236: Unlocking the Eastern Mediterranean's Seismic Secrets

"The Zohr discovery is an interesting one because all of a sudden it makes everybody sort of scratch their head and go like, 'So what have we missed elsewhere?'" Dr. Walter Rietveld discusses September's The Leading Edge, which focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean. In this episode: > Discover the challenges and opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean's oil and gas exploration, a region attracting significant industry interest due to recent discoveries and proximity to major markets. > Explore the complexities of the Messenian interval, a geographically variable layer that creates significant hurdles for seismic imaging. > Learn how innovative technologies like multi-azimuth seismic and ocean bottom node (OBN) acquisition and advanced processing techniques like full waveform inversion (FWI) are being used to overcome these imaging challenges. > Examine the success story of the Atoll field, where OBN acquisition and advanced imaging led to significant improvements in seismic data quality, enabling better reservoir characterization and well planning. > Understand the shift in exploration focus from post-Messenian to deeper pre-Messenian plays, driven by factors like the depletion of shallower targets and the potential of deeper channel systems as reservoirs. This interview focuses on the challenges and technological advancements in Eastern Mediterranean oil and gas exploration. Walter discusses how innovations such as multi-azimuth seismic, ocean bottom node acquisition, and full waveform inversion improve subsurface imaging, particularly in geologically complex areas like the Messenian interval. He highlights the success of these technologies in the Atoll field. He suggests that similar techniques, successfully employed in other regions like the Gulf of Mexico, hold promise for maximizing the value of existing data in the Eastern Mediterranean. Walter encourages listeners to explore the special section on the Eastern Mediterranean in The Leading Edge to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and solutions discussed. He closes the conversation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration within the industry, even among competitors, for advancing exploration efforts. THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY VIRIDIEN Viridien is an advanced technology, digital, and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With comprehensive geoscience expertise, remarkable subsurface imaging, and a unique Earth data library, Viridien provides new insights to reduce exploration risk and optimize field development. Learn how Viridien can help you meet complex challenges in frontier basins around the world. Visit https://www.viridiengroup.com - and see things differently. LINKS * Visit https://seg.org/podcasts/episode-236-unlocking-the-eastern-mediterraneans-seismic-secrets/ for the complete show notes and the links for September's The Leading Edge. SHOW CREDITS Andrew Geary at TreasureMint hosted, edited, and produced this episode. The SEG podcast team comprises Jennifer Cobb, Kathy Gamble, and Ally McGinnis. If you have episode ideas or feedback for the show or want to sponsor a future episode, email the show at podcast@seg.org.