Matthew J. Mikulich

Hubbert's Curve and Global Oil Reserves: When Will the World Run Out of Oil?

Corporation Chief Earth Scientist and Principal Technical Advisor (retired), Chevron Corporation

Detection of hydrocarbon reservoirs using controlled source electromagnetic imaging

Isabella Velicogna

Research Associate
Dept. of Physics & CIRES
University of Colorado

Heavy Oil: A Resource for the Future

Discrete Particle Modeling

Douglas W. Oldenburg

Leonard J. Srnka
ExxonMobil Corp.

Sheldon Breiner

Joe Dellinger

The Green Canyon event: An unusual undersea earthquake recorded by a "dense" ocean-bottom-seismic array

BP Advanced Imaging Team
Host: Jyoti Behura

Shear Velocity Profiles Obtained from PASSIVE SEISMIC (Microtremor) Array Data

Monash University,
Flagstaff GeoConsultants

No Heiland Lecture

Use of multivariate geochemical analyses to predict ground water mixing, flow and recharge in Chaffee County, CO

Natural Fracture Characterization from Shear Wave Splitting at Rulison
Field, CO

Matthew J. Mikulich
Corporation Chief Earth Scientist and
Principal Technical Advisor (retired), Chevron Corporation
January 11, 2007

Hubbert's Curve and Global Oil Reserves:
When Will the World Run Out of Oil?

Abstract
Hubbert forecast both US and global oil production to depletion. We will examine global reserves and the forecasts of Hubbert and others in light of current global petroleum endowment studies and the most recent production data. Current global oil reserves are about 1.3 trillion barrels, and current consumption is about 85 million barrels per day. In addition, global demand is forecast to increase at about 2% per year. At this rate, the end of the oil era seems near. But many other factors will influence the shape of the future oil production curve including price, technology, non-conventional hydrocarbon resources, alternate energy resources, and conservation.

Biography
Matt Mikulich is the retired Corporation Chief Geophysicist and Principal Technical Advisor, Chevron Corporation, the second largest U.S. oil company. He was also a member of the Chevron Corporation Reserves Advisory Committee. Matt retired from Chevron in 1999 after 29 years of service. He holds a BS degree in physics and mathematics from Benedictine University, an MS degree in physics from DePaul University, and a Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Utah. While at Chevron, he worked in the exploration and production operations in the US, as well as in upstream research, at several domestic locations. Later as a member of corporation management, he was involved in upstream projects worldwide.

Matt has given lectures at more than 25 universities around the world. He is currently appointed Adjunct Professor of Geophysics at both the University of Utah and Virginia Tech University, and is Adjunct Scientist for SAGE, the geophysical field camp. He is a member of the board of the EIGER academic program at Virginia Tech. He has also made presentations at numerous domestic and international technical meetings, and was named a Distinguished Lecturer for the Society of Petroleum Engineers in 1996-1997. He is currently a member of the Oil and Gas Reserves Committee of the SPE. For hobbies he builds acoustic guitars, does woodcarving, and has an interest in mining history and operations.

Mikulich CV

Lucy MacGregor
Chief Scientific Officer
Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping
January 18, 2007

Detection of hydrocarbon reservoirs using
controlled source electromagnetic imaging

Abstract
The Controlled Source EM Imaging (CSEMI) method is rapidly gaining acceptance as an exploration tool and in the last five years has been applied in a variety of exploration settings including West Africa, SouthEast Asia and the North Atlantic. Originally developed in the late 1970s, the CSEM method uses a high powered horizontal electric dipole to transmit a low frequency electromagnetic signal (typically 0.01-1Hz) through the seafloor to an array of multi-component electromagnetic receivers. By studying the received signal as the source is towed through the array of receivers, the bulk electrical resistivity of the seafloor can be determined at scales of a few tens of metres to depths of several kilometres.

Typical water saturated sediments have a resistivity in the range 1-5 Ωm. Replacing the seawater with resistive hydrocarbon can result in an increase in the bulk resistivity of the formation by 1-2 orders of magnitude. CSEM sounding exploits this dramatic change in physical properties to distinguish water bearing formations from those containing hydrocarbons.

The CSEM method becomes particularly powerful if results are combined with complementary geophysical measurements. Seismic data are commonly used to develop geological models of structure and stratigraphy. Similarly, controlled source electromagnetic data can be used to generate a geoelectric cross section, which highlights variations in resistivity within the earth. Although extremely powerful, these interpretation processes are largely qualitative in nature. However both electromagnetic and seismic techniques can be interpreted quantitavely to infer rock and fluid properties within a reservoir and surrounding strata, using calibration data from well logs. By integrating the two data types and exploiting the strengths of each, constraints on these properties can be improved compared to results obtained from each data type alone.

Biography - Lucy MacGregor
I'm from Edinburgh originally. I did my first degree in Natural Sciences (specializing in Physics) at the University of Cambridge, and then my PhD in marine geophysics at the Bullard Labs, University of Cambridge. My PhD concerned the use of CSEM sounding to detect and characterize a magma chamber beneath the Reykjanes Ridge. After my PhD I spent six months as a Green Scholar in IGPP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, before returning to Cambridge as a Leverhulme Trust/Downing College research fellow. In 2000 I moved to the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton to take up an NERC research fellowship. As a result of increased oil industry interest in marine EM methods, in 2002 I co-founded Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping, and left the University to join the company as its Chief Scientific Officer. The company floated on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in 2004, and now has offices in Aberdeen, Houston and Singapore, and provided offshore CSEM surveys to the oil and gas industry.

Masatoshi Miyazawa
Assistant Professor
Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI)
Kyoto University, Japan
January 24, 2007

What can we learn from earthquake triggering?

Abstract
Subtle stress and strain changes in the earth's interior are capable of triggering earthquakes. This phenomenon is one of the hottest topics in earthquake seismology. For example, it is well known that the (micro-) earthquakes are observed during mining minerals and producing gas/oil
from the reservoir and after building a dam across a river, and that large natural earthquakes are followed by the aftershocks. They are mostly caused by static (or permanent) stress/strain changes. Seismic waves also propagate the stress/strain perturbations and trigger seismic events even at distance. We call this phenomenon dynamic (or remote) triggering, which, however, had been a dubious matter until the last decade in 20th century. More recently, we have had many observations using high-density seismic networks. In both static and dynamic
triggering, the stress transfer and associated earthquakes provide us a lot of subsurface information, which cannot be illuminated by conventional methods. This talk includes examples of the two kinds of triggering.

First, I will show some results of a project on monitoring of induced seismicity due to steam injections into heavy-oil reservoir, Cold Lake(static triggering). I have plugged along this project during my stay in CSM. Many micro-earthquakes are observed just above the reservoir. We apply a static geomechanical method to explain why the high-seismicity
is observed at the region. The results would be helpful to understand what happens in the reservoir during the steam injections.

Second, I will show a very clear example that deep low-frequency earthquakes in western Japan are triggered by large-amplitude seismic waves from the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. Geophysicists recently have great interests to the low-frequency earthquakes, which are also found in the Cascadia subduction zone, because the earthquakes are associated
with slow-slip events in the subduction zones and may be related to great interplate earthquakes.

Biography
Masatoshi Miyazawa is an assistant professor at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), Kyoto University, Japan, and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at CSM. His major research focus is earthquake seismology. Masatoshi received a Ph.D. in geophysics from Kyoto University in 2003, where he was a research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). As a postdoctoral researcher in DPRI from 2003-2005, he was engaged in seismic observations and analyses. At CSM, he is working with Professor Roel Snieder on a collaborative project with ExxonMobil, monitoring induced micro-seismicity in a heavy-oil reservoir during repeated steam injections.

Isabella Velicogna
Research Associate
Dept. of Physics & CIRES
University of Colorado
February 1, 2007

Monitoring ice sheets mass variations from GRACE

Abstract
The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets are home to the largestfresh water reservoirs in
the world. Any substantial changes in the size of the ice mass could have important effects on global sea level, ocean circulation,and climate.We used gravity field data obtained by the dual satellite Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE), to observe the fluctuations in
the gravitational field generated by Greenland's and Antarctica's ice sheet from 2002 to 2006. The gravitational variations were then used to determine the total mass of the ice sheet. Measuring the mass of the ice sheets has been attempted by several other techniques, but has proven difficult due to the complexity of measuring such a large area in a uniform manner. The use of GRACE, avoids those difficulties by measuring mass changes over the entire ice sheet. GRACE generates a new independent and powerful estimate of the polar ice sheet mass
balance.Both ice sheets display a large mass imbalance during the analyzed period.The mass of the Antarctica ice sheet decreases significantly from 2002 to2005 by about 152 +/- 80 km3/yr. Most of this mass loss is generated by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The Greenland ice sheet display significant mass loss in the period from Apr 2002 to April 2006, of about 248+/-36km3/yr. The mass loss display a significant increase after spring 2004. Our uncertainty estimates for both Greenland and Antarctica are dominated by the effects of GRACE measurement errors and errors in our Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) correction.We will describe these results in detail, and the directions for future work with GRACE and other satellite missions.

Biography
Isabella Velicogna is a research Scientist II at the University of Colorado
in Boulder and research Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory- NASA. Isabella Velicogna research program is centered on space-based climate measurements, with particular attention to cryospheric and high latitude regional studies. During the last few years she examines the use of gravity observations from GRACE to monitor various geophysical processes, including hydrology, meteorology, glaciology, and solid earth physics. Major areas of current service are as an editor for Geophysical Journal International, as Chair of the AGU geodesy section-fall meeting, as well as
co-chair of the AGU Hydrology Section Remote Sensing committee; she also serves
on various committees and working groups, and is a reviewer for leading international journals and national and international proposals. She has a degree in Physics and received a PhD in Applied Physics from the University of Trieste, Italy.

Amy Hinkle
M.Sc. Candidate, Geophysics
Center for Rock Abuse
February 8, 2007

Heavy Oil: A Resource for the Future

Abstract
Heavy oil has recently become an important resource as conventional oil reservoirs have limited production and oil prices rise. More than 6 trillion barrels of oil in place have been attributed to the world’s heaviest hydrocarbons. This is more than three times the amount of combined world reserves of conventional oil and gas. The seismic properties of heavy oils are highly frequency and temperature dependent. Extensive research will be required in order to properly define the geophysical properties of these oils and develop appropriate rock physics models. Today’s presentation will attempt to define heavy oil and discuss some of its more interesting properties. We will also cover some of the research being done in the Center for Rock Abuse at the Colorado School of Mines.

Biography
Amy Hinkle received a B.S. in Geophysical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in 2004. In 2005, she returned for her M.Sc. and joined the Center for Rock Abuse. Her advisor is Mike Batzle and the focus of her research has been the acoustic properties of heavy oils.

Kurang Mehta
PhD Candidate, Geophysics
Center for Wave Phenomena
February 8, 2007

Improving the virtual source method using wave-field separation

Abstract
The virtual source method has recently been proposed to image and monitor below complex and time-varying overburden. The method requires surface shooting recorded at downhole receivers placed below the distorting or changing part of the overburden. Redatuming with the measured Green's function allows the reconstruction of a complete downhole survey as if the sources were also buried at the receiver locations. We demonstrate that up-down wavefield separation can substantially improve the quality of virtual source data. First, it allows us to eliminate artifacts associated with the limited acquisition aperture typically used in practice. Second, it allows us to reconstruct a new optimized response as if the whole overburden were replaced by a homogeneous medium and all reflections and free-surface multiples from above the receivers have been eliminated. These improvements are illustrated on a synthetic dataset obtained from a complex layered model, and on OBC data acquired from the Mars field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Biography
Kurang Mehta earned his B.S. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India. He completed his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at North Carolina State University in 2003. While there, he developed a numerical scheme for 2-D time reversal of waves in complex random media. As a PhD student at CSM, he started working with his advisor Dr. Roel Snieder to study the properties of the refocused pulse obtained using time reversal for perturbed medium. He also worked on CSEM technique for hydrocarbon detection and delineation under the supervision of Dr. Misac Nabighian and Dr. Yaoguo Li. For his PhD dissertation, Kurang is involved in a project on the virtual source method in collaboration with Shell International E & P.

William Murphy
CEO
Earthworks, LLC
Sandy Hook, CT
February 15, 2007

Dependence of Engineering on Geology and Geophysics in the
Giant New York Harbor Improvement Project

Abstract
The US Army Corps of Engineers and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are deepening 26 miles of navigation channels of New York harbor from -40 to -50ft MLW. The project requires dredging 50 million cubic yards of rock and sediment. Currently half way through, the project is ahead of schedule and under the US$2 billion budget.

Two key difficulties in the project are geological: (1) contaminated sediments and (2) undiggable rock. The cost of removing and placing contaminated black silt is 7 times the cost of removing and placing clean sands and silts. The cost of blasting and removing undiggable rock is 10 times the cost of removing sands and silts.

Earthworks mapped the geology and the physical properties of the rocks and sediments to a resolution on the order of 1ft throughout the project. All results are mapped and sectioned in a single reference frame. All measurements are integrated in the interpretation. The maps and cross-sections constitute the primary information upon which the project design is based. We have developed geophysical techniques and operate them daily to map and to quantify the area and the thickness of the black silt. Sonar imaging accurately maps the areal extent. Sub-bottom (seismic) images profile the thickness of the black silt. The black silt demonstrates anomalous properties and behavior from gray silt and other sediments. All geophysical images are correlated with core borings. All images are georeferenced.

Earthworks determined the top-of-rock and map and quantify the properties of the sediment and rock strata. The rocks involved are (a) metamorphic schist and gneiss, (b) Ordovician serpentinite, (c) Jurassic diabase, (d) Jurassic metasediments, (e) Triassic gray sandstone and black shale, and (f) Triassic red shales and sands. The sediments are (a) Holocene tidal sands and sill, (b) Pleistocene glacial sands and till, and (c) Pleistocene glacial lake varved silts and clay. We process the single and multichannel seismic measurements. We interpret horizons and physical properties. The seismic properties are correlated with the mechanical properties. The results are calibrated with core borings.

The other key difficulty in the project is the identification, location, characterization, and relocation of utilities and infrastructure in the channel. Harbor improvement and deepening in New York harbor required the relocation of oil pipelines in a particular navigation channel. The first phase of work required the mapping and location of the existing crossings. As the project started, little to no planimetrics or historic information was available. Using sonar, seismic, and electromagnetics, we identified and located twenty-two (22) crossings at -45 to -55ft MLW. The mudline was at -35ft MLW. The crossings were mapped and quantified in the construction design documents. The second phase was to ensure in real-time that the navigation channel remained clear and safe for navigation during the construction. The final phase was to accept the construction as complete. The measurements were completed within 48 hours of being notified.

Biography
William Murphy is the principal and CEO of Earthworks LLC, a small business that he founded in 1998. Bill works closely with each client and supervises all tasks to ensure every product is exceptional. Dr. Murphy (PhD Geophysics, Stanford) has over 21 years experience in geophysical and geological measurement services and interpretation. 16 of these years were with Schlumberger Ltd. He has conducted and managed subsurface surveys and logged boreholes on five continents and on water using advanced seismic, sonar, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, and drilling techniques. He has developed the theory of wave propagation in rocks and sediment in over 50 publications, resulting in 3 awards. He has made over 100 presentations on geophysical imaging and rock physics. He has performed, supervised and researched methods in geophysical processing and developed new geophysical tools, resulting in 2 US patents: 5,869,755; 5,335,542; and two UK issues. His work in applying computer graphics for interpreting geological, geophysical and remote-sensing data has resulted in 3 US patents: 6,070,125; 6,044,328; and 6,035,255.

Rune M. Holt
SINTEF Petroleum Research &
Professor, Department of Petroleum Technology & Applied Geophysics
Norwegian Technical University

February 22, 2007

Discrete Particle Modeling:
Applications in Petrophysics, Rock Physics and Geomechanics

Abstract
The use of discrete particle modeling to compute dynamic mechanical behavior of bonded and unbonded granular media is becoming more and more relevant as a result of faster and more powerful computers. In this presentation, we first describe the discrete element model PFC and our refinements to it, such as incorporation of wave propagation and fluid coupling, and the adoption to 3D microstructure as obtained from m CT images. A quantitative comparison between numerical modeling and laboratory experiments will be presented, outlining a strategy for estimating the microscopic input parameters to the model. Finally, examples will be shown where the discrete particle model has been applied to various problems of relevance to petroleum geosciences, such as:

• Strain localization in the form of shear and compaction bands in highly porous, weakly cemented rocks.
• Stress sensitivity of wave velocities in unconsolidated sand and cemented sandstones, with relevance to a.o. 4D seismics.
• Stress path during coring, with implications to coring-induced damage and stress determination through the Kaiser effect.
• Large scale use of DEM to simulate stress alterations and possible faulting caused by depletion of a reservoir.

Biography
Rune Holt received a PhD in solid state physics at NTNU, Trondheim in 1980, after which he joined SINTEF Petroleum Institute. Since 1993, he has been a professor in the Department of Petroleum Technology & Applied Geophysics at NTNU, while maintaining a part-time position at SINTEF. Rune's main research interests are rock physics and rock mechanics applied to petroleum geoscience and engineering. (Plus, beer and soccer.)

Douglas W. Oldenburg
Professor, Earth and Ocean Sciences
UBC Geophysical Inversion Facility, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
March 1, 2007

3D Inversion of Time Domain Data
with Application to Mineral Exploration

Abstract
Electrical conductivity is an important diagnostic physical property for many areas in applied science. It is used in geophysics for exploration for minerals and hydrocarbons, for environmental problems concerning ground water and contaminants, in geotechnical engineering, and in medical physics. In all applications, a time varying magnetic field acts as a source, and secondary electric or magnetic fields are measured at positions that are remote from the region of interest. The goal of the inverse problem is to recover the 3D distribution of electrical conductivity that could have given rise to the data. The problem is challenging because fields are measured in time and space and thus Maxwell’s equations need to be solved in 4 dimensions. In this talk I present the basics of time domain electromagnetic surveys and a practical methodology for inverting the data. A field example from a mineral exploration project is used as an example.

Biography
Doug Oldenburg received a BSc Honors degree in Physics in 1967, and an MSc in geophysics in 1969, from University of Alberta in Edmonton. He completed a PhD in 1974 at UCSD in earth sciences. After a three-year postdoc in Alberta he joined the Geophysics and Astronomy department at University of British Columbia. He remains at UBC where he is currently Professor, Director of the Geophysical Inversion Facility (UBC-GIF) and holder of the TeckCominco Senior Keevil Chair in Mineral Exploration. He is an honorary member of CSEG and SEG. Doug’s thirty-year research career has focussed upon the development of inversion methodologies and their application to solving applied problems. He, with students and colleagues at UBC-GIF, have developed forward modelling and inversion algorithms for seismic, gravity, magnetic and electromagnetic data. Doug’s current research activities include: 3D forward modelling and inversion of time domain EM data, incorporating various types of geophysical and geological information into inversion, development of software for unexploded ordnance discrimination, and the use of self-potentials for dam safety investigations.

Illuminating Reservoirs with Electromagnetics

Abstract
Marine controlled-source electromagnetics (CSEM) has recently become a significant business tool for upstream applications due to the convergence of many technologies. CSEM provides valuable information on subsurface lithology and fluids independently from seismic data; however, its spatial resolution is much lower. Uptake has been dramatic, with more than 200 industry marine CSEM surveys acquired worldwide since late 2000.

This presentation discusses some results that demonstrate both the promise and the challenges that lie ahead. CSEM can detect and map offshore reservoir hydrocarbon resistivity at depths exceeding 2000 meters. But resistivity determination is hardly a fool-proof method for hydrocarbon identification, since many geologic facies are electrically resistive relative to their surroundings. As marine CSEM matures, it may prove to be the most important geophysical technology for probing below the seafloor since the emergence of 3D reflection seismology 30 years ago. The key determinant of commercial success will be whether the value of CSEM information is worth the money spent, relative to what other data can provide.

Biography
Leonard J. Srnka received a B.S. in Engineering Science from Purdue University in 1968, graduating summa cum laude. In 1974, he received his PhD in Physics from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom and from Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, United Kingdom (1970-1973), where he was a Marshall Scholar. Leonard spent his early career working for the NASA Lunar Science Institute as a Postdoctoral Fellow (1974-1976) and as a Staff Scientist (1976-1979) where he researched on the origins and evolution of lunar and planetary electromagnetism. The latter part of his career has been spent working at the ExxonMobil Corporation. From 1979-1993 he was project leader and supervisor with assignments in electromagnetic methods, seismic modeling and inversion, and borehole geophysics. He was a supervisor for gravity, magnetics, and remote sensing research and applications (1993-1998). From 1998 to present, Len has been the project leader for land and marine electromagnetic technology, and serves as a member of the senior technical staff. He championed the Remote Reservoir Resistivity Mapping (“R3M”) breakthrough research project for upstream applications. He has been the Chief Scientist on numerous marine CSEM surveys offshore Europe and West Africa in 2001-2003. Leonard has special interests in marine MT and CSEM acquisition technology, 3D modeling, data interpretation, and imaging/inversion. He has twenty-six refereed publications and numerous patents issued and pending.

The Fundamentals of Crosswell EM Induction for Oil and Gas Reservoirs

Abstract
In 1989 the US Department of Energy, aided by a consortium of oil, oil field service and mineral companies began the development of a novel technology for interwell resistivity imaging. Crosshole inductive electromagnetics (EM) utilizes audio and subaudio frequency signals to uncover the resistivity distribution between wells hundreds of meters apart. The lower frequency allows for much greater antenna power and sensitivity and far greater range than its higher frequency cousin radar. But alas the physics is different.

In this talk we first look at the basic physics of crosswell inductive field propagation, examine present day field instrumentation and review how these fields are interpreted to provide an interwell resistivity image. We then show several field examples from oil and gas applications of how the method is applied to oil fields for reservoir characterization and fluid front tracking.

Biography
Michael J. Wilt received his B.S (1973) and M.S. (1975) in geophysics from the University of California, Riverside; he received his PhD from U.C. Berkeley in 1991. Between 1977 and 1984, he was employed as a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory where he specialized in geothermal exploration technology. From 1984 to 1989 he was enrolled in the PhD program at the University of California, Berkeley where he did research on geologic contact effects on transient EM data. He was employed at Lawrence Livermore National lab between 1989 and 1997 where he applied electrical and electromagnetic methods from boreholes for oil and geothermal field characterization and steam flood monitoring. In 1997 he joined Electromagnetic Instruments Inc (EMI) where he was the leader of the borehole EM research efforts and. helped develop the first commercial crosswell EM field service. EMI was acquired by Schlumberger in 2001 and Dr Wilt is active in an the ongoing aggressive deep EM technology effort.

Magnetometers in Archaeological Exploration

Abstract
Sheldon Breiner, geophysicist and SEG member, will present a talk describing his use of magnetometers in the discovery of over one hundred large Olmec monuments buried 3,000 years at the archaelogical site of San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan in the Southern lowlands of the Gulf. Perhaps most famous of these are the colossal Olmec head in the atrium of the Museum of Anthropology in Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, and the 'were-jaguar' Olmec rain god at the entrance to the Olmec section in the National Museum of Antropology in Mexico City. Dr. Breiner will also comment briefly on more recent magnetic surveys in Mexico and an on-going project offshore Baja, California, at the site of a Manila galleon, circa 1576, where his team will be diving shortly after this talk.

He is a Fellow in The Explorer's Club of New York. He is a technical authority on geophysical exploration for oil and minerals, earthquake research and geophysical techniques for exploration and search for buried or sunken objects including the detection of submarines, munitions, sunken ships and, in the exploration of archaeological sites. In the 60's he developed the first gun detector (differential magnetometer) at the request of the White House, now a standard for security systems at airports. He received the Outstanding Presentation Award at the International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

Biography
Sheldon Breiner received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in geophysics from Stanford University. He was the founder and president for 14 years of GeoMetrics, Inc., manufacturer of geophysical instruments and world-wide airborne geophysical survey contractor for oil and mineral exploration. He was also co-founder and CEO of PML, Inc., which developed thru-casing resistivity logging technology licensed to Schlumberger and Western Atlas for identifying bypassed oil and gas between existing wells and for application in the automated 'oil-field factory'. Dr. Breiner is a member of the Board of Directors of 3DGeo, a Houston-based seismic imaging contractor and software provider.

For more information, Google or Yahoo "Sheldon Breiner" and
http://www.breiner.com/sheldon/press/merlin.html

The Green Canyon event: An unusual undersea earthquake
recorded by a "dense" ocean-bottom-seismic array

Abstract
The Atlantis ocean-bottom-seismic (OBS) survey was the first large-scale deep-water node survey ever recorded. The purpose of the survey was to image the Atlantis oil field, which lies beneath a complex salt canopy in deep water (1400-2100 meters) in the Gulf of Mexico. Serendipitously, the survey happened to be ongoing at the time of the magnitude 5.2 Green Canyon earthquake of 10 February, 2006. This earthquake is of particular interest to the oil industry because of its location in an area of significant expected future oil production. The array, consisting of about 500 active 4-component nodes, lay several tens of kilometers to the South.

We extracted 2.5 hours of continuous data from the Atlantis OBS-node array around the time of the earthquake to see whether the Atlantis nodes recorded the event. Typical earthquakes radiate the bulk of their energy at frequencies much lower than the 10Hz geophones used in the nodes were designed to record, and at frequencies lower than our standard exploration-seismic airguns are able to produce. The dataset thus also served as a testbed for understanding how standard exploration-seismic geophones might be used at frequencies below 5Hz.

At traditional frequencies of 5Hz and above the Atlantis airgun signal completely dominates the data. However, filtering away frequencies above 2Hz removes the Atlantis airgun signal and reveals a strong series of arrivals from the earthquake. At "earthquake" frequencies of 2Hz and below the Atlantis array's 400-meter spatial sampling becomes dense, allowing us to beam-steer the 6x10km array into a powerful directional seismic antenna. Large earthquakes are typically recorded by an irregular sparse network of stations, not a compact dense regular grid, so this is an unusual style of processing for earthquake seismologists.

Beam steering the array reveals many interesting signals in the data, including a complex sequence of distinct arrivals from the Green Canyon earthquake spanning 8 minutes of time. The earthquake is followed a few minutes later by two later mysterious events that appear to be temporally related to it, but cannot be traditional aftershocks, because they arrive from different azimuths.

Biography
Joe Dellinger graduated in 1983 from Texas A&M University with degrees in mathematics and geophysics, and in 1991 with a PhD in geophysics from Stanford, where he was a student at the Stanford Exploration Project under Jon Claerbout. He spent 1991-1994 as a post-doc at the University of Hawaii, working with Greg Moore, Neil Frazer, and Gerard Fryer. While there, he learned about the hard work and tribulations that go into creating those nice SEGY computer files, and that he really should steer clear of future invitations to go to sea. Joe worked during 1994-1999 with Leon Thomsen at the Amoco Tulsa Research Center, in the process learning a lot about how large corporations work. Since 1999, he has worked in BP's advanced seismic imaging group in Houston, in an office with distinguished CSM graduates John Etgen on one side and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl on the other. Joe currently researches anisotropic imaging, vector infidelity correction, and how to extend traditional seismic techniques to untraditionally low frequencies. Joe was awarded life membership in the SEG in 2001, and has been an associate editor of GEOPHYSICS for two years, a position he has been using to found a new section, "Software and Algorithms."

Shear Velocity Profiles Obtained from Passive Seismic (Microtremor) Array Data, with Applications in
the Santa Clara Valley and SE Australia

Abstract
Analysis of passive seismic (microtremor) array data using either beam-forming or the Spatial AutoCorrelation (SPAC) methods successfully establishes shear-wave velocity profiles at scales from a few metres to order 1 km depth. The SPAC method is enhanced by fitting the observed coherency spectrum directly with a modeled SPAC spectrum. The method yields shear-wave velocity versus depth profiles with a minimum of bias and also minimizes the number of array spacings required, compared with that required for beamforming methods. Typical surveys use hexagonal arrays of diameter 20-100 m, or nested triangular arrays of side lengths 30-300 m.

The method allows interpretation of Vs to a precision of 5-10%, facilitates recognition of higher-mode energy, and the correct interpretation of near-surface low-velocity layers. The method is demonstrated in blind and comparative studies on Holocene-Pleistocene alluvial sediments of the Santa Clara Valley, California, resolving boundaries at depths from 2 metres to 700 metres, and in studies in the Melbourne area, Australia, where shear velocities of Tertiary sediments and overlying basalt are resolved.

Biography
Michael Asten is a part-time Professorial Fellow at Monash University and founding member of the Centre for Environmental and Geotechnical Applications of Surface Waves (CEGAS). He is also a consulting geophysicist and Partner with Flagstaff Geo-Consultants, Melbourne. He is collaborating with Geoscience Australia, University of Melbourne, the US Geological Survey, Nanyang University Singapore, and the University of Hong Kong in the development of passive seismic methods for geotechnical and site classification tasks. He received the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists Laric Hawkins Award 2004, for “the most innovative use of a geophysical technique” for a paper reviewing the status of passive seismic microtremor techniques.

Extraction of the remanent dipole moment from
unexploded ordnance

Abstract
The Department of Defense defines unexploded ordnance (UXO) under the Range Rule as a piece of ordnance that has been fired but has not functioned properly. Unexploded ordnance contaminates approximately 15 million acres of land in the United States alone. The geophysical tools most frequently used for detection are electromagnetic and magnetic methods. These methods however produce a “hit” for any metallic object in the ground, not just UXO. In a given survey this results in a large number of anomalies only a small subset of which are actually UXO. Current practice dictates that most anomalies are dug up and identified, and the UXO is blown in place. This process is extremely expensive. The estimated cost to remediate with current methods is in the tens to hundreds of billions of dollars. Discrimination is the process in which UXO is differentiated from non-UXO prior to digging up all of the anomalies. If from among the many hits provided by geophysical techniques the UXO anomalies may be identified, or at least the number of false positives reduced, the cost of remediation in both time and money may be drastically reduced.

Remanent magnetization in UXO is one quantity that must be understood to improve discrimination methodologies in the future. Upon impact UXO undergo shock demagnetization, a process in which a shock wave propagates through the item loosening the hold of remanence on magnetic domains and allowing them to rotate towards the direction of the inducing magnetic field. Due to shock demagnetization the typical UXO item exhibits a small remanence compared to other metallic debris. Thus if the amount of remanence contributing to a magnetic anomaly can be identified and is found to be small, that item is more likely to be UXO. The Mobile Remanence Interrogation Platform (MRIP) was built specifically to recover the magnetic remanence of UXO items. The MRIP is comprised of six 3-component magnetometer sensors which measure the magnetic anomaly produced by a round as it is rotated 360°. Nonlinear forward modeling is used to obtain the three component induced dipole moment. Linear least squares inversion is used to extract the three component remanent dipole moment from unexploded ordnance.

Biography
A Masters candidate in Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines, Whitney is advised by Gary Olhoeft. She is funded by SERDP project UX-1380 jointly managed by Gary Olhoeft and Yaoguo Li. Whitney attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned her Bachelors degree in Geology and Geophysics (2002). She has worked as an environmental geologist at GeoTrans, Inc. in Virginia, and as the geophysics volunteer at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Areas of professional interest include potential fields, especially with application to unexploded ordnance, and volcanic systems.

Micro-macro seismic monitoring of a hydraulic fracture stimulation, Rulison Field, CO

Abstract
As conventional resources decline, unconventional resources, such as tight-gas sandstones, will become more significant. Detailed research is essential to optimizing production in these complex reservoirs. Over the past five years, microsiesmic monitoring has become a powerful tool for characterizing fracturing and production tight-gas plays. We used microseismic maps of a multi-stage hydraulic fracture treatment and integrated them with multiple seismic datasets in an attempt to characterize the factors affecting hydraulic fracture propagation. By understanding these factors, engineers will be able to anticipate their effects and be able to adjust future well locations and fracture treatments accordingly. This should increase the productivity of future wells and enhance the development of this tight-gas field.

Biography
Brent Riley received a B.S. in Geophysics from Texas A&M University in 2005. He joined the Reservoir Characterization Project in the Spring 2006. His advisor is Tom Davis and the focus of his research is microseismic monitoring in tight-gas reservoirs.

Time-lapse traveltime shifts for compacting reservoirs:
3D solutions for prestack data

Abstract
Time-lapse traveltime shifts of reflection events recorded above hydrocarbon reservoirs can be used to monitor production-related compaction and pore-pressure changes. Existing methodology, however, is largely limited to zero-offset rays and cannot be applied to traveltime
shifts measured on prestack seismic data. Here, we obtain traveltime shifts by first-order perturbation of traveltimes that accounts for the stress-induced anisotropic velocity field, as well as for deformation of reflectors. The resulting closed-form expression can be efficiently
used for 3D numerical modeling of traveltime shifts and, ultimately, for reconstructing the heterogeneous stress distribution around compacting reservoirs.

The analytic results are applied to a 2D model that includes a compacting rectangular resevoir embedded in an initially homogeneous and isotropic medium. The computed velocity changes around the reservoir are caused primarily by the deviatoric stresses and produce an anisotropic
medium with substantial values of the Thomsen parameters epsilon and delta and variable orientation of the symmetry axis. The offset dependence of the traveltime shifts should play a crucial role in estimating the anisotropy parameters and the compaction-related deviatoric stress components.

Biography
Rodrigo received a M.Sc. in geology from the Geosciences Institute, Universidade de Brasília in 2000. Prior to entering that program, he worked for Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) as a geologist for six years, where he gained experience in mineral exploration. His main research interests are seismic anisotropy, both intrinsic and stress induced, and reservoir characterization. He spent the summers of 2003 and 2004 at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Subsurface Imaging Division, working with inversion of seismic data and converted wave modeling in VTI media. During Fall 2005, he interned with BP, studying the azimuthal variation of P-wave NMO velocities over the Valhall Field, under the guidance of Leon Thomsen. Rodrigo is currently investigating time lapse changes in traveltimes, NMO velocities and AVO due to reservoir compaction, in collaboration with Andrey Bakulin (Shell International E & P).

The use of multivariate geochemical analyses to predict ground water mixing, flow and recharge in Chaffee County, Colorado

Abstract
Chaffee County lies in the Upper Arkansas River Basin in central Colorado. This area is the northern-most extension of the Rio Grande rift system, and is a structurally asymmetric graben, which collects yearly precipitation and runoff forming the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The water resources within the semi-arid climate are highly regulated and recent population growth within the scenic valley has encouraged the development of this historically agricultural basin. This development has alarmed residents within the valley, who have demanded a better scientific understanding of the available ground water resources in order to ensure a sustainable water supply within the valley.

Geothermal springs near Mt. Princeton have unique geochemical signatures compared to the other ground waters in Chaffee County. By completing a multivariate hierarchical cluster analysis of Na +, Ca 2+, K +, Mg 2+, HCO 3 -, SO 4 2-, Cl -, NO 3 -, and F - concentrations found within water samples throughout the valley, five distinct water types were speciated. In addition, the use of geochemical modeling indicates mineralization should occur within the aquifer, limiting most geochemical constituents from being conservative tracers. The spatial distribution of water clusters, geochemical parameters, and pertinent saturation indices give evidence that ground water mixing and flow within the Upper Arkansas River Basin is not uniform.

Biography
Jordan Dimick, a Colorado native, graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with his B.S. in Geophysical Engineering in 2004. He worked for a local land development firm (JR Engineering) in the Water Resource Group between June of 2004 and December 2005. While working, he supervised water well drilling operations and designed well construction and water supply infrastructure both in Colorado and Wyoming. He also helped design water treatment and wastewater treatment plants near Conifer, Colorado. In the Spring 2006 Jordan returned to the Colorado School of Mines to obtain his Masters in Hydrology. He recently defended his thesis and will graduate this May. Jordan will begin working for Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM’s Denver office) at the end of May as a member of the Ground Water Engineering Team.

Advanced Seismic Interpretation of Structural/Stratigraphic Traps, Apsheron Ridge, South Caspian Basin

Abstract
Azerbaijan has always been famous with its oil. Oil was used here for centuries. The first oil well in Azerbaijan was drilled in 1848 in the Apsheron Peninsula. This well was drilled before the Drake discovery in Pennsylvania in 1859. Numerous onshore and offshore fields have been under development and production since the mid 19 th century. Exploration in the South Caspian has moved to deepwater in recent times.

Biography
Elmar Safarov received a BS degree (2002) and a MS (2004) in geophysics from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. In 2004, he interned with BP Caspian Sea Exploration Company in Sunbury (UK). Later, in 2005 he worked for BP in Baku ( Azerbaijan). In July 2005, Elmar won scholarship from BP, which offers a MS scholarship program for schools in the United States. He chose the Department of Geophysics at Colorado School of Mines. Currently, he is working with Dr. Tom Davis on his MS degree.

Natural Fracture Characterization from Shear Wave Splitting
at Rulison Field, CO

Abstract
Shear wave splitting has been used to characterize natural fractures for over 20 years. Differences between the fast and slow post-rotation shear wave seismic volumes have been shown to indicate lateral variations in anisotropy that could be caused natural fracture density and orientation. At Rulison Field, natural fracturing is the main control on production. Therefore, mapping fracture density and variation in the reservoir is of the utmost importance to optimum field development. My work focuses on calculating shear wave splitting parameters volumetrically through the thick reservoir interval at Rulison Field. Past work on shear wave splitting has typically focused on horizon based 2-D differences of amplitude volumes,
whereas my research uses 3-D seismic volumes to create lateral and depth varying anisotropy volumes by calculating the differences between the fast and slow amplitude, impedance, and other attribute volumes.

Biography
Liz LaBarre received a B.S. in Geophysical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 2004. After a brief break from school, she returned to CSM in 2005 for her M.Sc. in Geophysical Engineering and joined the Reservoir Characterization Project. Her research focus is on shear waves in tight gas sands, and her advisor is Tom Davis. Upon the completion of her M.Sc. this summer, she will join EnCana Oil & Gas in Denver.