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Special Section: B o r e h o l e g e o p h y s i c s a n d s on i c l o g g i n g
March 2015
Volume 34, No. 3
TTI Migration
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The Leading Edge
Table of Contents
274.. ..... Foundation News: Foundation Board of Directors proudly welcomes its new leaders, P. Allison
308.. ..... U ltimate use of prestack seismic data: Integration of rock physics, amplitude-preserved
processing, and elastic inversion, S. Z. Sun, P. Yang, L. Liu, X. Sun, Z. Liu, and Y. Zhang
316.. ..... C onference Review: IPTC KL breaks all records, J. M. Reilly
320.. ..... W orkshop Review: Report on the SEG/KOC joint workshop in Kuwait: Seismic multiples
Are they signal or noise?, A. El-Emam, C. Kostov, and M. Hadidi
326.. ..... M eter Reader: Generating a high-resolution global gravity model for oil exploration: Part 1
Land data compilations, J. D. Fairhead
Departments
266........ Editorial Calendar
268........ Presidents Page
272........ From the Other Side
336........ Seismos
338........ Memorials
340........ Personals
342........ Reviews
346........ Announcements
350........ SEAM
332.. ..... S EG Wiki Interview Series: Hall: Its up to us to build the future of the science, I. Farley
354........ Student Zone
348.. ..... State of the Net: From ORCID iDs to SEG Wiki help, I. Farley
358........ Meetings Calendar

362........ Membership
Special section: Borehole geophysics and sonic logging
364........ Ad Index
276.. ..... I ntroduction to this special section: Borehole geophysics and sonic logging, T. Smith, C. Torres-Verdn,
and A. C. H. Cheng
278.. ..... C an we ever trust the shear-wave log?, A. Cheng
286.. ..... I n situ calibrated velocity-to-stress transforms using shear sonic radial profiles for time-lapse
production analysis, J. A. Donald and R. Prioul
296.. ..... A nisotropy estimate for the Horn River Basin from sonic logs in vertical and deviated wells,
C. Sayers, L. den Boer, S. Dasgupta, and B. Goodway
262
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
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PRESIDENT-ELECT
John Bradford
Boise State University
Department of Geosciences
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725, USA
Tel: +1-208-426-3898
jbradford@seg.org
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Chris Krohn
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
Nature 2, 3B.354
22777 Springwoods Village Parkway
Spring, TX 77389 USA
Tel: +1-713-461-7056
chris.e.krohn@exxonmobil.com
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Robert R. Stewart
University of Houston
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
SR1 131C
Houston, TX 77204, USA
Tel: +1-713-743-3399
rrstewart@uh.edu
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Guillaume Cambois
PGS
Lilleakerveien 4C
P.O. Box 251 Lilleaker
Oslo, Norway 0216
Tel: +47 4143 0694
guillaume.cambois@pgs.com
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Eve Sprunt
Eve Sprunt and Associates
3753 Oakhurst Way
Dublin, CA 94568, USA
Tel: +1-925-560-9717
evesprunt@aol.com
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Gustavo J. Carstens
Calle 6 e/526 y 527 #550
1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Tel: +54 911 4439 4805
gcarstens@infovia.com.ar
TREASURER
Alison Weir Small
Parallel Petroleum LLC
1004 North Big Spring Street
Suite 400
Midland, TX 79701, USA
Tel: +1-432-685-6585
asmall@plll.com
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Maurice Nessim
Schlumberger
10001 Richmond Avenue
Tel: +1-713-689-6801
mnessim@slb.com
EDITOR
Evert Slob
Delft University of Technology
Stevinweg 1
2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
Tel: +31152788732
e.c.slob@tudelft.nl
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Xianhuai Zhu
ConocoPhillips
600 North Dairy Ashford
Tel: +1-281-293-2299
xianhuai.zhu@conocophillips.com
Julie Shemeta
MEQ Geo Inc.
Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
Tel: +1-303-910-0760
Julie@meqgeo.com
PAST PRESIDENT
Don Steeples
University of Kansas
Department of Geology
903 Juniper Box 99
Palco, KS 67657, USA
Tel: +1-785-737-4536
don@ku.edu
CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL

Mike Graul
TexSeis, Inc.
10810 Katy Freeway, Suite 201
Tel: +1-713-248-3562
mgraul@texseis.com
Tracy J. Stark
Stark Reality, Inc.
5021 Sparrows Point Drive
Plano, TX 75023, USA
tstark3@verizon.net
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE EDITORIAL BOARD
S E G B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R S
DIRECTOR AT LARGE
Edith J. Miller
Chevron ETC Perth
250 St. Georges Terrace
QV1 Building Level 13
Perth, WA 6000, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9485 5070
edithjmiller@gmail.com
The Leading Edge (Print ISSN 1070-485X; Online ISSN 1938-3789) is published monthly by the Society of Exploration
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264
CHAIRMAN
Carlos Torres-Verdn
University of Texas Department of
Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
1 University Station, Mail Stop C0300
Austin, TX 78712-0228, USA
Tel: +1-512-471-4216
cverdin@mail.utexas.edu
PRESIDENT
Christopher Liner
University of Arkansas
Department of Geosciences
218 Ozark Hill
Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Tel: +1-479-575-4835
Chris.liner@gmail.com
Doug Foster
ConocoPhillips
Houston, TX USA, 77079
Tel: +1-281-293-5215
Douglas.J.Foster@conocophillips.com
Ezequiel F. Gonzalez
Shell Exploration and Production
Tel: +1-281-544-7396
Ezequiel.gonzalez@shell.com
John Lane
Office of Groundwater
U. S. Geological Survey
11 Sherman Place
Storrs-Mansfield, CT 06269, USA
Tel: +1-860-487-7402 x13
jwlane@usgs.gov
Mosab Nasser
Hess Corporation
1501 McKinney Street
Tel: +1-713-496-5165
MNasser@hess.com
STEVEN DAVIS, SEG executive director

TED BAKAMJIAN, director, publications
JENNY KUCERA, managing editor
ROWENA MILLS, associate editor
TONIA GIST, senior graphic designer
JILL PARK, graphic designer
Advertising information and rates:
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The Leading Edge
Editorial Calendar
Issue Special Section theme
Due date
Guest editors
2015
Apr. . . . Drilling hazards and deep-sea technology/OTC . . . . . . past due . . . . . . . . . Carlos Torres-Verdn, cverdin@austin.utexas.edu

Ashwani Dev, Ashwani.Dev@halliburton.com

Tad Smith 1 , Tad.Smith@apachecorp.com
May. . . Seismic-assisted well geosteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . past due . . . . . . . . . Carlos Torres-Verdn 2 , c verdin@austin.utexas.edu
Jun . . . Injection-induced seismicity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . past due . . . . . . . . . Rob Habiger, rmhabiger@gmail.com

Greg Beroza, beroza@stanford.edu

Julie Shemeta 1 , julie@meqgeo.com
Jul . . . . Multiples from attenuation to imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mar 2015. . . . . . . Alejandro Valenciano, Alejandro.Valenciano.Mavilio@pgs.com

Nizar Chemingui, nizar.chemingui@pgs.com

Ezequiel Gonzalez 1 , Ezequiel.Gonzalez@shell.com
Aug. . . Passive seismic source mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Apr 2015. . . . . . . David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au

Rie Kamei, rie.kamei@uwa.edu.au
Nori Nakata, nnakata@stanford.edu

Julie Shemeta 1 , julie@meqgeo.com
Sep. . . . Uncertainty assessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 May 2015. . . . . . . Ezequiel Gonzalez 1 , Ezequiel.Gonzalez@shell.com

Tapan Mukerji, mukerji@stanford.edu
Hugues Djikpesse, hdjikpesse@gmail.com

Oct. . . . Education in the geosciences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Jun 2015. . . . . . . . Lisa Buckner, lbuckner@hess.com

Susan Webb, Susan.Webb@wits.ac.za
Trac y Stark 1 , tstark3@verizon.net

Nov. . . . Resource plays I: Rock physics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Jul 2015. . . . . . . . Lev Vernik, verniklev@gmail.com

Per Avseth, Per.Avseth@tullowoil.com

Mosab Nasser 1 , mnasser@hess.com
Dec. . . . Resource plays II: Geophysics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Aug 2015 . . . . . . . Doug Foster 1 , Douglas.J.Foster@conocophillips.com

1
2
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March 2015
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President s Page
Impact factors in exploration geophysics
inding something valuable in the subsurface is at the core

of exploration geophysics. Individuals and groups adept at
this search have often been handsomely rewarded. Any technical advancement or deeper understanding that helps in the
quest is similarly well regarded. Although subsurface resources
are essential to our prosperity, their value fluctuates: Many SEG
members probably check (perhaps with trepidation) the daily
price of WTI or Brent crude oil.
When the price of commodities soars, our geophysical services and expertise are widely sought. This is nicely expressed
in salaries for exploration geoscientists see, for example, the
SEG Membership Compensation Survey (Clark, 2012). University programs in applied geophysics burst with enthusiastic
students, membership in geoscience societies expands, and innovation is in high gear. This virtuous activity leads to discovery,
production and, apparently now, an energy oversupply. With
these fluctuations, what are geophysicists to do?
Clearly, our companies and institutions books must somehow balance. But one cost-effective way to keep the people and
science of geophysics inspired and advancing is to continue to
support our professional societies. SEG meetings and communications, through which we share best practices, are excellent
places and means to maintain motivation and to hone costs. Our
SEG publications, instruction, and network will provide background and structure for the next upswing. The fees and budgets
of our geoscience societies are quite modest (millions of dollars)
compared with the size of the industry that they service (billions
of dollars).
Although the value of a commodity is summarized by its
price, we might inquire as to the valuation of companies, organizations, and even individual contributions. Public oil companies are evaluated by many measures, which include finding
costs, acreage owned, barrels of oil per day (BOPD) produced,
reserves, production replacement ratios, BOPD per employee,
indebtedness, cash flow, profitability, and dividends. Professional organizations might be assessed by their number of members,
funding, activity, outreach, awards, testimonials, and publication impact factors.
For example, SEGs flagship journal, Geophysics, can be
objectively ranked (e.g., via its Scientific Journal Rankings index). It is generally at the top of all applied-geophysics journals
and has increased its rating substantially in the last decade. This
is an important measure of our Societys scientific contribution
and impact.
What about individuals? Any full evaluation of a persons
professional contributions would have many components. Certainly, much of an individuals impact might never be measured.
And theres wisdom in suggesting that measurement and comparison should be avoided altogether because they lead to either
arrogance or jealousy. Nonetheless, there are some positive factors which can be counted.
Our most popular SEG book is none other than Sheriffs
Encyclopedic Dictionary, with more than 7500 copies sold in
268
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
SEGs flagship journal, G eophysics , can

be objec tively ranked (e.g., via its
Scientific Journal Rankings index).
It is generally at the top of all
applied-geophysics journals and has
increased its rating substantially in
the last decade. This is an important
measure of our Societys scientific
contribution and impact.
the last 15 years. Books on seismic data processing (Yilmaz),
amplitude interpretation (Hilterman), anisotropy (Thomsen),
and reservoir geophysics (Abriel) have each sold more than 4000
copies in the last 15 years.
Determining the impact of publications is subject to debate, but it is estimated by various factors, including the hscore (Liner, 2009). The h-score is a writers number of papers
that have been cited that number or more times in other publications (that is, an author would have an h-score of 20 if he
or she had published 20 papers that had been cited at least 20
times). Google Scholars Web crawlers assiduously seek out
publications and their citations, making evaluations like this
possible.
Although we can count citations, full impact in exploration
geophysics is much richer. At least as meaningful but harder
to determine could be who has discovered the most oil. Who
invented the technology that has found the most ore? Which
person wrote the best depth migration? Who first invented and
implemented the FFT on a computer? (Answer: Vern Herbert at
Chevron in about 1962, but he never published it.)
Thinking of impact on a larger scale, Time Books (Knauer,
2012) has selected the 100 most influential people of all time
and gathered them into four groups: beacons of the spirit, explorers and visionaries, leaders of the people, and architects of
culture. Directly relevant to geophysics, most of the recognizable scientists are in the category of Times explorers (e.g., Copernicus, Columbus, Darwin, Babbage, Einstein, Bell, Jobs)
those who sought to chart and understand the world and create
things that never existed before.
Skiena and Ward (2014) search large data sets using various algorithms to try to rank the most significant people in
history. Scientists rank well: Aristotle (eighth), Darwin
(12th), Einstein (19th), Newton (21st), and Linnaeus (31st).
Most of these would be regarded as geniuses. They were
bright, dedicated, and usually well mentored and connected. As German philosopher Schopenhauer said (Grossman,
2013), Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a
target no one else can see.
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THE LEADING EDGE
269
Inspiring, connecting, mentoring, and assisting are where

SEG may help to develop the next generation of talents, targets,
and geniuses. And we need it. With the passing in the last few
months of some of the founders of modern geophysics and our
brightest lights (Mike Batzle, Frank Levin, Bob Sheriff, and
Tad Ulrych), the torch is being passed on.
We have many challenges to meet replacing about 93
million BOPD global oil consumption, how to handle CO2,
finding fresh water, better understanding induced seismicity,
implementing 3D anisotropic full-waveform inversion. Fortunately, there is strong evidence that happiness is a by-product of
constructive effort (e.g., Brand and Yancey, 1993; Lyubomirsky,
2013).
So lets get to it. And kudos to all those who have helped discover resources and develop our people and geoscience. Youve
made quite an impact.
References
Brand, P., and P. Yancey, 1993, Pain: The gift nobody wants: HarperCollins.
Clark, D., 2012, SEGs 2011 membership compensation survey: The
Leading Edge, 31, no. 5, 522524, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/
tle31050522.1.
Grossman, L., 2013, A fire in the flint, in Secrets of genius: Discovering the nature of brilliance: Time Books.
Knauer, K., ed., 2012, The 100 most influential people of all time:
Time Books.
Liner, C. L., 2009, Seismos: A column on the history and culture
of geophysics and science in general: The Leading Edge, 28, no.
4, 418419, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.3112755.
Lyubomirsky, S., 2013, The myths of happiness: What should
make you happy, but doesnt, what shouldnt make you happy,
but does: Penguin Press.
Skiena, S., and C. B. Ward, 2014, Whos bigger? Where historical
figures really rank: Cambridge University Press.
Robert R. Stewart
First Vice President
Volume I
Fundamentals of Signal Processing
Deconvolution
Velocity Analysis and Statics Corrections
Migration
Dip-Moveout Correction and Prestack Migration
Noise and Multiple Attenuation
Volume II
3D Seismic Exploration
Earth Imaging in Depth
Structural Inversion
Reservoir Geophysics
March 2015
z Yilmaz
In addition to a comprehensive update of his original volume on processing,
z Yilmaz has expanded the set to include inversion and interpretation.
Complete Set (Volumes I and II)
Catalog #112A
Published 2001, 2,092 pages, Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-56080-094-1
SEG Members $159 $99, List $199 $124
E-book eISBN 978-1-56080-158-0 SEG Members $101 $59, List $127 $79
DVD
Catalog #112C
Published 2008, 1 DVD
ISBN 978-1-56080-152-8 SEG Members $99 $59, List $124 $79
To order:
Visit www.seg.org/bookmart
E-mail books@seg.org
THE LEADING EDGE
Seismic Data Analysis

Processing, Inversion, and Interpretation of Seismic Data
The DVD has been published as PDF files with a robust set of links, including
links to cited sources. A single disc contains all contents of the 2,092-page
two-volume book set.
DVD
Complete contents of two-volume
book set
Published as PDF files
Links to cited sources
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270
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March 2015 THE LEADING EDGE
271
From the Other Side

A
column by
L e e L aw ye r
with stories about geophysics and geophysicists
ocated 70 miles east of Dallas, Texas, is a was a waste of time. We needed common depth point (CDP)!
small town called Grand Saline home Sounds unusual, but back then, CDP was not widely accepted.
of a salt mine owned by Morton Salt. On The geophysicist was Ken Gilleland. As I recall, he made his
Main Street sits a relatively small building point by showing two seismic lines, one a single-fold line and
constructed in 1977, with walls and door- one a sixfold CDP line (maybe 12-fold) over the same location.
ways made from blocks of salt. It houses the On one section, you could see the top and base of the salt formaSalt Palace Museum. Each year in this town tion. On the other, you couldnt.
This is where the term turtle showed up. We were looking
is a Salt Festival. The suggested slogan is, So
many salt jokes, so little time. In 1982, that for anticlines, created by early salt movement. The Smackover
mine produced 400,000 tons of salt. It is said sits directly on the salt. Unfortunately, there is a way to create
that the salt found here can supply the worlds craving for an anticline where there is no upwelling of the salt. That means
the next 20,000 years. After that, well need to find a substi- there is no anticline at the level of the objective! It is not easy
tute. Salt domes make good storage areas because they are to tell whether you have a salt anticline or a turtle because they
look alike. In any case, methods were developed, and an undernice and dry.
Grand Saline is an interesting town, but that is not what standing of salt movement grew exponentially.
Salt is lighter than the surrounding sediments. When salt is
drew the attention of this column. Salt is the subject. Doctors
recommend cutting down on the amount of salt you consume, loaded, it takes the direction of least resistance, which is always
thereby reducing the flavor of a lot of food items. In the army, upward. Salt does not travel downward because going down has
its just the reverse. They line the troops up on a hot day and more overburden. Clearly, on the TGS seismic data in the Exrequire them to take salt pills. In nature, there are many salt plorer, salt can go sideways and any other direction except downsprings. These often result in a salt flat, attracting deer to these ward. It doesnt need structural movement to set it in motion. It
salt licks. Cattlemen put out salt blocks for cows to lick. The creates its own structure, and those structures often hold bilcows like the salt blocks, and just like humans, they put on lions of barrels of oil and oil-equivalent gas.
If the salt reaches the surface, it might stall out, so to speak.
weight. I wonder if the cows blood pressure goes up with an
overconsumption of salt. A hot-sauce manufacturer advertises The salt becomes denser than the lighter sediments surrounding
that it stores its product deep in a salt dome on Avery Island, it. That happens about 2000 ft deep in the Gulf of Mexico. We
see strong positive-gravity anomalies on top of shallow domes.
Louisiana, to ensure flavor.
All of this is interesting, but it is the massive salt depos- In the past, we ascribed this to a substantial caprock, mostly
its in the Gulf of Mexico and other places that fascinate me. anhydrite and limestone. Be careful the shallow salt also conEvery month, a seismic section (courtesy of TGS) shows up tributes to the positive-density contrast. There are other interin the AAPG Explorer that boggles the mind. This includes esting questions about salt tectonics, perhaps to be discussed
salt domes, salt welds, allochthonous salt, autochthonous salt, next month.
turtles, and many other salt features imbedded in some specular seismic data.
To contact the Other Side, write L. C. (Lee) Lawyer, Box 441449,
I recall that the industry acquired a sparker survey that
Houston, TX 77244-1449 (e-mail LLAWYER@prodigy.net).
ran parallel to the shoreline off Louisiana and Texas. I believe that was in the early 1950s. The sparkers did not illuminate the subsurface deeply. All one could see was the
tops of salt features, the tops only. If one cared to speculate how far down the salt persisted, he or she could calculate a tremendous amount of salt. Of course that wasnt
true. When we acquired adequate data, we realized that
we were looking only at the tops. We found that the tops
had bottoms and that the salt had many shapes. But how
Power Plays: Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields
did it get that way?
I had a big advantage. We (Chevron) were exploring in
Conference - May 19-20, 2015 Workshop - May 18 SMU Campus, Dallas, TX
eastern Texas. The objective was the Smackover Formation in
Desalination
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southern Arkansas that sits on top of the Louann Salt (Juras Induced seismicity
ENAM Community Seismic Experiment
Waste heat technology
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sic). The advantage for us was that we could see the top and
bottom of the formation. This wasnt always the case. It was a
Contact Maria Richards
Chevron geophysicist who convinced Chevron management
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and research divisions that shooting single-fold seismic data
272
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
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February 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
273
F o u n d at i o n N e w s
Foundation Board of Directors

proudly welcomes its new leaders
t the Foundations first board meeting of 2015, Mike Forrest, Foundation chair, welcomed aboard five new SEG
Foundation Board members. These are Anna Shaughnessy, Julie
Hardie, Erik Finnstrom, David Bartel, and Peter Cramer.
Anna Shaughnessy (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) is the executive director of MITs Department of
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (EAPS) and
brings many years of experience as an educator and SEG
supporter. Anna adds an academic expertise to the Foundation Board.
Julie Hardie (Seismic Exchange, Inc.) is the vice president
of SEIs legal department. Julies expertise will add depth to
the Foundations governance and will enhance our execution
of fiduciary responsibilities to donors.
Erik Finnstrom (Statoil) is a seasoned veteran serving as
the senior vice president of exploration excellence at Statoil,
Oslo. He was instrumental in Statoils recent support of the
Foundation. Statoil is supporting international SEG student
membership, distinguished lectures, and the International
Geosciences Student Conference. Eriks support and unique
position internationally will help the Foundation work
closely with more SEG members.
David Bartel (Chevron) is an active volunteer with the SEG/
Chevron Student Leadership Symposium. He is an avid
supporter of SEG student programs.
Peter Cramer (ConocoPhillips) is exploration manager

at ConocoPhillips and brings many years of exploration
experience from his successful career at Shell and ConocoPhillips to enrich our connections to industry. Peter will
also be a great link to other geophysicists in the Houston
area.
Each of these five new Foundation Board members brings
extraordinary leadership skills, experience, and dedication to
serve, which strengthens our ability to serve all SEG members
worldwide. As we face current economic challenges, strong,
thoughtful leadership is required to manage the Foundations
assets and execute strategies for continued success. Over the
next few years, these new board members will work together
with our returning eight board members to build on our past
successes and advance our mission to support the funding of
SEG programs worldwide.
Please join me in welcoming these new Foundation leaders to our Foundation team. You can contact us by e-mail at
pallison@seg.org.
Paul Allison
Executive Director, SEG Foundation
The SEG Foundation announces the new

Michael L. Batzle Endowed Scholarship
he SEG Foundation recently received a gift from Lisa

Batzle to create a new scholarship honoring Mike
Batzle. The Michael L. Batzle Endowed Scholarship fund
is available for all donors to support through the Foundations online donation site: seg.org/donate, choosing SEG
Programs.
Mike was a devoted mentor and friend to many geosciences students, educators, and professionals. As part of the
SEG family, we are proud of all Mikes successes and contributions. The entire SEG family extends its condolences to
Mikes family.
274
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Mike Batzle
Mike Batzle teaching at a geophysics field

camp for Colorado School of Mines.
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
275
Introduction to this special section:

Borehole geophysics and sonic logging
Tad Smith 1 , Carlos Torres-Verdn 2 , and Arthur Cheng 3
onic logs are most frequently used to tie surface and borehole
seismic amplitude measurements to P- and S-wave velocities
encountered along wellbore trajectories. Other common uses of
sonic logs include the estimation of dynamic elastic properties
for geomechanical analysis, such as wellbore stability studies and
the design and planning of hydrofracturing operations. Modern
sonic logs are acquired with multiple transmitters and an array of
closely spaced receivers (anywhere between eight and 13 receivers) in the form of time waveforms. Sonic transmitters can come
in the form of monopole, dipole, and quadrupole actuators. By
design, sonic transmitters are immersed in a fluid the borehole mud whereby formation shear waves can be detected and
quantified only by the elastic coupling that exists between wave
motion taking place in the borehole fluid and in the surrounding
rock formations. Such an elastic coupling gives rise to markedly
frequency-dispersive behavior of the detected waves that presents
some technical challenges when one interprets their speeds.
Depending on the elastic properties of rock formations, shearwave velocity can be estimated from sonic waveforms generated
with monopole, dipole, and quadrupole sources. In the case of
dipole sources, shear-wave velocity is extracted from the lowfrequency velocity of the so-called flexural wave. Dipole sources
have explicit directionality in their radiation patterns, therefore
lending themselves to detection and analysis of elastic anisotropy
in rock formations. Logging-while-drilling acquisition of sonic
waveforms typically uses quadrupole sources to generate a socalled screw wave whose low-frequency velocity asymptotes toward that of the formation shear-wave velocity.
Geophysicists are often not aware of the intricacies associated with monopole, dipole, and quadrupole acquisition of sonic
waveforms, especially in the way those intricacies can affect
the reliability and accuracy of estimated shear-wave velocities.
Presence of elastic anisotropy offers additional challenges to
the identification and estimation of formation velocities. More
1
2
Houston, Texas.
Austin, Texas.
important, there is substantially much more information about

rock elastic properties in sonic waveforms currently used by geophysicists. One example is the velocity of propagation of Stoneley waves, which can bring about useful information regarding
the anisotropic elastic properties of rocks. The objective of this
special section is to highlight some modern concepts and applications of sonic waveforms in formation evaluation, geomechanics, and seismic amplitude ties.
We begin this special section with an article from Cheng on
some of the fundamentals of sonic logging. Specifically, this article
reviews the effects of dispersion and anisotropy on shear-wave slowness measurements and methods to take those effects into account
to obtain a more robust shear-wave slowness log. Failure to properly
understand and account for these effects can result in errors that
can have a first-order effect on seismic and geomechanical models.
In the second article, Donald and Prioul obtain nonlinear elastic
constants from the inversion of borehole sonic shear radial profiles.
The stress-to-velocity relationship determined from these profiles
is compared with empirical laboratory data. Results show that the
stress sensitivities are significantly stronger with the borehole radial
profiles than the empirical model for all considered stress paths.
Finally, we conclude the special section with an article by
Sayers et al. In this article, kriged estimates of density and vertical P- and S-wave velocities were derived from vertical wells in
their study area. Given that density is scalar and independent
of well deviation, comparison of the kriged density provided a
blind test of kriging accuracy. However, the measured sonic velocities are systematically higher than the kriged vertical velocities. These differences were then used to estimate the anisotropic
parameters at the location of a deviated well. Derived anisotropic parameters were then used to apply a nonhyperbolic moveout
correction, , to flatten gathers from a seismic survey 10 km to
the north of the area of interest, within which the anisotropy
parameters were estimated by the authors.
3
Singapore.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/tle34030276.1.
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The occurrence of gas hydrates in large quantities worldwide and their immense energy potential have prompted concerted efforts into their exploration and
understanding over the last many years. During this time, geophysical characterization of natural gas-hydrate occurrences by seismic and other methods
have gained prominence, and such studies have been reported from time to time. However, no compilation of such studies was ever attempted. This SEG
publication, Geophysical Characterization of Gas Hydrates (Geophysical Developments No. 14), is the first book on the topic that focuses on documenting
various types of geophysical studies that are carried out for the detection and mapping of gas hydrates. The contributing authors for the different chapters are
experts and well-known researchers in their respective fields. The book will be of interest to geophysicists, petroleum geologists, geochemists, and those
enthusiastic minds who seek the unknown in the field of energy resources.
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THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Published 2010, 408 pages, Hardcover

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Special Section: Borehole geophysics and sonic logging
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Can we ever trust the shear-wave log?

Arthur C. H. Cheng 1
Abstract
After three decades of shear-wave logging, there are still

questions on the robustness of the measurement. The perceived
variability in shear-wave slowness measurements comes from
two main sources: (1) the dispersive nature of the flexural and
quadrupole waves used in the measurement and (2) anisotropy.
Dispersion and anisotropy affect shear-wave slowness measurements, and various methods take those effects into account to
obtain a more robust shear-wave slowness log.
Introduction
Accurate and reliable compressional- and shear-wave measurements are the keys to a variety of geophysical and geomechanical applications, including seismicwell ties, input to velocity model building, pore-pressure prediction, wellbore stability
evaluation, reservoir characterization, and fluid substitution. In
all those, shear-wave measurements are necessary and critical.
Traditional acoustic log measurements use an omnidirectional
pressure (monopole) source inside the borehole to detect the refracted compressional and shear head waves along with the guided waves (pseudo-Rayleigh and Stoneley) and use array processing
to measure the formation compressional- and shear-wave slownesses (Cheng and Toksz, 1981; Kimball and Marzetta, 1984).
However, detecting a refracted shear wave is possible only in
fast formations where shear slowness (inverse velocity, a more direct measurement for logs) is less than the compressional slowness
of the borehole fluid (190 to 300 s/ft, depending on composition
and weight of the mud). If the shear slowness of the formation is
larger than the compressional-wave slowness of the borehole fluid,
there is no refracted shear head wave, and we cannot measure the
formation shear slowness. That situation exists for a large number
of conventional reservoirs as well as for near-surface formations.
Flexural wave dispersion and dispersion correction
formations. The borehole flexes as the wave propagates along,

and it is directional. It is dispersive; its slowness changes quite
rapidly with frequency. However, it has one key desirable characteristic. It propagates at the formation shear slowness at the
low-frequency asymptote (in a typical formation and borehole
size, about 13 kHz; in a large, e.g., 22-inch-diameter, borehole
and slow formations, it can be as low as 500 Hz or even lower).
At high frequencies (about 610 kHz), it propagates at the highfrequency Stoneley or, equivalently, Scholte wave slowness.
Figure 1 shows an example of measured flexural waveforms
and the associated dispersion curve from a test well. It is clear
that at the low-frequency limit (less than 3 kHz), the dispersion
curve is relatively flat and is measuring the formation shear-wave
slowness. It should be pointed out that this dispersion is purely
the result of the geometry of the borehole and is distinct from
dispersion related to viscous flow of pore fluids in rock.
The complication of using flexural waves comes in the nonuniform excitation nature of the wave. Figure 2 shows a typical
theoretical dispersion curve and the associated excitation function for the flexural wave. At the low-frequency limit where the
flexural wave is propagating at the shear slowness, there is relatively little excitation energy. The peak of the excitation and
thus the most energy contained in the waveform is at a high
frequency corresponding to the inflection point in the dispersion
curve. This creates a problem in processing the data.
Traditional time-semblance methods, also known as slowness-time-coherence methods, are influenced by the high-energy, slower high-frequency component of the wave and thus
will result in picking a slowness that is larger than the true
formation slowness. Figure 3 shows a synthetic example. This
is a well-known artifact of time-semblance processing of the
flexural wave.
This artifact can be corrected by dispersion-correction
techniques (Geerits and Tang, 2003). In general terms, these
are model-based estimates of the true formation shear slowness by estimating the frequency at which the measurement is
Zemanek et al. (1984) introduce the use of the dipole acoustic source for shear-wave logging in all formations. Instead of a
pressure source, the authors used a unidirectional displacement source, generated by a piezoelectric bender element,
to generate a flexural wave mode in the
borehole, with signals received by another bender element in the borehole.
Subsequent evolution of the technology
now uses pressure sensors located azimuthally on the logging tool, and the
signals are combined to generate the
desired flexural wave signal (Tang and
Cheng, 2004).
Unlike the refracted head wave,
the flexural wave is a borehole surface- Figure 1. (a) Eight measured flexural waveforms and (b) the dispersion curve associated with them
guided wave, and as such, it exists in all from a test well in Texas.
National University of Singapore.
278
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
being taken. This can be the frequency with the peak energy in
the spectrum or the centroid frequency of the spectrum (e.g.,
Geerits and Tang, 2003).
With that and the measured hole size and estimated mud
slowness, one can uniquely recover the true formation slowness from the measured one. It should be pointed out that not
all contractors do the dispersion correction as part of the normal deliverable. Often, the delivered log, especially one that is
delivered at the well site, is not corrected for dispersion. This
will result in a slower shear-wave log and a higher Poissons
ratio. One should always make sure that the log is corrected
for dispersion.
However, like any other model-based inversion technique,
the method works if the model is correct. In the case of acoustic
logging, there are many instances in which the model breaks
down. The most common reason is that the formation is not
homogeneous and isotropic, which is a common assumption. A
brief discussion follows on how anisotropy affects the dispersion
curve and thus dispersion correction.
low-frequency end, an increase in results in a faster dispersion

curve at higher frequencies. A dispersion correction based on an
isotropic formation model will overcorrect the dispersion, making the resulting shear-wave velocity faster than it should be.
Based on the above discussions on dispersion, it is clear that
model-based dispersion correction needs to be applied carefully
and properly. The good news is that for modern wireline acoustic tools, the bandwidth of the measurement is usually broad
enough for proper frequency analysis (see, e.g., the data in Figure 1), except in some cases in large holes or slow formations.
This allows for direct identification of low-frequency shear-wave
slowness.
Stress-induced anisotropy
It is well known that stress-induced anisotropy results in

azimuthal variations in shear-wave slowness and in changes in
far-field versus near-field shear-wave slownesses caused by hoop
stress around the borehole (Sinha and Kostek, 1996). Figure 4
shows a numerical simulation of the dispersion behavior of the
fast and slow shear waves under a uniaxial stress of 10 MPa in
Berea Sandstone (Fang et al., 2015). The crossover of the dispersion curves as a function of frequency is well understood and is
the result of stress rotation from far to near field.
Because of this behavior, the dispersion curves associated with
the fast and slow directions depart from that of a homogeneous
formation with the same slowness. In particular, because the dispersion curve associated with the fast direction becomes slower
at higher frequencies, and vice versa, the dispersion correction
will result in slower velocities for the fast shear wave and faster
velocities for the slow shear wave, thus
reducing the amount of shear-wave anisotropy being measured.
Figure 2. (a) Numerical calculation of flexural dispersion in an open
borehole and (b) associated excitation of the flexural wave as a function of frequency. This illustrates that the maximum excitation is not
at the formation shear slowness and thus shows the need for dispersion correction.
VTI anisotropy
A lesser-known effect is that of

VTI, or polar, anisotropy. It is true
that the flexural wave will measure
the slow shear-wave slowness in VTI
formation at low frequencies. However, it is less well known that flexural
dispersion responds to the amount of
anisotropy in the formation (Ellefsen et al., 1989). Figure 5 shows a
numerical simulation of the flexural
dispersion in three formations with
the same slow shear-wave velocity
but with different shear-wave anisotropy parameters, = 0, 0.15, and 0.3.
It is clear that although the three
cases have the same slowness at the
Figure 3. Processing example showing (a) time-semblance (or slowness-time-coherence) results in

an estimated slowness larger than (b) the actual one.
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
279
Figure 4. Flexural-wave dispersion in a numerically simulated Berea
Sandstone formation with a uniaxial (at 0) applied stress of 10 MPa.

The flexural wave in the fast direction becomes slower, and vice versa.
After Fang et al., 2015, Figure 6a.
Figure 5. Flexural-wave dispersion in a VTI formation with shearwave anisotropy parameters of = 0, 0.15, and 0.3.
In general terms, modern tools are usually reliable to at

least 16 inches in hole diameter and 600 s/ft shear slowness
and sometimes to as much as 22 inches in diameter and 1000
s/ft. However, the picking of the low-frequency asymptote is
not trivial, although several approaches are available (Huang
and Yin, 2005; Tang et al., 2010; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2013).
Furthermore, these approaches are more time consuming
and often are not available at the well site. Care must be taken to
make sure a dispersion-corrected log is not just one that is from
an isotropic model-based inversion but is based on the actual
measured dispersion curve. In more challenging environments,
it is always advisable to go to the waveforms and check that the
processing algorithm is picking the actual flexural mode and not
the Stoneley mode, and it is advisable to examine the dispersion
curve.
Dipping-layer/deviated borehole
Shear-wave propagation in an anisotropic formation is complex. In a TI formation, it will split into well-defined fast and
slow shear waves. They also can be classified as SV or SH waves,
depending on the polarization of the particular motion. The cases of HTI and VTI have been studied well, but the case for intermediate angles has not been studied nearly as much. A flexural
wave propagating in a borehole at an angle to a TI formation,
whether it is from a deviated borehole or from a dipping bed, results in some interesting observations, which might cast doubt on
the accuracy of the measurement if the results are not interpreted properly. This is particularly true for logging-while-drilling
(LWD) measurements in which borehole deviation is common.
Figure 6 shows an example of a borehole intersecting a TI
formation at an angle. The formation properties are from an example generated using a crack model (Cheng, 1993). For this
particular model, the SV and SH waves cross at an incidence
angle of about 50. At less than 50, the SH is faster than the SV.
At more than 50, the situation is reversed. This can cause significant misinterpretation of the fast and slow shear directions in
a dipping bed or deviated borehole.
Figure 6. (a) Schematic of logging in a deviated borehole. (b) Variation

of P, SV, and SH velocities as a function of incidence angle. Depending
on the angle of deviation of the borehole, the observed VP /VS ratio
changes significantly, leading to difficulties in interpretation.
280
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Moreover, as seen in Figure 6, the P-wave slowness varies

differently than the two shear waves as a function of incidence
angle. As a result, the measured VP /VS ratio or, equivalently, the
Poissons ratio might fall out of the established trend line and
cause uncertainty in the interpretation.
Logging-while-drilling shear-wave
slowness measurements
The situation with logging while drilling is even more

complex. Because there is a large steel collar in LWD logging
tools, the flexural wave is influenced heavily by the tool mode
at low frequencies and usually does not approach the formation
shear-wave slowness (Tang and Cheng, 2004). Instead, the
quadrupole wave is used to measure shear-wave slowness in
a slow formation (Tang et al., 2002). The quadrupole wave is
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THE LEADING EDGE
281
obtained by summing the pressure at the receivers on opposite

sides of the tool and subtracting those on the orthogonal sides.
Like the flexural wave, the quadrupole wave is dispersive, and its
peak excitation is again at the inflection point of the dispersion
curve (Figure 7; see also Tang et al., 2010).
Thus, the quadrupole wave has all the issues associated with
the flexural wave, as discussed above, including those encountered in anisotropic formations and deviated boreholes. However,
unlike the flexural wave, the quadrupole wave is omnidirectional. In addition, because the quadrupole sums the signal in one
direction and subtracts it in the orthogonal direction, it does not
split itself cleanly in HTI formations as the flexural wave does.
Thus we have a signal that shifts its phase depending on which
direction the tool is pointing. This will cause significant problems

in LWD measurements because the tool is rotating rapidly.
Figure 8 shows a schematic illustrating this effect. Furthermore, the low-frequency asymptote for the quadrupole mode
is not as flat as that for the flexural mode (Figure 7), making
picking the actual slowness more of a challenge, and the lowfrequency asymptote can be arbitrary depending on data quality
and the processor. Validation of the dispersion correction or the
low-frequency pick needs to be done if one wants assurance that
the picked shear slowness is correct.
Conclusions
Shear-wave logging uses the flexural wave for wireline and

the quadrupole wave for logging while drilling. Both wave
modes are dispersive, and their peak excitations do not correspond to the formation shear slowness. Because of that, conventional time-semblance processing results in a slowness that
is larger than the actual slowness, requiring that the data need
to be corrected for dispersion. However, model-based dispersion
correction will give erroneous results in anisotropic formations,
especially in combination with a deviated borehole. Correct results can be obtained by proper analysis of the dispersion curve
and identification of the low-frequency asymptote.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Bill Langley and Halliburton Energy

Services for the use of flexural-wave data and for many insightful discussions.
Figure 7. (a) Numerical calculation of flexural dispersion in a loggingwhile-drilling environment and (b) associated excitation of the quadrupole wave as a function of frequency. Similar to the flexural wave in
the open-hole case shown in Figure 2, the peak excitation is not at the
formation shear slowness.
Corresponding author: ceeccha@nus.edu.sg
References
Cheng, C. H., 1993, Crack models for a transversely anisotropic

medium: Journal of Geophysical
Research: Solid Earth, 98, no. B1,
675684, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/
92JB02118.
Cheng, C. H., and M. N. Toksoz, 1981,
Elastic wave propagation in a fluidfilled borehole and synthetic acoustic logs: Geophysics, 46, no. 7, 1042
1053, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/
1.1441242.
Ellefsen, K. J., C. H. Cheng, and K. M.
Tubman, 1989, Estimating phase
velocity and attenuation of guided
waves in acoustic logging data: Geophysics, 54, no. 8, 10541059, http://
dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1442733.
Fang, X., A. Cheng, and M. Fehler, 2015,
Investigation of borehole cross-dipole
flexural dispersion crossover through
numerical modeling: Geophysics,
80, no. 1, D75D88, http://dx.doi.
Figure 8. Diagram of a quadrupole wave in an azimuthally anisotropic formation (F and S indiorg/10.1190/geo2014-0196.1.
cate fast and slow shear slownesses). The quadrupole wave is obtained by summing the pressure at
Geerits, T. W., and X. Tang, 2003, Centhe receivers on opposite sides of the tool and subtracting those on the orthogonal sides (see the
troid phase slowness as a tool for disper+ and positions). This illustrates when the positive receivers are (a) in line with the fast direcsion correction of dipole acoustic logging
tion and (b) in line with the slow formation. In the first case, the first-arriving signal is positive,
data: Geophysics, 68, no. 1, 101107,
whereas in the second case, it is negative, as illustrated in (c) and (d), respectively.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1543197.
282
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March 2015
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283
Huang, X., and H. Yin, 2005, A data-driven approach to extract

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Mukhopadhyay, P., A. Cheng, and P. Tracadas, 2013, The differential-phase based time- and frequency-semblance algorithm
for array-acoustic processing and its application to formationslowness measurement: Petrophysics, 54, no. 5, 475481.
Sinha, B. K., and S. Kostek, 1996, Stress-induced azimuthal
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18991907, http-//dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1444105.
Tang, X. M., and A. Cheng, 2004, Quantitative borehole acoustic methods: Elsevier Handbook of Geophysical Exploration
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Tang, X.-M., C. Li, and D. J. Patterson, 2010, A curve-fitting
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dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.3420736.
Tang, X. M., T. Wang, and D. Patterson, 2002, Multipole
acoustic logging-while-drilling: 72nd Annual International
Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 364367, http://dx.doi.
org/10.1190/1.1817254.
Zemanek, J., F. A. Angona, D. M. Williams, and R. L. Caldwell,
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1984-U.`
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In situ calibrated velocity-to-stress transforms using shear

sonic radial profiles for time-lapse production analysis
J. A. Donald 1 and R. Prioul 2
Abstract
Borehole acoustic waves are affected by near- and far-field

stresses within rocks that exhibit stress sensitivity, typically in
medium- to high-porosity formations. Nonlinear, or third-order,
elastic constants are obtained from the inversion of borehole sonic
shear radial profiles with an elastic wellbore stress model. The
stress-to-velocity relationship determined from these profiles in
the elastic region surrounding the wellbore is used for calibration
to compare with empirical laboratory data traditionally used in
time-lapse seismic-feasibility studies to assess simulated production. This analysis enables rock physicists to use the wellbore as a
laboratory and to examine the stress dependence of the acoustic
velocities from in situ field data in their zone of interest. Laboratory experiments on core samples can yield both empirical and
mathematical rock-physics models to describe the relationship
between stress and velocity to link rock properties to in situ measurements of acoustic data (seismic and sonic). In an example
from offshore Malaysia, full-waveform borehole sonic data are
processed to produce shear radial profiles in a deepwater environment. The compressional velocities are mainly sensitive to stress
in the polarization-propagation direction, and shear velocities are
mainly sensitive to stresses in propagation and polarization directions, as expected from nonlinear elasticity. The three compressional and shear velocities vary greatly with vertical stress depending on the stress path because they depend on the three principal
stress magnitudes. In contrast, a classical empirical model that
depends on porosity, clay content, and effective stress cannot capture differences caused by stress path because it relies on only one
stress. Results show that stress sensitivities are significantly stronger with borehole radial profiles than the empirical model for all
considered stress paths (K = -0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1).
Introduction
Time evolution of reservoir-geomechanics properties over

the life of producing reservoirs can be characterized from timelapse seismic data and 3D geomechanics models (Herwanger and
Koutsabeloulis, 2011). One key ingredient needed to link seismic
data and geomechanics models is a relationship among the three
principal stresses (as well as pore pressure) and the elastic stiffnesses or velocities. Although the variation of the effective elastic moduli of rocks as a function of compressive stress caused by
nonlinear elasticity or the closing of cracks has been reported in
the laboratory for more than 40 years (Mavko et al., 1998, section
2.4), the most challenging practical task ever since has been to
find a stress-stiffness relationship that captures the representative
physics with few parameters to be calibrated in situ.
One such model has been based on the theory of acoustoelasticity (Thurston, 1974), also sometimes called nonlinear
elasticity, in which it can be shown that an initially isotropic
rock described by two so-called second-order elastic constants
1
2
Schlumberger.
Schlumberger-Doll Research Center.
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THE LEADING EDGE
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that is subjected to three stresses is characterized by only six (instead of nine) effective elastic constants (i.e., it belongs to a special class of orthorhombic media) (Rasolofosaon, 1998) and only
three so-called third-order nonlinear elastic constants (acting as
stress sensitivity parameters). Early applications of acoustoelasticity to rocks in the laboratory showed that nonlinear stresssensitivity constants could be estimated if nonlinearity remains
small to moderate under the application of stress (Johnson and
Rasolofosaon, 1996; Winkler and Liu, 1996).
One of the important results shown by the acoustoelasticity theory is that compressional velocities are affected mostly by
stresses in the direction of propagation-polarization, whereas
shear velocities are sensitive to stresses in both propagation and
polarization directions; see evidence from the laboratory in Prioul et al. (2004).
In boreholes, the local principal stress directions and magnitudes are known to be perturbed by the presence of the circular
cavity, which translates into azimuthal and radial velocity variations (Winkler, 1996). The first manifestation of such velocity
variations is the observation of shear-wave splitting using dipole
sonic-logging tools (Esmersoy et al., 1994; Mueller et al., 1994),
which can be used to identify stress-related characteristics (Tang
et al., 1999; Tang and Cheng, 2004).
Furthermore, the analysis of borehole flexural waves from
dipole sonic showed a crossover in flexural dispersions for the radial polarization aligned parallel and normal to the stress direction theoretically (Sinha and Kostek, 1996), experimentally
in the laboratory (Winkler et al., 1998), and in situ with log data
(Plona et al., 2000; Sinha et al., 2000), which has now become
the classical signature of stress-induced anisotropy effects on dipole sonic data.
Flexural dispersion curves have been used to estimate radial
profiles of shear moduli (Sinha et al., 2006; Tang and Patterson,
2010), which then have been used to estimate in situ nonlinear
elastic constants and stress magnitudes (Lei et al., 2012; Donald et al., 2013). Alternative stress-velocity models applied to
borehole sonic also have been considered to interpret nonelastic
velocity variations in the one-radius region from the borehole
wall (Sayers et al., 2007; Fang et al., 2013).
In practice, although all rocks have some degree of stress
sensitivity, this phenomenon is more likely to be observed within medium- to high-porosity rocks, given the current accuracy
of borehole acoustic-logging technology to resolve changes in
slowness with stress (Donald et al., 2013).
We present here a case study from offshore Malaysia in which
we identify clear stress-induced anisotropy signatures and several
zones where assumptions of the acoustoelasticity model are satisfied. We recall several key steps of the method to estimate the
minimum and maximum horizontal stresses and the nonlinear
and reference parameters that fully describe the velocity-to-stress
transforms. Then we show that the in situ calibrated transform

can be used to understand stress-path effects on velocities and, as
a perspective, could be used for time-lapse seismic and reservoirgeomechanics simulations (Donald et al., 2013).
Identifying stress-induced anisotropy
In a well from offshore Malaysia, full-waveform sonic logs

were acquired (Pistre et al., 2005) to obtain compressionalmonopole, cross-dipole, and Stoneley waveforms. The dipole
sources (oriented orthogonally to each other) were processed to
determine the fast and slow shear-wave slownesses (slowness
= 1/velocity) and the polarization azimuth of the far-field fast
shear wave (Esmersoy et al., 1994; Donald et al., 2013), which
are shown in Figure 1.
At discrete depths, the fast (red) and slow (blue) flexural and
Stoneley (cyan) wave-train data were transformed to obtain the
slowness-dispersion curves, as shown in Figure 2. The dipole
crossover from the dispersion analysis clearly indicates that the
dominant mechanism of anisotropy is differential horizontal
stress (Donald et al., 2013). This crossover signature is present
in all the clean zones throughout the logged section.
Also note that polarization of the fast shear wave (or fast
shear azimuth) is constant through the interval and is independent of tool rotation. In Figure 2, solid lines represent the theoretical homogeneous isotropic dispersion for each wave, taking
into account the borehole fluid bulk modulus and far-field formation moduli (shear and bulk), borehole diameter, and presence of the sonic tool in the wellbore (Donald et al., 2013).
The difference between the theoretical model dispersion and
the measured dispersions as a function of frequency then were
used to obtain a dynamic shear modulus as a function of wavelength and as a function of radii from the borehole wall into the
far field as many as seven borehole radii away (so-called shear
radial profile) (Sinha et al., 2006; Donald et al., 2013), as shown
in Figure 3. We note that the homogenous reference model that
is used in the perturbation model to derive the radial profile also
requires an estimate of the mud slowness, which often is derived
using the high-frequency portion of the leaky-P compressional
wave. Alternatively, it is common to calibrate mud slowness
within a homogenous and isotropic zone.
Figure 1. Cross-dipole anisotropy processing of flexural-wave data
to determine fast and slow shear slownesses, along with polarization

direction of the fast shear wave. The depth track shows the differences in inline and crossline energies from the fast and slow dipoles.
Track 1 shows tool and hole orientation, along with gamma ray and
caliper. Track 2 shows the fast shear azimuth. Track 3 shows the
slowness anisotropy (DT-based) and time-based anisotropy (differences in average arrival times) and fast and slow shear slownesses.
Track 4 shows the processed waveforms at level 7 of the fast and slow
dipole firing.
Stress characterization and parameter estimation
Assuming that one principal stress is vertical, V, we can

define a coordinate system with X 3 pointing to the vertical axis,
X1 pointing to the azimuth of maximum horizontal stress H,
and X 2 pointing to the azimuth of minimum horizontal stress
h. When the rock is stress sensitive, sonic velocities change as a
function of incremental changes in effective stress above and beyond a reference state. In near-vertical wellbores where there are
indications of stress-induced anisotropy from dipole dispersions,
the slow, fast, and Stoneley shear provide estimates of the three
shear moduli (Donald et al., 2013), c44, c55, and c66, where cij = [1/
(shear slowness)]2b. The vertically propagating compressionalwave velocity yields the compressional modulus c 33. Then the
three P-wave moduli and three S-wave moduli can be expressed
in terms of the diagonal elements of elastic stiffness tensor as
follows (Donald et al., 2013):
Figure 2. Slowness-dispersion analysis indicating stress-induced
anisotropy with classic crossover behavior between fast and slow

dipole firings. Monopole compressional and shear head waves are also
evident at high frequencies, whereas the dispersive Stoneley waves can
be seen at lower frequencies.
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287
c11 = bV112 , c22 = bV222, c33 = bV332,

c44 = bV322, c55 = bV312, c66 = bV322,
(1)
where b denotes the formation bulk density and Vij (i, j = 1, 2, 3)

denotes the velocity of a wave traveling along axis X i and polarized along X j (Donald et al., 2013).
Following Lei et al. (2012), stress-sensitivity coefficients for
the compressional moduli rely on Mref , ref, c 111, and c 112, whereas
the stress-sensitivity coefficients for the shear moduli rely on
Mref , ref , c 144, and c 155. Mref and ref are the two independent second-order elastic constants in a hydrostatically loaded reference
stress (the rock is assumed to be isotropic in the unstressed or
hydrostatically loaded state). There are three independent thirdorder elastic constants (Donald et al., 2013), c 111, c 112, and c 123,
with c 144 = (c 112 c 123)/2 and c 155 = (c 111 c 112)/4.
As shown by Pistre et al. (2009) and by Sun and Prioul (2010),
the stress regime, or Q factor, can be related to the relative ranking
of the shear moduli (Donald et al., 2013), as defined in Table 1.
For a given zone that shows stress-induced anisotropy for a
normal faulting regime, the ratio of shear moduli to the corresponding formation stresses yields (Donald et al., 2013)
c55 c66 c55 c44
D= = ,
V
h
H
h
(2)
where the acoustoelastic parameter D = 3/2 + (c 155 c 144 )/ 2.

With measurements of the three shear moduli, the overburden
stress, and the minimum horizontal stress directly measured
from extended leak-off tests (XLOT) or minifracs, equation 2
can be rearranged to solve for the maximum horizontal stress
directly as (Donald et al., 2013)
c55 c44
H = c c (V h ) + h.
55
66
(3)
If both the minimum and maximum horizontal stresses are unknown, then the D parameter must be solved independently.
Subsequent work by Lei et al. (2012) shows a method of obtaining D independently from the dipole radial profiles (Donald et
al., 2013) combined with a borehole stress model.
Inversion of the measured dipole dispersions yields a radial
profile of the shear modulus from the sand face into the far field.
In conjunction with the measurements, an equivalent isotropic
model of the simulated dipole dispersions for each direction
(maximum and minimum horizontal stress directions) can be
generated in an anisotropic stress environment. The dipole measurements are affected by a combination of the near-wellbore
stresses (axial, radial, and tangential) and the far-field stresses (vertical, maximum horizontal, and minimum horizontal)
(Donald et al., 2013). By combining the elastic solution from
Kirsch (1898) with the effect of the dipole measurements in the
near and far fields by Sinha and Kostek (1996), we obtain the
following relationships (Lei et al., 2012):
2
4
c55 (r, )|=0 = m1 a2 + 3 (c55 c44 ) a4 + c55,
r 2
r
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THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
(4)
Figure 3. Shear radial profiles from fast and slow dipoles and from
the Stoneley wave at a single depth. The change in shear slowness is

different for each of the three orthogonal shear measurements.
Table 1. Shear moduli, stress regimes, and Q factor.

Shear moduli ranking
Stress regime
c55 > c44 > c66
Normal faults
c55 > c66 > c44
Strike-slip faults
c66 > c55 > c44
Thrust faults
Q factor
c55 c44
0c c 1
55
66
1
c55 + c66 2c44

c55 c44 2
3c66 2c44 c55

c66 c44 3
2
4
c44 (r, )|= /2 = m2 a2 3 (c55 c44 ) a4 + c44,
r
2
r
(5)
where a is the distance from the wellbore wall; r is the radius

of the wellbore; and m1 and m2 are functions of c 144, c 155, and
the reference moduli. The full derivation is shown in Lei et al.
(2012) for the m1 and m2 terms. The model radial profiles from
equations 4 and 5 are compared with the measured radial profiles from the fast (related to c55) and slow (related to c44) dipoles,
respectively (Donald et al., 2013).
A least-squares regression is performed between the model and measured profiles, as shown in Figure 4. The region in
which the model and the measurements diverge represents the
area that is not related to elastic behavior, and thus the data from
that point to the wellbore wall are excluded. This computation is
done at the same sampling rate as the sonic data are processed,
and as a result, the nonlinear elastic constants are obtained at 15cm intervals. Once the nonlinear elastic constants are known,
the minimum and maximum horizontal stress magnitudes can
be obtained independently.
The remaining independent third-order elastic constant c 111
can be determined by changes in the compressional modulus between depths z1 and z2 over a reasonably uniform lithology layer.
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This contraint can be achieved by imposing an angular weight function derived from dierent dips of input data in the
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THE LEADING EDGE
289
Figure 4. Fast and slow radial profiles compared with wellbore elastic
model. Note the divergence of the model regressions and the field data
at the plastic yielding point.
In stress-sensitive formations, it is common to observe that the

moduli increase with depth, and the hydrostatic and overburden
stresses increase accordingly. Equation 6 describes this evaluation using the same inputs as described above (Lei et al., 2012,
equation 78):
c111 =
Mref|z=z Mref|z=z
8
4
c + | +
K ref|z=z ,
ref|z=z ref|z=z
3 155 3 ref z=z
1
(6)
where Kref = Mref 4ref /3.

Figure 5 shows the results of the stress-magnitude inversion.
The requirements for choosing each zone were a positive indication for dispersion crossover, intrinsic formation isotropy (no
layering) and consistent formation properties over a minimum
length of 3 m, and a minimum of 2% shear slowness anisotropy
between fast and slow dipole sources. The results of the three
shear moduli indicate that this section has a normal stress regime, where c55 > c44 > c66, and the stress Q factor is computed to
be 0.66 (Donald et al., 2013).
A result of a leak-off test is plotted for the upper part of the
interval, along with the equivalent mud weight used to drill the
well. Both values are consistent with the results of the minimum
horizontal stress values. The difference between the minimum
and maximum horizontal stresses ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 MPa,
or 8% to 12%. The sediments are relatively high in porosity, and
the change in the three shear moduli with depth is very evident
(Donald et al., 2013).
Pore pressure (Pp ) is measured in this section using a wireline formation tester, and Biots alpha () is assumed to be 0.95.
As an example, we report the complete stress determination
in Table 2 for a depth of 2504 m. It should be noted that the
dual-axis caliper measurements show no ovality over the logged
section. The difference in the shear moduli is evidence that the
principal formation stresses are different (Donald et al., 2013).
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Figure 5. Stress magnitude and nonlinear elastic constant analysis
from offshore Malaysia. Gamma ray is displayed in track 1. Bulk

density and oriented calipers are shown in track 2. Three shear moduli
from fast and slow dipoles and Stoneley are in track 3. Stress magnitudes with pore pressure and overburden stress gradients and calibration points (leak-off test, mud weight, and pore-pressure tests) are
shown in track 4. Nonlinear elastic constants from the dipole radial
profiling are shown in track 5.
Table 2. In situ stress magnitudes for a well offshore Malaysia at a

depth of 2504 m.
SV
MPa
37.4
SH
Sh
MPa
MPa
35.1
Pp
26.8
0.95
MPa
30.9
Table 3. Reference moduli and stress-sensitive constants used for

stress determination at 2504 m.
Mref
GPa
12.2
ref
GPa
3.4
ref
MPa
34.5
c144
GPa
1595
c155
GPa
2587
c111
GPa
24,669
Velocity variations under different stress paths
Once all three stress magnitudes and the stress-sensitivity coefficients of the zone of interest have been determined, we have in
situ calibrated velocity-to-stress transforms that can be used readily for time-lapse seismic reservoir geomechanics (Donald et al.,
2013). Table 3 shows the coefficients for the case study.
During primary depletion, vertical effective stress and horizontal effective stress increase within the reservoir because of
a decrease in pore pressure, whereas in the caprock, vertical
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effective stress decreases and horizontal stresses can increase

(Herwanger and Horne, 2009). The stress path K is a convenient
way to characterize tensor stress changes from an initial stress
state by a single parameter. It is defined as the ratio between the
change in minimum horizontal effective stress and the change
in vertical effective stress (Donald et al., 2013):
K= h .
V
depend on porosity (26%) and clay volume Vclay (5%) as well as an

effective stress Pe (velocities in kilometers per second and stress
in kilobars) (Donald et al., 2013):
VPEP 89 = 5.77 6.94 1.73Vclay + 0.446(Pe e 16.7P ),
(8)
VS EP 89 = 3.7 4.94 1.57 Vclay + 0.361(Pe e 16.7P ).
(9)
(7)
We assume here that the maximum and minimum horizontal

stresses are changing in the same way (H = h). We consider
several modes of deformation, i.e., different values of K, to illustrate how seismic velocities change as a function of different stress
paths. For example, under hydrostatic stress changes such as porepressure changes, the horizontal and vertical stresses are increased
simultaneously by equal amounts, i.e., K = 1 (Donald et al., 2013).
If deformation of the reservoir is constrained by a no-lateraldeformation boundary condition (such as in uniaxial strain experiments), elasticity theory tells us that vertical stress changes are associated with horizontal stress changes as 0 < K = (/1 ) < 1,
where is Poissons ratio. For laterally unconstrained compression
using only vertical force (i.e., horizontal stress changes as H = h
= 0H = h = 0), the stress path is K = 0. Negative stress paths are
predicted for overburden stretching (K < 0) (Donald et al., 2013).
Figure 6 shows the variations of the three compressional velocities as a function of small perturbations of effective vertical stress
for the stress conditions of depth 2504 m and for the different stress
path K = 0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1. Figure 7 shows the same for the three
shear velocities. Because the nonlinear model was calibrated near a
reference stress, we analyze only perturbations within 6 MPa of the
vertical stress of the considered depth (Donald et al., 2013).
For comparison of the plots, we show the results from the
classical empirical Eberhardt-Phillips et al. (1989) model that
For a visual comparison of stress-sensitivity effects, we arbitrarily shifted V PEP89 and VSEP89at the reference vertical stress (Donald
et al., 2013).
We make several observations (Donald et al., 2013):
The compressional velocities are sensitive mainly to the
stress in the polarization-propagation direction (e.g., V P33,
V P11, V P22 depend, respectively, mainly on SV, SH, and Sh )
with a slight dependence to stresses in orthogonal directions, as expected from nonlinear elasticity.
The shear velocities are sensitive mainly to the stresses in
both the propagation and polarization directions (e.g., VS31
to SV and SH, VS32 to SV and Sh, and VS12 to SH and Sh ), as
expected from nonlinear elasticity.
The three compressional and shear velocities vary greatly
with vertical stress depending on the stress path because
they depend on the three principal stress magnitudes.
The empirical model cannot capture differences caused by
stress path because it relies on only one stress.
The stress sensitivities are significantly stronger than the
empirical VPEP 89 and VSEP 89 for all considered stress paths (K
= 0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1).
The model is calibrated for in situ conditions for three independent stresses and orthorhombic elastic media (nine independent constants), whereas the empirical model had to be
calibrated artificially to the in situ conditions.
Figure 6. Variations of vertical (VP33, green) and horizontal (VP11 and
VP22, red and blue) compressional velocities as a function of small

perturbations of the effective vertical stress for the different stress
paths K = 0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1 for the Malaysia case study at a depth
of 2504 m. The empirical model VPEP89 for 26% porosity and 5% clay
volume also is reported as a function of effective vertical stress and is
shifted arbitrarily for each reference velocity.
Figure 7. Variations of vertical (VS31 and VS32, green and red) and
horizontal (VS12, blue) shear velocities as a function of small perturbations of the effective vertical stress for the different stress paths K
= 0.5, 0, 0.5, and 1 for the Malaysia case study at a depth of 2504
m. The empirical model VS EP89 for 26% porosity and 5% clay volume
also is reported as a function of effective vertical stress and is shifted
arbitrarily for each reference velocity.
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THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
When sensitivities to compressional stress are known, the

full elastic stiffness-to-stress transforms are known, and fluid
substitution on the anisotropic orthorhombic medium could be
pursued easily for advanced time-lapse seismic scenario analysis
(Donald et al., 2013).
Conclusions
Horizontal stress magnitudes and third-order elastic constants were determined using full-waveform borehole acoustic
waves along with the effective vertical stress and an acoustoelastic
model based on nonlinear elasticity. An example from Malaysia
was presented in which rock formations exhibited measurable
stress sensitivity to acoustic waves, and this technique provided
estimates of stress magnitudes consistent with field observations.
When all three stress magnitudes and the stress-sensitivity
coefficients of the zone of interest are known, the in situ calibrated velocity-to-stress transforms can be used to understand
the effects of the stress path on velocities and could be used for
time-lapse seismic and reservoir-geomechanics simulations.
These observations illustrate that borehole sonic measurements
can be used with coupled geomechanical models to resolve orthotropic stress states and their respective stress paths beyond
the traditional empirical relationship to effective pressure.
Acknowledgments
We thank Schlumberger for the time and permission to

publish this article, and we thank an anonymous company for
providing the data.
anisotropy around a borehole: Geophysics, 78, no. 3, D143

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changes and seismic attributes: Geophysics, 74, no. 4, W13
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DT-SOLO High Sensitivity Geophones
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March 2015
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294
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Anisotropy estimate for the Horn River Basin

from sonic logs in vertical and deviated wells
Colin Sayers 1 , Lennert den Boer 1 , Sagnik Dasgupta 1 , and Bill Goodway 2
Abstract
Shale anisotropy must be quantified to obtain reliable information about reservoir fluids, lithology, and pore pressure
from seismic data. Failure to account for anisotropy in seismic
processing can lead to errors in normal moveout (NMO), dip
moveout (DMO), migration, time-to-depth conversion, and
amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis. Kriged estimates of density, vertical compressional-wave, and shear-wave
velocities were derived from vertical wells in an area of interest in the Horn River resource play in northeastern British Columbia. The kriged predictions were compared with measured
logs along the trajectory of a deviated well. Whereas the density
comparison provided a blind test of kriging accuracy because
density is scalar and independent of well deviation, the same
comparison for sonic velocities revealed that they are systematically higher than the kriged vertical velocities. This difference
was used to estimate anisotropy parameters at the location of
the deviated well. The fact that the higher velocities observed
are caused by anisotropy was confirmed subsequently by using
the derived anisotropy parameters to apply a nonhyperbolic
moveout correction to flatten gathers from a seismic survey
10 km north of the area of interest, within which the anisotropy
parameters were estimated.
Introduction
Shales are a major component of sedimentary basins and

play a decisive role in fluid flow and seismic wave propagation
because of their low permeability and anisotropic microstructure. Shale anisotropy must be quantified to obtain reliable
information on reservoir fluids, lithology, and pore pressure
from seismic data. Failure to account for anisotropy in seismic
processing can lead to errors in corrections for normal moveout
(NMO), dip moveout (DMO), migration, time-to-depth conversion, and amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis.
Shale anisotropy within sedimentary basins affects the variation of rock stresses and the containment of hydraulic fractures
(Higgins et al., 2008). Hence, neglect of anisotropy might result in incorrect estimates of in situ stress and stress changes
caused by production.
In situ estimates of anisotropy in shales can be made by
comparing sonic velocities in wells that have different deviations but pass through the same formation (Furre and Brevik,
1998; Hornby et al., 1999, 2003; Brevik et al., 2007; Walsh et
al., 2007; Keir et al., 2011). However, such estimates also will be
affected by lateral heterogeneity in the formation of interest because different wells sample the formation at different areal locations. In this article, density and vertical compressional-wave
and shear-wave velocities are predicted along the trajectory of
a deviated well by kriging density and sonic-log data acquired
1
2
Schlumberger.
Apache.
296
THE LEADING EDGE
Figure 1. (a) Northeastern British Columbia Horn River lithology,
gamma ray, and elastic moduli/ratio for deviated well M52. (b)
Detailed lithology logs and (c) mineral ternary diagram used to calibrate stratigraphic column in part (a) and to describe zonal anisotropy
measurements in Table 1.
March 2015
from vertical wells in an area of interest in the Horn River resource play in northeastern British Columbia (Goodway et al.,
2012). Because density is a scalar quantity and thus independent
of measurement direction, comparing kriged and measured density in the deviated well amounts to a blind test of kriging accuracy. However, an equivalent comparison for velocity shows that
measured sonic velocities in the deviated well are systematically
higher than kriged vertical velocities, enabling the difference to
be used to estimate anisotropy parameters at the location of the
deviated well.
Kriging of vertical well logs
was constructed by spline interpolation between the GL surface

and geologic marker horizons, taking into account the variable
nature of stratigraphic conformability between the constraining
depth surfaces.
Bulk density, compressional-velocity logs, and shear-velocity logs from the available wells were upscaled by resampling
and averaging them into the stratigraphic grid, and a spatially
varying 3D trend was derived for each upscaled property. The
upscaled logs then were extrapolated via trend kriging to produce 3D estimates of density, P-velocity, and S-velocity (Figures
4, 5, and 6) throughout the stratigraphic grid.
The problem of interpolating a given set of control points so
as to derive an optimal prediction at an arbitrary location is a
pervasive one in earth modeling. Compared with other interpolation schemes that assume arbitrary blending weights, such as
A 3D earth model was constructed from 12 available vertical

wells, guided by key horizons as defined by a stratigraphic column of the Horn River Basin in northeastern British Columbia
(Figure 1a). Detailed lithology logs and a
mineral ternary diagram (Figures 1b and Table 1. Anisotropy parameters obtained by comparing velocities in Well M52 with kriged
1c) were used to calibrate and interpret vertical velocities.
measurements of anisotropy from eight
Zone
Top
Base
Lithology (see Figure 1)
zones in the Horn River stratigraphic col3

3
1
Ground level
Debolt
0
0
Clastics
umn (Table 1).
2
Debolt
Banff
0.055 0.030
Carbonate
A detailed ground-level (GL) surface
3
Banff
Exshaw
0.125 0.030
Clay-rich calcareous
(Figure 2) covering a large area in the
shale
Horn River Basin was downloaded from
4
Exshaw
Tetcho
0.195 0.015
Carbonate
the Canadian Digital Elevation Data
GeoBase. Geologic marker horizons over
5
Tetcho
Fort Simpson 0.145
0.025
Calcareous shale
the same area were derived via simple
6
Fort Simpson Muskwa
0.160 0.005
Clay-rich shale
kriging of available well tops. A multilay7
Muskwa
Keg River
0.154
0.10 4
Quartz /carbonate-rich
er geocellular stratigraphic grid (Figure 3)
gas shale
with an areal resolution of 500 m x 500
3
3
8
Keg
River
Base
model
0
0
Carbonate
m and a vertical resolution of 5 m then
Figure 2. Ground-level (GL) surface over 3D model area, showing

locations of 12 wells (black dots) and two 3D seismic surveys (red
polygon).
Figure 3. Eight-layer stratigraphic grid constructed from kriged
geologic depth horizons. The red polygon denotes the area of 3D

seismic coverage. The Muskwa to Keg River interval (zone of interest)
is second to last (purple layer). The base of the model is a horizontal
plane at 2500 m subsea.
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
297
Figure 4. Trend-kriged bulk-density model in grams per cubic centimeter. The red polygon denotes the area of 3D seismic coverage.
Figure 6. Trend-kriged S-velocity model in meters per second. The

red polygon denotes the area of 3D seismic coverage.
Figure 7. Trajectory of deviated well M52 relative to vertical well H52
in the area of interest. Colored dots denote model tops for other wells
used in kriging. Logs from deviated well M52 were not used in kriging.
inverse distance, the geostatistical technique of kriging provides

the best linear unbiased estimate (BLUE) because kriging
weights are derived by minimizing spatial covariances between
input control points.
Compared with the classic techniques of simple kriging
(global mean) or ordinary kriging (local mean estimated from
control points), the trend-kriging approach used in this study
is more flexible because a local mean is provided externally at
each estimation point. Regardless of the technique used, the

quality of any interpolation approach ultimately is limited not
only by the number and quality of input data but also by implicit
assumptions regarding spatial continuity of the property being
interpolated.
To check the kriging results, the measured density log at a
deviated well in the volume (Well M52 in Figure 7) was compared with the density predicted along the trajectory of that well
via kriging. Figure 8 shows the deviation of the M52 well by
zone, and Figure 9 compares the predicted with the measured
density for that well. The agreement is seen to be good, as expected, because density is a scalar quantity and therefore should
be independent of well deviation.
298
Figure 5. Trend-kriged P-velocity model in meters per second. The

red polygon denotes the area of 3D seismic coverage.
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March 2015
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THE LEADING EDGE
299
Estimation of anisotropy from sonic data
Figure 8. Well deviation for deviated well M52, showing the

different zones in the model.
Figures 10 and 11 show a similar comparison of predicted

versus measured sonic velocities for Well M52. In contrast to
the density log, the compressional- and shear-wave velocities
measured in the deviated well are significantly higher than
those obtained by kriging the vertical well velocities. Assuming that the differences are caused by anisotropy enables the
anisotropy parameters of Thomsen (1986) to be estimated for
zones that have sufficient well deviation (zones 2 through 6 in
Figure 8).
For example, zone 6 corresponds to a thick shale (Fort
Simpson) overlying an unconventional reservoir (Muskwa). It
is important to characterize the anisotropy of this zone for interpretation of amplitude variation with offset and estimation
of geomechanical properties such as minimum closure stress
in the reservoir interval. Within this zone, well deviation decreases with increasing depth (Figure 12). As shown in Figures
13 and 14, P- and S-wave velocities are significantly higher than
Figure 9. Comparison of kriged density with upscaled density for

deviated well M52.
Figure 11. Comparison of kriged vertical S-velocity with upscaled
Figure 10. Comparison of kriged vertical P-velocity with upscaled

P-velocity for deviated well M52.
Figure 12. Well deviation in zone 6 of deviated well M52, colorcoded according to the gamma-ray log.
300
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
fast and slow S-velocities for deviated well M52.
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THE LEADING EDGE
301
vertical velocities predicted by kriging. Moreover, the difference

decreases with increasing depth because of the decreasing well
deviation, as expected.
Inverting for the Thomsen anisotropy parameters in this
zone then gives the results shown in Figure 15, where the quantity
(|VP obs VP pre |+| VS1obs VS1pre |+| VS2obs VS2pre|)i is plotted as a
function of and . Summation is over all depths in the zone

that have an observed value of compressional, fast shear, and
slow shear velocities VPobs, VS1obs, and VS2obs, where VPpre, VS1pre, and
VS2pre are the predicted values for given values of and . Inversion assumes that = , a relation that often gives a reasonable
estimate for shales (Sayers, 2005). The values of Thomsens anisotropy parameters thus obtained for this zone are = 0.160
and = .005.
Table 1 summarizes the inversion results for all zones. For
zones 1, 7, and 8, the inclination of the deviated well is too small
to allow a reliable determination of and . Instead, vertical,
horizontal, and diagonal compressional- and shear-velocity mea
surements from eight available core samples from the Muskwa/
Otter Park Formation (zone 7) were used to estimate the average
anisotropic parameters for zone 7 reported in Table 1.
Figure 13. Comparison of kriged vertical P-velocity with upscaled

P-velocity for zone 6 in deviated well M52.
Blind test of anisotropy parameters
To perform a blind test of the anisotropy parameters shown

in Table 1, the anisotropy parameter = ( )/(1 + 2 ) (Alkhalifah and Tsvankin, 1995) was calculated from Table 1 and was
used to apply a nonhyperbolic moveout correction to a seismic
survey in the Horn River Basin 10 km north of the area of study
containing the M52 and H52 wells. A comparison of Figure 16,
which shows the results of hyperbolic moveout correction, with
Figure 17, which shows the results of nonhyperbolic moveout
correction using values of calculated from Table 1, confirms
the validity of the anisotropy estimates.
Figure 14. Comparison of kriged vertical S-velocity with upscaled

fast and slow S-velocities for zone 6 in deviated well M52.
Microseismic event location and future work
A large downhole microseismic survey was acquired in the

horizontal multiwell pad just north of the M52 and H52 wells
to estimate the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) from completions (Goodway et al., 2012). The stage-by-stage sequence of microseismic swarms is clearly evident on movies of event growth
from sequential stages on the northwestern half of the pad. The
clustering of these events suggests that the gas shale interval at
the toes of the horizontal wells were fracked repeatedly through
elevated pressures on the west edge of a fault zone, shown by the
red-green maximum-positive-curvature lineation in Figure 18.
Furthermore, the individual central-pad stages with highest closure stresses are isolated by a lack of events, as shown by yellow
ovals in map view and cross-section view in Figure 18.
These observations can be explained as having resulted from
the deflection of fracture energy away from a nearby long northsouth strike-slip fault mapped clearly from 3D seismic in the
study area. From a geomechanics perspective, this fault, seen on
maps of maximum positive curvature, is the source of anomalously high observed closure stresses or instantaneous shut-in
pressures (ISIP) and was predicted by various isotropic and
anisotropic 3D AVO attributes.
302
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Figure 15. VTI anisotropy estimate for zone 6 at the location of the
M52 well. Colors show the quantity
(|VP obs VP pre|+|VS1obs VS1pre
|+|VS2obs VS2pre|)i as a function of and . Summation is over all depths

in the zone that have observed values for compressional, fast shear,
and slow shear velocities VP obs, VS1obs, VS2obs, where VP pre, VS1pre, and VS2pre
are the corresponding predicted values for given values of and .
Inversion assumes that = , a relation that often gives a reasonable
estimate for shales (Sayers, 2005).
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March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
303
Notwithstanding compelling corroborative evidence from disparate

seismic measurements, future work
aims to use the anisotropy measurements in the P-wave and S-wave velocity models to reduce the location
error of the microseismic event because this is likely the reason that microseismic clouds tend to cluster outside the gas shale interval (Figure 18).
Conclusion
Shale anisotropy must be quantified to obtain reliable information

about reservoir fluids, lithology, and
pore pressure from seismic data. Failure to account for anisotropy in seismic processing can lead to errors in
normal moveout, dip moveout, migration, time-to-depth conversion,
and amplitude variation with offset
analysis. Kriged estimates of density, vertical compressional-wave, and
shear-wave velocities were derived
from vertical wells in an area of interest in the Horn River resource play in
northeastern British Columbia. The
kriged predictions were compared
with measured logs along the trajectory of a deviated well. Whereas the
density comparison provided a blind
test of kriging accuracy because density is scalar and independent of well
deviation, the same comparison for
sonic velocities revealed that they are
systematically higher than the kriged
vertical velocities.
This difference was used to estimate anisotropy parameters at the
location of the deviated well. The fact
that the higher velocities observed are
caused by anisotropy was confirmed
subsequently by using the derived
anisotropy parameters to apply a nonhyperbolic moveout correction to
flatten gathers from a seismic survey
10 km north of the area of interest,
within which the anisotropy parameters were estimated. Future reprocessing of the downhole microseismic
survey will increase confidence in the
combined interpretation of independent surface seismic, allowing for a
greatly improved SRV estimate, corroborated by pressure and production
measurements from stage-specific
well completions.
304
THE LEADING EDGE
Figure 16. Hyperbolic moveout correction for a survey in the Horn River Basin 10 km north of
the area of interest.
Figure 17. Nonhyperbolic moveout correction for a survey in the Horn River Basin 10 km north
of the area of interest, using values of calculated from Table 1.
Figure 18. Microseismic events, in (a) map view overlain on Keg River 3D maximum positive
curvature and in (b) section view with Muskwa and Keg River reference horizons in black, for
the horizontal multiwell north-half pad north of the M52 and H52 wells. Repeated fracking is
seen through the event cloud clustering on the west edge of a fault zone, shown by the red-green
maximum-positive-curvature lineation in part (a). Individual stages with highest closure stresses
are isolated by a lack of events, as shown by the yellow ovals in parts (a) and (b).
March 2015
Appendix A
Estimation of minimum horizontal stress for VTI media
In the past, seismic imaging and AVO were driven by isotropic earth models. More recently, the use of quantitative interpretation (QI) attributes in characterizing unconventional
reservoirs has extended this isotropic assumption. Thomsen
(2013) argues that industry needs to incorporate anisotropy into
seismic methods that are being applied increasingly to extract
geomechanical properties of the earth (Goodway et al., 2006;
Goodway et al., 2010; Goodway, 2014).
Thomsen initially developed his parameters for TI media
with a vertical symmetry axis, generally referred to as VTI media. Assuming a set of axes x1, x 2, x 3 with x 3 aligned with the TI
axis of rotational symmetry, the elastic stiffness tensor in Voigt
two-index notation takes the form
(A-1)
Here, h and V are poroelastic coefficients, and K0 = C13/C33

(Sayers, 2010).
For an isotropic medium, it follows that
K 0ISO
K 0VTI
C13
E131
=
=
.
C33 V + 2V E3 (1 12 )
(A-6)
Here, E1 and E3 are the horizontal and vertical Youngs moduli,

and 31 and 12 are the Poissons ratios that quantify the horizontal strain resulting from vertical and horizontal stress, respectively.
It follows from Sayers (2010) that K0VTI = K 0ISO + , where
V
C13 + 2C55 C33
=
.
V + 2V
C33
(A-7)
It is seen that the same difference between and V that controls

the sign of Thomsens parameter is also the controlling factor
that results in K0VTI > K 0ISO for most of the points shown in Figure A-1. This connection to Thomsens parameter, expressed in
Lam terms from the VTI stress-strain tensor matrix, is identical to the relationship shown by Sayers (2010) for because
+
(A-2)
(A-5)
where is Poissons ratio. However, this isotropic assumption is

too simplistic a model for unconventional reservoirs and generally is not observed in practice.
For a VTI medium, K0 can be written as
A TI medium has five independent elastic stiffnesses,

whereas an isotropic medium has only two, which can be chosen
as the elastic moduli and introduced by Lam. Generalizing
the Lam parameters to the case of VTI (Goodway, 2001), the
elastic stiffness tensor can be written as
C13
=
=
,
C33 + 2 1
2
(2 V2) + 2 V ( V)
=
.
2( V + 2V )( V + V )
2(1 C55 /C33 )
(A-8)
Here, C13 , H C11 2C66, V C33 2C55, H C66, and V C55.

In terms of the generalized Lam parameters defined above,
Thomsens parameter can be written as
(C13+C55)2 (C33C55)2 (2 V2) + 2V ( V)

=
.
2( V + 2V)( V +V)
2C33 (C33C55)
(A-3)
These relations show the connection of to and V as

being a function of the difference between and V and their
squares. Hence, for positive values of and V, is positive if
> V (Goodway, 2001).
The recent interest in hydraulic fracturing of unconventional
reservoirs requires an estimate of minimum stress because this
determines the downhole pressure required to propagate a hydraulic fracture. Neglecting terms involving horizontal strains,
the minimum horizontal stress h can be written in terms of the
vertical stress V and pore pressure p as
h = h p + K 0(V V p).
(A-4)
Figure A-1. K0VTI calculated for the shales studied by Jones and Wang
(1981), Hornby (1994), Johnston and Christensen (1995), and Wang
(2002), compared with K0ISO (Sayers, 2010).
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
305
Table A-1. Average zonal values of = ( )/(1+2 ), C13, C 33, C 55, , K 0ISO, K 0VTI (Table 1).
Zones as in
Table 1
1 Ground level
Debolt
2 DeboltBanff
TVD (m)
to base
zone
750
1170
VP (0) VS(0)
(m/s) (m/s)
1350
4721
2410
3702
1806
1864
2.664 0.145
1500
5 TetchoFort
Simpson
2150
3797
3150
3797
7 MuskwaKeg
River
3300
4233
6 Fort Simpson
Muskwa
1900
2879
3 BanffExshaw
4 ExshawTetcho
3673
13
(C13 )
C33
C55
K 0ISO
2.42
2.641
0.055 -0.030 0.090
26.38
58.86
2.633
0.195
0.025 0.114
18.36
20.84
36.08
8.59
1864
2.664 0.160 -0.005 0.167
19.70
38.41
9.26 -0.0050 0.5180
2544
2.554
16.97
45.76
1738
K 0VTI
2.642 0.125 -0.030 0.165
0.150
These equations show that estimates of or C13 and C 33 from

sonic logs measured in wells of different deviations (as in this
article) or from surface seismic can be used to calculate the increase of K 0VTI over the standard vertical log-based estimate K 0ISO
= 1 2C 55 /C 33.
Table A-1 shows the effect of this additional term on the
standard isotropic calculation of K 0 , using values extracted
from Table 1.
-0.015
0.100
0.216
0.042
18.59
35.64
38.41
15.34 -0.0306 0.4788 0.4482

7.98
9.26
16.53
-0.0306 0.5522
-0.0152
0.0246
0.0932
0.5216
0.5240 0.5089
0.5180 0.5426
0.5130
0.2776 0.3708
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4, 5265.
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G. W. Tracy, 2008, Anisotropic stress models improve completion design in the Baxter Shale: SPE conference paper 115736MS, http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/115736-MS.
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69th Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts,
112115, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1820700.
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deviated-well sonic logs: Application to seismic well tie: Geophysics, 68, no. 2, 464471, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1567212.
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Horne, E. Knight, C. Sayers, and P. Primiero, 2011, Correcting
sonic logs for shale anisotropy: A case study in the Forties field:
First Break, 29, no. 6, 8186.
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Prospecting, 53, no. 5, 667676, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/
j.1365-2478.2005.00495.x.
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to understand anisotropic shale behavior: 83rd Annual International Meeting, SEG, Expanded Abstracts, 320324, http://
dx.doi.org/10.1190/segam2013-1080.1.
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10, 19541966, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1442051.
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Ammerman, 2007, Derivation of anisotropy parameters in a
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306
Corresponding author: csayers@houston.oilfield.slb.com
References
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Ultimate use of prestack seismic data: Integration of rock physics,

amplitude-preserved processing, and elastic inversion
Sam Zandong Sun 1 , Pei Yang 1 , Lifeng Liu 1 , Xuekai Sun 1 , Zhishui Liu 1 , and Yuanying Zhang 1
Abstract
Elastic information carries important data about subsurface

lithology and fluid. It is highly valued by the seismic exploration industry. Compared with other methodologies (e.g., 9C
VSP and 3D 3C), prestack P-wave methods are used extensively
to address reservoir and fluid prediction because of their wide
availability of data. However, many traditional technologies can
hardly extract accurate P-wave and S-wave information from
conventional prestack PP data because of lacking systematic
studies on how to properly handle prestack amplitudes. A new
concept, prestack elastic integration (PEI), emphasizes comprehensive interactions among rock physics, amplitude-preserved
processing, and inversion algorithm. The influences of the three
aspects are examined and discussed with real examples. Moreover, achievements of PEI are demonstrated through its application on a complex lithologic reservoir in eastern China, in which
PEI characterizes target reservoir properties much better than
traditional methods do.
Introduction to prestack elastic integration
Multifold stacking technology, proposed by Mayne (1962),

has become a routine practice in current seismic exploration. The
original intention of multifold technology was to enhance signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) by stacking one common-depth-point
(CDP) or common-midpoint (CMP) gather into one trace. The
stacked data are regarded as the compressional-wave (or P-wave)
data in traditional thinking.
However, even if all the previous processing is accurate and
reliable, stacked data are not strictly equal to actual pure P-wave
information. As Figure 1 shows, traditional stacking always
tends to mix AVO effects together and thus leads to wrongly restored amplitudes as well as reduced resolution. Pure P-wave information can be obtained under the condition of fully respecting AVO effects. Developments of AVO-related technologies
enable reasonable extractions of P-wave information by using
multifold data.
However, even pure P-wave data can hardly address issues
of lithology and fluid prediction in most cases. Instead, integration of P-wave and S-wave information is highly advocated,
given that S-wave information is sensitive to variations in subsurface lithology and fluids. Therefore, development of 9C VSP
and 3D 3C is driven largely by the need for S-wave information
that is highly valued for reservoir prediction. However, 9C VSP
sometimes requires rigid conditions for the S-wave source, and
S-wave information is more easily attenuated and absorbed by
near-surface media.
In addition, 3D 3C has many problems in acquiring useful
S-wave information. The frequency content of converted (P-S)
waves is low, which causes a mismatch of P-wave and P-S-wave
data for interpretation, especially for land. That is partly why
1
China University of Petroleum (Beijing).
308
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March 2015
Figure 1. AVO numerical examples showing comparison of errors
among stacking, inverted P-wave (R P), and theoretical P-wave. From

left, it shows CRP (AVO) gathers; theoretical P-wave (0); stacking;
inverted P-wave (R P); error_1, showing the difference between
theoretical P-wave and stacking; and error_2, showing the difference
between inverted R P and theoretical P-wave. R P information extracted
from prestack inversion greatly approximates to theoretical P-wave
(error_2).
3D 3C data are rarely available on land. Moreover, higher investment in acquisition is another practical issue, which directly
hinders practical applications. In contrast, P-wave methods are
used extensively in industry to address various aspects of reservoir prediction and fluid identification because of wide availability of data.
Both pure P-wave information and S-wave information can
be extracted from prestack P-wave data with proper prestack
elastic-inversion methods. Compared with other methods,
prestack elastic inversion is the most economic and efficient way
to obtain S-wave information. In fact, a reliable extraction of
P-wave and S-wave information here does not depend merely
on AVO inversion algorithm but requires systematic work that
involves interactions among aspects that can influence the amplitude relationship.
In this article, we propose a new concept of prestack elastic
integration (PEI), aimed at maximizing the availability and value of elastic information from conventional prestack P-P data.
Accordingly, a comprehensive system is introduced by incorporating three important aspects, i.e., rock physics, amplitude-preserved processing, and inversion algorithms for prestack elastic
extraction.
As shown in Figure 2, this system requires in-depth interactions among these aspects. Rock physics largely solves velocity
issues for different types of reservoir rocks, the result of which
provides not only evaluation standards for amplitude-preserved
processing but also important constraints for prestack elastic inversion. In addition, amplitude-preserved processing works to
recover true-amplitude responses induced by lithology and fluids. At the last stage, inversion algorithms attempt to make efficient use of prestack amplitude relationships and finally extract
reasonable elastic information.
In this article, all three of these aspects are discussed with
examples. More important, a practical application of PEI is performed on a complex lithologic reservoir in eastern China to
show the superiority of PEI over routine methods.
Influence of rock physics on elastic inversion
Rock physics tries to build an indirect function between velocity and geologic variables such as lithology, porosity, pore geometry, fluid saturation, density, temperature, pressure, and so
on. It is not only an important bridge between geologic variables
and seismic responses but also a powerful tool for quantitative
seismic interpretation.
Rock-physics modeling is required for accurate reservoir
prediction by preparing the velocity information under seismic
scale, even when P-wave and S-wave information is acquired in
well logging. It is an issue that is often ignored by the majority
of prediction routines.
Moreover, various models have been developed for different
rocks types, such as the Gassmann equation, the Kuster-Toksz
(KT) model, Xu-White, and so forth. Each model has its own
assumptions and limitations. For instance, the KT model is essentially a high-frequency model which does consider the influence of pore geometry, and the widely used Xu-White model is
suited mainly for sandstone with ellipsoidal pore geometry.
At present, none of these models is feasible in describing complex carbonates with storage space dominated by
secondary pores. Based on Berrymans DEM model (1992),
Gassmanns equation, Wus (1966) arbitrary pore-aspect ratio,
and Berrymans (1995) 3D special pores, Sun et al. (2012c)
propose an integrated rock-physics model the DEMGassmann model for accurately predicting velocities of
complex carbonates.
The velocity prediction of deeply buried complex carbonates is taken as an example to illustrate the influence of different
rock-physics models on inversion. First, the seismic wavelet is
extracted from amplitude-preserved data at a well. Then synthetic AVO gathers are obtained through the Gassmann equation, KT model, and DEM-Gassmann model.
Figure 3a shows the comparison of seismic data and modeling AVO gathers from different rock-physics models. It is seen
that the amplitude of synthetic AVO gathers from the DEMGassmann model decreases gradually from near offset to far offset, which is approximate to the result from seismic data. Next
is the KT model. However, the amplitude of AVO gathers from
the Gassmann equation remains unchanged from near offset to
far offset.
Clearly, classical rock-physics models fail to accurately delineate complex carbonate reservoirs and greatly increase unreliability and instability of wavelet estimation, which inevitably
leads to great risk of reservoir prediction. However, AVO gathers from the DEM-Gassmann model agree well with real seismic data, enhancing the precision of reservoir prediction.
Subsequently, modeling AVO gathers from the three rockphysics models is used to perform prestack inversion. Then the
errors among inversion results from three rock-physics models
and logging data are analyzed quantitatively (Figure 3b). Obviously, errors obtained from the Gassmann equation are quite
large; for example, the error of VP /VS is about 30%. Errors from
the KT model are smaller than those from the Gassmann equation. Errors from the DEM-Gassmann model are fairly small;
for instance, the error of VP /VS is about 1.0%.
It is clear that the DEM-Gassmann model agrees well
with the logging data and reduces the error of extracted elastic information, which indicates that the model is applicable
for deep carbonate reservoirs. It is clearly shown that different
rock-physics models influence the elastic information extraction, which requires us to select or build rock-physics models focused on specific exploration targets to finally provide
Figure 2. Overview of prestack elastic integration (PEI) advocated
by the Laboratory of Integration of Geology and Geophysics (LIGG)

at China University of Petroleum (Beijing). Solutions of conventional
prestack elastic-information extraction suffer from strong nonuniqueness. Meanwhile, methodologies established on multicomponent data
are unrealistic in accessing elastic information because of availability
of data and higher investments. In comparison, PEI is an economic
way to extract elastic information from prestack PP data, in which the
influence of nonuniqueness is reduced remarkably.
Figure 3. Comparison of modeling and inversion results with
different rock-physics models: (a) seismic gathers, modeling AVO

gathers; (b) inversion results by (from left) the DEM-Gassmann, the
KT model, and the Gassmann equation. Clearly, different rockphysics models influence elastic-information extraction. The DEMGassmann model agrees well with logging data and reduces the error
of extracted elastic information.
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309
As shown in Figure 4, although conventional processing

might generate a similar imaging result to that of amplitudepreserved processing, the resultant CRP gathers of the two
methods can be distinctly different. It is obvious that the CRP
Influence of amplitude-preserved processing
gather generated by amplitude-preserved processing shows more
evident AVO characteristics with higher S/N than that generon elastic inversion
Obviously, accuracy of prestack elastic inversion depends ated by conventional processing.
In amplitude-preserved processing, each procedure should
largely on whether the AVO characteristics of common-reflection-point (CRP) gathers are true (Zhang et al., 2011). It re- be tested carefully and evaluated in seeking suitable parameters
quires that prestack processing should restore true-amplitude to ensure reliable performance. Studies on rock physics are ofresponses as much as possible. Amplitude-preserved process- ten needed to synthesize theoretical AVO relationships that are
ing is recommended not only for obtaining correctly positioned always taken as the standard in quality control, especially in arimaging results but also for eliminating many types of hazards eas with insufficient velocity information. For a given processthat affect prestack amplitudes to ensure that amplitude varia- ing procedure, its resultant AVO relationship after migration is
tions are induced by subsurface lithology and fluids (Sun et al., compared with the theoretical AVO curve to evaluate whether
the procedure is amplitude preserved or not.
2011).
Basically, attention should
be paid equally to the migration algorithm and premigration processing, which
indicates all the processing
procedures before migration. Premigration processing
mainly includes denoising,
amplitude compensation, deconvolution, demultiple, and
so forth.
Figure 5 shows the effects
of some key procedures. In
most cases, the original AVO
curve might not match the
Figure 4. Comparisons between conventional processing and amplitude-preserved processing on the
theoretical AVO curve. Afimaging result and gathering result: imaging section of (a) conventional processing and (b) amplitudepreserved processing; CRP gathers at the dashed line from (c) conventional processing and (d) amplitudeter application of amplitudepreserved processing. Although conventional processing might generate a similar imaging result to that
preserved denoising, the two
of amplitude-preserved processing, the resultant CRP gathers can be distinctly different. Obviously, CRP
curves become closer. Then
gathers after amplitude-preserved processing show more evident AVO characteristics, with higher signal-toamplitude compensation, denoise ratio than that generated by conventional processing.
convolution, residual static
correction, and demultiple are
performed in sequence. Finally, the obtained AVO curve
is in good agreement with the
theoretical curve. Figure 5
displays progress at the premigration processing stage in
eliminating hazards that can
affect prestack amplitude.
As the kernel of amplitude-preserved processing, the
migration algorithm has great
significance in correctly imaging geologic targets and extracting amplitude-preserved
Figure 5. CRP gathers and their corresponding AVO curves at the target layer: (a) original CRP gather;
CRP gathers. In past decades,
(b) amplitude-preserved denoising; (c) deconvolution; (d) multiple removal. After a series of amplitudemigration algorithms addressed
preserved premigration processing procedures (denoising, amplitude compensation, deconvolution, residual
various kinds of geologic probstatic correction, demultiple, and so forth), the real AVO curve is in good agreement with the theoretical
lems. Special schemes are decurve. Amplitude-preserved premigration processing attempts to suppress hazards which can influence the
prestack amplitude relationship.
signed for handling prestack
accurate P-wave and S-wave velocity relationships for prestack
inversion and a quality-control standard for amplitude-preserved processing.
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311
amplitudes, with huge computational costs involved. It has been

demonstrated that Q-migration can enhance resolution remarkably and can lead to amplitude-preserved CRP gathers in processing data with severe attenuation effects (Sun et al., 2014a).
In contrast, reverse time migration (RTM) is more suitable for preserving amplitude relationships in area with complex
structures (Sun et al., 2009). Figure 6 shows the performance
of Kirchhoff prestack depth migration (KPSDM) and reverse
time migration in recovering true amplitudes. At point A of a
physical model, the AVO curve from RTM is much closer to
the theoretical curve. At larger offset, the ascending AVO curve
from RTM agrees better with the theoretical curve, whereas the
AVO curve from KPSDM fails to show this tendency. However,
at point B of the same physical model, the AVO curve from
RTM also agrees much better with the theoretical curve when
compared with that of KPSDM. Generally, RTM is an optimal
choice over Kirchhoff PSDM in recovering prestack amplitude
in complex geologies.
Although amplitude-preserved processing is challenging,
the goal of amplitude preservation can be approached through
careful quality controls with synthetic AVO curves, in which the
study of rock physics is always required for preparing velocity
information. It is acknowledged that seismic data with inferior
amplitudes probably can lead to misleading results for subsequent reservoir prediction. Thus, based on studies of rock physics, all steps that aim to preserve amplitude are required to work
jointly to improve the amplitude relationship of CRP gathers,
which is beneficial in predicting reservoir and fluids.
Influence of inversion algorithms
Figure 6. Comparison of amplitude preservation of Kirchhoff PSDM

and RTM: (a) CRP gathers from KPSDM; (b) CRP gathers from
RTM; (c) AVO curve comparison at point A; (d) AVO curve comparison at point B. Although the two types of migration are basically
amplitude preserved, reverse time migration has proved to be more
suitable in addressing prestack amplitudes in complex geologies.
Figure 7. Crossplot of R P and R S after several iterations by prestack

hybrid iterative inversion. R P and R S denote P-wave and S-wave
reflectivity, respectively. With the increase of iteration number, R P
is stable, and R S converges gradually. The inversion avoids the risk of
initial model establishment and wavelet estimation and overcomes
the flaws of enormous computation of nonlinear inversion algorithms,
manifesting great potential in lithology and fluid exploration.
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Essentially, prestack inversion is the ultimate step of PEI

that attempts to transform prestack amplitude variations into
useful elastic information that can reflect subsurface lithology
and fluids. Developing efficient and robust inversion algorithms
has proved to be essential in reducing the intrinsic nonuniqueness of inverse problems. Inversion algorithms can be classified
according to linear and nonlinear inversion. The current mainstream linear inversion method generally uses simplifications
of Zoeppritzs equations directly. It not only provides more accurate P-wave information than that from poststack inversion
because of the removal of AVO effects, but it also offers various
elastic parameters such as S-wave impedance, VP /VS , Poissons
ratio, , and that reflect hydrocarbon-bearing information
of subsurface media (Goodway et al., 1997).
By integrating these inverted elastic parameters, reservoir
and fluid-prediction accuracy can be improved. However, the
linear inversion method usually takes P-S-wave velocity relationship as prior information, generally obtained from logging
data and correct rock-physics analysis. This not only requires a
tedious workload but also depends strongly on the initial model.
Furthermore, wavelet estimation also has a great influence on
the quality of inversion results.
To overcome the problems mentioned above, Sun et al.
(2014b) propose a new prestack hybrid iterative inversion strategy based on a new formula derived from the Aki and Richards
formula, by which real P-wave information and S-wave information can be obtained simultaneously. It mainly takes some
known information extracted from the linear inversion method
as the initial model. Then the final optimal solutions can be obtained by iteration. During the process, accuracy and efficiency
are both taken into consideration.
Figure 7 shows a crossplot of R P and R S after several iterations by prestack hybrid iterative inversion. Evidently, with the
increase of iteration number, R P is stable and R S converges gradually, by which VP /VS can be acquired accurately. This method
avoids the risk of prestack wavelet estimation and overcomes the
shortcoming of enormous computation for nonlinear inversion
algorithm, manifesting great potential in lithology and fluid exploration (Han et al., 2013).
Most geophysical inverse problems are essentially nonlinear. Often, those problems are simplified into linear ones to seek
nonlinear solution. This demonstrates that nonlinear PSO

algorithm is suitable to geophysical inversion.
Application of prestack
elastic integration
Based on the analysis

above, PEI techniques are
applied to the Leijia area in
the Liaohe oil field. Figure 9
shows the sedimentary facies
Figure 8. Comparison of (a) full-stack section and (b) R P section from a PSO prestack inversion algorithm. Compared with the full-stack section, the R P section is much clearer, with higher resolution. Thin
of the Dujiatai oil layer of the
layers can hardly be shown on the traditional stack section because of tuning effects of wavelets. However,
Sha4 member in the Leijia area.
the thin layers become more evident in the R P section.
From west to east, the Leijia
area is divided into a western
gentle slope belt, a sag zone, and a steep slope belt. The sedimentary facies belong to lacustrine deposition, in which delta,
shore-shallow lacustrine, and semideep to deep lacustrine facies are developed sequentially from the central area to the study
vicinity.
Delta in the western gentle slope belt developed fine siltstone; shore-shallow lacustrine developed sandy mudstone;
semideep to deep lacustrine developed calcareous mudstone,
calcareous shale, argillaceous limestone, and argillaceous dolomite; and delta in the eastern steep slope belt developed sandy conglomerate. Argillaceous dolomite in semideep to deep
lacustrine is the favorable lithology target. Western argillaceous dolomite pinches out at Wells g8, g601, lei3, and sh80,
whereas eastern dolomite pinches out at Wells lei77, lei60, and
lei66.
In 2012, conventional data processing was conducted in this
area to predict reservoir and lithology. However, the predicted
Figure 9. Sedimentary facies of the Dujiatai oil layer in the Leijia
area. The red rectangle denotes the study area. Courtesy of Liaohe
results were not satisfactory. With an in-depth investigation, it
Oilfield Company.
was found that amplitude preservation of CRP gathers in the
study area is inferior and cannot satisfy the demand of prestack
quick but suboptimal solutions. Considerable accuracy usually is elastic inversion.
Hence, the Laboratory of Integration of Geology and Geolost with those conventional linear solutions. Recursive schemes
(e.g., hybrid iterative inversion) might help in this matter, but physics (LIGG) at China University of Petroleum (Beijing)
most reasonable solutions still should be accessed by nonlinear implemented PEI in the study area in 2013. This time, a correct
solutions, which become feasible with the rapid increase of com- carbonate rock-physics model, amplitude-preserved processing with quality control, and efficient prestack elastic inversion
putation capacity.
In this article, we mainly discuss a nonlinear solution based algorithm were integrated adequately. Finally, through a comon particle-swarm optimization (PSO) (Kennedy and Eberhart, bination of geology, drilling, and logging, LIGG elaborately
1995). Based on the PSO algorithm and an arrangement of interpreted lithologic prediction results which led to exciting
Zoeppritzs equations, Sun et al. (2012b) propose a new com- discoveries (Figure 10).
The two prediction results in Figure 10 are distinctly difplete nonlinear prestack inversion strategy, which is independent of the initial model and prior geologic information. This ferent. With conventional methodology, it is shown that prenew algorithm overcomes shortcomings of prestack linear inver- dicted dolomite was distributed largely in the west but scarcely
sion and can be applied to areas without well-logging data, in in the east (Figure 10a). However, argillaceous dolomite thickness basically becomes thicker from west to east, which has
which conventional prestack inversion might fail.
Figure 8 shows the comparison of a full-stack section and been verified by drilling and logging data. In contrast, the preR P section from nonlinear PSO inversion. It is seen that the dicted dolomite thickness by PEI agrees with well data (Figpure P-wave section is much clearer, with higher resolution. As ure 10b). Moreover, dolomite distribution shown in Figure 10b
outlined in the figure, because of the tuning effects of wave- also coincides with the sedimentary-facies map in Figure 9.
lets, the traditional stack section can hardly show thin layers, This fully illustrates the validity and necessity of prestack elaswhich become more evident on the R P section obtained by PSO tic integration.
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313
Figure 10. Predicted dolomite-thickness distribution map: (a) time-
thickness result from conventional techniques and workflow; (b)

depth-thickness result from PEI. Clearly, dolomite distribution in part
(a) mismatches geologic facts in the area. In contrast, dolomite distribution in part (b) coincides with the sedimentary-facies map in Figure
9. Meanwhile, the predicted thickness becomes greater from west to
east, which agrees well with drilling and logging data.
Conclusion
Great importance should be attached to efficient extraction

and use of elastic information to solve the increasingly tough
problems of reservoir prediction and delineation. However,
conventional prediction methods often lack symmetrical studies on prestack amplitudes and thus seldom touch the essence
of elastic information. We present a new concept of prestack
elastic integration, which emphasizes adequate interactions and
integrations on three major issues, i.e., rock physics, amplitudepreserved processing, and prestack inversion algorithms.
Carrying out interactive quality controls among these
three aspects is favorable in approaching the optimal solution
of subsurface geologic problems. Moreover, PEI is also a most
economic and efficient way of accessing accurate elastic information from traditional P-wave data, when converted-wave
data are unavailable. Field application of PEI finally helps to
obtain a more reasonable delineation of the argillaceous dolomite reservoir, compared with conventional elastic inversion,
and this agrees well with the findings in geology and drilling
information.
Editors note: This article was submitted for the China special section
in the August 2014 issue of The Leading Edge.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Liaohe Oilfield Company for providing

seismic data. The research is funded partly by the China National Petroleum Corporations fundamental research project
Key Technologies for Onshore Deep Oil and Gas Reservoir Exploration and Development.
Corresponding author: szd@cup.edu.cn
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and H. Zhao, 2013, Integrated identification for complex reservoir based on pure P-wave data and post-stack data: 83rd Annual
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2012a, Two promising approaches for amplitude-preserved resolution enhancement: The Leading Edge, 31, no. 2, 206210,
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Sun, S. Z., L. Chen, Y. Bai, and L. Hu, 2012b, PSO nonlinear pre-stack inversion method and the application in
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Sun, W., Z. D. Sun, S. Wu, and X. Wang, 2009, 3D VSP P-P and
P-SV waves imaging with Kirchhoff migration on fractured and
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Sun, S. Z., H. Y. Wang, Z. Liu, Y. Li, X. Zhou, and Z. Wang,
2012c, The theory and application of DEM-Gassmann rock
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Estimation of Q-factor based on pre-stack CMP gathers and
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Sun, S. Z., H. Yang, Y. Zhang, J. Han, D. Wang, W. Sun, and S.
Jian, 2011, The application of amplitude-preserved processing
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Conference Review
IPTC KL breaks all records

Joseph M. Reilly 1
he eighth International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on
1012 December 2014 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention
Center, returning to Malaysia for the first time since 2008.
The conference had a record-breaking attendance of 10,318
industry professionals from 68 countries. The event drew
speakers from the highest echelons of government, operators,
service providers, advisory and research firms, and academia.
The technical program included more than 420 oral presentations and ePosters. For the first time in IPTC history, the
Geoscience + Integrated Reservoir component of the program
exceeded 50% of the sessions, and presentations were given
by many leading SEG members. SEG-sponsored sessions
covered a wide range of subjects, including seismic acquisition, processing, reservoir characterization, and case histories.
Many of these topics were presented as integrated geology/
geophysics/engineering studies.
With the theme of Innovation and Collaboration: Keys
to Affordable Energy, the event, hosted by PETRONAS and
cohosted by Shell and Schlumberger, featured a ministerial session, high-level plenary and panel sessions, a comprehensive
multidisciplinary technical program, exhibition, and various
educational activities.
On the second day, delegates heard from technology leaders
on the emerging trends in technology development, the process
by which new technology comes into use, and the role of academia, start-ups, and venture capital in this process.
IPTCs four sponsoring societies AAPG, EAGE,

SEG, and SPE came together on the third and final day
to offer perspectives on innovative technologies, including
unconventional oil and gas, integrated reservoir geoscience,
and offshore geophysical technology (Christopher Liner, SEG
president), and industry trends shaping the future of the energy industry.
During the conference, Liner shared his perspective on the
value of the IPTC to the industry in general and to the SEG
membership in particular: The importance of IPTC as a platform to showcase geophysical technology in the Middle and Far
East is clear. Our support of the conference is an effective way
to communicate the mission of SEG and to attract new international members.
With a multisector exhibit area of more than 3600 square meters, the event showcased the latest technological advancements,
innovations, and achievements from various countries to a highly
qualified, multidisciplinary, business, and technical delegation.
Other highlights such as a Young Professionals Workshop on
Technology and Management: Creating Affordable Energy for
our Future, Education Week, Education Days, and Teachers Day
From left: Christopher Liner, SEG president; Randi Martinsen,
AAPG president; Philip Ringrose, EAGE president; Pinar Yilmaz,

facilitator; and Jeff Spath, SPE past president.
1
Vice chairman, IPTC board of directors, SEG appointee.
316
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Christopher Liner, SEG president.
WORLD WATER DAY

22 March 2015
www.unwater.org/worldwaterday
World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means to focus attention on the importance of
freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Visit their website for some
startling facts and figures about the global mpopulations that lack access to clean water or adequate sanitation.
SEGs Geoscientists Without Borders program has made significant
differences in communities with water issues.
water projects in GWB Program
www.seg.org/gwb
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
317
were held in conjunction

with the conference and
exhibition. These elements
brought together young
professionals, international students from selected
universities, and local high
school students and teachers to gain insight into the
energy industry. Ninetyseven
undergraduates
took part in Education
Week, and 87 high school
students joined in the
Education Days. Rounding out the program were
topical luncheons, panel
session training courses,
an Excellence in Project
Integration Award, and
an active program of soThe Education Days and Teachers Day events involved 86 students and 39 teachers from 22 Malaysian schools.
cial activities.
Bringing the proceedings to a close, Adif
Zulkifli, vice president
of Malaysia Petroleum
Management, PETRONAS, and eighth PTC
conference program com
mittee cochair, thanked all the participants, students, delegates, authors, and exhibitors for making IPTC an outstanding success.
Near-surface Geophysics
Dato Mohamad Idris Mansor, chair of the IPTC board
edited by Dwain K. Butler
of directors, said, The collaboration and knowledge shared
by all participants at the eighth IPTC are an important catalyst for continued industry innovation, public education, and
Concepts and fundamentals
professional inspiration within the local and international oil
are presented in the first part,
and gas community. The pursuits and achievements of IPTC
and applications and case
in Malaysia further enrich the industry and Malaysia as the
histories are discussed in
regional hub for oil and gas in Asia.
the second part.
Background
The IPTC is a collaborative effort among the American

Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE),
the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), and the
Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). The synergy of these
four leading individual member-driven societies provides the
most comprehensive opportunity to form multidisciplinary
committees and an outstanding technical program. The International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) is an
annual event rotating between Asia Pacific and the Middle
East. IPTC is organized to further the advancement of scientific and technological knowledge related to the exploration,
development, production, transportation, and processing of
oil and natural gas. The next IPTC event will be held 69
December 2015 in Doha Qatar.
318
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Catalog #116A
Published 2005, 732 pages, Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-56080-130-6
SEG Members $89, List $139
E-book eISBN 978-1-56080-171-9 SEG Members $76, List $118
Order publications online at: www.seg.org/bookmart
or E-mail: books@seg.org
1718 October 2015

held in conjunction with the
SEG Annual Meeting
1823 October 2015
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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For more information, email sls@seg.org
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
319
Workshop Review
Report on the SEG/KOC joint workshop in Kuwait:

Seismic multiples Are they signal or noise?
Adel El-Emam 1 , Clement Kostov 2 , and Mohamed T. Hadidi 3
n December 2014, SEG and Kuwait Oil Company (KOC)

held a joint workshop in Kuwait City to advance the understanding of seismic multiples and to provide answers to the
question posed in the title of the workshop, Seismic multiples
Are they signal or noise? Indeed, despite recent advances in
the prediction of multiples as noise and in their imaging as signal, the processing of multiples in seismic data remains a major
challenge for the industry.
The main goals of the workshop were stated as understanding of new concepts, assessing their effectiveness against the
challenges faced in industrial applications, and charting ways
for future developments. The technical scope of the workshop
was broadly defined, calling for research as well as case-study
papers, with data examples from marine and onshore surveys,
while retaining a strong emphasis on the relevance of technologies to Middle Eastern hydrocarbon oil fields.
The workshop in Kuwait overlapped with some of the
themes discussed at the joint SEG/EAGE forum in the fall of
2013, Turning noise into geologic information: The next big
step?, and with the 2014 SEG postconvention workshop Using
multiples as signal for imaging. Those two recent workshops
provided a wealth of information on new developments, mainly
in research, related to multiples and other events in the data traditionally considered as noise. However, the workshop in Kuwait differed from the previous ones in its attention to industrial
applications of current and emerging technologies, particularly
in the Middle East.
The Kuwait workshop agenda had six half-day sessions, each
including one keynote and one invited presentation as well as
two to four technical presentations, all in the standard format
SEG/KOC workshop technical committee (from left) Riyadh S.

Al-Saad, Saudi Aramco; Mohammed Al-Ajmi (cochair), KOC;
Ahmad Eidan (chair), KOC; Adel El-Emam, KOC; James Shorter,
PDO; Mohamed T. Hadidi, ADCO; Clement Kostov, Schlumberger;
Matthieu Retailleau, CGG.
1
2
Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

Schlumberger.
320
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
of a 20-minute oral presentation plus five minutes for questions.

The talks in each session were followed by a discussion session
led by a moderator, in which the audience could address more
detailed questions to the presenters and could raise additional
questions related to the topic of the session.
About 70 people participated in the workshop. The group of
participants was diverse in terms of geographic regions (Middle
East, Europe, United States, and Asia), institutions (eight oil
companies, five contractors, four universities, and two consultants), and professional background and experience (acquisition,
processing, and research). The total number of papers presented
was 28, including 12 keynote and invited presentations.
Below, we present a summary of key points from each workshop session and conclude with lessons learned, particularly with
respect to potential industrial applications of new technologies.
Research on multiples as noise
The keynote presentation by Yi Luo contrasted current successes of data-driven multiple-attenuation methods, typically
when the multiple-generating horizons produce strong, interpretable seismic reflections (e.g., free-surface multiples for marine data), with the lack of methods to identify and attenuate
internal multiples generated by reflections from thin-bed sequences, such as is common in the Middle East.
The presentation by Bill Dragoset (via prerecorded video)
elaborated further on the challenges of data-driven methods
for free surface and for internal multiples, pointing out key differences between practical and ideal conditions for applications of those methods. In complex geologies such as in Kuwait,
where primaries and multiples are similar to each other, current
Session chair James Rickett of Schlumberger (left) presents a token of

appreciation to keynote speaker Eric Verschuur of Delft University of
Technology.
Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO).
Workshop attendees from around the world meet with SEG/KOC
workshop chair Ahmed Eidan (third from left), exploration manager

at Kuwait Oil Company.
prediction methods are too approximate and place unrealistically high requirements on adaptive subtraction, which might
then reduce to essentially a guessing game.
During the discussion period, the limitations of adaptive
subtractions based on energy-minimization criteria were mentioned, and it was suggested to explore alternative metrics involving imaging the estimated primaries and subsequent modeling of primaries and multiples. Furthermore, it was noted that
new acquisition geometries (e.g., dense, multicomponent, or
buried acquisitions) might provide uplift to the quality of seismic data. However, additional studies are needed to determine
optimal cost versus quality for combinations of acquisition and
processing approaches.
Research on multiples as signal
The keynote and invited presentations for this session were

given by Eric Verschuur and Gerard Schuster, respectively. Verschuur outlined the joint migration-inversion process that combines full-wavefield migration and velocity inversion to account
for high-order scattering and transmission effects.
Schuster described four scenarios in which multiples could
be used for imaging and discussed their benefits and limitations.
A 3D VSP imaging example using multiples in an LS-RTM
migration scheme showed that using multiples in migration extends significantly the imaged area around the well, in comparison with imaging primaries only.
James Rickett presented an inversion approach to separation of primaries and internal multiples, using the machinery
of time-domain full-waveform inversion but keeping velocities
constant and updating only the impedance component of the
model. In the subsequent discussion, the inversion-based approaches were compared further, explaining differences in parameterization and constraints and the implications of those
choices for convergence of methods.
Joost van der Neut described how the Marchenko autofocusing method can be used to remove artifacts caused by internal multiples in the image. His examples included a 2D salt
synthetic and a 1D synthetic based on a blocked well log from
the Middle East. In the future, the algorithm will be extended,
enabling internal multiples to be used for imaging rather than
simply removed.
During panel discussions, session speakers gave more information to

audiences: Kuang-Hung Liu (left), Schlumberger; Pierre Hugonnet,
CGG; Yi Luo, Saudi Aramco (keynote speaker); Clement Kostov,
Schlumberger.
Case studies from the Middle East
In his keynote presentation, Adel El-Emam reviewed the

challenges and experience at KOC with the application of processing methods for multiple attenuation applied to data from
Kuwait. Despite considerable successes resulting from developments in acquisition (single-sensor acquisitions; see SEG/KOC
workshop 2012) and in processing (e.g., data-driven predictions
of internal multiples applied to 3D wide-azimuth, orthogonal
survey geometries), major challenges remain, especially in exploration of deep targets in Jurassic and Permian formations. Although the current state of the art considers multiples as noise,
challenges and opportunities exist for alternative treatments of
multiples as signal.
In the invited talk of this session, Matthieu Retailleau demonstrated that near-surface information is carried out by peg-leg
multiples that have reflected at deep horizons and have interacted with the near surface. Information about the near surface
then can be extracted by surface-consistent deconvolution, with
deconvolution filters providing images of the near surface. Retailleau noted also that finer spatial sampling of the data, during
acquisition and in preprocessing through interpolation, enables
achievement of these results.
The presentations by Mahmoud Hedefa and Mohamed
Mahgoub and subsequent discussions pointed out that to achieve
success in practice, processing technologies need to be applied
to suitably acquired and preconditioned data following suitable
testing and production processing procedures. New technologies
such as data-driven SRME are still seen as too complex to parameterize because they require too much expert involvement. It
was suggested that further use of borehole seismic data, forward
modeling, and inversion-type processing would help the evaluation and quality control of the processing and would contribute
to the adoption of standard processing procedures.
Case studies worldwide
The second case-studies session included further land-data

case studies and several papers on current uses of multiples as
signal, made possible by developments in marine acquisition
technology for streamer and seabed surveys. In his keynote presentation, Jan Willem de Maag demonstrated progress and encouraging results for obtaining quantitative near-offset data and
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
321
Kuwait Oil Company hosted a gala dinner at the Othman House

Museum. Participants watch a fisherman extract a pearl from a
mussel.
near-surface information from the same peg-leg multiples interacting with deep reflectors and the near surface, as exploited
also in Retailleaus presentation. Results from this initial processing step, illustrated with land data from Oman, were used
to estimate and remove free-surface multiples, a key step before
proceeding further with the modeling and removal of internal
multiples.
Two later presentations in the session used multiples for
improved imaging of seabed data. Andrew Dawson used mirror imaging of the downgoing wavefield to extend illumination
from data from a shallow-water, dense OBC survey in the North
Sea.
Alejandro Valenciano Mavilio discussed the approach of
PGS to imaging with multiples, demonstrating that multiples
can compensate effectively for sparse source coverage in streamer
and seabed surveys and can extend the imaged area further than
mirror migration in the case of seabed data. Valenciano commented that cross-talk artifacts for 3D wide-azimuth surveys
are generally not an issue and in any case are much smaller than
artifacts for 2D and narrow-azimuth 3D surveys. Furthermore,
Valenciano argued that surveys should be designed taking into
account opportunities to image with multiples. As explained
during the discussion, this imaging method requires input data
that are separated into upgoing and downgoing wavefields and
is therefore not applicable in its current form to typical singlecomponent land data.
Integration and evaluation
The organizing committees intent for this session was to

raise the visibility of issues and opportunities for using auxiliary
data such as logs and VSP, gravity, time-domain EM, and other
types in workflows that process seismic multiples as signal or
as noise. Keynote speaker Clement Kostov argued that seismicprocessing algorithms might use information from near-surface,
near-well, or deep-probe models created using surface-seismic
and auxiliary data rather than interacting directly with auxiliary
data. However, it is necessary to formulate specific requirements
for the information desired in these models, such as near-surface models that include reflectivities and velocities, or near-well
models that include anelastic attenuation factors in addition to
impedances, with the near-well model not only covering the reservoir zone but also extending to the surface.
322
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Participants tour displays that show Kuwaits brilliant and rich

heritage.
Invited speaker Antonio Pica discussed the problem of modeling interbed multiples while solving two-way wave equations
by finite-difference methods. He proposed a solution, illustrated
with computations in 1D and 2D models, that provides valuable
interpretations of the modeled data and internal multiples, for
instance, as a function of the scale of heterogeneities of the earth
models.
Tarek Nafies presentation showed field data in which careful processing with step-by-step guidance from logs and VSP
data helped to improve the surface-seismic processing results in
challenging environments.
The next two papers in the session had a stronger focus on
evaluation of results than on data integration. Paul Ras showed
an integrated multiple-attenuation workflow using well data for
the initial analysis of primaries and multiples for guiding processing parameters while assessing the results on seismic and
acoustic impedances.
Frederico Xavier de Melo discussed how attributes derived
from models of interbed multiples could be used to evaluate the
quality of multiple attenuation of the whole survey volume, thus
complementing detailed evaluation analyses performed near
boreholes.
The road ahead
The keynote address by Arthur B. Weglein was prepared as

a prerecorded video, but because of a technical incident, only
part of it was shown during the workshop. Weglein started by
reviewing imaging conditions in migrations, noting that an
ideal workflow suitable for quantitative imaging/inversion
would use only the primaries in the data set, with multiples being considered as noise. Current industry migrations differ in
many respects from such a workflow, particularly in that they
use a different imaging condition and extrapolate data through
smooth velocity models. Within such industry-standard workflows, Weglein suggested that multiples provide pseudoprimaries that might be useful for improving the locations and delineations of relatively shallow targets.
In his invited presentation, Said Mahrooqi reviewed examples from Petroleum Development Oman projects in structurally complex areas of Oman, arguing that despite newer acquisitions that satisfy more closely the requirements of data-driven
methods, multiples remain the number-one issue in processing.
February 2016 issue

Pore pressure
Submission deadline: 1 June 2015
Special section editors: Dan Ebrom, Fernando
Ziegler, and Huyen Bui
INTERPRETATION
SCHEDULED TOPICS
upcoming submission deadlines
November 2015 issue

Characterization and monitoring of
subsurface contamination
Submission deadline: 1 March 2015
Special section editors: Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Rory
Doherty, Ralph Costa, Kenneth Hurst Williams, Chi
Zhang, and Pantelis Soupios
Geophysical modeling for interpreters
Submission deadline: 1 March 2015
Special section editors: Bill Abriel, Andreas
Laake, Vincent Artus, Carlos Calderon, Yaoguo
Li, Steve Danbom, Jamie Rector, Feng Chen, Rolf
Ackermann, and Isabelle Lecomte
The Gulf of Mexico: Regional studies,

play concepts, recent developments,
and case histories
Special section editors: Donald Herron, Samuel
Mentemeier, John Snedden, Neil Evans, and
Karen Tindale
Seismic attributes
Kurt Marfurt, Oswaldo Davogustto, and
Marcilio Matos
May 2016
Detection of hydrocarbons
Submission deadline: 1 August 2015
Special section editors: Alistair Brown, Bill Abriel,
Rocky Roden, Tim Berge, and Ray Farrell
Submission deadlines past due*

May 2015 issue
Seismic uncertainties
Special section editors: Maisha Amaru, Cory
Hoelting, Hanno Klemm, and Cengiz Esmersoy
Mining geophysics
Special section editors: Bob Lo, Mark Shore, Jos
Arce, Tom Lane, Richard Smith, and Yaoguo Li
Monitoring reservoir and overburden
change
Special section editors: David H. Johnston, David
Monk, Baishali Roy, Tim Barker, Ivar Sand, Mike
Helgerud, Lydia Novakovic, and Mike Fry
Seismic chronostratigraphy
Special section editors: Stanley Wharton, Kurt
Marfurt, Hongliu Zeng, Henry Posamentier, Octavian
Catneanu, Tracy Stark, Nanne Hemstra, Jesse
Lomask, and Brad Macurda
CO2 storage and utilization
Special section editors: Charlotte Sullivan, Alain
Bonneville, William Harbert, Neeraj Gupta, Dirk
Nieuwland, and Joseph Morris
August 2015 issue
Geophysical imaging and interpretation
of outcrops
Special section editors: Remke L. Van Dam,
Aria Abubakar, Emanuele Forte, Jeroen A. M.
Kenter, Alireza Malehmir, Michele Pipan, Gerard T.
Schuster, and Joep E. A. Storms
Petroleum geomechanics and fracture

interpretation
Submission deadline: 1 April 2015
Special section editors: Stephen E. Laubach, Jon E.
Olson, Randall Marrett, and Sergey Fomel
3d model. Figure courtesy Chevron Image Library.
Late Paleocene Paleogeography. Courtesy GBDS Project,

The University of Texas at Austin.
Scanning electron micrograph of clays in the Gulf of Mexico.

Image courtesy Daniel Ebrom.
Visit seg.org/resources/publications/interpretation/specialsections for more details about these

sections. Interpretation, copublished by SEG and AAPG, aims to advance the practice of subsurface
interpretation.
* E-mail interpretation@seg.org to inquire about submitting manuscripts past the submission deadline.
Some sections may have increased flexibility regarding submission and review dates.
To submit a paper, visit https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/interpretation and select the appropriate topic from the manuscript type options.
For submissions not associated with a special section, select Technical Paper.
To suggest a topic for future special sections, e-mail interpretation@seg.org or contact one of the editors.
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
323
Furthermore, a single processing approach cannot fit the needs

of all projects. Processing must be adapted to data characteristics
imposed by the geology and, therefore, a toolbox of processing
methods based on different principles is needed.
The last two presentations in the session focused on computational methods for modeling and inversion. Phil Bording
shared results for inversion of Rayleigh waves by use of global
search methods and illustrated full-waveform inversion results
in Laplace and Fourier-Laplace domains using synthetics from
the Marmousi model and field data results.
Kurt Eggenberger used a range of forward-modeling tools
to model and identify individual elastic wave modes for multicomponent seismic seabed records. Doing so for a particular
geology produces a better understanding of the anatomy of the
seismic record. That insight can be harnessed for a more targeted
demultiple processing.
Concluding remarks and lessons learned
The industrial practice for land data in the Middle East still
faces considerable challenges with respect to identification and
removal of multiples, especially when multiples interact with
complex near-surface geologies or with thin-bed sequences that
have strong variations of material properties at subseismic resolution scale or when targets are at great depths.
The current state of the art for processing considers multiples as noise and relies on a toolbox of processing methods that
requires considerable expertise and possibly considerable
turnaround time and processing power to produce final
results that have a fairly broad margin of uncertainty with
respect to the goals of minimizing the impact of multiples
while preserving primaries. Data-driven approaches to multiple attenuation have brought considerable improvements,
but further step-change improvements are required in order
to improve the reliability of the results, especially when primaries and multiples are similar to each other.
We make a particular note of near-surface models and of
reconstructed near-offset data obtained from peg-leg multiples present in the seismic data. These are remarkable results
that have the potential for significant impact in land-seismic
production surveys in a relatively short term. Further improvements to the near-surface model are likely also to come
from integration with nonseismic measurements.
Considering developments in marine seismic for streamer and seabed data, we see significant benefits in processing from being able to separate wavefields (at the source or
receiver side) into upgoing and downgoing wavefields, including methods for imaging with multiples. We do not currently have acquisition geometries for land surveys that allow
such wavefield separation, but research in measurements and
survey designs is ongoing.
Research in this field is active, with proposed solutions
that are different from current industrial practice. Two
trends can be noted, the first one being older and pursued
by a larger number of researchers. The first trend encompasses methods that use advanced forward modeling and
optimization to determine subsurface properties by imaging or inversion and, as a by-product, delivers separated
324
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
primaries and multiples wavefields. The second trend known

as Marchenko imaging is still recent, but has distinct and interesting properties in that it requires only little information
about the subsurface.
In conclusion, industrial practice still considers multiples
as noise, but several developments now under way will provide
processing methods that extract signal from multiples as well as
from other parts of the seismic wavefield traditionally considered as noise. This trend, in combination with others such as integration with borehole seismic and nonseismic measurements,
should help in reaching the challenging goals set for seismic data
processing.
Acknowledgments
We thank SEG and KOC for organizing the workshop

and the following companies for their sponsorship: KOC,
Schlumberger, Saudi Aramco, PDO, CGG, and CNOPC/
BGP. We also thank the presenters and participants for informative talks and discussions and for sharing their knowledge
and experience with the broader geoscience community. We
are grateful to the organizing committee for defining the format and structure of the workshop, and we thank the SEG
Middle East region staff, Yogaani Bhatia and Ozlem Kocak,
for logistical support.
Corresponding author: kostov1@slb.com
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VOL. 80, No.
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Contents contin
033 (print)
ISSN 0016-8
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156 (online
ISSN 1942-2
ISSN 2324-8858
Print
ISSN 2324-8866
Online
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M e t e r R e a d e r C o o r d i n at e d
by
Jerry Hensel
Generating a high-resolution global gravity model for

oil exploration: Part 1 Land data compilations
J. D. Fairhead 1
Summary
During the 10-year period 19861995, Getech undertook

five gravity and five magnetic continental-scale data-compilation
projects funded by the oil and mineral industries. The projects
significantly improved the resolution of the gravity and magnetic fields over most of the continental land areas to provide
new geophysical exploration tools of 5-minute (~ 10-km) grids
for gravity and 1-km grids for magnetic data. The databases were
designed to help evaluate the regional nature and extent of sedimentary basins and how they relate to plate-tectonic processes.
The five projects discussed here were challenging and involved
complex negotiations with Russian and Chinese authorities as
well as encouraging oil companies to sponsor and open their
archives to release long-forgotten data sets into the studies.
This article examines how these studies came about, how they
evolved with new data-processing methods and technologies,
and how the projects tend to be open-ended.
Origins of the projects
In the early 1980s, I compiled a gravity database for Nigeria and from it recognized and mapped the regional gravity
signature associated with the Benue Trough. The study identified a major gap in gravity coverage southeast of the trough.
This resulted in an ideal Ph.D. study for one of my research
students, Chiedu Okereke, who completed the regional gravity coverage and modeled the crustal structure of the Benue
Trough.
At that time, I began to look at research opportunities in Sudan and adopted the same methodology. Initially, I undertook
a national gravity compilation of all existing data (including a
decimated data set provided by Chevron over the Muglad Basin)
and identified that the Tertiary volcanic center of Jebel Mara,
Western Darfur, was devoid of gravity coverage. This provided
me with a further set of Ph.D. topics to try to answer the question of why this intracontinental Tertiary volcanic center was
located where it was.
I then merged the Nigeria and Sudan gravity compilations
with the extensive ORSTOM gravity data coverage of Chad,
Central African Republic, Cameroon, and Niger. This formed
the basis for identifying and mapping for the first time a major
continental rift system now known as the West and Central Africa Rift System (WCARS). It forms a major failed Mesozoic
rift system extending across Africa from the Atlantic Gulf of
Guinea through Sudan to the India Ocean.
The WCARS consists of a complex set of sedimentary basins
controlled by extensional, wrench, and shear tectonics linked to
1
Derek Fairhead split his time between being president and founder
of Getech and teaching and research at the University of Leeds, where
he held the chair of applied geophysics until his retirement in December
2013. He received a Ph.D. from Newcastle University.
326
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
the global plate-tectonic processes that caused periods of differential motions within and between the African subplates
during the Mesozoic. The stratigraphy of these rift basins reveals major correlated unconformities, providing time markers
that bound periods of rift basin development. The polyphase and
multistage tectonic development of these rift basins and the oil
potential of the WCARS basins were not lost on oil companies
and provided a perfect example of how the knowledge of the regional gravity field can play an important role in the companies
exploration strategies.
Terrestrial land-based gravity compilations
Initial African Gravity Project (AGP): (Figure 1) In 1985, I

made a short study visit to the University of El Paso to work
with Professor Randy Keller. This visit provided me with an opportunity to discuss my African research studies with academics
and many major U. S. oil companies that were actively exploring
Africa. The aim of the visits to oil companies was to determine
whether a more ambitious project to compile all available gravity
data for Africa was possible.
Although the price of oil was reduced to ~ $10 a barrel in
late 1985, by January 1986, nine oil companies had signed up
to the sponsorship of the three-year African Gravity Project,
and eventually, 19 companies joined. The success of the project
resulted from the novel data-stewardship approach and leadership by respected, independent scientists, with Professor Tony
Watts agreeing to join the study and manage the marine gravity
data processing.
We agreed that all company data would be treated as confidential and only a decimated version at 5-minute (~ 10-km) cell
Figure 1. (a) Distribution of gravity stations compiled by the African
Gravity Project (AGP), with red representing onshore gravity stations

and blue marine ship-track gravity data. (b) The resulting Bouguer
anomaly onshore and satellite-derived free-air anomaly offshore.
size would be released, to encourage sponsors to not hold back

any data sets. This grid cell size fitted well with the regional
coverage of gravity data held by many international, national,
and academic organizations (e.g., the British Geological Survey [BGS] and the French institute ORSTOM). It also was
agreed that all locations of gravity stations would be released
to show the control points of the final grids.
The final meeting of AGP was held in the fall of 1988
at Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory. This meeting
was important because (1) it revealed that the oil companies
liked the study products and wanted more compilations and
because (2) I was introduced to Bill Haxby and his research
using satellite altimeter data to derive the free-air gravity field
over the worlds oceans. His study generated a research idea
that Getech is still involved with 27 years later (to be published separately).
The success of the AGP study led to four further overlapping gravity-compilation studies involving South America,
Western and Eastern Europe, East and Southeast Asia, and
North Central Asia, each of three years duration. These studies involved the compilation of terrestrial land gravity surveys
with only a few early airborne gravity surveys, whereas offshore, shipborne marine data initially were integrated with
Haxbys gravity solution over the continental margins around
South America.
Each compilation had its own unique set of difficulties
and challenges to access data sets because of different cultural
environments, confidentiality restrictions, and establishing
who Derek Fairhead was.
South American Gravity Project (SAGP): (Figure 2) The important breakthroughs in this project came with my introduction to Denizar Blitzkow, a geodesist from the University of
So Paulo, and because we had a persuasive project coordinator, Nicky Hunt, who was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
One of Blitzkows main interests was the construction of a
high-resolution geoid model for South America. This required
access to a good spatial coverage of gravity data, so from 1989,
we worked together closely.
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Figure 2. (a) Distribution of gravity stations of the South American

Gravity Project (SAGP), with onshore gravity stations in red,
marine ship-track data in blue, and satellite tracks in black. (b)
Improved land gravity coverage in 2012 with post-1991 data (blue)
superimposed on the SAGP data coverage (red).
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
327
Key to our early success was Marco Polo Pereira Buonora

(Petrobras, Brazil), who brought Petrobras into the South
American Gravity Project and provided a decimated version
(one in 10 stations) of Petrobras Brazilian gravity database. This
support provided the encouragement we needed for other national oil companies to participate in SAGP.
West East Europe Gravity Project (WEEGP): The tasks of
the West East Europe Gravity Project were to incorporate
the Soviet Union gravity data for the European Plate west
of the Urals (60E) as well as the data for countries in Eastern Europe. This was achieved by approaching the Russian
authorities with a high-power delegation of Tony Watts,
Georges Balmino (secretary-general of IUGG and director
of BGI), and me.
We convinced the authorities that with GPS and video navigation, a regional grid of Bouguer gravity was not as strategically
important as it once was. This and the knowledge that the U. S.
gravity database was in the public domain allowed the Russian
Academy of Sciences to join the project and provide a digitized
grid of its 1:1-million-scale gravity coverage of the Soviet Union
west of 60E. At this scale, station coverage (not shown) was on
average one station per 25 km 2.
For Eastern Europe, the peaceful breakup of the Soviet
Union allowed the Eastern European Bloc countries to act independently, and many joined the WEEGP study.
For this study, timing was everything. The regional grids of
the Soviet Union and Western and Eastern Europe all merged
seamlessly together to generate an 8-km (~ 5-minute) grid, indicating that the data sets were accurate and had not been adjusted
prior to release to the project.
South East Asia Gravity Project (SEAGP): The South East
Asia Gravity Project study stretched from Mongolia in the
north to New Zealand in the south. Data availability ranged
from publicly available compilations for Australia and Japan to
tightly controlled gravity data for Indonesia and China to no
data whatsoever for North Korea.
After many trips and visits to the region, I was successful
in developing a formal link with the Indonesian Gravity Committee, which agreed to a yearlong compilation study with the
understanding that all processing work had to be carried out in
Indonesia.
This project posting proved popular for Getech employees. For China, my Getech colleague Steve Spink and I made
some important academic links which finally resulted in the
release of a regional Bouguer gravity grid of China. As with
the previous compilation studies, once companies understood
the technical robustness of our approach and the quality of
the products, there was often great enthusiasm to join as a
sponsor.
North Central Asia Gravity Project (NCAGP): This project
covered the remaining part of the Soviet Union east of 60E.
Permission to use the regional gravity coverage was straightforward because the Russian Academy of Sciences had already
obtained such permission when accessing the Soviet Union regional data west of the Urals. This data set for north-central Asia
was thus a continuation of the 1:1-million-scale coverage used
328
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
in WEEGP. A seamless link was obtained between these data

with Mongolia and China.
For all projects, it was Getech policy that country organizations that provided data received in return a digital grid version
of their countrys compilation plus color maps. This generated
research and study links with these organizations well after the
end of the various projects.
Global integration of the project data
Post-1995: When is a compilation complete? The answer

for a perfectionist is never because there are always more data
to be found. Pragmatically, the projects were done to the best
of Getechs ability within the resources available and the time
limits of the studies. However, for many areas, such as parts of
South America, a 5-minute grid is a clear case of oversampling
the sparse data coverage (Figure 2a).
Significant postproject improvements in data coverage for
South America came from my links with Blitzkow when we
commenced a land gravity-acquisition program in 1991 that
lasted for more than 20 years. This program linked with national
civil and military geodetic groups throughout South America to
fund, train, and manage this new gravity data acquisition. The
advantage to each of these national groups was making available
gravity data sets across borders so that edge effects of national
geoid computations could be minimized.
For Brazil, Getech worked with Petrobras to reprocess all its
terrestrial gravity and aeromagnetic data into unified databases
before ownership of the data was transferred to the National
Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). For
Argentina, Getech provided gravity databasing and integration
services for both Yacimientos Petrolferos Fascales (YPFA) and
the national geodetic institute in return for allowing the data to
be used to improve the South American gravity database.
Bringing all these continental data sets together is shown
in Figure 3.
The value of such gravity compilations in exploration
At the time of these studies, Western oil companies tended

to focus exploration efforts on a given number of countries.
This started to change with the growth of national oil companies and thus fewer places to explore. Having access to
continental-scale gravity databases helped oil companies to
understand how local basin structures, observed in restricted
exploration blocks, fit into the regional and continental tectonic picture and to understand the role of plate tectonics in
the evolution of these basins.
This was clearly the case in Africa. There, it was possible
to observe the gravity response of basins formed under crustal
extension and how isostasy could reduce the gravity response
of a ~10-km-deep basin from ~ 100 mGal to less than 20 mGal
(e.g., southern Niger, Malay Basin). Failure to appreciate the effects of crustal stretching and isostasy could result, as with Sudan, in significant underestimation of the size of residual gravity
anomalies and the depth of rift basins.
Figure 4 illustrates the effects of isostasy and crustal flexure on continental margins. The mass of the Niger Delta has
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS:

1 A p r i l 2 0 1 5 a t 5 p. m . U. S . C e n t r a l Da y l i g h t Ti me
In 2015, SEG will return to New Orleans for its 85th Annual Meeting.
Do not miss this opportunity to share your latest case histories,
technological advancements, and research discoveries with the worlds
greatest assembly of applied geophysicists.
The Technical Program Chairman, Robert Schneider, and his committee
invite you to submit expanded abstracts for poster, oral discussion/
e-poster, and oral presentations at the meeting. We welcome
contributions that promote the science of applied geophysics from all
sectors and branches of the worldwide geoscience community.
Submissions must be written in English and conform to standard SEG
formats. They must contain quality graphics and relevant references
to support the text. Expanded abstracts received after the deadline or
violating SEG standards will be rejected. Given the success of the previous
meetings and the large number of submissions we expect to receive for
this meeting, only the highest quality abstracts will be accepted.
To further enhance the Technical Program, SEG wishes to live stream
and/or record select sessions to place on the SEG Web site. In order to
do so, we must have a recording release for both your presentation file
and the audio & video portion of your presentation.
SEG New Orleans 2015
International Exposition and 85th Annual Meeting
P.O. Box 702740
Tulsa, OK 74170-2740 USA
techprog@seg.org
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
329
Figure 3. Global coverage of the Getech database generated since 1986.
flexed the ocean crust down with a positive (red) anomaly over
the outer edges of the delta where the rate of sedimentary supply
is faster than the isostatic subsidence.
Having both a reliable regional gravity model and a good
appreciation of the effects that regional geology can have on
the gravity field allows a better understanding of the local
gravity responses, whether in sub-Andean, foreland, or cratonic basins. Linking continental gravity seamlessly to offshore is
important because basins often straddle coastlines, and working with a gravity field over the complete basin has significant
advantages.
Looking to the future
Since about 2005, airborne gravity and gravity gradiometry

have grown in importance as fast and reliable means of acquiring uniform coverage. Release of such data has proved difficult,
but such data would significantly improve the resolution of these
continental studies. Clearly, this is a task worth doing by the
next generation of innovative geophysicists.
Acknowledgments
Thanks go to Jerry Hensel (Chevron) and to Chris Green

and Ian Somerton (Getech) for providing editorial skills and use
of figures.
Corresponding author: jamesderekfairhead@gmail.com
Suggested reading
Browne, S. E., and J. D. Fairhead, 1983, Gravity study of the

Central African rift system: A model of continental disruption,
1: The Ngaoundere and Abu Gabra rifts: Tectonophysics, 94,
330
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Figure 4. 3D view of part of Getechs global gravity image
centered on the Niger Delta, produced using NASAs World Wind

software, with Bouguer anomaly onshore and free-air anomaly
offshore.
no. 14, 187203, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(83)

90016-1.
Fairhead, J. D., and Green, C. M., 1989, Controls on rifting in
Africa and the regional tectonic model for the Nigeria and East
Niger rift basins: Journal of African Earth Sciences, 8, nos.
2/3/4, 231249.
Fairhead, J. D., C. M. Green, S. Masterton, and R. Guiraud, 2013,
The role that plate tectonics, inferred stress changes and stratigraphic unconformities have on the evolution of the West and
Central African Rift System and the Atlantic continental margins: Tectonophysics, 594, 118127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.
tecto.2013.03.021.
Fairhead, J. D., D. J. Misener, C. M. Green, G. Bainbridge, and S.
W. Reford, 1997, Large scale compilation of magnetic, gravity and
electromagnetic data: The new exploration strategy for the 90s, in
A. G. Gusins, ed., Proceedings of Exploration 97: Fourth Decennial International Conference on Mineral Exploration, 805816.
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THE LEADING EDGE
331
SEG W i k i I n t e r v i e w S e r i e s C o o r d i n a t e d
by
Isaac Farley
Hall: Its up to us to build the future of the science

Introduction
Following the vision of the Technology Leaders Interview Series, SEG Publications launched this parallel series in
January 2015 with a debut interview featuring Rhonda Jacobs,
Geoscientists Without Borders program manager. This month,
Matt Hall, SEG Online Committee chair, joins me (Isaac Farley, SEG digital publications manager) to discuss wikis, crowdsourcing in science, and what might lie ahead. In the coming
months, look for wiki interviews with Karl Schleicher, Don
Herron, and John W. Stockwell Jr., all of which were filmed in
October during SEGs 2014 Annual Meeting.
To contribute to the SEG Wiki, visit wiki.seg.org/wiki/
Help:Editing.
Farley: Im here today with Matt Hall, chair of

the SEG Online Committee, mastermind behind
the TLE Geophysical Tutorial series, author,
and wiki expert. Thank you for joining me today,
Matt. You manage your own wiki, the SubSurf Wiki. How do you see your wiki and the wikis being
developed by SEG and other societies AAPG
and SPE complementing one another for the
benefit of emerging professionals in the field?
Hall: In a few ways. The fact that they exist is a great start, and
theyre all on the same platform, on the same technology, so
there is a potential scope there for interoperability and familiarity with the platform. Thus, a person can use more than one
without such a steep learning curve. Partly because of the technology, there could be ways to share information where appropriate, perhaps developing material in one place and spreading
it elsewhere.
One of the things about asking groups of people to develop
things like technical content is that silos and that term is
usually used a little derogatorily can actually be a good thing.
People are comfortable in silos. Thats why they are there they
are familiar with the other people in their silos; they can speak
freely and use their jargon. So maybe silos arent that bad.
One of the things wiki technology helps us to do is make
the silos not matter when we dont want them to matter. So you
can develop these tools in your tribe, where you can draw on expertise needed and feel like the content has the right home, but
when we want to break the silos down, we can connect things
appropriately. This is a way the information can scale across
communities. Im really excited about that and the future for
these wikis. I suppose I will add maybe there is an opportunity
to converge this stuff and take away any last impediments to
sharing across these boundaries and communities Im talking
about.
Farley: So when you talk about sharing, I think

about the wiki and crowdsourcing science or
332
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Matt Hall, SEG Online Committee chair and editor of 52 Things You
Should Know About Geophysics.
being transparent about the science itself. How

does the idea that anyone in the community
can contribute via the wiki strengthen
the science and meet the goal of SEG: to connect, inspire, and propel the people and science
of geophysics?
Hall: This idea about inspiring one thing about communities is that they are diverse or we hope theyre diverse.
So with a diverse community, we need to find lots of ways
for people to collaborate. I feel like some people may be very
comfortable creating articles for The Leading Edge; other
people want to write peer-reviewed articles for Geophysics and Interpretation; and some people like coming to the
annual meeting and giving talks. And I hope the wiki can
be another channel in which people feel they can make a
contribution and be part of their community and the future
of the science.
I would say the same thing goes for connecting people.
This is another way for people to connect. One thing I think
you see at meetings (e.g., the annual meeting), people say they
go there to talk and connect with people, and its great to catch
up with old friends, but as a venue for meeting new people,
theres something potentially superficial [about it]. You really
never get to connect over work and collaboration. Its that kind
of connection that builds trust. Its trust that we really need to
build lasting relationships with people. If were going to go on
and grow the science and do this as a community, that is going
to be a key part of it those relationships.
Farley: You once said in reference to the wiki, Our

community needs this resource and now its up
to us to increase the momentum and build an open,
collaborative resource that will benefit all geophysicists for decades to come. Its almost a challenge
that youve provided to your peers. Do you want to
say anything more about that?
Hall: I suppose I wouldnt want to get too grand about it

being this unassailable monument to geophysics because I
feel thats an era of publishing that I dont want to say its
over, but its not what the wiki is. Seismic Data Analysis by
z Yilmaz, which weve recently seen added to the wiki as a
seed text to provide a foundation for continued growth, is a
monument like that.
I think this is almost unprecedented for anybody in this
technical community to go and, I dare say, improve Yilmazs
work and update it and keep it fresh and relevant and perhaps do something really audacious and work for a new release of that volume that contains all of these improvements.
I havent edited any of his words yet, but I have edited some
of Sheriff s Encyclopedic Dictionary, the other seed text in
the SEG Wiki. When the Encyclopedic Dictionary was written, compressed sensing and spectral decomposition and
full-waveform inversion these werent the things that
they are today. You just have to glance at the technical program at the 2014 SEG Annual Meeting to see that the science is moving quickly. And we all need to look these things
up. Its certainly not just a tool for the newcomers. This is
something I think we all need.
Farley: I couldnt agree more. Thanks for helping

us grow and evolve the wiki, Matt. Youve been
working closely with Karl Schleicher, who will
be joining us in a future installment of this interview series, on open data. Can the open-data page
within the wiki and the data sets referenced therein transform the science? If so, how do we do it?
Hall: Before answering this, Id like you to imagine for a
second how amazing it would be how much faster research
could progress if researchers and students and the general
public had access to some complete, multidimensional subsurface data sets. Imagine a square mile or two of 3D seismic
from the Athabasca or the Eagle Ford or the Campos Basin, complete with logs and core photos and production data.
Imagine what 10 or 100 or 1000 graduate students hacking
on seismic inversion or log attributes or basin models might
learn and achieve in a decade with a data set like that.
The thought of this is so compelling that I am certain open
data will have a large positive impact on the science of geophysics. We asked a roomful of geoscientists what they thought are
the most pressing issues in exploration geoscience, and the top
response, ahead even of improving seismic resolution, was less
secrecy, free the data (Hall and Bianco, 2013). So theres a demand and a recognition that openness and open data can have a
positive impact.
What we lack is a combination of tangible and intangible things. Among the less tangible is a pervasive culture
of openness and sharing for the advancement of the science.
I am convinced this will come but this sort of change is
slow. In the meantime, we can work on the tangible things
a legal framework for openly licensing subsurface data,
especially seismic data, and a technology platform for sharing data and their metadata.
I believe that SEG can and should be instrumental in all
of this. The SEG Wiki can play a real part in all of it, from
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THE LEADING EDGE
333
developing the legal framework to prototyping the technology

platform. Theres plenty to go on plenty of other domains are
well on the way to achieving the sort of open-data landscape
were talking about sculpting. But for it to be part of the culture
of our community and of this industry we have to figure
it out for ourselves.
but the articles themselves represent only about 25% of the actual tutorial content; the rest is in the IPython Notebooks on
GitHub. I dont follow it closely, but I can see that we need to
improve engagement with the code. As scientific computing gets
more accessible, the fluency level will go up, and I hope we will
see the tutorials have even more impact.
Farley: The TLE Geophysical Tutorial series that

you helped launch in 2014 has been a great success.
What have you learned from the experience? And
how has the series enriched the science?
Watch the video

The interview with Matt Hall, the second in our SEG
Wiki Interview Series, is available in four locations:
Hall: I think Im learning a few things:

Theres an appetite for practical, hands-on articles that focus
on one or two basic principles.
Quite a few people would like to write such articles. So far,
there has been no shortage of interest.
Mixing open-access content into a journal with conventional rights works perfectly well.
Spreading content across multiple platforms (the journal,
the SEG Wiki, and github.com/seg) works too.
Its nice to see code snippets in The Leading Edge!
As for the impact thats the part I dont really know much
about. I know that several of the most downloaded articles of
the last year are the PDF versions of the tutorials (Evan Biancos
Well-tie calculus was number one last year!) (Bianco, 2014),
SEG Digital Library at: http://library.seg.org/toc/leedff/

34/3
SEGs YouTube station at: https://www.youtube.com/
user/segeophysicists/playlists
TLEs Digital Edition at: http://www.tleonline.org/theleadingedge/march_2015
For GeoScienceWorld subscribers at: http://tle.geoscienceworld.org/content/34/3.toc
Editors note: Geoscientists Without Borders is a registered
trademark of the SEG Foundation.
References
Bianco, E., Geophysical tutorial: Well-tie calculus: The Leading Edge,

33, no. 6, 674677, http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/tle33060674.1.
Hall, M., and E. Bianco, 2013), Proceedings of an unsession:
CSEG Recorder, 38, no. 9, ageo.co/X1ZEvn.
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THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
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March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
335
Seismos
A column on the history and culture of geophysics

and science in general
Christopher L. Liner 1
s I continue with duties as SEG President, I also enjoy

looking back at adventures in the past, including my presentation of the SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course in
2012.
Flashback: SEG DISC presentation, Buenos Aires,

10 August 2012
Buenos Aires is a wonderful place, and the people are friendly beyond measure. Special thanks go to Gustavo Carstens, who
picked me up at the airport and coordinated a watch party for
the Olympic basketball game between the United States and
Argentina.
Another big shout-out goes to the very kind Patricio (Patrick) Marshall, who introduced me to the city, marked many
interesting destinations on a city map, and urged me to go to
the street market held each Sunday near San Telmo. I followed
his advice and found an absolutely charming antique and craft
market, maybe not as vast as Portobello Road in London, but
shop by shop, every bit as good.
The Buenos Aires DISC presentation in 2012 had 26 lively,
knowledgeable attendees and was held in the stunning YPF office tower overlooking the modern office complexes of Buenos
Aires (Figure 1).
About town
The Seismos column is usually about geophysics, but sometimes I am compelled to pull back the curtain and write about
the human side of being a world-traveling scientist. Forgive me
if I digress too far.
If you go to Buenos Aires, and I hope you will, there is
much to see and do. But I want to tell you about just one. It
is a plea, a screaming rant of recommendation. It is the best
meal I have ever had, and that is saying something. My wife
makes meals four times a week that are better than anything
most men ever taste. Ive dined all over Spain and in Italy,
France, and dozens of other countries. In short, I have had
a lot of great meals. But the Buenos Aires restaurant Dora
stands alone.
Im not a food critic, but I know what one should say about
Dora. Not all of Buenos Aires is nice, and not all of it is safe.
But step into Dora and feel a waft of the old times, when waiters
watch patrons closely (but not obsessively) to anticipate what is
needed next real waiters who do it for a living and have done
so for generations. No pretension, no haughty indifference, no
1
Professor Liner is President of SEG and holds the Maurice F. Storm
Chair of Petroleum Geology at the University of Arkansas. His research interests include petroleum reservoir characterization and monitoring, seismic-interpretation methods, near surface, and outcrop studies. Liner is a member of AAPG, AGU, and the European Academy
of Sciences.
336
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
demeaning glances a pride in trade and work that the modern world has long forgotten.
If this were all, there would be other contenders. But then
comes the food. For starters, I had grilled langostinos (thin rock
lobsters) halved in a beautiful sauce. Then came the Cazuela
Dora, a house special seafood stew with saffron rice on the side.
It was a symphony, not a drippy rehash kind of symphony nodding to the real thing or a quirky modern symphony that is little
more than a jumble of noise aimed at glorifying the sad creatures
who write and direct it. No, this was an old-school, honest symphony of taste a fragment, a remnant of the gilded age when a
symphony was a symphony, and if you wrote one you had damn
well better get it right or youd be out of a job.
The food spilled over an ample plate, the wine, of course,
was Malbec, rich and full bodied and lots of it. I ate until I could
eat no more, then ate more. The waiter tried to clear the table
a couple of times, but I would have nothing to do with it. I did
not want the meal to end. Finally, reluctantly, regretfully, with
remorse, I let it go.
I know what the food critic should say about Dora, but this
is a tainted age of tiny multicolor pyramids parading as food on
vast plates with artistic drizzles of sauce, a time when the chef
is a reality TV starand a lackey runs the kitchen. Yep, I know
what the critic should say, but I have no faith that it will ever
be said.
Go to Buenos Aires, go to Dora, eat, live.
Corresponding author: chris.liner@gmail.com
Figure 1. The Buenos Aires DISC 2012 class. Bearded guys in the
back: Gustavo Carstens (center) and Patrick Marshall (right).
This unique humanitarian program is made possible only through donations to the
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Saturday ,11 July .......Field Trip
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March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
337
The Leading Edge
Memorials
to structural and stratigraphic interpretations.

ene Brumbaugh was born in Altoona,
He also served as an expert witness in legal
Pennsylvania, in 1924 to Jacob and
proceedings regarding geophysical issues.
Laura Brumbaugh, and was the youngest of
Gene was an active member of the Sothree siblings. Gene is survived by his wife,
ciety of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG),
Miriam Mim Brumbaugh, to whom he was
serving as its president (19821983), first
wed on 29 June 1946. They have two chilvice president (19811982), Technical Prodren, Cynthia Cindy Brumbaugh Walker
gram chairman of the 40th annual meeting,
and her husband, Winston; and Deborah
and general chairman of the 49th annual
Debbie Brumbaugh Mason and her husmeeting. He served as president and first
band, Andrew. Gene also is survived by
vice president of the Southeastern Geotwo grandchildren, Luke Walker and Emphysical Society and was made an honorary
ily Walker Hill, and her husband, Charles;
Eugene (Gene) Brumbaugh
life member in 1992. He also was a member
great-grandchildren, Mason and Sophie
1924 2015
of the American Association of Petroleum
Hill; and numerous nephews and nieces.
After graduating from Altoona High School in Penn- Geologists, Society of Independent Professional Earth Sciensylvania in 1942, Gene began his studies at Juniata College, tists, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers,
Huntington, Pennsylvania, which were interrupted for mili- and New Orleans Geological Society and was a registered
tary service. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy as an aviation ca- geophysicist in California. Gene published articles in the
det in Pensacola, Florida, and completed flight training just as Southwestern Legal Foundation Transactions and the SociWorld War II ended. He returned to Juniata College, where he ety of Exploration Geophysicists of China Transactions, and
served in the student senate and was captain of the basketball was responsible for the section on seismic exploration in An
team. Gene graduated in 1946 with a B.S. in physics and math- Introduction to Central Gulf Coast Geology, published by New
ematics. From 1988 to 1991, he served on the Juniata College Orleans Geological Society in 1991.
Gene and Mim enjoyed good times with family and friends
National Alumni Council. He also completed work toward a
masters in geology at the University of Colorado that was interin the many places they lived because of his transfers with Shell
Oil, including four places in California (Sacramento, Paso Rorupted by a job transfer.
Gene joined Shell Oil Company in Sacramento, Cali- bles, Madeira, and Bakersfield); Miles City, Montana; Casper,
fornia, in 1946, where he began working on a seismic crew. Wyoming (twice); Denver (twice); Oklahoma City; New OrHe then became party chief of crews in the Sacramento and leans; and Pensacola. New Orleans, where he worked for almost
San Joaquin Basins in California and the Williston Basin in 40 years, was a special place, as was Pensacola Beach for family
Montana. He supervised crew operations and interpretation vacations.
Gene was a hardworking geophysicist for more than 60 years,
in the Powder River, Big Horn, Wind River, and Green River
Basins, the Uintah Basin in Utah, and the Denver Basin in but he always made quality time with family and friends a top
Colorado. He was division geophysicist in the Casper and priority. Gene and Mim loved to entertain family and friends,
Denver Divisions, followed by staff interpretive assignments whether it was a trip to Pensacola Beach, a New Orleans Saints
in the Anadarko, Ardmore, and Arkoma Basins in Oklahoma game, Mardi Gras, dining in the French Quarter, or just relaxing at home with music and enjoying good conversation. Gene
and Arkansas.
Beginning in 1968, Gene worked in New Orleans, focus- was always up for an adventure. He loved to learn something
ing on offshore Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic offshore, and Gulf new and make new friends. Gene and Mim traveled extensively
Coast onshore. He retired from Shell in 1981 to be regional all over the world. Gene was an inspiration and mentor to many
geophysical manager for Tomlinson Interests, Inc., concentrat- young people. His enthusiasm for life and fun-loving demeanor
ing on exploration in southern Louisiana. Starting in 1983 and endeared him to all.
for the ensuing years, Gene was a consulting geophysicist who
The family of Eugene (Gene) Brumbaugh
provided services ranging from data acquisition and processing
ed Olander was born to Arthur and Ellen Olander on 5

June 1925 in Taylor, Texas, and had one sister, Johanna
Olander Wimberley. After graduating from Hutto High School,
Red graduated from the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) with a degree in geology. He also served in the U. S. Air
Force. On 6 August 1949, Red married Rose Marie Ballerstedt
of Austin, Texas.
338
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Red began his career with Humble Oil and Refining

Company in 1948 after graduating from UT-Austin. Reds
initial assignment was as a computer on a seismic reflection
crew, Party Six, in southern Texas. He spent most of his career
involved in seismic interpretation and was a strong advocate
for the concept of integrating geophysical and geologic data in
the development of petroleum prospects. Red retired as chief
geophysicist of Exxon Company USA in 1986 and was elected the Sun and was on the General Assembly nominating compresident of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) mittee.
According to the obituary, after retirement, Red returned to
in 1984. According to his obituary, he considered serving as
his roots on the farm. In collaboration with 4-H and his former
SEG President the high point of his exploration career.
In addition to serving as SEG President, Red was instru- business colleague, he raised and showed Blonde D-Aquitaine
mental in the formation of the SEG Foundation Trustee As- cattle. Proud of his Swedish heritage, he was a member of the
sociates (TA). Red along with prominent SEG members and Swedish Society VASA in Austin.
Red is survived by his four children, grandchildren, and greatFoundation supporters Dick Baile, Elwin Peacock, Jim Frasher,
and Neal Cramer formed the group shortly after incorpora- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59
tion of the SEG Foundation. These five founding TAs proved years, Rose; his sister Johanna; and his son-in-law Mac.
instrumental in fund-raising and in recruiting new
donors and friends to the Foundation, helping to
shape the SEG Foundation into the organization
that it is today.
Red also served the Presbyterian Church
U.S.A. on local, state, and national level throughout his life. In churches in Florida, Louisiana, and
Texas, he was an elder and served in a variety of
leadership capacities, including but not limited to
finance, stewardship, personnel, education, and
pastor search committees. In addition, Red sang
in the choir and led leadership training workshops
at the local and state levels. In the Presbytery of
New Covenant and Mission Presbytery, Red was
a volunteer in missions and was chairman of the
committee on ministry and the stewardship and
finance committee. For the Presbyterian Church Red Olander (back row, left) with the other founding members of the SEG Foundation
U.S.A., Red served as moderator of the Synod of Trustee Associates.
ohn Albert (Jack) Kruppenbach, 86, of New Holland, Pennsylvania, died on 26 June 2014 at his home from advanced
congestive heart failure.
Jack was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to Harry and Mabel Barrett Kruppenbach. After being discharged from the United
States Army, Jack received a bachelor of science degree in geology
from New Mexico Tech in 1951. He attended graduate school at
Thunderbird School of Global Management. During his career,
he worked for Continental Geophysical Company; Geophysical
Service, Inc.; Trojan Powder Company; and Digicon Geophysical Company. In 1974, he cofounded the Dallas-based geophysical
consulting firm Energy Analysts, Inc. He remained with Energy
Analysts when it was purchased by Landmark Graphics, Inc. in 1987.
Jack spent 40 years traveling the world as a geophysical team
scientist and project manager, planning and supervising seismic data-gathering operations in the Arctic Ocean, Yukon and
Amazon Rivers, sub-Saharan Africa, China, Central America,
and Australia. His work resulted in patents pertaining to seismic
explosive formulations and seismology (including the original
Land Streamer technology for arctic and desert work) and papers and publications that addressed remote-area data acquisition, logistics, boat design, and inflatable technology.
He was a member of many professional associations, including the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), where
he served as secretary-treasurer in 19992000. Jack also was a

member of the SEG Foundation Trustee Associates. According to his obituary, Jack worked diligently to make financial
and operating information transparent to the SEG membership,
focusing on ways to eliminate waste and redundancy. In addition to his work in geophysics, he cofounded Riverside National
Bank in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Jack and his wife, Elizabeth Anne Bebe, were active
supporters of New Mexico Tech throughout their lives and
established the Kruppenbach-Harrison Scholarship Fund in
memory of their parents to help struggling students. Jack received the New Mexico Tech Presidents Club Alumni Award
in 2008.
Jack was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church,
Morgantown, Pennsylvania, where he sang in the senior choir
and served as church treasurer. He also enjoyed gardening, traveling, reading, cooking, and conversing on any subject. According to the obituary, his front porch was the neighborhood salon,
and many lively conversations were conducted with neighbors in
the evenings. Jack believed and followed The Rhino Principle
throughout his life: Charge Ahead!
Jack is survived by his three daughters, six grandchildren,
two brothers, and one sister. His wife preceded him in death.
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
339
illiam Thomas Rabson, 55, died on 27

December 2014 in Magnolia, Texas, after a 15-month battle with esophageal cancer.
Born on 20 August 1959 to Thomas and
Sylvia Rabson in Houston, Texas, William
attended St. Johns High School in Houston and graduated with a bachelors degree
in geology from Rice University in 1982. He
later received an executive M.B.A. from Rice
University.
William began his career with Western
Geophysical. During the next 30 years, he
The Leading Edge
Personals
Michael (Mike) L. Batzle, died 9 January 2015.
Eugene (Gene) Brumbaugh, died 23 January 2015.
Gordon D. Feir, died 19 November 2014.
Tawassul Khan, died 26 January 2015.
John Albert (Jack) Kruppenbach, died 26 June 2014.
A. M. (Red) Olander, died 13 January 2015.
340
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
William Rabson
1959 2014
worked for Western Atlas in London, England;

Baker Hughes in Houston, Texas; Powertrade
Corporation, GX Technology, and finally, Dynamic Group in Houston, where he served as
president, CEO, and cofounder. He also was
a member of SEG and supporter of the SEG
Foundation, donating to the Geoscientists Without Borders program.
He is survived by his wife, children, siblings,
other family members, and friends.
2015 SPRING DISTINGUISHED LECTURER

Hierarchical seismic imaging: A multiscale approach
Presented by Jean Virieux
Universit Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
Schedule
09 Mar | Beijing, China | Graduate School of RIPED Geophysical Society
10 Mar | Beijing, China | CNOOC Research Center
11 Mar | Beijing, China | China University of Petroleum(Beijing)
13 Mar | Nanjing, China | Sinopec Nanjing
09 Apr | Denver, Colorado, USA | Denver Geophysical Society
09 Apr | Golden, Colorado, USA | Colorado School of Mines
13 Apr | Berkeley, California, USA | Bay Area Geophysical Society
14 Apr | Stanford, California, USA | Stanford University SEG Student Chapter
16 Apr | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | Geophysical Society of Oklahoma City
16 Apr | Norman, Oklahoma, USA | University of Oklahoma Student Chapter
17 Apr | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA | Geophysical Society of Tulsa
20 Apr | Midland, Texas, USA | Permian Basin Geophysical Society
Coming soon...
2 015 Dist inguished Inst ructo r S ho r t Co u r s e
Engineering Seismology
with Applications to
Geotechnical Engineering
By z Yilmaz
The narrow scope of engineering seismology includes its application to geotechnical site
investigations and seismic microzonation to determine soil amplification and liquefaction
susceptibility within a municipal area to estimate the earthquake risk. This course is devoted to application of the seismic method to delineate the near-surface geology primarily
for geotechnical remediation of the soil column for civil engineering structures. This
course also includes case studies for the broader scope of engineering seismology.
For more information about the 2015 DISC, visit www.seg.org / DISC
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
341
Reviews
C o o r d i n at e d
by
P at r i c k T ay lo r
Microseismic Imaging of Hydraulic Fracturing: Improved

Engineering of Unconventional Shale Reservoirs, by Shawn
Maxwell, ISBN 978-1-56080-315-7, 2014, SEG Distinguished
Instructor Series No. 17, US$58 (US$45 member price).
tanding-room-only sessions at recent SEG annual conventions cannot lie: Microseismic is a growing field in our
industry and has become the key technique to understand hydraulic-fracture geometry and growth in unconventional shale
and tight formations. The goal is to improve productivity, and as
such, this still young field will continue to expand, despite (or
because of?) challenges caused by the current reduced pricing of
hydrocarbon products.
SEG arranged a Distinguished Instructor Short Course
(DISC) lecture tour on microseismicity in 2014, a lecture that
I was unable to attend. Fortunately, SEG published the course
material in a companion book, composed by instructor Shawn
Maxwell. Maxwell is a pioneer and true authority in this field.
He served as chief geophysicist for Pinnacle and now Schlumberger, and he has more than 20 years of experience in microseismic applications. Maxwell taps into this experience throughout
his book and injects his textbook with welcome doses of practicality and healthy skepticism.
Microseismic is used to monitor hydraulic fracturing the
process of using pressurized liquids to crack open new and old
fracture pathways to improve the flow rate of hydrocarbons in
tight reservoirs. Understanding the use and pitfalls in microseismic imaging requires a fundamental knowledge of geophysics,
geology, geomechanics, and well engineering. It is important to
note that the value of microseismic is not just increased profit.
Hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) is a controversial topic in the
eyes of the general public, and the generation, interpretation,
and release of microseismic monitoring studies might present
a valuable contribution toward broader acceptance of fracking
beyond our industry.
All of the above motivated me to pick up a copy of Microseismic Imaging of Hydraulic Fracturing. I was surprised by the
breadth of topics covered in the book and the superb quality of
both the text and figures. The book is nicely structured, leading the reader from an introduction of basic concepts all the
way to real-life microseismic applications. The author clearly
had fun writing this text, as is evident by amusing quotations
(rock isnt toothpaste) and interesting analogies (e.g., auto
safety glass as proxy for layered-reservoir geology). It is definitely useful to read the introductory chapters of the book,
even for readers with a solid background in earthquake seismology. It takes time to comprehend the processes involved,
such as the use of big pressure pumps and the engineering
magic of sliding sleeves used for completion. The latter is a
dynamic procedure that is tough to grasp from a figure alone.
Without the instructor present, the best remedy could have
been a short video embedded or referenced from the book to
elucidate the process. Initially, many readers will also struggle
with the fracture jargon in the absence of a glossary. But one
342
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
simply has to admire the imagination of the fracking community. Terms such as dog-leg fracture, traffic-light systems,
and frackability are both creative and entertaining, and they
manage to describe highly complex patterns and procedures in
informal and almost amusing ways.
Geophysicists will feel more comfortable reading Chapters
3 and 4 on survey design and hypocenter estimation, although
the dazzling wealth of well geometries and recording configurations may be quite surprising compared to traditional seismic.
Maxwell also presents interesting comparisons between surface
and borehole acquisitions, and between various automated event
detection and arrival-time algorithms. The subsequent geomechanics chapter is quite humbling. Yes, we find the famous
beach-ball representation of source mechanisms and Mohr circles in that chapter, but we also must understand that the larger
portion of the hydraulic-fracturing process does not produce a
seismic response, and microseismic plays only a small part in
the geomechanical process. Maxwell acknowledges the risk of
overinterpreting microseismic information in his pitfalls discussion. His continuous and rigorous focus on quality control, uncertainty, and validation are commendable and, over time, will
give the microseismic field much broader acceptance.
Chapter 6 discusses the sensitivity and uncertainty assessments in the interpretation of microseismic images. Readers will
appreciate the discussions that are beyond the static dots-in-thebox thinking that many associate with microseismic. Interpreting the dynamic, spatial, and temporal variation of microseismic events in an integrated common-earth model will help to
unleash much of the potential of the method in coming years.
The last chapter is a collection of engineering applications.
Besides the obvious and well-publicized applications, what
caught my attention is the use of microseismic events to detect
early signs of blockage caused by proppants. In addition, microseismic surveys can monitor the integrity of wells and warn
of catastrophic failure of well casings or plugs. Finally, induced
seismicity and fault activation are topics of growing concern that
could be mitigated by careful microseismic monitoring.
In summary, Microseismic Imaging of Hydraulic Fracturing is
a carefully assembled, thorough textbook of high integrity. It
can be a bit dry in places and it requires focus and dedication,
but the book can be inspiring for the interested reader who is
willing to invest the time for a careful read. The reward is a
wealth of new knowledge for both geophysicists and engineers
who plan, execute, and interpret microseismic projects.
Andreas Rger, Landmark
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Ultra and Extremely Low-frequency Electromagnetic Fields,
by Vadim Surkov and Masashi Hayakawa, ISBN 978-4-43154367-1, 2014, Springer Geophysics Series, 486 p., US$99.
he frequency of electromagnetic waves, ultralow (< 3 Hz)

and extremely low (3 < f < 3 x 103), is thoroughly discussed
in this three-part 486-page volume. It summarizes how lowfrequency electromagnetic waves are produced by natural
causes both above the earths surface and within the earth as
well as by the release of energy from both natural and manmade sources.
Part I, Chapter 1, reviews the basics of the earths magnetic
field, its origin, the magnetosphere, storms, and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. Chapter 2 describes the origin,
day-night dynamics, and variation of the ionosphere electrical conductivity with altitude. Chapter 3 depicts the dominant
role played by cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud lightning
in supplying the negative charges required to drive atmospheric electric phenomenon. Details of the mechanism of transient
luminous events (TLE) high-altitude electric discharges
above large thunderstorms, the sprites, blue jets, and gigantic
jets together with the global electric circuit (a weak current moving between the magnetosphere and the ground) are
described.
Part II, Chapter 4, depicts the major role of global lightning
discharges in this region and the production of the Schumann
resonances (in the cavity formed by the earths surface and ionosphere a resonator). Chapter 5 focuses on the Alfven resonator, which is a region between the ionosphere E layer and
the topside of the ionosphere, where shear Alfven and other
waves are generated. Like the Schumann resonances, these are
driven by global thunderstorms. In Chapter 6, low-frequency
MHD oscillations of the entire magnetosphere are illustrated.
Although the above is of great importance to those studying
electromagnetic phenomenon above the earth, it serves as an
extended introduction to Part III. This is an important study
because it describes current research in the effort to find preseismic signals.
In the first two parts, we saw how a conductor moving in
the earths magnetic field produces an electric field. The earth
is an electrical conductor, and therefore, when large-scale motions (e.g., earthquakes) occur within the earth, they produce
an electric field, albeit of low frequency and relatively smaller
amplitude. These are called seismomagnetic effects. They are the
topic of Chapter 7 and the remaining chapters. Published papers describing electromagnetic signals produced by tension and
shear cracks are discussed. Chapter 8 touches on how, in 1939,
measurement of electromagnetic effects from seismic waves
produced by man-made explosions were recorded and later proposed to have been caused by conducting fluids in cracks created
by the explosions.
Validation of these effects demonstrated in laboratory studies is the subject of Chapter 9. These studies have demonstrated
the variety of electromagnetic effects produced by the deformation and fracture of rocks by the release of internal and external
energy. Test results demonstrate how large explosions and giant
impact can produce remanent magnetization and demagnetization. Using material developed in the previous three chapters,
several other effects produced from the fracture of dielectric solids (such as radio waves, optical emissions, and Roentgen and
gamma rays) are discussed.
Chapter 10 searches for electromagnetic effects that are
correlated with preseismic signals, which are earthquake
predictions. This is a controversial subject. This chapter makes

many references to examples of field experiments in whichpreseismic electromagnetic waves were recorded. However, both
pro and con references are presented. In any case, networks
of three-component ultralow-frequency (ULF) magnetometers
and electric sensors have been installed in Russia, Japan, Taiwan, and India as preseismic detectors.
One of the major problems is to distinguish between the
relatively small signals from preseismic sources and natural and
man-made background signals. Possible source mechanisms for
some preseismic signals are the buildup of electric charges in
fluid-filled pores in rock crack surfaces that is the electrokinetic effect (this is mentioned as a possible source for the VAN
predictions in Greece). Ionosphere effects have been associated
with coseismic events. Recently, near-earth orbiting satellites
(e.g., DEMETER, OGO-6, Aureol-3, and others) have shown
the existence of preseismic signals. Data from GEOS-2, DE-2,
and ISIS-2 have not recorded preseismic signals. References depicting nighttime infrared signals (7.710.5 m) of preseismic
activity have been published. Seeking electromagnetic, thermal, and other parameters (radon and variations in basement
rock conductivity) for seismic precursors is a continuing area
of research.
Later in this chapter, the association of electromagnetic
signals generated by tsunamis and hurricanes is presented. The
authors summarize this important search by stating, Despite
the recent studies [that] have shown that at the moment the
short-term prediction of impending EQs is impossible, we must
extend our knowledge on electromagnetic ULF phenomena associated with natural disasters. In Chapter 11, the reader is presented with examples from underground chemical and nuclear
explosions.
This is a well-produced volume with 32 of the 136 illustrations in color and copious mathematical development within
chapters and those with appendices to support the presented
material. A course in electromagnetism is a recommended prerequisite. However, a common negative with similar volumes is
the lack of an acronym list and a more detailed and useful index.
This is an essential volume for those studying ultralow and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields in the atmosphere
or the earth.
Patrick Taylor
Greenbelt, Maryland
Remote Sensing in Action: The Curious Case of Sherlock
Holmes and Albert Einstein, by Enders A. Robinson and
Dean Clark, ISBN 978-1-56080-313-3, 2014, SEG, 360 p.,
US$99 (members US$79, e-book available).
he worlds most famous fictional detective, Sherlock

Holmes, has another tale to tell in this unusual textbook of
scientific discovery regarding remote sensing, both classical and
relativistic. Robinson and Clark employ the literary device of a
Sherlock Holmes mystery to explain remote sensing in an engaging tale with familiar characters. The story is set as a meeting
between Holmes and Watson in 1905 recounting their journey
from London to Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland in 1891 (the
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
343
supposed end of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Moriarty), with addi

tional details that Dr. Watson had not known about earlier. It is
a work of scientific fiction, a way to explain science in a different
manner than a normal textbook.
In the book, Holmes explains the physics of remote sensing
to Dr. Watson using simple concepts and drawings. Nothing
more than basic algebra and geometry is needed to understand
the theory. The scientific discovery path starts with Pythagoras,
follows through to Christiaan Huygens insights into the wave
theory of light, and ends with Einsteins landmark 1905 paper
on relativity.
The main part of the book is the retelling of Holmes and
Watsons journey through Europe to Switzerland. Holmes pa
tiently explains the theory of relativity to Watson to start with
and then, throughout the book, explains how the clues in their
journey through Europe led him to the discovery. There are four
appendices to the book. In the first one, Holmes explains the
theory of relativity more completely. The other three appendices
are not written as part of the story but are more normal explana
tions of the theory (still using simple algebra and geometry). The
first two of these appendices cover the classical and relativistic
Doppler effects, and the last covers special relativity theory.
I applaud the authors for approaching the story in this
manner. It provides an engaging viewpoint to understand
some important scientific concepts. Holmes followed a path
of finding small clues and eventually deducing the culprit (or
theory, in this case). Scientific discovery is the path of find
ing the clues in nature or experiments and following them to
make new discoveries about the world around us. It is hoped
that this book will help to find more fans of geophysics and
Sherlock Holmes.
David Bartel
Houston, Texas
Understanding Geology through Maps, by Graham Borra
daile, ISBN 978-0-12-800866-9, Elsevier, 196 p., US$69.95.
ts hard to know where to begin discussing this book. The

concept and much of the content are very good, but the or
ganization is hard to appreciate. It might be useful as text for a
hands-on interpretive geology course, but its hard to see how
anyone reading it on his/her own without an instructor would
learn much about actually working with geologic maps.
The first four chapters, about one-quarter of the book, deal
with the basic concepts of geologic mapping and dating. It opens
with a historical review of the efforts of William Smith, James
Hutton, Charles Lyell, and others in laying the basic principles
for geology as a science in the 18th and 19th centuries. This is
followed by a detailed summary of the terminology for describ
ing types of sediments, superficial deposits, and igneous and
metamorphic rocks. Establishing relative and absolute dates
for different geologic units is fundamental, so the author covers
those topics in some detail, finishing with a short chapter on
how various age relationships appear in map view.
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THE LEADING EDGE
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The bulk of the book looks at the major features that need to
be shown on or interpreted from geologic maps. The challenge is
that maps are almost always developed from what can be seen at
the surface or in visible outcrops, although the objective is to un
derstand the structure and stratigraphy at depth. The approach
is to review how pertinent information is displayed on the maps
and then show a variety of maps and pose problems related to
them. The first topic is layered rocks and topography, followed
by methods for treating stratigraphy and plane-dipping features.
Key issues are how to determine and display dip angles, draw
structure contours, and estimate true thickness of dipping beds.
The final three chapters cover the more complex cases of uncon
formities, faults, and folds and the difficulties in unambiguously
interpreting them from the map view.
So far, so good; and now for the numerous problems in this
book. First of all, the book contains frequent typographic errors,
missing words, and repeated words, especially in the first few
chapters. The table of contents is incomplete because it shows
pages only for subsections of each chapter. For example, Chapter
10 begins on page 141, but the first reference to it in the table
of contents is page 159. There are occasional cited references in
the text but no bibliography (a Further Reading list in the foreword does include some of the references). The publishers online
description incorrectly mentions more than 130 illustrations
many in full color.
More of a concern is the lack of organization regarding the
text. The general approach is to review the applicable geologic
concepts and techniques before the reader applies them to real
maps. Questions for the reader are often not in a separate sec
tion but within the same paragraph as the concept discussion,
sometimes at the beginning of the chapter before there has been
much opportunity to describe techniques. Questions might refer
to maps in other chapters, requiring a lot of page flipping. In
other cases, there are two or more maps to look at, but they are
printed on reverse pages, making it impossible to see both at the
same time.
The biggest issue is that the book fails to meet its stated
goal to be ideal for use by students with a minimum of tu
torial supervision. Although the geologic contexts are well
described, I did not find much guidance on how to work
through the problems and questions. Many of the working
maps are incomplete, but a final version is never shown or
appears to be essentially identical to the starting point, and
its not clear what has been added. My general conclusion was
that the book presented a lot of questions but not many an
swers. The problem might be insoluble because it is difficult
to present visual/manual methods in a fixed text. I suspect
that the book was developed from course notes and work
sheets that the author uses in a teaching laboratory, where the
emphasis would be on the instructor demonstrating how to
perform the tasks expected of the students rather than have
them written down in words.
William R. Green
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2015 EUROPE HONORARY LECTURER

Pitfalls and Challenges of Seismic Imaging
Presented by Evgeny Landa
University of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
Schedule
03 Mar | Delft, Netherlands | Delft Organization of Geophysics Students and Shell
04 Mar | Belgrade, Serbia | Union University of Belgrade Geophysical Society
05 Mar | Bucharest, Romania | University of Bucharest and Romanian Society of Geophysics
03 Apr | Novosibirsk, Russia | Novosibirsk SEG Student Chapter
06 Apr | Perm, Russia | Geophysical Society of Perm State University
08 Apr | Moscow, Russia | Gubkin University SEG student chapter
09 Apr | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia | Institute of Applied Physics Geophysical Society
10 Apr | St. Petersburg, Russia | St. Petersburg University
13 Apr | Kiev, Ukraine | Kyiv Univ Geophysical Society
2015 SPRING SOUTH AND EAST ASIA HONORARY LECTURER

Broadband marine seismic and beyond: With focus on wave-theory
and multicomponent streamer-based solutions and applications
Presented by: Naide Pan, PGS, China
Schedule
02 March | Kolkata, India | Jadavpur University, Jadavpur University Student Chapter

03 March | Kharagpur, India | IIT Kharagpur, SEG Student Chapter

05 March | Hyderabad, India | National Geophysical Research Institute, SEG Student Chapter
06 March | Dehradun, India | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, SEG Student Chapter
10 March | Roorkee, India | IIT Roorkee, SEG Student Chapter
12 March | Dhaka, Bangladesh | University of Dhaka Geophysical Society
03 April | Jhonjli, Taowan | National Central University Geophysical Society
06 April | Beijing, China | SEG Student Chapter, China University of Petroleum
07 April | Beijing, China | China University of Geosciences (Beijing)
08 April | Beijing, China | RIPED (Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development)
10 April | Beijing, China | Peiking University Geophysical Society
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
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The Leading Edge
Announcements
Steeples named interim dean
Interpretation call for papers

Hydrocarbon reservoirs can be detected in seismic data

in several ways, and the successfully used bright spot is the
most reliable. Today, we must exploit other indications to find
more oil and gas in the future. Dim spots are difficult, but
they represent a major opportunity. How many hydrocarbon
reservoirs in production today have been discovered by the
direct identification of a hydrocarbon dim spot? Because of
compaction trends in the earth, we must expect more of these
subtle indications as we look for hydrocarbons deeper in the
earth. We also must exploit multiple characteristics to increase confidence.
The editors of Interpretation (www.seg.org/interpretation)
invite papers on the topic Detection of hydrocarbons for publication in a May 2016 special section to supplement the journals
regular technical papers on various subject areas.
Here are some topics the organizers would like to see addressed in this issue:
examples of hydrocarbon polarity reversals
examples of hydrocarbon dim spots
using multiple geophysical characteristics to increase identification confidence
examples of hydrocarbon indicators at greater depths
examples of hydrocarbon indicators in non-Tertiary (Mesozoic and Paleozoic) rocks
insights from observation of gas chimneys
Interested authors should submit for review no later than 1
August 2015 via the normal online submission system for Interpretation (https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/interpretation)
and select the Detection of hydrocarbons special section in
the drop-down menu. The special-section editors would like
to receive a provisional title and list of authors as soon as possible. The submitted papers will be subjected to the regular peerreview process, and the contributing authors also are expected to
participate in the peer-review process.
We will work according to the following timeline:

Submission deadline:
Peer review complete:
All files submitted for production:
Publication of issue:
1 August 2015
15 January 2016
1 February 2016
May 2016
Special-section editors:
Alistair Brown, alistair@airmail.net

Bill Abriel, billabriel@yahoo.com
Rocky Roden, rodenr@wt.net
Tim Berge, tbberge@hotmail.com
Ray Farrell, rfarrell@wtoffshore.com
Interpretation, copublished by SEG and AAPG, aims to advance the practice of subsurface interpretation.
346
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
SEG Past President Don Steeples

recently became interim dean of the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
at the University of Kansas (KU).
Steeples, the Dean A. McGee Distinguished Professor of Applied Geophysics and a world-renowned seismology expert, took over the position from
former dean Danny Anderson.
In addition to teaching, Steeples
Don Steeples
has held numerous administrative
roles at KU. He also was the first president of SEGs Near Surface Geophysics Section.
2015 GSH-SEG Spring Symposium and Exhibition
Exploration frontiers: New targets, new techniques is the

focus of the 2015 GSH-SEG Spring Symposium and Exhibition set for 1011 March 2015 in Houston, Texas, to honor former SEG President Leon Thomsen. SEG First Vice President
Rob Stewart is general chairman, and Dan Ebrom is technical
program chairman.
The symposium focuses on a variety of topics, including
shale resource properties and attributes, ocean-bottom nodes,
and CSEM. Other highlights of the event include a book release on Nuggets by Mike Graul, a social gathering on 10 March,
and a SEG Wiki Write-On course and workshop. Twelve expert
speakers will present topics over the two-day symposium.
The event also features a banquet to toast and roast Thomsen on 11 March. For more information, visit www.gshtx.org.
SEG-Y Revision 2 draft submitted for comment
The SEG Technical Standards Committee is pleased to publish its formal draft of Revision 2.0 of the venerable SEG-Y Data
Exchange Format, last updated in 2002. This new version flexibly supports as much as 65,535 additional 240-byte trace headers; more than 4 billion samples per trace; an unlimited number of
traces per file; arbitrary large and small sample intervals; microsecond-accurate time stamps; high-precision coordinates; and depth,
velocity, electromagnetic, gravity, and rotational sensor data.
New extended textual headers permit mapping of new trace
headers and remapping of existing SEG standard trace headers.
OGP P1/11 location data are now supported and recommended
for supplying unambiguous coordinate reference-system definitions and transformations. High-speed tape streaming is facilitated with a new option to read and write seismic data in native
(IEEE little-endian) format.
To access this proposed standard revision, use http://tinyurl.
com/oznzev6 to go to the SEG eCommunities Documents Library
for the Technical Standards Committee. Comments may be sent
to segyrev2@outlook.com or, for those who have signed in as SEG
members or as registered nonmembers, comments can be posted
in the Technical Standards Committee discussion forum http://tinyurl.com/k4bjy69. The comment period ends 31 July 2015.
Upcoming SEG Continuing Education Courses

Courses in Golden, CO
Location: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
22-23 June: Geophysics Under Stress: Geomechanical Applications of Seismic and Borehole Acoustic
Waves by Colin Sayers
24-25 June: Understanding and Adapting Rockphysics Principles for Mudrock (Shale) Reservoirs
by Manika Prasad
Register at www.seg.org/ce
Course at URTeC
Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center,
San Antonio, TX
Registration Open Soon!
18 July: Seismic, Petrophysical, and Geomechanical Characterization of Organic-rich Shale Reservoirs

by Malleswar Yenugu
For more information, email ce@seg.org or call +1.918.497.5561
Continuing Education Courses Distinguished Instructor Short Course

Distinguished Lecture Program Honorary Lecture Program eLearning
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
347
S tat e
of the
Net
From ORCID iDs to SEG Wiki help

Isaac Farley, SEG digital publications manager
EG Publications is always finding ways to simplify discovery of and contributions to our publications. This month, I highlight two projects that
I am excited to unveil. The first, ORCID iDs, aims
to solve the ongoing need to distinguish researchers (especially those with similar names). The second, our newly launched SEG Wiki video help
series, provides an orientation to common tasks at
wiki.seg.org.
Establishing your own ORCID iD
colleagues. A flurry of e-mails requesting that my

colleagues check this out followed.
I encourage you to create your own account at
orcid.org. SEG Publications will announce new
and exciting ways that we will integrate these ORCID iDs into the SEG Digital Library in the coming months, but for now, please consider registering
Isaac Farleys ORCID for your own unique identifier.
iD via QR code.
For more information on ORCID and ORCID
iDs, visit orcid.org/content/about-orcid.
Some of you may be familiar with the Open Researcher and

Contributor ID program (ORCID): the open, nonprofit, community-based effort to provide a registry of unique researcher
identifiers and a transparent method of linking research activities and outputs to these identifiers.
I have been hearing about ORCID and its ORCID iDs
for what seems like years. I have come to understand the need
to provide unique identifiers to authors and researchers. How
many times have you had to chase down whether Laurence
Lines was also L. R. Lines? And was L. R. also the Larry Lines
who edited Theory of Seismic Diffractions? Or if they are different
people, was the L. R. Lines who authored an expanded abstract
on subseismic features at a past SEG Annual Meeting Laurence
or Larry? With an ORCID iD, we can be confident knowing
that Larry Lines, Laurence R. Lines, and L. R. Lines are all
the same man.
A few weeks ago, a colleague e-mailed me a Quick Response (QR) code with a note suggesting that I check this out!
I thought I would be directed to information on an upcoming
SEG conference or publication, but instead, I landed on her
ORCID iD page. I stopped what I was doing, created my own
account, and wrote her back, declaring that she had just made it
into my next column (and here she is).
I arrived at orcid.org with my education and employment history in tow and a growing collection of State of the
Net columns to index. Adding works to your ORCID iD is
the most complicated step in the process, but its easy given
SEGs relationship with CrossRef, a citation linking system. Our metadata are continually linked within the CrossRef system, so once you are ready to add your works, simply
click the + add works link under the Works tab and select
Search & link.
From there, you will need to select and then authorize the
CrossRef metadata search, which will search for the name
you listed when you registered. In addition to CrossRef, you
can easily link your SCOPUS IDs with your new ORCID
iD.
My 11 works were the first 11 for which I received results.
Using the Add to ORCID button under each article, I built
my works section. Ten or 15 minutes after registering for my
unique identifier, my entire history of works was connected to
my ORCID iD, and I had my very own QR code to share with
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THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Wiki help: You searched, we delivered
In the weeks before the 2014 Annual Meeting in Denver, the

SEG Online Committee voted to open SEG Wiki contributions
to all registered users (they previously were reserved for members
only). The SEG information technology (IT) team enacted the
change the week it was approved. Since that time, we have received
nearly 2 million visits to the SEG Wiki. That number represents
more than one-third of all visits since the wiki was launched (i.e.,
one-third of all visits have occurred in the last four months).
In October, SEG also honored John W. Stockwell Jr. as the
first SEG Wiki Champion. His tireless efforts have focused on
preserving the history of the Society, largely through biographies.
Stockwells biography category itself has had more than 700,000
views since the 2014 Annual Meeting (those 700,000 views are
four times the number the page had before October 2014).
As the SEG Wiki team reviewed the numbers of views to
the wiki in the last year, we were reminded that two of the top
10 pages visited in the wiki are help pages. I have been a new
wiki contributor in the past. I know penning your first contributions comes with questions. I believe the views we are observing
on the wiki indicate that users are searching for and finding
help. Now we are delivering more.
Andrew Geary, SEG Wiki editor, has recorded six help videos to provide step-by-step lessons on basic editing, adding your
own profile, launching a biography of a peer, evolving current
entries, and layering the science with articles that are new to
the wiki. All videos are available on the SEG YouTube page at:
youtube.com/user/segeophysicists.
More videos, including a tour of the SEG Wiki and the basics of adding a reference, designing figures, and incorporating
Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) into your articles,
are being planned, so check back.
As Geary declares in the introduction to the series, Like
many of you, I learn best by doing. Thats what a wiki is all
about. Seriously, jump in this is your wiki. With your knowledge and assistance, we can build an encyclopedia dedicated to
the science of applied geophysics.
For more information on contributing to the SEG Wiki,
visit wiki.seg.org/wiki/Help:Editing.
Corresponding author: ifarley@seg.org
UPCOMING DEADLINES
I nt e r p re t a t io n S c h e d u le d To p ic s
a n d U pc o min g D e a d lin e s
Special Section Topic
Submission Deadline
Petroleum geomechanics and fracture interpretation
1 April 2015
Pore pressure
1 June 2015
The Gulf of Mexico: Regional studies, play concepts, recent developments,

and case histories
1 July 2015
Seismic attributes
30 June 2015
1 August 2015
Visit seg.org/resources/publications/interpretation/specialsections for more details about these

sections and for a complete listing of upcoming special sections.
Submit a paper at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/interpretation.
Interpretation, copublished by SEG and AAPG, aims to advance the practice of subsurface interpretation.
Learn more about this exciting new journal at www.seg.org/interpretation.
Seismic Characterization of Organic

Richness for Shale Reservoirs
Upcoming
Virtual Course
Wednesday, 18 March 2015

10:00 am CDT
Duration: 90 minutes
Instructor: Malleswar Yenugu
REGISTER ONLINE
www.seg.org/vc
$40 Members (USD)
$50 Nonmembers (USD)
For more information:
e-mail ondemand@seg.org
or call +1-918-497-5574
Attend this 90-minute class from the convenience
of your home or work computer. Hear the instructor,
view the presentation, and ask questions in real time.
All you need is a computer with Internet connection
and audio.
Construct relationships between seismic properties (Al, Vp/Vs) and rock

properties (TOC, porosity, bulk density) and characterize the effects of
organic richness on geomechanical properties generated from well-log
and seismic data.
*Make sure you convert the time to your local time zone so you
dont miss this online event!
March 2015
Continuing Education Courses Distinguished Instructor Short Course
Distinguished Lecture Program Honorary Lecture Program On Demand
THE LEADING EDGE
349
SEAM U p d a t e
SEAM initiates project on pore-pressure prediction
he SEG Advanced Modeling Corporation (SEAM) has

initiated a project focused on pore-pressure prediction.
The primary objectives are (1) to deliver a benchmark simulated
seismic data set that will be used by industry and academic research institutes to investigate improved approaches for prediction of deep overpressured reservoirs and (2) to reduce drilling
risks safety and environmental through improved predrill
pressure-prediction methodologies derived from iterative interpretations of the simulated data set.
The benchmark simulated seismic data set will be acquired
over a model that is representative of the challenges facing
those who predict pore pressure using seismic data collected in
the U. S. Gulf of Mexico. The model will be constructed (1)
to contain physically realistic pore-pressure scenarios and (2) in
a manner that allows acquisition of realistic seismic data using
numerical wavefield simulation over the model.
The project is being undertaken as an industrial consortium
in which several companies from the petroleum industry, both
producers and service providers, are participating by providing expertise, active engagement, and funds. Additional companies are encouraged to consider joining the consortium
its not too late to become a member. Additional funding

of $1.9 million is coming from the Research Partnership to
Secure Energy for America (RPSEA), subcontract number
12121-6002-02.
The technical approach to the project will be to first develop a geologic model that contains a suite of pore-pressure
scenarios encountered in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Model construction will begin by considering how to modify the
SEAM Phase I (RPSEA) deepwater model. See the February
2010 and March 2011 issues of The Leading Edge for overviews
of that model.
Mechanisms of pore-pressure generation will be evaluated,
and an approach for including scenarios from various mechanisms in as physically realistic a manner as possible will be developed as part of the model-building effort. Basin modeling
and geomechanical simulation might be used to ensure that the
model is as realistic as possible.
Once the geologic model is developed, a geophysical parameterization of the model will be made using an approach based
on rock physics. The result will be a geophysical model that is
as geologically realistic as possible. Seismic and possibly other
Its not too late to join!
Pressure Prediction and Hazard Avoidance

20142017
SEAMs Pressure Prediction project

kicked off at its first participant
meeting on 30 September 2014.
Additional project participants
are being accepted.
For more information, contact
SEAM@seg.org or visit
www.seg.org/seam.
350
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
351
geophysical simulations will be conducted over the model using

state-of-the-art numerical approaches.
The project is recently under way, with the first organizational meeting held in late September 2014. The Model Design
Committee is comprised of staff members from the participating companies. The first major effort is to scope the pore-pressure scenarios that will be included in the model.
The committee is evaluating the current state of the art in
basin modeling and geomechanical and geochemical simulation
to determine how they can be used to make the model as realistic as possible. As the model is developed, the committee will
consider numerical-simulation issues that will influence how to
conduct seismic simulations over the model.
The first consideration will be what physics to include in the
simulation, e.g., elastic, anisotropic, attenuation issues, and so
forth. Model design, assessment of numerical-simulation capabilities, and estimates of the cost of simulations will be used to
develop a seismic-simulation acquisition plan. The goal of the
acquisition will be to provide data over all or parts of the model
that can be used for testing predrill pore-pressure prediction
methodologies using surface-seismic data.
Acknowledgments
Funding for this project is provided by RPSEA through the

Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other
Petroleum Resources program authorized by the U. S. Energy
Policy Act of 2005. RPSEA (www.rpsea.org) is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to provide a stewardship role in ensuring the focused research, development, and deployment of safe
and environmentally responsible technology that can effectively
deliver hydrocarbons from domestic resources to the citizens of
the United States. RPSEA, operating as a consortium of premier U. S. energy-research universities, industry, and independent research organizations, manages the program under a contract with the U. S. Department of Energys National Energy
Technology Laboratory.
Michael Fehler
SEAM project manager
GWB TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

We would like to acknowledge and thank our
volunteers on the GWB Technical Committee.
Bill Doll, Chair
Najib Abusalbi
Isabelle Lambert
Michael Burianyk
Jonathan Nyquist
Gregg Parker
Robert Merrill
Nick Lagrilliere
Phoebe McMellon
SEG Board liaison: John Bradford

SEG Foundation Board liaison: Michael Forrest
www.seg.org/gwb
352
THE LEADING EDGE
Changing lives ... Empowering communities
March 2015
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
353
Student Zone
Rutgers University SEG Student Chapter

explores geophysics locally and globally
Gordon Osterman 1 , Jonathan Algeo 2 , and Neil Terry 3
he Rutgers-Newark near-surface geophysics research

group is dedicated to advancing the use of our science
both at home and abroad. Our chapter has been involved in a
remarkable number of international projects across the globe.
Here we briefly discuss three ongoing projects in which students from our group traveled abroad to four countries, each on
a different continent, to pursue a research project. These projects have given our students unique insight into how geophysical methods can be used to solve problems locally and globally.
Indonesia and Ecuador: Exploring the potential of

peatland mapping with GPR in low-latitude peatlands
Indonesia is thought to contain 65% of all tropical peat by

area, but many of these areas are being burned and/or drained
for agriculture and development. When peat is degraded in these
ways, large amounts of greenhouse gases are released into the
atmosphere. To quantify the impact of these activities and promote better management decisions, it is important to assess the
extent and depth of these peatlands. As such, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a potentially valuable tool for mapping peat
deposits because its sensitivity to contrasting electric/dielectric
properties has proved effective for delineating peat and the underlying mineral soil in boreal analogs.
In a collaboration among Rutgers University, Florida Atlantic University, the U. S. Forest Service, and the Indonesian
Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT),
we brought GPR to several sites in the provinces of West Kalimantan and Riau with two objectives: (1) to gauge the effectiveness of this technique for large-scale peat mapping and (2)
to share our knowledge of GPR with local agencies. Although
certain sites were conducive to GPR and allowed for clear mapping of the peat-mineral soil interface, others proved more challenging, quickly attenuating the signal. This discrepancy is the
topic of our ongoing research.
Peatlands in the Ecuadorian pramo (geographic grassland
area) are unique ecosystems that differ significantly from lowland
peat deposits in terms of vegetation cover and mineral content. In
collaboration with the U. S. Forest Service and the Universidad
San Francisco de Quito, we brought GPR to study these rarely
researched high-altitude systems. In this study, our goal was
again to evaluate the potential of GPR to measure peat depth and
extent and to attempt to image thin ash layers within the peat.
Italy: Archaeological geophysics performed

over a Roman-era villa
Over the summer of 2013, we participated in an archaeological excavation of a late Republic to early Imperial era Roman villa 45 km north of Rome in the Tiber River Valley. The
villa is now the site of an ongoing archaeological excavation
led by the Rutgers Archaeological Field School. This work
Figure 1. The magnetic data have been overlain on an ArcMap of the
excavation zone (see legend inset). Anomalous features in the GPR

data (line 110, inset) are shown in white and red dots on the map. Red
dots correlate with a region of high magnetic gradient, suggesting an
archaeological feature.
1
2
354
SEG Student Chapter president.

SEG Student Chapter treasurer.
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Figure 2. Average amplitude of trace data from preirrigation (blue

data points) and post irrigation (red and green data points).
3
SEG Student Chapter member.
South Asian Geosciences

Student Conference
2 7 3 0 J u l y 2 0 15
S A G S C - 2 0 15 i s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e f o r c o m p r e h e n s i v e
i n te ra c t i o n a m o n g d e l e g a te s f ro m a l l ove r t h e g l o b e to b o o s t t h e
l a te s t d e ve l o p m e n t s i n e a r t h s c i e n c e s .
U n i v e r s i t y o f P e t ro l e u m a n d E n e rg y S t u d i e s G e o p hy s i c a l S o c i e t y
Oral and Poster Presentations Courses and Lectures Icebreaker Reception
City Tour Gala Party Field Trip Networking Opportunities
Platinum Sponsor
For more details, visit:

sagsc.segupes.com, upesseg@hotmail.com
Venue:
University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
P. O. Bidholi Via Prem Nagar, Dehradun-248007
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
355
200-MHz PulseEKKO Smart Cart antenna in operation. Gas chambers, not in operation, are visible lying to the left.
From left: Kent Elliott (U. S. Forest Service), Xavier Comas (Florida
Atlantic University), and Sofyan Kurnianto (University of New
Hampshire) run a common-midpoint survey in West Kalimantan,
Indonesia.
was a collaboration aimed at determining whether geophysical

methods could be used to identify features of interest for excavation.
We used GPR and magnetic gradiometry over a rectangular
region in the excavation area. We conducted magnetic gradiometry and common-offset GPR surveys using a proton magnetometer and a 500-MHz shielded radar antenna. Our results
(Figure 1) show the magnetic gradient results displayed as a
color map overlain on an archaeological site map. The GPR section inset shows an example of a disturbed zone (red box) which
correlated with a magnetic gradient anomaly. The results show
a region of heightened magnetic gradient at the southern edge
of our survey grid that correlates with disturbances identified in
the GPR data. Because these features roughly line up with the
orientation of walls at the site, we believe these anomalies indicate an archaeological feature of interest. In the future, we hope
to perform a more detailed study of the site, ground-truth our
geophysical results, and apply what we learn to other potential
excavation sites in the area.
Australia: Monitoring greenhouse-gas

emissions from irrigation
Research in Australia involved carrying out a controlled irrigation experiment to determine the effects of urea fertilization on greenhouse-gas emission rates in response to rainfall
events and on geophysical signals. Greenhouse-gas sampling,
GPR, electrical resistivity, and time-domain reflectometry were
used to address this question. We selected an agricultural field
at the Samford Ecological Research Facility in Samford, QLD,
and irrigated part of it while leaving part of it dry. Pairs of gas
356
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
John Hribljan (U. S. Forest Service) (left) and Xavier Comas (Florida
Atlantic University) carry a rough-terrain GPR antenna through the
Ecuadorian grassland area.
chambers were imbedded in the ground, with each pair having a fertilized and unfertilized gas chamber. We then took gas
samples twice daily to measure emission rates of common greenhouse gasses and monitored the subsurface with our geophysical
techniques. We are using only the early-time signal from our
GPR data, which includes the combined air and ground waves,
to estimate water content of the soil, which we hope will correlate with our calculated gas emission rates. Figure 2 illustrates
the change in the GPR signal as a result of the irrigation. Data
shown in blue represent the preirrigation line, and data shown
in red and green represent lines taken after irrigation of an area
between traces 80 and 100.
SEG Student Chapter
The mission of the student society is to promote interest in

geophysics and to enhance collaboration and knowledge among
those interested in the geophysical sciences. The chapter accomplishes these goals by holding regular meetings, organizing an
invited-speaker series, and subsidizing members travel to meetings, among other stimulating activities.
DIVERSIFYING GEOSCIENCES IN AFRICA

Join us for: African Challenge Bowl, Student Talks, Oral Presentations, Health, Safety
& Environment (HSE), Lectures by Distinguished Guests, Field Trips, and more!
Perfect for Anyone Interested In: Oil & Gas Geosciences, Near-Surface Geophysics,
Renewal and Geothermal Energy
Organized by
Jomo Kenyatta University Geophysical Society

(JKUGS)
Email: agsc2015@gmail.com
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
357
The Leading Edge
Calendar
MARCH 2015
1011 MAR
GSH-SEG Annual Symposium:
Exploration frontiers: New targets,
new techniques, office@gshtx.org
Houston, Texas, USA
2729 APR
22 JUN2 JUL
3rd SEG/DGS Middle East Geoscience Young Professionals and Student Event
IASPEI and IUGG: Joint symposium

on Geophysical Imaging of Natural
Resources
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
Prague, Czech Republic
MAY 2015
JULY 2015
18 MAR
47 MAY
710 JUL
SEG Vir tual Course: Seismic Characterization of Organic Richness for

Shale Reser voirs, 90-minute online
class, www.seg.org/ondemand
OTC 2 015 , http: // 2015.otcnet.org/
Near Sur face Asia Pacific Conference and Exhibition, http://www.

seg.org/events/upcoming-segmeetings/2015/ns-asia-pacific-2015
Houston, Texas, USA

1113 MAY
Waikaloa, Hawaii, USA
2226 MAR
Intrashelf Basins of the Middle East,

workshop
SAGEEP 2015, www.eegs.org
Dubai, UAE
1012 JUL
1720 MAY
SEG/ExxonMobil Student Education

Program, www.seg.org/students/
SEPExxon
Austin, Texas, USA

2325 MAR
OTC Arctic Technology Conference,
http://www.arctictechnologyconference.org/atc2015.cfm
Copenhagen, Denmark
30 MAR1 APR
Full-waveform Inversion: Filling the
Gaps, http://www.seg.org/events/upcoming-seg-meetings/abudhabi2015
Abu Dhabi, UAE
APRIL 2015
1315 APR
SEG/SPE Monitoring Giant
Carbonate Fields: Fad or Future?
Abu Dhabi, UAE

1317 APR
3rd International Workshop on
Rock Physics
SEG-EAGE Forum: Integration of

Different Types of Data for Reser voir
Characterization, http://www.seg.
org/events/upcoming-seg-meetings/charleston15

1217 JUL
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
SEG Summer Research Workshop:

FWI Applications from Imaging to
Reser voir Characterization,
19 21 MAY
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Novel Methods for Subsur face Characterization and Monitoring, http://

www.ufz.de/novcare
1316 JUL
Lawrence, Kansas, USA
6th International Geosciences

Student Conference: Crossing the
Boundaries, http://www.igsc6.wz.cz
JUNE 2015
1013 JUN
URTeC 2015
Congreso Mexicano del Petrleo,

congresomexicanodelpetroleo.com/
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Guadalajara, Mexico
2730 JUL
1619 JUN
1st South Asian Geosciences Student

Conference, www.sagsc.in
2022 JUL
3rd African Geosciences Student

Conference, agsc2015@gmail.com,
http://www.agsc2015.org
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Perth, Australia
1922 APR
Nairobi, Kenya
3rd Latin America Geosciences

Student Conference,
sc.geophysics.uff@gmail.com,
http://www.lagsc2015.org
SEG/CGS Workshop, GEM Chengdu:

Gravity, Electrical and Magnetic
Methods and their Applications,
http://www.seg.org/events/upcomingseg-meetings/gem-chengdu-2015
Chengdu, China
1819 JUN
2015 FWI Model Building Workshop
in Beijing
Beijing, China
2225 JUN
Continuing Education Courses,
www.seg.org/ce
Golden, Colorado, USA

358
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
29 JUL 1 AUG
Niteroi, Brazil
2015 SEG/SPE Workshop

1315 April 2015
Jumeirah at Etihad Tower Abu Dhabi, UAE
Monitoring Giant Carbonate

Fields: Fad or future?
Registration is Open Now!
Visit event webpage: www.seg.org/meetings/seg-spe-abudhabi15

Advance registration deadline: 12 March 2015
Based on the success of the workshops held in 2011 and 2013, this third
edition aims to capitalize on lessons learned by linking integrated feasibilities
and pilot designs to reduce uncertainties in reservoir monitoring and
management.
To address these outcomes, the focus of this workshop is to share selected
case studies, emerging monitoring techniques, and mapping dynamic
behavior of the reservoir and their impact on production and economics of
carbonate fields.
Workshop discussion topics:

n reducing integrated risk and uncertainties
n carbonate reservoirs monitoring: technical challenges
n feasibility modeling and survey design (to prepare a
monitoring project)
n data acquisition for monitoring purposes
n integration of geoscience and reservoir engineering
n new development technologies and the road ahead
n success stories as well as lessons learned from

failures/postmortems
n integration of various monitoring techniques on
carbonate reservoirs (time-lapse/4D surface-boreholecrosswell seismic, VSP), nonseismic (e.g., EM),
wellhead measurements, smart fields
n synergies in the GCC for sharing experiences/projects
in carbonate reservoir monitoring
n economics of comprehensive reservoir monitoring

study
n geologic modeling and reservoir simulation
n geomechanics and its impact on monitoring
n field examples/case studies of using proven or
emerging geophysical monitoring technologies
n monitoring from early production phases (e.g.,
waterflooding, WAG, IOR) to enhanced recovery
mechanisms (e.g., Chemical EOR, CO2)
For additional information please contact:

Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Middle East
Ozlem Kocak, meeting planner
Telephone: +971 4 371 28 57
Meeting Schedule:
Sunday, 12 April
Registration
Monday, 13 April
Registration
Morning and afternoon sessions
Icebreaker
Tuesday, 14 April
Morning and afternoon sessions
Wednesday, 15 April
Morning session
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Dr. Wafik Beydoun (Co-chair), ADNOC; Reham Al-Houti
(Co-chair), KOC; Hiroshi Hagiwara, ADNOC; Jean Michel
Filak, KOC; Sheikh Fathesha, ADCO; Thierry LeCoq,
ADMA; Ali Al Sumaiti, The Petroleum Institute; Sayed Khalil,
Schlumberger; Joseph Khoury, Schlumberger; Miguel
Villamizar, Halliburton; Paul Kalathingal, Paradigm Middle
East; Walid Ayoub, Baker Hughes; Osama Hanna, ADCO
CONNECT with SEG Middle East

SEG Middle East Page
SEG Middle East Group
@segmiddleeast
www.seg.org/meetings/seg-spe-abudhabi15
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
359
AUGUST 2015
25 AUG
Ear th Model Forum: Rendering Rock
Proper ties for Qualitative and
Quantitative Interpretation, http://
www.seg.org/events/upcomingseg-meetings/vail15
Vail, Colorado, USA
2023 SEP
2729 OCT
Bolivarian Symposium of Petroleum

Exploration in Subandean Basins:
New Frontiers, New Challenges,
www.simposiobolivariano.org
OTC Brazil, http://www.otcbrasil.

org/Content/OTC-Brasil-2015/1/
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

2223 SEP
AAPG/SEGFall Student Expo,
www.studentexpo.info
Houston, Texas, USA
1920 AUG
NAPE Houston, http://napeexpo.
com/shows/about-the-show/houston
Houston, Texas, USA
2124 SEP
Continuing Education Courses,
www.seg.org/ce
London, UK
31 AUG3 SEP
Rio de Janiero, Brazil
NOVEMBER 2015
1518 NOV
International Conference on
Engineering Geophysics (ICEG)
Al Ain, UAE
1820 NOV
12th SEGJ International Symposium,
http://www.segj.org/is/11th/
Tokyo, Japan
SEG Continuing Education Courses,

www.seg.org/ce
The Woodlands, Texas, USA
OC TOBER 2015
68 OCT
SEPTEMBER 2015
Advanced Geophysical Studies in

Structurally Complex Oil and Gas
Regions
69 SEP
Baku, Azerbaijan
SAGA 14th Biennial Conference

2015, http://www.saga2015.co.za/
1618 OCT
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

1316 SEP
SEG/ExxonMobil Student
Education Program, www.seg.org/
students/SEPExxon
AAPG/SEG ICE, http://ice.aapg.

org/2015
Melbourne, Australia
1823 OCT
SEG Annual Meeting, http://www.
seg.org/web/seg-new-orleans-2015/
DECEMBER 2015
69 DEC
IPTC, www.iptc.net.org/2015/doha
Doha, Qatar
910 DEC
NAPE Denver, http://napeexpo.com/
shows/abouttheshow/denver
Denver, Colorado, USA
MARCH 2016
5 MAR
2016 KEGS Symposium, http://www.
kegsonline.org/
Toronto, Canada
Fundamentals of Geophysical Interpretation

Laurence R. Lines and Rachel T. Newrick
Fundamentals of Geophysical Interpretation, SEG Geophysical Monograph Series No. 13, is a practical handbook for the
petroleum geophysicist. Fundamental concepts are explained using heuristic descriptions of seismic modeling, deconvolution, depth migration, and tomography. Pitfalls in processing and contouring are described briefly. Applications include
petroleum exploration of carbonate reefs, salt intrusions, and overthrust faults. The book includes past, present, and possible
future developments in time-lapse seismology, borehole geophysics, multicomponent seismology, and integrated reservoir
characterization.
Catalog #153A
ISBN 978-1-56080-125-2
E-book eISBN 978-1-56080-172-6
Published 2004, 288 pages, Paper

Order publications online at: www.seg.org/bookmart or E-mail: books@seg.org
360
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Register now for the worlds

most focused and comprehensive
Arctic event: ATC 2015
COPENHAGEN
DENMARK
23-25 MARCH 2015
BELLA CENTER
If your job is to safely and effectively discover and produce the vast energy resources
in the Arctic, you need to participate in the only event that has the industry and
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More than 150 technical presentations on topics under Geology and Geophysics, Exploration and Production, Physical
Environment, Logistics and Regulatory Environment and Social Responsibility themes
Panel Sessions focusing on Global Arctic Market Outlook Regional Influences; Arctic Technology: Leveraging Capability,
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The combined reach and credibility of 14 of the worlds top engineering and scientific organizations and OTCs 45 year history
Register today at ArcticTechnologyConference.org
SPONSORS
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
March 2015
THE LEADING EDGE
361
The Leading Edge
Membership
Applications for Active membership have been received from
the candidates listed below. This publication does not constitute
election but places the names before the membership at large
in accordance with SEGs Bylaws, Article III, Section 5. If any
member has information bearing on the qualifications of these
candidates, it should be sent to the president within 30 days. The
list can be viewed online at membership.seg.org/applicants/.
For Active membership
Austin, Nicholas (St. Johns, NL, Canada)

Bint, Cortney (Calgary, AB, Canada)
Bjarnason, Ingi (Reykjavik, Iceland)
Burns, Christopher (London, UK)
Cena, Banti (Rohtak, Haryana, India)
Chellingsworth, Liz (Aberdeen, Scotland, UK)
Du, C. Mike (Dallas, TX, USA)
Ellsworth, William (U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA,
USA)
El-Sergany, Mohamed (Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia)
Goss, Shawn (Tomball, TX, USA)
Helms, John (Proveho Exploration, LLC, Dallas, TX, USA)
Henson, Carl (Cypress, TX, USA)
Khan, M. Amjad (Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan)
Lin, Chih-Ping (National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, China)
Li, Yujia (Spring, TX, USA)
Morgan, Ryan (The Woodlands, TX, USA)
Pal, Himadri (Houston, TX, USA)
Pimentel, Carlos (Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia)
Politi, Moshe (Adira Energy Ltd., Arugot, Israel)
Rayson, Martin (Kuala Lumpur, WP, Malaysia)
Reznik, Audrey (Houston, TX, USA)
Ringstad, Cathrine (Trondheim, Norway)
Rogan, Alice (Danville, CA, USA)
Sacks, Alison (Anchorage, AK, USA)
Saha, Sakshi Gopal (Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Schroeder, Dustin (Pasadena, CA, USA)
Taylor, Duncan (Houston, TX, USA)
Tetteh, Emmanuel Nartey (Accra, Greaternaccra, Ghana)
Tsybulkina, Inna (Houston, TX, USA)
Vaittinen, Katri (Boliden, Vsterbotten, Sweden)
Waters, David (Loughton, Essex, UK)
For reinstatement to Active membership
Allen, Samuel (Border to Border Exploration, Boulder, CO,

USA)
Braitenberg, Carla (University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy)
For reinstatement and transfer to Active membership
Doetsch, Joseph (ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland)

Dorjsuren, Otgonbayar (Xanadu Mines Mongolia LLC, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)
362
THE LEADING EDGE
March 2015
Requirements for Membership
Active: Eight years of professional experience practicing or teaching geophysics or a related scientific field.
Membership applications and details of other types of
membership, including Associate, Student, and Corporate, may be obtained at http://membership.seg.org.
Gultekin, Caner (N. V. Turkse Perenco, Ankara, Turkey)
Hogan, Chad (Orthogonal Geophysics, Calgary, AB, Canada)
Kumar, Rajiv (Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, NOIDA,
Uttar Pradesh, India)
McKenzie, Jenna (Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience, Toronto,
ON, Canada)
Noble, Mark (Mines ParisTech, Fontainebleau Cedex, France)
Rowe, Craig (Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, St. Johns, NL, Canada)
Tamim, Ahmed (Cairo, Egypt)
Watson, Jasi (Santos, Perth, WA, Australia)
Zhou, Yunhe (East Union Geophysical Company, Ltd., Beijing,
China)
For transfer to Active membership
Baptiste, Jenelle (Houston, TX, USA)

Baranwal, Vikas (Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), Trondheim, Norway)
Biswas, Arkoprovo (Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
Chen, Suyang (Schlumberger GeoSolutions, Houston, TX, USA)
Daboer, Justine (Abu Company for Onshore Oil Operations
ADCO, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Dahl, Geir (Stavanger Schlumberger Research, Stavanger, Norway)
Duah, Yaw (Sandnes, Norway)
Faber, Meredith (Noble Energy, Houston, TX, USA)
Glaccum, Matthew (Geosphere, Inc., Auburn, MI, USA)
Hopkins, John (Shell E&P, Sewickley, PA, USA)
Lu, Jialiang (Houston, TX, USA)
Lyonford, Eric (ConocoPhillips, Houston, TX, USA)
Moirano, Juan (Geoprocesados Argentina S. A., La Plata, Argentina)
Morley, Glenn (RPS Energy, Woking, UK)
Qian, Yongxian (Pittsburgh, PA, USA)
Rabah, Adour (Pau, France)
Song, Xiaolei (BP, Houston, TX, USA)
Tartaras, Efthymios (Schlumberger Geosolutions, Milan, Italy)
Verweerd, Arre (G-Tec Marine Environment, Deinze, Belgium)
Watts, David (Schlumberger PTS, Houston, TX, USA)
Zhan, Ge (BP America, Houston, TX, USA)
Seismic Signatures and Analysis of

Reflection Data in Anisotropic Media,
third edition
Ilya Tsvankin
This is a new edition of Ilya Tsvankins reference volume on seismic anisotropy and
application of anisotropic models in reflection seismology. Seismic Signatures and
Analysis of Reflection Data in Anisotropic Media, Geophysical References Series No.
19, provides essential background information about anisotropic wave propagation,
introduces efficient notation for transversely isotropic (TI) and orthorhombic media,
and identifies the key anisotropy parameters for imaging and amplitude analysis. To
gain insight into the influence of anisotropy on a wide range of seismic signatures,
exact solutions are simplified in the weak-anisotropy approximation. Particular
attention is given to moveout analysis and P-wave time-domain processing for transverse isotropy with a vertical (VTI) and tilted (TTI) symmetry axis. Description of
the amplitude-variation-with-offset (AVO) response of P- and S-waves in TI media
shows that anisotropy might cause serious distortions in both the reflection coefficient and
geometrical-spreading factor. The far-reaching benefits of anisotropic processing methods are
demonstrated on synthetic examples and field data.
Catalog #179A
Published 2012, 458 Pages, Hardcover
ISBN 978-1-56080-299-0
E-book eISBN 978-1-56080-300-3 SEG Members $67, List $84
Order publications online at: www.seg.org/bookmart or E-mail: books@seg.org
March 2014
THE LEADING EDGE
363
The Leading Edge
Advertising Index
COMPANY
PAGE
PHONE
E-MAIL
AGT
Brazilian Geophysical Society
CGG
Dawson Geophysical
Divestco Inc.
DownUnder GeoSolutions
Dynamic Technologies (DTCC)
EMGS
GeoCenter LP
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geoLOGIC systems ltd.
Geomage
INOVA Geophysical
ION
LMKR
NEOS GeoSolutions
Open Geophysical
Paradigm Geophysical
Petroleum Geo-Services
Polarcus DMCC
R.T. Clark Companies
Sander Geophysics
Saudi Aramco
Schlumberger
SeismicCity, Inc.
TGS
Z-Terra
267
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info@agtgeo.com
294
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263
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293
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273
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281
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311
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283
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301
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285
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299
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John Walsh
www.polarcus.com
Rebecca Ericson-Grantham
www.rtclark.com
Maria Spano
www.sgl.com
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www.slb.com
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David Kessler
www.tgs.com
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www.z-terra.com
Alexander Mihai Popovici
The advertising index is offered free to display advertisers in the current issue of The Leading Edge. Submission of contact information is the responsibility of the advertiser.
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Special Section: B o r e h o l e g e o p h y s i c s a n d s on i c l o g g i n g

Volume 34, No. 3

Is complex geology yielding poor imaging results and

See the energy at TGS.com/orthorhombic

COMPLETE WAVEFIELD IMAGING (CWI)

CWI utilizes the complete waveeld (Primaries, Multiples &

The Leading Edge

354........ Student Zone

358........ Meetings Calendar

Special section: Borehole geophysics and sonic logging

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Cover design by Jill Park. Image

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High Resolution Depth Imaging

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HIGH RESOLUTION TOMOGRAPHY

+ RTM + Kirchhoff Model Building

FULL WAVEFORM INVERSION

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First Vice President

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Seismic Data Analysis

Your Unconventional Workflow

Effectively steer the well into the

Develop a single earth model

Monitor effectiveness of drilling

SKUA-GOCAD | Develop geologically

SKUA-GOCAD | Analyze microseismic

How Paradigm Solutions Deliver

Geolog Geosteering | Monitor

Coherence Cube + AFE | Identify

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With todays prices, there is no margin for

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Foundation Board of Directors

Peter Cramer (ConocoPhillips) is exploration manager

SURFHVVLQJ\RXFDQWUXVWWho you gonna call?

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