Lessons Learned from 3-D Seismic Attribute Studies of Hydrothermal Dolomite Reservoirs

Bruce S. Hart, Justine A. Sagan, and Osareni C. Ogiesoba

…Introduction Hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs present special exploration and development problems that are important to seismic interpreters. The productive, porous dolomites can be present at various stratigraphic levels and are typically associated with complex faulting and fracture networks (Figure 1). These structures acted as conduits for the dolomitizing, and porosity generating,…

Preliminary Evaluation of a Potential Major Petroleum Province from BeaufortSPAN™ Seismic Data: Canadian Arctic Passive Margin, Banks Island Segment

Naresh Kumar, James Helwig, and Menno G. Dinkelman

…Introduction Because of its thick sediment wedge and large structures, the exploration focus in Arctic Canada has been on Beaufort- Mackenzie Delta for more than thirty years. This effort has resulted in 48 oil and gas discoveries with a combined volume in excess of 1 billion barrels equivalent (Chen and…

The Sound of Sonic: A Historical Perspective and Introduction to Acoustic Logging

D. Close, D. Cho, F. Horn, and H. Edmundson

…Introduction It is fair to say that surface seismic data are the staple of the typical oilfield geophysicist’s diet and that gamma ray and porosity logs provide the nutrients required by petrophysicists and geologists. The acoustic, or sonic, log, however, is the ketchup (or condiment of choice) used liberally by…

Scott MacKay

An Interview with Scott MacKay

…Let me begin by asking you about your educational background and your work experience? I am originally from Boston and my undergraduate work was at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. I had a double major in Chemistry and Geology, graduating in 1977. My undergraduate professors knew I was interested in…

Integrating Seismic Acquisition and Processing

Jack Bouska

…Years of seismic specialization among practicing geophysicists have segregated acquisition, processing, and interpretation into separate functions, which makes it difficult for any individual to treat the whole seismic process as a single integrated system. From experience, I have developed a sometimes elegant, occasionally cumbersome, but always effective methodology, which assimilates…

Geophysical Well Logs from a Shallow Test Well and Automatic Determination of Formation Velocities from Full-Waveform Sonic Logs

J. Wong, L. Han, R.R. Stewart, L.R. Bentley, and J.C. Bancroft

…Abstract Shallow VSP and geophysical well logging surveys were undertaken in a 127 m-deep well located at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory site near Priddis, Alberta. The well was drilled through interbedded sands and shales of the Paskapoo Formation. A suite of geophysical well logs (including natural gamma-ray, normal resistivity, focusedbeam…

Processing Considerations for 3D VSP

Richard Kuzmiski, Bob Charters and Mike Galbraith

…Abstract VSP surveys have long been known to produce superior reflection images compared to images from surface seismic. The literature is rife with examples showing the advantages of the VSP method. This paper shows how 2D and 3D VSP data is processed with practical state-of-the-art technology and algorithms. The key…

Microseismic Location Uncertainty

Shawn Maxwell

…Summary Microseismic imaging is a common technique for mapping hydraulic fractures. Accurate imaging of the source location of the microseisms is critical for accurate fracture mapping. In this paper, two simple synthetic examples are presented which demonstrate the mislocation that could result from data and velocity model errors. Location errors…

Dan Hampson and Brian Russell

An Interview with Dan Hampson and Brian Russell

…Let me begin by asking you both about your educational backgrounds and your work experiences? [Brian]: I got my B.Sc. at the University of Saskatchewan in 1975. I started in physics and then switched to geophysics in my last year. I got my M.Sc. in geophysics at the University of…

Presidential Column

…This is my first column as President of the CSEG. At our last CSEG luncheon we held our annual general meeting, which marks the transition between executives. Directors serve two-year terms, first as an Assistant Director and then as Director. This gives people a chance to grow into their role…

Executive Message

…“The economic world is in turmoil” and predictions for the future vary from “cautiously optimistic” to “a dire depression”, depending on which pundit you happen to be listening to at the time. Regardless, the news is not encouraging. Amongst the confusion, the CSEG sits as a bright and shining star,…

CAGC Column

…Recently Jesse Tigner, a student at the University of Alberta, conducting the Northern Boreal Seismic Line Recovery Project, contacted me. The mandate initially came from the Territorial Government in the NWT, but interest has rapidly spread. Working in partnership with biologists from the GNWT, Environment Canada (CWS), MOE in British…

Science Break: Giants

…Who hasn’t, as a child at least, dreamed of living at the same time as some of the giants found in the fossil record? Think of dinosaurs, or some of the mega-mammals. The reality is, we do share this earth with a number of gigantic species, but they tend to…

Tracing the Industry

…It is wonderful to share good news with you this month. I really enjoy running birth announcements! So if you would like to have a birth announcement in the RECORDER to add to your baby book, just send the announcement to me. I also thoroughly enjoyed the March Recorder with…

Grapevine

…Spring is in the air! I know, I am a native Calgarian and should know better, but I am a glass (red wine preferably) half full type of gal. Well, this is my debut article, so please, be gentle. For those who don’t know me, I am an Account Manager…

A New View of the Continent Beneath Our Feet – LITHOPROBE’S Scientific, Economic and Social Contributions

Ron M. Clowes

…What is LITHOPROBE? LITHOPROBE is Canada’s national, collaborative, multidisciplinary, Earth science research project established to develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of the northern half of North America. Canada’s landmass and continental margin are a complex geological mosaic representing four billion years of continental growth, destruction and reorganization. How…

2009 CSEG Awards

CSEG Committee

…2009 CSEG Medal for George Bertram (Citation by Sue Guttridge) The CSEG Medal recognizes long-standing contributions to the business development of Exploration Geophysics. For over half a century George Bertram has more than met this criterion. George was born in a small town in Prince Edward Island, and arrived in…

Seismic Physical Modelling at the University of Calgary

J. Wong, Kevin W. Hall, E.V. Gallant, R. Maier, M.B. Bertram, and D.C. Lawton

…Abstract The University of Calgary Seismic Physical Modelling Facility, in existence since 1985, has been an important tool for seismic exploration research for many years. However, by the standards of the 21st century, it was badly outdated and needed significant improvements. In recent years, we have overhauled and modernized the…

Seismic Models of Reflections from Attenuating Layers

Richard L. Gibson, Jr. and Pierre Thore

…The search for effective direct hydrocarbon indicators has motivated the development of a broad variety of methods that seek to make use of seismic data for locating economic reservoirs in the subsurface. One of the best known approaches is the analysis of amplitude variation with offset (AVO), which often provides…

Improving the Reservoir Modeling of Compressional Structures

Karen S. Hoffman

…Summary The incorporation of faults into reservoir models has often been a fragmented process with different faults being treated in different ways. Despite the fact that faults can significantly impact fluid flow within the reservoir with the correct fault fluid flow characterization often critical to getting a good history match…