The history of seismic geophysics almost appears as a metaphor for "Through the Looking Glass" where techniques and technologies evolve almost by accident. Innovative measures often seem to take five to ten years before reaching acceptance and the practitioners are historically very traditional and conservative, while often being driven by technology.
Classic examples of this include arrays, CDP stacking, 3D acquisition and processing, "Bright Spots" and AVO. In each case there is a background of accident and misadventure.
This presentation will review some of the milestones and prevailing circumstances and illustrate that conventional wisdom is perhaps usually wrong.
While a historical perspective is necessary in most things since it tells us where we were and how we got here, the objective of the presentation will be to entertain as much as to inform.
About the Author(s)
A. Easton Wren is well known in Canada and recognized internationally as innovative geophysicist who is a leader in the application of new seismic techniques and who has an aptitude for conveying concepts in a lively manner through courses and documentary TV programs. Dr. Wren is current in state-of-the-art seismic methods, has lectured at U.S. and Canadian universities, and has presented industry oriented courses to a wide variety of audiences.
Dr. Wren received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Geology in 1960 and his Ph.D. in Geophysics in 1968 from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His professional experience includes positions with Ray Geophysical Company in Libya, the United Nations in Uganda, Amoco Canada and PanCanadian Petroleum in Calgary. In 1978 he founded Petrel Consultants, and was President and General Manager of the company until 1986. Since that time he has been an independent Consultant and a Visiting Professor to the University of Calgary.
Dr. Wren was elected President of the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists for 1981, received the Society's Best Paper award in 1974, the Meritorious Service Award in 1977 and Honorary Membership in 1988. He is the author of several published papers on seismic processing and interpretation, is a past editor of the Journal of the C.S.E.G. and was General Chairman of the joint C.S.E.G.- C.S.P.G. Convention, Exploration Update in 1979.
He has been heavily involved in the development and presentation of training courses in the exploration industry. In 1987 he was Distinguished Lecturer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
He is an active member of S.E.G., C.S.E.G., A.P.E.G.G.A. and the Geological Society of Glasgow. He has also been a Visiting Professor to the University of Kansas and was the host of CFAC-TV Calgary's "Science Spectrum" documentary program.
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