, December 2004
Edo Nyland
Although most readers understand aspects of the behaviour of earthquakes, some context may be useful to those who do not specialize in apocalyptic disasters like the Boxing Day 2004 event in the Indian Ocean. Context is also useful in considering how technical information was brought to bear on public policy…
Geophysical Exploration: Past and Future
Enders A. Robinson
Text of the invited lecture delivered by Dr. Enders Robinson at the Doodletrain Luncheon held at the Metropolitan Centre, Calgary on Oct. 31, 2005
... WHAT’S NEXT? Where is our Industry Heading?
The 2006 convention will be a joint meeting of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (CSPG), the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG) and the Canadian Well Logging Society (CWLS). Our theme is WHAT’S NEXT? Where is the industry heading? The technical programme is soliciting scientific, technical and business presentations…
A stable, accurate, and efficient approach to explicit depth migration
Gary Margrave, Hugh Geiger, Saleh Al-Saleh, and Michael Lamoureux
This presentation will encompass the material of our 2005 convention paper of the same name but with more background. I will discuss the general concept of seismic depth migration by downward continuation using wavefield extrapolation.
... Using Ground Penetrating Radar for In-Seam Crack Detection in Potash
Chris Kelly, Dean Gerhardt and John Unrau
Increases in ground falls over the last few years have prompted the Saskatchewan potash industry into researching new ways to increase mine safety and awareness. Ground conditions in a potash mine are very dynamic and the back stability changes continually due to the pseudo elastic nature of the ore. Also,…
3D Seismic Exploration for Mineral Deposits in Hardrock Environments
E. L’Heureux, B. Milkereit and E. Adam
Conventional seismic reflection methods have been used with great success over the past decades to explore sedimentary environments for petroleum resources. To apply these same methods to mineral exploration in hardrock environments we need to adapt the time-tested seismic techniques developed for oil and gas exploration to the problems associated…
Memoirs of successful geophysicists: Norman Domenico
A common acknowledgment when reviewing professional experiences and achievements is “I stood on the shoulders of giants”. This applies in my case. Following two years in the Naval Air Force (long ago becoming part of the U.S. Air Force) I returned to the Colorado School of Mines in 1946 to…
2005 CSEG DISC – followed by APEGGA Geoscience Student-Industry Mixer
Penny Colton
CSEG hosted the 2005 SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course (DISC) on Tuesday September 27 at the Metropolitan Centre in downtown Calgary. Rodney Calvert, based in Houston with Shell, presented his full day SEG course entitled “Insights and Methods for 4D Reservoir Monitoring and Characterization”.
... Optimized Determination of Migration Velocities
K. Stinson, Wai-Kin Chan, E. Crase, and S. Levy
A system for automatic, high density migration velocity estimation and imaging has been developed. The automatic migration velocity determination utilizes a set of objective norms which measure the quality of the migration as a function of velocity. Both the migrated gathers and the migrated image cube are used to calculate…
The MEGATEM fixed-wing transient EM system applied to mineral exploration: a discovery case history
Richard Smith, David Fountain
In the mid-1980s, Geoterrex (later Fugro Airborne Surveys) introduced the GEOTEM system, a fully digital airborne electromagnetic (AEM) receiver, using the same transmitter that had previously been used, very successfully, on the INPUT system (Annan, 1990). The GEOTEM system is mounted on a twin engine CASA 212 aircraft, and the…
The AIRGrav airborne gravity system
S. Sander, M. Argyle, S. Elieff, S. Ferguson, V. Lavoie and L. Sander
Sander Geophysics’ AIRGrav airborne gravity project started in 1992 with the purpose of designing an airborne gravimeter that would be well suited to the dynamic environment of an aircraft. The five year research and development project resulted in the AIRGrav system, which has been used for airborne surveying since 1997.…
A guide to effective geophysical writing and presentation
Robert Stewart, James Brown, Don Lawton, and Laurence Lines
Much of the value of our geophysical work follows from conveying it to others, either orally or in writing. Geophysical studies are often communicated, both in print and presentation, in a general structure that includes an overview and introduction, a section on methods and results, some discussion with a summary,…
How I discovered the true value of Geophysics
Art Barnes
Two and a half years ago I was invited to write a report for The RECORDER on the state of geophysics in sunny Denver, Colorado. I immediately set to work. After prodigious and diligent labor, I have completed my report, which I now humbly submit. It is a curious history…
High Resolution 3D Seismic Imaging Using 3C Data from Large Borehole Seismic Arrays
Björn Paulsson, M. Karrenbach, P. Milligan, A.Goertz, A.H. Paulsson
The highest resolution 3D imaging and monitoring technology for managing oil and gas reservoirs today is provided by large borehole seismic arrays recording 3C data generated by standard surface seismic sources deployed over a wide area around one or several receiver wells.
... Alternative Transportation
Helen Isaac
What’s new in the development of transportation systems that might reduce our dependence on hydrocarbon fuels? This article takes a quick look at some innovations recently in the news.
... ISEEE – A Unique Model to Advance Sustainable Energy Technologies
Mark Lowey
The University of Calgary established the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy (ISEEE) in October 2003. ISEEE is a unique model, created through the U of C’s academic plan, which makes "Leading Innovation in Energy and Environment" a strategic priority. The institute is the vehicle to deliver on the…
Thinking Outside the Box: The Paradigm Shift Implied by Developing Alternative Energy Resources
Michal C. Moore
Energy is the key driver that underlies modern civilization and industrial development. Without access to energy sources that are affordable and reliable, no nation will attain or maintain the competitive base needed to improve or advance the lot of its citizens. Although many argue that access to such critical elements…
