#46: How science can protect infrastructure and homes

Roman Pevzner discusses his Honorary Lecture, "Surface and borehole seismic monitoring of CO2 geological storage." Geological carbon capture and storage (CCS) or sequestration is a critical component of CO2 emission reduction, which aims to alleviate global climate change. Geological carbon storage always requires a subsurface monitoring program, and seismic methods play an important role. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Roman explains why a subsurface monitoring program is necessary for geological carbon storage and the range of seismic methods used to monitor CO2 storage. He discusses how the Australian CCS projects featured in the lecture highlight the evolution of the seismic monitoring technology used for sequestration. He also explores the advantages and disadvantages of permanently mounted seismic sources and characterizes passive data analysis. This conversation explores the goal of this lecture, the perfect audience for this talk, and the one question Roman hopes attendees take with them. Carbon capture and storage will play a major role in the future of geophysics, and this conversation helps demonstrate possible paths. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. RELATED LINKS * Register for Roman's lecture (28 March 2023 & 11 May 2023) (https://seg.org/Education/Lectures/Honorary-Lectures/HL-Roman-Pevzner) * Discover SEG on Demand (https://seg.org/Education/SEG-on-Demand) BIOGRAPHY Roman Pevzner joined Curtin University (Perth, Western Australia) in 2008 as an associate professor in the Discipline of Exploration Geophysics, progressing to professor in 2018. Previously he headed the software development department at DECO Geophysical service company from 2002–2008. At the same time, Roman has also conducted research and teaching at the Geological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Seismometry and Geo-acoustics Department. Roman Pevzner received his Ph.D. in Geophysics (2004), Master of Science in Geophysics (2001), and Bachelor of Science in Geology (1999) from Lomonosov Moscow State University. His main areas of interest include subsurface monitoring using active and passive seismic methods, borehole seismic, distributed fiber optic sensing for geophysical applications, and CO2 geosequestration. Roman has co-authored 75 journal papers and more than 170 refereed conference publications. CREDITS Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast. Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

16 Maalis 202314min

SEG Scholarships encourage the study of geophysics and related geosciences in universities worldwide. Due to the generosity of donors, the SEG offers a range of different scholarship opportunities to students all over the globe. In this special episode, we feature two scholarship recipients and the founder of a new Scholarship Program. Host Andrew Geary speaks first with Manika Prasad. Manika is a Colorado School of Mines professor passionate about students and diversity within the geosciences. She co-founded the SEG Educational Equity Scholarship in 2021 to support underrepresented students in their study area or that bring diversity to their attending university. Manika shares what she hopes this scholarship will achieve and why the SEG Scholarships matter to the industry's future. Next, we highlight two scholarship recipients: Juliet Nneamaka Ilechukwu and Sharmila Appini. They share how they learned about the SEG Scholarships and how it made them better students and geophysicists. They also share what the scholarships allowed them to achieve and one lesson they will take away from this experience. This episode will leave no doubt of the power of the SEG Scholarships to benefit the Society, geophysics, and individual lives. Since the number of scholarships available depends primarily upon the number of sponsors and the amounts they contribute, each donation matters. This episode will provide the reasons and the voices for how your donation could change the science of geophysics and someone's life. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. HIGHLIGHTS * 1:46: Manika Prasad * 15:43: Juliet Nneamaka Ilechukwu * 24:19: Sharmila Appini RELATED LINKS * Learn more about SEG Scholarships (https://seg.org/Scholarships) * Learn about the 2022-2023 recipients (https://seg.org/Education/Student/Student-Opportunities/Scholarships/List-of-scholarship-recipients) * Donate to the SEG Scholarships (https://donate.seg.org/Scholarships) ABOUT THE INTERVIEWEES Dr. Manika Prasad has been an active member of SEG since 1987. She has served on several SEG committees and the SEG Board of Directors (Second vice-president 2018-19; First vice-president 2019-20). She is a professor at the Colorado School of Mines. She is passionate about students, geophysics, and diversity within the geosciences. Manika and Günter Fuchs recently established a scholarship endowment with the SEG Foundation in 2021. The SEG Educational Equity Scholarship was established to support students attending university anywhere in the world who are underrepresented in their area of study or that bring diversity to their attending university. The donor's intent was to promote and increase the representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) geoscientists. Applicants are asked to describe how their selection as a recipient will improve the diversity of the geosciences community in the country where they are attending university and how they or the SEG might help increase representation for their group in geosciences and SEG. Ms. Juliet Nneamaka Ilechukwu is from Nigeria with a Master of Science (M.SC) in Geophysics. Ms. Sharmila Appini is from India with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) and a Master of Science (under the Integrated Program) in Applied Geology. She has a Master of Science in Geophysics from the University of Houston and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Geophysics. CREDITS Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

9 Maalis 202331min

Government policies, incentives, and funding directly impact gains in energy efficiency and energy independence. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Diana Sineva and Stephen Brown highlight recent policy changes in the United States and how it impacts the world and the oil and gas sector. In this unique conversation, Diana and Stephen explain the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and why it's important to incentivize and fund energy efficiency policies. They offer a distinctive perspective on pursuing energy independence and how businesses and consumers can utilize energy efficiency for their benefit. Additionally, Diana provides a path for geophysicists to thrive in any future energy environment. This episode explores cutting-edge policy and research to offer a novel perspective on topics that will impact the world for generations. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. BIOGRAPHIES Diana Sineva is an energy industry expert and project/product management professional who dedicated more than 20 years to the international oil and gas exploration industry, focusing on emerging technologies, process optimization, and corporate sustainability. The energy transition motivated her to pursue a Master's in Business Administration degree from Rice's Jones Business School to emphasize the business viability of emerging trends, followed by immersion in clean-energy technologies. Today she is an energy transition advocate with formal training in the renewable energy field, supporting sustainable and energy-efficient models for transformation. Further, she is successfully helping small businesses realize the transformation demanded by the ever-changing environment, focusing on sustainable growth and a customer-centric approach. Stephen Brown works with policymakers and advocates to advance the United States national climate goals. His career spans over 20 years of government relations, public affairs, and sustainability experience. Stephen built Capital Assets Energy LLC, a successful clean energy development consulting firm that specialized in financing retrofits of commercial, non-profit, and multi-family properties with energy-efficient and renewable energy improvements. He also founded the Clean Energy Fund of Texas Inc (TxCEF), which focused on making the green economy affordable and just for all Texans. Stephen holds a B.A. in political science from North Carolina A&T State University and a Master's in Business Administration from Rice University. He resides in Houston, TX, with his wife and two sons. He is an avid tennis player and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. member. CREDITS Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the "Contact Seismic Soundoff" box at https://seg.org/podcast. Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

2 Maalis 202327min

Technological advancements in geophysical sensors and sensor platforms over the past decade have given rise to the rapidly growing and innovative field of drone-based geophysics. As improvements in reliability, payload capacity, coverage capability, resolution, data quality, cost, and personnel safety continue to be realized, the widespread application of drone geophysics marks an exciting new era of innovation in near-surface geophysics. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Dr. Callum Walter discusses the benefits of drone surveys when taking on dirty, dangerous, and demanding jobs. He highlights the similarities and differences compared to other geophysical surveys and the unique difficulties when collecting data by drones. Callum outlines a few case studies currently benefiting from drones, the possibility of rocket-powered drones, and using drones in off-world environments. Callum also offers when drones could be right for your project profile. This episode is a fascinating, cutting-edge conversation on the latest geophysical technology that could inspire and improve your current and future projects. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. BIOGRAPHY Dr. Callum Walter specializes in developing innovative near-surface geophysics technologies and non-invasive remote sensing solutions for mineral exploration applications. His dissertation investigated the design, integration, and optimization of drone aeromagnetic surveying. Presently, he's a post-doctoral research scientist with the USGS National Innovation Center and the NASA Ames Research Center. He works on expanding off-world geophysical surveying capabilities to support NASA's upcoming crewed Artemis missions to the Moon, Mars, and possibly beyond. RELATED LINKS * Callum Walter, Timothy S. de Smet, and Heather Bedle, (2023), "Introduction to this special section: Drone geophysics," The Leading Edge 42: 88–88. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42020088.1) * Read the February 2023 special section: Drone geophysics. (https://library.seg.org/toc/leedff/42/2) Subscribers can read the full articles at https://library.seg.org/, and abstracts are always free. CREDITS Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the box titled "Contact Seismic Soundoff" at https://seg.org/podcast. Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by me, Andrew Geary, at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

16 Helmi 202326min

What sets the seismic method apart from other geophysical exploration methods is its ability to deliver three-dimensional high-resolution images of the subsurface. Ramesh (Neelsh) Neelamani traces the history of the seismic method to showcase recent breakthroughs and future advancements. Neelsh is currently ExxonMobil Senior Principal Geophysics. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Neelsh shares the insights he gained tracing the history of seismic resolution. He also spotlights the most recent technological leaps for full-waveform inversion, explains the value of spectral extrapolation, and outlines how disciplines outside geophysics impact seismic resolution. Neelsh also highlights recent seismic acquisition techniques focused on reducing their environmental impact. This episode is a wide-ranging exploration of seismic resolution based on seven new papers in The Leading Edge. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. RELATED LINKS * Mehdi Aharchaou, Ramesh (Neelsh) Neelamani, and Chengbo Li, (2023), "Introduction to this special section: Seismic resolution," The Leading Edge 42: 7–7. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42010007.1) * Joseph M. Reilly, Mehdi Aharchaou, and Ramesh Neelamani, (2023), "A brief overview of seismic resolution in applied geophysics," The Leading Edge 42: 8–15. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42010008.1) * Read the January 2023 special section: Seismic resolution. (https://library.seg.org/toc/leedff/42/1) Subscribers can read the full articles at https://library.seg.org/, and abstracts are always free. CREDITS Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the box titled "Contact Seismic Soundoff" at https://seg.org/podcast. Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by me, Andrew Geary, at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

9 Helmi 202319min

Boris Gurevich provides an insider's perspective on the value of expanding your knowledge and awareness of the wide-ranging discipline of geophysics. Boris currently serves as Chair of the Distinguished Lecture Committee at the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Boris shares the benefits and primary function of SEG's educational lectures. And there's a strong chance the primary function differs from what you think! Boris provides a helpful overview of this often overlooked, free resource. He also shares tips to maximize your engagement and learning and the best ways to get involved, from attendees to companies to lecturers. The Honorary and Distinguished Lectures provide an invaluable resource to the geophysics community and the public. This conversation will provide the shortcut to help you get the most out of it. Listen to the complete podcast archive at https://seg.org/podcast. RELATED LINKS * Register for upcoming events (https://seg.org/Education/Lectures) * Discover SEG on Demand to find past lectures (https://seg.org/Education/SEG-on-Demand) BIOGRAPHY Boris Gurevich (https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/boris-gurevich-661726c0/) has an MSc in geophysics from Moscow State University (1976) and a Ph.D. from the Institute of Geosystems, Moscow, Russia (1988), where he began his research career (1981-1994). From 1995–2000 he was a research scientist at the Geophysical Institute of Israel, focusing mainly on diffraction imaging problems. Since 2001, he has been a professor of geophysics at Curtin University and an advisor to CSIRO (Perth, Western Australia). At Curtin, he has served as Head of the Department of Exploration Geophysics (2010–2015) and, since 2004, as Director of the Curtin Reservoir Geophysics Consortium. In addition, he has served on editorial boards of GEOPHYSICS, Journal of Seismic Exploration, and Wave Motion. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and has more than 100 journal publications in rock physics, poroelasticity, seismic theory, modeling, imaging, and monitoring CO2 geosequestration. His research achievements include the development of advanced theoretical models of seismic attenuation and dispersion in heterogeneous porous rocks. CREDITS Seismic Soundoff explores the depth and usefulness of geophysics for the scientific community and the public. If you want to be the first to know about the next episode, please follow or subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Two of our favorites are Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have episode ideas, feedback for the show, or want to sponsor a future episode, find the box titled "Contact Seismic Soundoff" at https://seg.org/podcast. Zach Bridges created original music for this show. This episode was hosted, edited, and produced by me, Andrew Geary, at TreasureMint. The SEG podcast team is Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

2 Helmi 202313min

The seismic data set is a fundamental requirement for producing oil and gas fields. Reservoir modeling utilizing seismic interpretations drove insights into reservoir quality and performance, helping to understand the communication between reservoir units and wells, particularly in fields with many wells. Over time, technological advancements led to a reduction in the cost of reservoir modeling, while increased acquisition, processing, and utility of seismic data provided the means to drive innovation toward incorporating seismic. Today, 3D and 4D seismic data play pivotal roles in defining and updating reservoir models where hundreds to thousands of simulations can be realized in a reservoir model to explore history matching and model uncertainties. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, guest editor Katie Baker explores seismic reservoir modeling as highlighted by five papers in The Leading Edge. Katie showcases the key technological advancements that unlocked seismic in defining and updating reservoir models and the historical connection between seismic data sets and reservoir modeling. She also explains the power and future of ensemble modeling and spotlights an alternative to the arduous training libraries for machine learning and seismic. Katie Baker is the Longui Subsurface Lead - Angola Blk0 at Chevron and President-Elect at the Geophysical Society of Houston. Listen to the full archive at https://seg.org/podcast. RELATED LINKS * Shauna Oppert, Kathleen Baker, and Arpita Bathija, (2022), "Introduction to this special section: Seismic reservoir modeling," The Leading Edge 41: 814–814. (https://doi.org/10.1190/tle41120814.1) * Read the December 2022 special section: Seismic reservoir modeling. (https://library.seg.org/toc/leedff/41/12) Subscribers can read the full articles at https://library.seg.org/, and abstracts are always free. CREDITS SEG produces Seismic Soundoff to benefit its members and the scientific community and to inform the public about the value of geophysics. Please follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to receive the latest episode first. And share this podcast with a friend or colleague to show your support for this free resource. Original music created by Zach Bridges. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at 51 features, LLC. Thank you to the SEG podcast team: Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

19 Tammi 202314min

Leo Eisner discusses his Honorary Lecture, "Mapping pore pressure with beach balls." The stress field of the Earth's crust has been studied for many decades as a part of seismology and geomechanics. Traditional stress inversion methods utilize focal mechanisms of earthquakes as this is typically the only data available at a regional scale and lower crust. With earthquake mechanisms, it's possible to reconstruct principal stress directions and a ratio of principal stress magnitudes but not the full stress tensor. However, combining data from reservoir injections and focal mechanisms from induced microseismicity overcomes this limitation. In this talk, Leo will show how they applied joint stress inversion to a geothermal and unconventional dataset and illustrate how microseismicity can be used to map pore pressure. In this conversation with host Andrew Geary, Leo breaks down the perfect audience for this lecture and the insights attendees will take away. Leo highlights how the bad attitude of a manager inspired this talk and what it means to measure data the right way. And Leo explains why improving the understanding of induced seismicity is important. This conversation will showcase the value of asking the right questions and how to maximize the value of microseismicity for geophysical workflows. Listen to the complete podcast archive at https://seg.org/podcast. RELATED LINKS * Register for Leo's lecture (7 February 2023 & 19 April 2023) (https://seg.org/Education/Lectures/Honorary-Lectures/HL-Leo-Eisner) * Discover SEG on Demand (https://seg.org/Education/SEG-on-Demand) BIOGRAPHY Leo Eisner is president of Seismik, a privately held company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The heart of his profession is geophysics, specifically passive seismic monitoring. Leo's unique expertise in seismic research is in both ray theory as well as finite difference modeling. After completing his Ph.D. in earthquake hazard assessment at the California Institute of Technology, Leo joined Cambridge Schlumberger Research as a senior research scientist for six years. There he worked on down-hole monitoring of micro-seismic events. In 2008, Leo joined Microseismic Inc., where he led the Development department, focusing on surface monitoring of microseismicity, in the capacity of senior geophysicist and chief geophysicist. He joined The Czech Academy of Sciences as the Purkyne Fellow between 2010 and 2017. Leo's goal is to improve understanding of induced seismicity in general and help operators understand and improve microseismic analysis in their reservoirs. Part of this effort is active participation in professional societies, organizing special sessions, and serving as associate editor and editorial organizer of various journals. Leo is a coauthor on 49 peer-reviewed papers, 17 business journal papers, and 75+ extended abstracts, and he has received more than 1200 citations in reviewed journals and books. Additionally, he is an author or coauthor on 14 patents and patent applications. CREDITS SEG produces Seismic Soundoff to benefit its members and the scientific community and to inform the public about the value of geophysics. Please follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to receive the latest episode first. And share this podcast with a friend or colleague to show your support for this free resource. Original music created by Zach Bridges. Andrew Geary hosted, edited, and produced this episode at 51 features, LLC. Thank you to the SEG podcast team: Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis.

12 Tammi 202315min