Science Break: Hominin Update (Part 2)

…Part 1 of this article started with the Hominina / Paninae (chimpanzee) split of about 6.5 mya and ended with the emergence of H. heidelbergensis about 850,000 ya. Part 2 will look at some of the Homo species that have roamed the earth from then until the present, which sees…

Tracing the Industry

…On the Move... Jeff Bectold would like people to know that he has started with SeisWare as a Sales Executive. He may be reached at jbectold@seisware.com and his phone number is (403) 869-7399. Andy Williams has joined KUFPEC Canada Inc. as a Senior Geophysicist, and may be reached at awilliams@kufpec.com…

Introduction to April Focus: Induced Seismicity

Wendell Pardasie

…Microseismic monitoring in the oil and gas industry is the process whereby typically low magnitude seismic events (below ~1 moment magnitude) are detected and located in the subsurface during hydraulic fracturing utilizing downhole, surface or shallow subsurface arrays. Many definitions have used wording such as small scale or micro earthquakes…

Injection-Induced Seismicity: End of the Beginning?

Shawn Maxwell

…For the last several years there have been numerous technical workshops on injection-induced seismicity which, looking back, serve as snapshots documenting the rapid evolution in our understanding of this important topic. With time, the tone of these workshops has changed in step with advancement by industry, regulators and academics managing…

Ranking Operation Scenarios for Effective Mitigation of Hydraulic Fracture-Induced Seismicity

Shawn Maxwell, Devin Garrett, Paige Mamer and Atena Pirayehgar

…A magnitude-based, traffic light protocol is the most common mitigation approach to injection-induced seismicity, adopted by both regulators and operators throughout North America (Table 1). Despite challenges associated with a protocol based on an estimate of seismic source strength, magnitude-based protocols still prevail over alternatives such as using measured ground…

Economics of Induced Seismicity: Trying to identify faults in the horizontal well planning stage

Brian Wm Schulte

…“Induced seismicity” refers to a seismic event that is caused by pore pressure and stress change associated with human activity (Boroumand and Maghsoudi, 2016). The maximum magnitude of induced earthquakes is smaller than what is seen with natural earthquakes (Metz et al., 2017); they tend to occur in swarms (Metz…

CSEG Changing of the Guard

John L.J. Duhault

…“The Changing of the Guard is a formal ceremony in which sentries providing ceremonial guard duties at important institutions are relieved by a new batch of sentries.” WIKIPEDIA While the CSEG Board of Directors would not consider themselves “sentries” they are however, custodians of the not-for-profit association: Canadian Society of…

Forecasting Bitumen State

D. Gray, D. Todorovic-Marinic, G. Larson, J. Zhang, D.J. Naidu, M. Letizia, K.A. Wagner, and M. Palka

…Assessing the liquid state of bitumen and its production is now possible from 4D seismic. From conventional 4D seismic data, steam chamber volume can be determined. From 3C-4D (3-component, 4-dimensional) PS (P-wave down, converted S-wave up) seismic data, the liquid state of the bitumen, immediately produceable bitumen, and future produceable…

In Memoriam: Dr. Kenneth Duckworth

Neda Boroumand, David Henley and Amanda Hall

…Ken Duckworth, retired Professor of Geophysics at the University of Calgary, died peacefully on the evening of February 18, 2018 at the Foothills Hospital. He was born in the small town of Barnoldswick in Lancashire, England and moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1968 to teach at the University of…

In Memoriam: Peter Boyd

Ann Mooney

…(June 11, 1955, Orillia, Ontario – February 23, 2018) It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Peter Boyd, co-founder of Arcis Corporation. Peter Boyd attended the University of Western Ontario from 1975 to 1978 obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree. Peter started his career…

Board of Directors’ Message

…As we look to the start of a new year and the changing of the guard from a CSEG executive point of view, we are excited about our future but not without concerns. Our members are facing the most difficult times in our history. Layoffs of geophysicists are too numerous…

Chief Editor’s Report

…An investigation into the past and the future of the CSEG RECORDER “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” MARGARET MEAD “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that…

Editor’s Notes: Exit from the Associate Editor Role

…Some changes come slowly and some come quickly. This change came slowly, especially since I am continuing to contribute to the RECORDER, albeit in in a supplementary role. have stepped down from the Associate Editor role to focus on a couple of special projects that I said I’d do as…

CAGC Column

…2018 Space Odyssey – It's All About the Data, Stupid The 2nd annual IoT (Internet of Things) Blockchain and Machine Learning Conference was held in Calgary in mid-February 2018, and if you missed it, you missed excellent presentations from experts who spoke intelligently and passionately on what could be the…

Tracing the Industry

…On the Move... Andy St-Onge has started PFS Interpretations Ltd. to investigate Upper Cretaceous faulting and fracturing within the Western Interior Seaway. Andy can be reached at 403-969-3272 or geophysicist@shaw.ca. Judy Baker would like to announce she is now part of the Katalyst Data Management Operations team, and may be…

Laurie Weston Bellman

An Interview with Laurie Weston Bellman

…Laurie, let us begin by asking about your educational background and work experience. Well, like responses from many other people that you’ve interviewed in your column Satinder, I didn’t grow up wanting to be a geophysicist. In fact, university was even a bit of an afterthought, so I had a…

Chief Editor’s Message

…This edition’s focus is on salt and sub salt imaging in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Having worked in deepwater GoM and having taught deepwater exploration at Houston Community College, I wanted in this column to take some of what I taught before on the different plays in the deepwater…

CAGC Column

…As Albertans, we know that we live in one of the most beautiful provinces in one of the best countries in the world. From the spectacular Rocky Mountains, through the foothills, the boreal forests and into the grasslands of the prairies, we have it all, except a coast line of…

Science Break: Hominin Update (Part 1)

…The last few years have seen several significant finds related to human prehistory. There was the 2003 discovery of Homo floresiensis, aka “the hobbit”, a distinct (and extinct) species in the same genus as us, Homo. In 2017, more accurate dating pushed back the date of human arrival to Australia…

Tracing the Industry

…On the Move... Todd Lloyd would like his colleagues to know that he has started with the International Petroleum Company, and may be reached at todd.lloyd@international-petroleum.com. Matt Lennon is pleased to announce that he has joined the RPS team and that he may be reached at matthew. lennon@rpsgroup.com. Marivi Molina…