Past, Present, and Future applications of Geophysics in Oil Sands – Part 1

Draga Talinga, David Gray, Hong Feng, Don C. Lawton, Brian Wm. Schulte

…This paper is dedicated to Dr. Larry Lines (1949-2019), who was involved with seismic imaging and inversion, reservoir characterization, conventional oil and gas exploration, geophysical studies of heavy oil, oil sands, and monitoring effectiveness of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), and who mentored us all. We also acknowledge the graduate…

Science Break: Natural phenomena

…There are many unusual natural phenomena that can be explained by science – and some that remain unexplained. Some which I had always assumed to exist, such as swamp gas (blue lights above swamps), still lack adequate scientific theories, and perhaps are better viewed as figments of human imagination. The…

New Regional Aeromagnetic Surveys in Northern Alberta

Henry Lyatsky, Dinu Pana, Khaled Moussaoui, Carlos Cortada, Saleh Elmoussaoui

…Introduction Aeromagnetic surveys provide important information on geologic features and enable low-cost regional coverage. For these reasons, magnetic maps often serve as primary regional information on the resource potential in large areas. Regional public-domain aeromagnetic data have long been available for most of Alberta, but there have been gaps in…

Kurtis Wikel

An Interview with Kurtis Wikel

…Kurt, let me begin by asking you about your educational qualifications and your work experience. I graduated with a BSc in Geology from the University of Montana in 2005. Fun fact, I was a history major at first, until I realized the career prospects were… ahem… limited. I received my…

Tracing the Industry

…On the Move... Kirk Graham would like to let his peers and friends know that he has accepted the role of Senior Account Director with Enervus covering the Canadian market. Enervus brings intellectual capital and technology to energy companies. Educate Yourselves... SYMPOSIUM 2022 – SAVE THE DATE April 5th, 2021:…

Wes Rabey Memorial

Brian Wm. Schulte

…Wes Rabey is someone we owe a lot to in the Canadian Geophysical community. This memorial is not a list of events he did but chronicles the impact he had on our industry. This is also a reflection on the history of our industry, especially regarding seismic brokerage. Wes was…

Simon O’Brien

An Interview with Simon O’Brien

…Tell us about your educational background, work experience, and what you are engaged in these days. I grew up in Newfoundland and always enjoyed scrambling around on rocks, so I started my university studies with an undergrad degree in Earth Sciences at Memorial. I also really liked programming, so geophysics…

Compensating Missing Source Points: Minimizing loss of coverage in 3D seismic surveys for areas where sources cannot be deployed, yet geophones may be planted

Gijs J.O. Vermeer

…Introduction In 3D seismic acquisition it may happen that in some areas sources are not allowed whereas geophone planting is permitted. Examples of such areas are nature reserves, parks, lakes, and other sensitive areas. Often, it might be possible to circumvent the problem by using weaker sources or using buried…

CAGC Column: “Citius, Altius, Fortius”

…The Olympic motto in English is “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have wrapped up after two weeks of fantastic athletic competition, great personal and team achievements and a management success by any measure, in light of the challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, which delayed this quadrennial spectacular…

Magnetotellurics in Exploration for Geothermal Targets

José Antonio Rodríguez, Mehran Gharibi, Oliver Kuhn

…Abstract The increasing demand to develop renewable energy resources has driven a surge in interest in geothermal sources, both for power generation and for direct use of heat, or for a combination of both. The most economically attractive geothermal projects are those that exploit a naturally occurring, high-temperature hydrothermal reservoir.…

CGDMS Column: Strategies For Managing Your Well Data

…Data management can seem straightforward – get the data, interpret the data, make money from the use of the data. Simple, right? Not so fast! This article will focus exclusively on well data. Future articles will deal with other types of data and the importance of data integrity. Well data…

Eric Rops

An Interview with Eric Rops

…Tell us about your educational background, work experience, and what you are engaged in these days. I come from a geophysics background. I did my Bachelors at Western University in Ontario, then my Masters here at the University of Calgary where I was able to integrate with the geophysics community.…

Science Break: Materials science

…Materials science is a field that quietly goes about its business, but routinely delivers significant scientific advancements. Somewhere along the way we went from wood, stone, concrete, metal and other basic materials, to metal foams, nano- this and that materials, smart materials, and all sorts of other exotic and useful…

Risk-Based Design of Site Characterization and Measurement, Monitoring, and Verification Plans for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Projects

Marcia L. Couëslan, Wade Zaluski, and Brody Loster

…Introduction Renewed interest in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has exploded in the last 12 to 18 months in both the United States and Canada. This has been precipitated by the 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit in the United States and the federal carbon tax and Clean Fuel Standard…

Key AVO References

David Gray

…While mentoring at Nexen, I put together a set of key AVO papers to help geophysicists understand the basics and key concepts of AVO. Now, as an Associate Editor for the RECORDER, I would like to pass along this information to all of you. All the references are listed in…

Renjun Wen

An Interview with Renjun Wen

…Attending Geomodelling Symposium in Trondheim, Norway Our readers would like to know you better, so please tell us about your educational background and work experience. In 1983, I earned a B.Sc. degree in Petroleum Geology from Jianghan Petroleum Institute near my hometown in Hubei, China. Subsequently, I worked in the…

President’s Message

…It is indeed a privilege and honor to have been selected to lead such a special group as the CSEG. The CSEG has a long and valued history of contribution to the Canadian energy industry, and I am proud to be a member and a volunteer of this great organization.…

Dale Vanhooren

An Interview with Dale Vanhooren

…Tell us about your educational background, work experience, and what you are engaged in these days. I hold three undergraduate degrees from three institutions. I have a Bachelor of Science (Math and Physics) from the University of Alberta, a Bachelor of Education from UBC, and a Bachelor of Science in…

Evidence for Strike-Slip Faulting from 3D Seismic and HZ Well Strip Logs and its Impact on Hydrocarbon Distribution at the Worsley Charlie Lake LL Pool

Rainer Augsten

…Abstract Faults have always played a major role in the trapping of hydrocarbons, usually by creating structural traps. Faults with associated vertical displacement or folding are often visible on seismic data. Strike-slip faults with no vertical displacement, on the other hand, are notoriously difficult to detect on seismic data. This…

Associate Editor’s Message

…I went into geophysics because geophysics covers so many sciences, and I am interested in all of them. I remember researching jobs in our high school counsellors’ office and finding that geophysics required knowledge of math, physics, geology, chemistry, and computer science, all of which I loved. So, before I…