First Break January 2022 - Land Seismic

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SPECIAL TOPIC

Land Seismic CROSSTALK Unmasking unknowns for 2022 INDUSTRY NEWS Oil becoming cheaper to produce TECHNICAL ARTICLE Multi-spectral dip for improved geometic attributes

IT’S NOT JUST WHERE YOU LOOK, IT’S HOW. cgg.com

FIRST BREAK® An EAGE Publication

CHAIR EDITORIAL BOARD Gwenola Michaud (Gwenola.Michaud@cognite.com) EDITOR Damian Arnold (editorfb@eage.org) MEMBERS, EDITORIAL BOARD • Paul Binns, consultant (pebinns@btinternet.com) • Lodve Berre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (lodve.berre@ntnu.no) • Satinder Chopra, SamiGeo (satinder.chopra@samigeo.com) • Anthony Day, PGS (anthony.day@pgs.com) • Peter Dromgoole, Retired Geophysicist (peterdromgoole@gmail.com) • Rutger Gras, Consultant (r.gras@gridadvice.nl) • Hamidreza Hamdi, University of Calgary (hhamdi@ucalgary.ca) • John Reynolds, Reynolds International (jmr@reynolds-international.co.uk) • James Rickett, Schlumberger (jrickett@slb.com) • Peter Rowbotham, Apache (Peter.Rowbotham@apachecorp.com) • Dave Stewart, Dave Stewart Geoconsulting Ltd (djstewart.dave@gmail.com) • Femke Vossepoel, Delft University of Technology (f.c.vossepoel@tudelft.nl) • Angelika-Maria Wulff, Kuwait Oil Company (AWulff@kockw.com) EAGE EDITOR EMERITUS Andrew McBarnet (andrew@andrewmcbarnet.com) MEDIA PRODUCTION Saskia Nota (firstbreakproduction@eage.org) PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Ivana Geurts (firstbreakproduction@eage.org) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES corporaterelations@eage.org EAGE EUROPE OFFICE PO Box 59 3990 DB Houten The Netherlands • +31 88 995 5055 • eage@eage.org • www.eage.org EAGE RUSSIA & CIS OFFICE EAGE Russia & CIS Office EAGE Geomodel LLC 19 Leninsky Prospekt 119071, Moscow, Russia • +7 495 640 2008 • moscow@eage.org • www.eage.ru EAGE MIDDLE EAST OFFICE EAGE Middle East FZ-LLC Dubai Knowledge Village Block 13 Office F-25 PO Box 501711 Dubai, United Arab Emirates • +971 4 369 3897 • middle_east@eage.org • www.eage.org EAGE ASIA PACIFIC OFFICE UOA Centre Office Suite 19-15-3A No. 19, Jalan Pinang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia • +60 3 272 201 40 • asiapacific@eage.org • www.eage.org EAGE AMERICAS SAS Calle 93 # 18-28 Oficina 704 Bogota, Colombia • +57 1 4232948 • americas@eage.org • www.eage.org EAGE MEMBERS CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTIFICATION Send to: EAGE Membership Dept at EAGE Office (address above) FIRST BREAK ON THE WEB www.firstbreak.org

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Land seismic recording systems in a changing world – a 2021 review

Editorial Contents 3

EAGE News

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Personal Record Interview

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Monthly Update

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Crosstalk

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Industry News

Technical Article 37

Multispectral dip for improved geometric attribute computations Satinder Chopra and Kurt J. Marfurt

Special Topic: Land Seismic 45 Revival of legacy land seismic surveys using advanced processing technologies: an example from the Carpathian foothills Adrien Meffre, Vincent Prieux, Matthieu Retailleau, David Le Meur, Abel Afonso Monteiro, Zied Bouzouita, Fang Wang, Sofia Mestiri, Tünde Markos, Justin Vermeulen, Jozsef Orosz and Emma Tyler 53

Advances in vibroseis technology C. Jason Criss

59 Land seismic recording systems in a changing world – a 2021 review Damien Dieulangard, Mike Popham, Cameron Grant, Kevin O’Connell, Amine Ourabah, and Chris Einchcomb 67 Evaluating an unconventional shale completion with repeat crosswell tomography David Rampton and Mitch Small 75 The diminishing returns of low-frequency vibroseis and how only physics will get us out of the rut Spencer L. Rowse and Bob Heath 81 Mastering the highest Vibroseis productivity while preserving seismic data quality Gilles Ollivrin, Nicolas Tellier, Stéphane Laroche and Christophe Donval 87 Fundamental noise – the key to recovering your signal: an integrated workflow for seismic survey design Claudio Strobbia, Tim Dean, Simone Re, Enrico Ceragioli, Denis Sweeney and Megan Nightingale 97 Seismic Acquisition in Western Siberia: a comparison between conventional cabled receiver arrays and lightweight autonomous nodes A. Crosby, D. Ablyazina, J. Naranjo, O. Adamovich, A. Ourabah, D. Tverdokhlebov, N. Gurentsov, I. Arutyuniants, P. Chistyakova and A. Metalnikov

Feature: WhatsUp! 109

Let’s continue exploring unknown unknowns in 2022!

Gwenola Michaud

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Calendar

cover: Stryde’s nodes being deployed in Siberia for high-density seismic acquisition.

ISSN 0263-5046 (print) / ISSN 1365-2397 (online) FIRST

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European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers

Board 2021-2022

Dirk Orlowsky President

Jean-Marc Rodriguez Vi c e-President

Near Surface Geoscience Division Alireza Malehmir Chair Esther Bloem Vice-Chair George Apostolopoulos Immediate Past Chair Micki Allen Contact Officer EEGS/North America Hongzhu Cai Liaison China Albert Casas Membership Officer Eric Cauquil Liaison Shallow Marine Geophysics Deyan Draganov Technical Programme Officer Hamdan Ali Hamdan Liaison Middle East Vladimir Ignatev Liaison Russia / CIS Andreas Kathage Liaison Officer First Break Musa Manzi Liaison Africa Myrto Papadopoulou Young Professional Liaison Koya Suto Liaison Asia Pacific Catherine Truffert Industry Liaison Panagiotis Tsourlos Editor-in-Chief Near Surface Geophysics Florina Tuluca Committee Member

Pascal Breton Secretary-Treasurer

Oil & Gas Geoscience Division

Caroline Le Turdu Membership and Cooperation Officer

Peter Rowbotham Publications Officer

Lucy Slater Chair Yohaney Gomez Galarza Vice-Chair Michael Peter Suess Immediate Past Chair; TPC Erica Angerer Member Wiebke Athmer Member Juliane Heiland TPC Tijmen Jan Moser Editor-in-Chief Geophysical Prospecting Francesco Perrone Member Matteo Ravasi YP Liaison Philip Ringrose Editor-in-Chief Petroleum Geoscience Giovanni Sosio DET SIC Liaison Aart-Jan van Wijngaarden Technical Programme Officer

Colin MacBeth Education Officer

SUBSCRIPTIONS First Break is published monthly. It is free to EAGE members. The membership fee of EAGE is € 80.00 a year (including First Break, EarthDoc (EAGE’s geoscience database), Learning Geoscience (EAGE’s Education website) and online access to a scientific journal.

Companies can subscribe to First Break via an institutional subscription.

Every subscription includes a monthly hard copy and online access to the full First Break archive for the requested number of online users.

Aart-Jan van Wijngaarden Technical Programme Officer

Alireza Malehmir Chair Near Surface Geoscience Division

Orders for current subscriptions and back issues should be sent to EAGE Publications BV, Journal Subscriptions, PO Box 59, 3990 DB, Houten, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 (0)88 9955055, E-mail: subscriptions@eage.org, www.firstbreak.org.

Lucy Slater Chair Oil & Gas Geoscience Division

First Break is published by EAGE Publications BV, The Netherlands.

However, responsibility for the opinions given and the statements made rests with the authors.

COPYRIGHT & PHOTOCOPYING © 2022 EAGE All rights reserved. First Break or any part thereof may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including photocopying and recording, ­without the prior written permission of the publisher.

PAPER The publisher’s policy is to use acid-free permanent paper (TCF), to the draft standard ISO/DIS/9706, made from sustainable ­forests using chlorine-free pulp (Nordic-Swan standard).

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HIGHLIGHTS

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Energy transition and digitalization papers sought for EAGE Madrid

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Why EAGE membership is rewarding

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Borehole geophysics meeting a virtual success

Celebrating First Break’s 40 th Anniversary

Damian Arnold, editor First Break writes: This month First Break embarks on its 40th year having begun in January 1983. We believe this is cause for some celebration and I am proud to be editing EAGE’s flagship journal.

When the idea of First Break was first mooted, the intention was to fill a gap. The new publication, available exclusively to EAGE members, would provide a more accessible journal than by our longstanding and highly respected Geophysical Prospecting. It would include news, in those days mainly about land and marine seismic business and technology developments, combined with technical papers focused more on current industry practice.

Over four decades, the format has changed dramatically signalled by a magazine style cover photo and an attractive modern layout to suit the evolution of

the content. First Break now contains a substantial section on Association news and events to keep members up to date with EAGE affairs. Since 2014, we have carried the Crosstalk column and last year introduced the Personal Record feature and the occasional WhatsUp! page, initiatives designed to reflect our geoscience and engineering community and its rapidly changing focus. This same process is impacting the very substantial monthly industry news section built up over the years. This puts on record our geo-world today, the shift towards the energy transition and what that means for our members.

First Break’s first-class technical articles and special topic features continue to meet members’ appetite for research and case studies focused on current and emerging technology and are a valuable source of reference.

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It is a matter of pride that our readership surveys have consistently reported positive feedback on the content of First Break and I hope that we can sustain member enthusiasm for the journal and the continued backing of those who support us financially. Of course the publication is a team effort and I must thank our Editorial Board, who help us in the process of curating top quality articles, Andrew McBarnet, former editor who still contributes substantially to the publication, our highly professional production team and our advertising department.

As always we welcome your opinions allowing us to shape First Break to reflect whatever direction geoscience and engineering takes in the future. Meanwhile, thank you all for your loyalty and faith in our publication.

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EAGE NEWS

Here’s to a change of fortune in 2022 New Year message from EAGE president Dirk Orlowsky.

It would be a cliché to say that we are living through challenging times. So, as we start the new year, I would just like to express some optimism about the future.

In my opinion our community of geoscientists and engineers has shown great resolve in dealing with the Covid pandemic and its impact on demand for equipment and services in the sectors in which we operate. For those many members involved in the oil and gas sector, the pressure has been particularly severe. But from what I can see our members have adapted exceptionally well to adversity.

together again, able to discuss work with their peers, encounter new ideas and technology, reacquaint with friends, make new contacts, etc. It was reassurance that our professional community continues to be vital, dynamic and relevant.

Of course the world is changing and we as an Association have to be part of that transformation. I believe the Board is reflecting the interests and wishes of you, the members, in pushing to be at the forefront of energy transition initiatives.

We have just seen the launch of the Energy Transition Hub, the Decarboniza-

Centre: EAGE president Dirk Orlowsky (left) with vice president Jean-Marc Rodriguez.

For example, the main seismic companies have managed to capture enough business in the most difficult circumstances to be ready for the uptick in oil and gas E&P spending which will surely happen sooner rather than later.

My hopes have been lifted by the outcome of our Annual Meeting in Amsterdam in October. It exceeded our expectations in many ways. The number of people able to attend was greater than we had anticipated more than justifying our decision to hold an in-person event. The health precautions in place caused minimal inconvenience. Our staff did a great job in running the Technical Programme live and online with scarcely a hitch. Our introduction of ‘dome’ meeting rooms, among other things bringing the Exhibition and conference delegates closer together, proved a promising innovation.

The smaller scale Conference Evening also had a great vibe.

What struck me most in Amsterdam was how excited everyone was to be 4

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tion and Energy Transition Community is thriving, the second GET 2021 conference was held successfully at the back end of last year, and we have new education programmes addressing the issues. A new journal on energy transition issues is in the pipeline. Our Technical Programme for the upcoming Annual Meeting in Madrid is also calling for more energy transition discussion. However, many new upcoming topics on these issues will be covered in the GET 2022 programme in order to present a focused conference specifically on decarbonisation and the energy transition professional community with its growing industry.

The Board acknowledges that the composition of our membership is bound to change as industry and society in general steers away from fossil fuels. I am probably a good example in that my professional geoscience skills today are being employed in the area of potential nuclear waste disposal in mines in Germany. The

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important point is that maintaining a distinction between our current Oil and Gas and Near Surface divisions is becoming increasingly untenable due to the overlap in knowledge and expertise, for instance, in the development of carbon capture and storage, renewable energy resources and other energy transition solutions.

As a result the Board will be coming forward with proposals to restructure, probably building on our successful community model. We are aware that any reorganization must take account of the fact that the majority of our members continue to be involved in the oil and gas sector and its evolution. In keeping with our mission, we can of course encourage discussions on the contribution that geoscience can make to sustainability, decarbonisation and the environment in future E&P operations. With our dedication to a multi-disciplinary approach, we believe that we are ahead of other global professional societies in contributing the scientific expertise needed to meet the challenges of climate change. In this context, we will strengthen our activities to attract students, young professionals and especially interested people and industries from outside of the geoscience world.

From a financial perspective I can report that we are entering 2022 with a strong balance sheet, partly as a result of government support in the Netherlands during Covid but also thanks to prudent management of our operations. The coming year is likely to be more testing, so we will have to be extra careful in our choice of events, staffing levels and expenditure if we are to maintain the high level of service members expect.

One landmark in closing is to mention that the publication you are reading, our flagship First Break, marks its 40th Anniversary with this issue. On behalf of the membership I must thank and congratulate present and past contributors, editors, reviewers and production teams who have every month helped to produce such an outstanding and well-appreciated journal.

It remains for me to wish you, your families and loved ones all the best in 2022 hoping that better things are to come.

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You can run your own proprietary code as part of the stack. To see the full menu, contact Casper Mortensen on +44 (0) 7901 345089 or email casperm@dug.com

Want to discover what DUG McCloud can do for your business?

Visit www.dug.com/dug-mccloud for more information.

EAGE NEWS

EAGE Madrid calls for energy transition and digitalization presentations Our EAGE Annual in Madrid this year is expected to focus heavily on showcasing the moves the industry has made so far in relation to energy transition and digitalization and what the plans are for the future. The undeniable shift in the way geoscience and engineering will go forward is something EAGE is actively trying to encompass and is reflected in the Call for Abstracts which is open until 15 January.

All potential submitters are invited to send in their abstracts on a variety of energy transition and digitalization focused topics. A few of the most popular ones include: CO2 Capture, Storage (CSS) and Utilization; Subsurface Characterization for Waste Storage; Geothermal; Gas Storage; CCS Monitoring, Environmental and Economical Impact; Civil Engineering; AI, Deep Learning and Data Analytics for G&G; Data and Information Management, and High Performance Computing.

and Dr Jan H. van de Mortel, an independent geophysical specialist.

The session has two main objectives: first is to demonstrate how AI is currently impacting our industry. This can include routine application of unsupervised learning to seismic volume in order to extract meaningful attributes, use of computer vision to automate thin section and core analysis, automatic interpretation of logging data using machine learning, and applications of natural language processing to facilitate text extraction and analysis.

The second objective is to look to the future of AI. Invited speakers will cover emerging technologies such as the use of physics-informed neural networks (PINN), process-based modelling using deep learning, applications of transformers in image and geologic time series analysis, efforts to develop interpretable deep learning models, and improved solvers to speed up and stabilize network learning.

Dome meeting experience.

Dedicated sessions An added reason to visit us in Madrid this June will be our dedicated sessions.

Coming from our Artificial Intelligence Community is the dedicated session ‘AI in Geoscience and Geophysics: Current Trends and Future Prospects’ led by Dr Cédric John (Imperial College London) 6

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Another very topical dedicated session comes from our Decarbonization and Energy Transition Community – ‘Energy Transition Technologies Powering Progress towards a Net Zero Future’ – led by Benjamin Bellwald (Volcanic Basin Petroleum Research and University of Oslo), Carla Martín Clavé (Jacobs), and Augusto

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Correnti (Shell). The session covers technological solutions focusing on shallow and deep subsurface and beyond, spanning from offshore wind to carbon capture and storage including hydrogen and geothermal energy solutions. The implications of decisions made during the climate conference in Glasgow (COP26) will be discussed during this dedicated session.

More information about these sessions and more, plus all the newest additions to our programme can be found on our website.

As the catalyst for groundbreaking research, solutions, and integration of all areas of geoscience, the EAGE Annual 2022 is once again set to be a memorable event in Madrid on 6-9 June. You can submit your papers at EAGEANNUAL2022.org.

New Energy Transition Area at the Exhibition This year we are also delighted to include the brand-new Energy Transition Area in our Exhibition – exclusively for those working in the energy transition sector and beyond, representing a pivotal role to play on the pathway to net-zero emissions.

This area will include a technical programme and opportunities for exhibitors to take a booth within the area.

The main objective of the Energy Transition Area is to give clear signs, certainty and confidence to all exhibitors, administrators, governments, private sector companies, investors and the general public about the future of energy in order to promote the new and latest development model we are moving towards. Our goal is to identify opportunities to maximise the use of renewable energy, as well as optimising the role of storage in most of the energy systems. It is also an opportunity to share and look at the transmission and distribution networks worldwide, and how to create a fully integrated energy system which, ultimately, delivers affordable zero carbon energy for the consumers.

If you think your organisation could contribute to this area, please contact us at CorporateRelations@eage.org to discuss the possibilities.

EAGE NEWS

Belgrade to bring back our flagship near surface event as an in-person meeting Our Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition returns for a long awaited in-person meeting in Belgrade, Serbia on 18-22 September 2022. This follows the virtual conference in 2020 and a first ever hybrid meeting in Bordeaux in 2021, both successful in meeting the needs of our near surface geoscience community.

Along with the 28th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics as the main event, NSG2022 will introduce the rebranded 3rd Conference on Airborne, Drone and Robotic Geophysics and the popular 4th Conference on Geophysics for Mineral Exploration and Mining.

This wide-ranging event should offer ample opportunities for knowledge

exchange on a variety of emerging topics and societal challenges; from access to the critical raw materials in this important era of energy transition and climate action, to environmental issues as well as geohazards, water accessibility for agriculture, and archaeology. The combination of the newly branded conference on robotic geophysics with the mineral exploration and mining geophysics meeting should complement each other and showcase new technologies of mutual interest in these key sectors.

Apart from the three parallel conferences, a series of workshops, exciting field trips in the region, an integrated exhibition and a fun social programme are all part of the package.

Belgrade awaits your participation at NSG 2022.

If you are interested in participating in the Technical Programme, we encourage you to submit your abstracts for any of the three conferences by 25 April 2022.

Visit NSG2022.org for more information on how to submit an abstract and all this year’s event has to offer.

Seismic inversion conference programme is finalised The Technical Programme for the 2nd EAGE Conference on Seismic Inversion on 7-9 February 2022 in Porto, Portugal and online is now available. With sessions ranging from recent innovations in seismic inversions to integration of inversion products into subsurface workflows and machine learning, the Technical

Committee has put together an exciting programme covering current progress, recent breakthroughs and future trends in seismic inversion methodologies and their applications. As a result, participants will obtain a better understanding of the value of seismic inversion along with identifying the limitations and areas for improvement.

Interested in joining this year’s discussions? Check the event website at www.SeismicInversion2022.org for a full overview of the Technical Programme and the event activities. You can attend either in-person in Porto or online. Register by 16 January 2022 to save on your fees.

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR! rom ishes f Best w E team!

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EAGE NEWS

Explore EAGE’s Energy Transition Hub As the leading multi-disciplinary geoscience and engineering association, we have launched the EAGE Energy Transition Hub. This is where members worldwide can track all the latest projects, events, publications, courses and communities focused on the energy transition. It’s a place where you can find all relevant

Visit our new Hub to find everything EAGE does around the energy transition.

opportunities at a glance. Learn, share and connect: the Hub will enable a richer conversation and bridge multiple initiatives - online and in different regions - that you can get involved in.

If you are seeking the right audience to present your work, you should be able to find all the relevant EAGE events. A section on education presents dedicated programmes to empower your career choices and continuing professional development. EAGE communities and students are of course present in the Hub too, again to share latest updates and upcoming initiatives. If you have not already done so, you can discover the new EAGE Energy Transition Hub at eage.org/ energytransition.

Reflecting the new Hub, a new education programme category has

recently been added - Energy Transition.

It includes new and updated training programmes boosting transferable skills that geoscientists and engineers can apply to new energy sectors. We invite you to explore the new catalogue at https://eage.org/education/short-coursecatalogue.

Some of the featured courses, which can be found in our Learning Geoscience platform, include: Geological CO2 Storage; Geology and Engineering of Carbon Capture and Storage; Medium and LowGrade Geothermal Energy: Geoscience and Geomechanics; Geological History of CO2: Carbon Cycle and Natural Sequestration of CO2; and Geophysical Monitoring of CO2 Storage.

To learn more, visit www.LearningGeoscience.org.

EAGE Online Education Calendar VELOCITIES, IMAGING, AND WAVEFORM INVERSION - THE EVOLUTION OF CHARACTERIZING THE EARTH'S SUBSURFACE, BY I.F. JONES (ONLINE EET)

SELF PACED COURSE

6 CHAPTERS OF 1 HR

GEOSTATISTICAL RESERVOIR MODELING, BY D. GRANA

SELF PACED COURSE

8 CHAPTERS OF 1 HR

CARBONATE RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION, BY L. GALLUCCIO

SELF PACED COURSE

8 CHAPTERS OF 1 HR

17 JAN 17 FEB

DEVELOPING DEEP LEARNING APPLICATIONS FOR THE OILFIELD: FROM THEORY TO REAL WORLD PROJECTS, BY B. MONTARON

EXTENSIVE COURSE *

5 CHAPTERS OF 1 HR

17 JAN – 17 MAR

CO2 GEOLOGICAL STORAGE, BY A. BUSCH, E. MACKAY, F. DOSTER, M. LANDRO & P. RINGROSE

EXTENSIVE COURSE *

7 CHAPTERS OF 1 HR

18-21 JAN

FULL-WAVEFORM INVERSION FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION RESERVOIR CHARACTERIZATION, BY D. GISOLF

SHORT COURSE

4 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

27-28 JAN

CLOUD BASICS FOR GEOSCIENCES, BY G. HOLMES

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

27-28 JAN

GEOSTATISTICAL RESERVOIR MODELING AND UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION, BY J. EIDSVIK

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

1-4 FEB

INTRODUCTION TO WATERFLOOD MANAGEMENT, BY I. SAAD

SHORT COURSE

4 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

10-11 FEB

3D MODELING OF NATURALLY FRACTURED RESERVOIRS, BY T. WYNN

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

15-16 FEB

GEOSTATISTICAL RESERVOIR MODELING AND UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION, BY D. GRANA

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

15-17 FEB

SEISMIC DIFFRACTION – MODELING, IMAGING AND APPLICATIONS,

BY T.J. MOSSER

SHORT COURSE

3 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

21-22 FEB

INTEGRATED SEISMIC ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING, BY J. BOUSKA

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

21 FEB 22 MAR

INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE LEARNING FOR GEOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS, BY J. MONDT

EXTENSIVE COURSE *

5 CHAPTERS OF 1-2 HRS

1-4 MAR

CASE STUDIES AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN GEOPHYSICAL ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING METHODS, BY L. DE VINCENZI

SHORT COURSE

4 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

7 MAR 7 APR

NON-SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING: GRAVITY AND MAGNETICS, BY J. MONDT

EXTENSIVE COURSE *

6 CHAPTERS OF 2 HRS

10-11 MAR

MIGRATION AND VELOCITY MODEL BUILDING, BY P. GERRITSMA

SHORT COURSE

2 CHAPTERS OF 4 HRS

START AT ANY TIME

* EXTENSIVE SELF PACED MATERIALS AND INTERACTIVE SESSIONS WITH THE INSTRUCTORS: CHECK SCHEDULE OF EACH COURSE FOR DATES AND TIMES OF LIVE SESSIONS FOR THE FULL CALENDAR, MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.EAGE.ORG AND WWW.LEARNINGGEOSCIENCE.ORG.

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EAGE NEWS

Time to sign up for the next Geomodel conference A date to look forward to is the 24th Conference on Oil and Gas Geological Exploration and Development (Geomodel 2022) on 5-8 September 2022 in Gelendzhik, Russia.

Over the years the event has undoubtedly become one of the most well-known knowledge share platforms for petroleum industry professionals in Russian and neighbouring regions. The high level of expertise, friendly atmosphere and constructive criticism have always characterised this conference, while its agenda has enabled the participants to obtain the latest updates on the most topical issues of geological exploration, discuss interesting ideas and establish new contacts.

Next year’s agenda will include discussions on regional and general geology, geophysical research, geolog-

ical and geophysical data interpretation and their quantitative analysis, petroleum geophysics and petrophysics, and petroleum field development. This time the conference committee is headed by Alexander Arkhipov, director of GeoshelfService.

Lately, there has been growing interest in ‘green’ research; UAV observation techniques; technologies integrating machine learning; digital oil and gas fields and effective development of hard-to-recover reserves that lead to petroleum industry diversification and growing involvement of experts from related industries. In this respect, the Russian market is a part of the global trend, so we work hard to bring the whole spectrum of experts directly and indirectly involved in geological prospecting activities.

Session in progress.

Strengthening the relationship between petroleum and service companies has always been important to us, so we expect company reps will not miss an opportunity to share feedback with their partners.

The conference topics are already available on the event website. Your abstracts are welcome before 20 May 2022.

A reminder why EAGE membership is rewarding In 2018 we launched the EAGE Membership Recognition Programme, aiming to reward loyal members of the Association with additional perks and benefits. It has been a couple of years since its introduction, so we would like to give you a refresher on what’s exactly part of the programme.

To retain and reward the loyalty of our members, we like to thank long-term members of EAGE by giving back through the EAGE Membership recognition programme. It has five different tiers, related to the number of years you have been a member of EAGE. Each new member will start as a green member, moving up to bronze (two years of membership), silver (five years of membership), gold (10 years of membership) and, eventually, platinum (15+ years of membership). Benefits accrue as you reach each new tier.

Any member of EAGE receives some form of reduced registration fees. The discount starts for those at green level and will subsequently increase at bronze.

Platinum members will have the additional perk to always be able to register for the early bird registration fees for our conferences and workshops (excluding joint events).

An additional key benefit integrated in the recognition programme is the level of access to our EarthDoc archives.

The level of access increases at every new tier although members do have the opportunity to obtain full access to the archives for a small additional fee.

Students members of the Association have access to all archives, regardless of membership level.

The membership level also comes into effect at the EAGE Annual Conference

& Exhibition. Here, gold and platinum members can register using the special VIP registration desk. All silver and up members will in addition be invited to attend the exclusive social gathering during the meeting.

Finally, any member with silver membership or above has a wider range of economic hardship elements to fall back on in case times become financially difficult for individual members. This support includes contributions towards our educational programmes, membership fee waivers/discounts, and registration fee waivers for EAGE conferences and workshops.

In short, the recognition programme is all about rewarding the community for their membership of the Association. If you haven’t done so already, make sure to retain access to all your benefits by renewing your 2022 membership.

Get started at eage.org/ welcome FIRST

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EAGE NEWS

Three events combine to map route for energy transition

OUR JOURNALS

THIS MONTH

Our second EAGE Geoscience Technologies and Applications Conference and Exhibition in London, UK on 4-6 April 2022 offers the mouthwatering prospect of three workshops at the same venue, all focused on how we can deliver a sustainable subsurface for the future. Host support for the event is being provided by BP. Under the theme ‘Subsurface & the Energy Transition: Challenging the Status Quo’, the GeoTech Conference promises an exceptional experience with participants benefiting from exposure to three dedicated technical programmes providing exceptional opportunities for crossover knowledge exchange and interaction while offering some cost savings for attendees.

The 3 rd EAGE Workshop on Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing will continue with updates on the exploration of the use of distributed optical fibre sensors for diverse energy and industrial applications.

The workshop will review latest geoscience and engineering applications utilising distributed acoustic (DAS), temperature (DTS) and strain (DSS) systems in the process addressing the current challenges, business impacts and evolving best practices in the industry.

The 6th EAGE Workshop on CO2 Geological Storage aims to facilitate

Geophysical Prospecting (GP) publishes primary research on the science of geophysics as it applies to the exploration, evaluation and extraction of earth resources. Drawing heavily on contributions from researchers in the oil and mineral exploration industries, the journal has a very practical slant. A new edition (Volume 70, Issue 1) will be published in January, featuring fourteen articles.

Editor’s Choice articles: • Homotopy scattering series for seismic forward modelling with variable density and velocity – Kui Xiang et al.

• 3D Marchenko applications: implementation and examples – Joeri Brackenhoff et al.

• Reverse time migration with Gaussian beams using optimized ray tracing systems in transversely isotropic media – Zhenchun Li et al.

knowledge sharing from the global portfolio of large-scale carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects and how storage-hub concepts may help deliver the massive increases in future CO2 storage volumes. The focus on tackling climate change has propelled the energy transition greatly and we are witnessing large scale implementation of CCUS. For successful realisation of CCUS, it is vital to build confidence that injected CO2 is permanently and safely retained in the sub-surface and that CO2 storage can be deployed at the required scale.

The 1st EAGE Workshop on Reservoir Management of Mature Fields will create a platform to address issues faced by the increasing number of mature fields of the world’s oil and gas sector. The energy transition has brought with it new challenges including the reduction of incentives to explore for new resources. This has emphasised the importance of getting more from the resources we currently have, a trend that is expected to continue.

The three above mentioned workshops are intended to foster cross-discipline knowledge sharing. To learn more or submit an abstract for these workshops, please visit the conference website at geotech.eage.org.

CHECK OUT

THE LATEST GP

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EAGE NEWS

Virtual borehole geophysics workshop was as good as it gets

WORKSHOP

REPORT

Howard Simpson reports on the proceedings of the 6th EAGE Borehole Geophysics Workshop.

For the first time, and hopefully the last, this popular workshop was held entirely virtually, hosted by the EAGE Middle East office on 8-11 November, using the OnAir online platform. Over 60 delegates enjoyed a range of technical and case-study presentations from around the world, some of which were recorded, but most were presented live.

Changes in the global energy mix are already affecting our industry, and the direction that technology must take in order to lessen mankind’s impact on the environment is altering. For that reason, the Technical Committee chose a workshop theme to reflect these changes: ‘Maximising Data Value During the Energy Transition’. It was hoped that the community would come forth to explore and describe applications of borehole geophysics to the new disciplines of geothermal, CO2 sequestration, and hydrogen storage, as well as improvement in efficiencies in more conventional hydrocarbon exploration.

The big question was how would a virtual workshop compare with meeting in person. Obvious advantages such as reduced delegate costs, and minimising of risks to health, would be offset by the disadvantages of fewer networking opportunities, the need to allow for delegates in widely diverse time-zones, and the perennial problems with bandwidth and connectivity that are part of post-pandemic business life.

The meeting started with a one-day short course delivered by Dr Rajiv Kumar (Schlumberger research geophysicist) on geophysical data analysis using Julia, the open-source programming language designed for high-performance computing, and machine learning. It was an excellent introduction to the Julia language which combines friendly syntax and high speed, followed by a review of some advanced tools in the Julia ecosystem for log and seismic data visualisation, seismic modelling, processing and inver12

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sion, including acoustic and elastic full waveform inversion (FWI). Given the importance of this topic and the success of the course, the EAGE has already added it to its regular course portfolio.

During the three days of the workshop, a total of 26 abstracts were presented covering a wide range of topics from sonic and VSP imaging with geophones and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), anisotropy calibration, drillbit seismic and LWD seismic while drilling, microseismic monitoring, time-lapse VSPs and machine learning.

There were two keynote speakers: Eric Verschuur, associate professor at Delft University of Technology and programme director of the Delphi research consortium, that promoted the integration of borehole and surface seismic, including via joint FWI; and Mahmoud Farhadiroushan, executive director from Silixa, who presented engineered fibre technology, its applications and recent deployment case studies.

The technology presentations were grouped into six sessions, each one concluded with a panel discussion amongst the speakers, session chairs, and any delegates who wanted to raise their virtual hands. This format has always worked well at in-person workshops, and the same was true at this event: often times the panel discussion raised such interesting, and occasionally contentious, issues that the allocated time was exceeded.

In session 1, Calibration and Data Integration, there were some nice examples of data collection strategies to verify VTI and HTI anisotropy. It’s widely known that there is still a big gap between the borehole and surface seismic domains, and that anisotropy parameters can be fed into the recalibration of surface seismic processing. Although we weren’t shown the effect of using VSP-derived anisotropy in surface seismic (re)processing, we did see a good example of quantitative matching of surface seismic

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to VSP data. With more large scale simultaneous VSP acquisitions occurring there is a significant opportunity to jointly process surface and downhole data.

A session with interactive Q&A.

Session 2 on Machine Learning (ML) and AI had two contributions in the workshop. Both concerned the estimation of a velocity model from measured borehole data via a ML approach, using known applications of convolutional neural networks; ResNet and Unet respectively. One was about microseismic data, where the velocity model (parametrized as a 1D profile) was estimated together with the microseismic source location.

A second application was the inversion of active single shot VSP data to obtain a velocity model that was parametrised by a layered medium and a regional dip.

Both deep neural network approaches use synthetic data for training. In this approach, augmenting the synthetic data with realistic noise appears an important step to success. Additionally, the first approach (passive seismic) used a wavelet extracted from field data.

Although both approaches were still working with 2D data, they showed a glimpse of what future ML applications may look like, where measured borehole seismic data can be instantly inverted into a velocity profile. This real time application can be useful in some situations, especially in the field of microseis-

EAGE NEWS

mic monitoring. However, comparisons of these results with traditional velocity estimation methods are still to be made to validate the ML output quality. The ML velocity estimation (inference) showed excellent first ballpark results that corresponded very well with the original velocity profile in depth, but also showed some small artefacts when viewing the complete 2D models.

In the Imaging and Inversion session, it was shown that a 3D VSP DAS dataset could support the imaging of the OBN surface data at the reservoir level, where a fault structure was better delineated by a VSP image. However, crucial to this result were very carefully designed pre-processing steps of the DAS VSP data in terms of denoising, directivity correction, de-signature, mode-driven water bottom demultiple and multiple (mirror) migration. Particularly important to note was the ‘targeted multiple prediction’ based on application of Green’s function for far offsets, where the downgoing wavefield could not be used for deconvolution. The results showed an improved overburden image with respect to resolution, because DAS data has a wider amplitude spectrum even if the S/N ratio was somewhat less than surface seismic.

One aspect largely overlooked in 3C VSP processing is the fact that multi-component recording allows angular decomposition of the wavefield. This enables the separation of the P/SV/SH modes in a ray-based vector migration process, thus avoiding crosstalk from these components in the final image(s).

This makes it possible to use microseismic events not just to determine the respective hypocentres and source characteristics, but subsequently to use the remainder of the data to detect reflectors/anomalies below and further away from the hypocentres.

It is well-known that 3C walkaround VSP data can provide unique information on the azimuthal anisotropy properties in the medium around the well, but it was shown that a walk-around VSP could, in addition, using the anisotropy values, also be used to create a decent small 3D VSP image around the well from a low-fold dataset. With a sufficiently long VSP array, any walkaround is effectively a ‘circle of OVSP’ surveys.

Finally, a plea was made that in the design of time-lapse VSP recordings, the exact repetition of source and receivers is not the main important factor. The overlap in the subsurface in terms of the Fresnel zones will suffice to allow time-lapse information extraction. To this extent, a new criterion called ‘FNRMS’ was proposed to use as a guiding measure.

In the DAS Solutions session, delegates were given a clear summary of the fundamentals of the DAS measurement with several and varied applications; DAS VSP data was shown in the imaging of volcanic vents, and by correcting for Q (absorption), the identification of volcanic eruption facies was possible with the improved resolution. An active landslip at Hollin Hill, UK was a test site for DAS monitoring, with fibres across and down the slope measuring strain.

LIDAR scans correlated well with the strain data, and it is anticipated that the technology will soon be used routinely in monitoring unstable slopes such as tailings dams, railway embankments, and so on.

Also shown was an example of the use of DAS deployed outside of casing for hydraulic fracture mapping (HFM), not in the calculation of stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), but instead in the monitoring of the frac construction.

For session 5 on Drilling Operations, a renewed interest in reverse VSP drill bit source methods was shown in two papers. Standard seismic-while-drilling (SWD) case studies also showed success in helping complete wells safely using fast turnaround processing results. Another example showed SWD is still a viable method of collecting valuable VSP data in high angle wells. Also there was a clear example of high-resolution multi-azimuth walkaway imaging to confirm the optimum placement of infill wells. Standalone VSP imaging still has its place!

In the final session on Monitoring and Sustainable Energy, two presentations were made showing reservoir changes over time, firstly an onshore survey recorded by DAS to monitor a CO2 plume, where a significant seasonal variation in downhole signal correlates well with annual rainfall patterns. The main effect was to surface related multiples as the rains turned the surface FIRST

conditions to mud. This effect indicated that, at least for onshore time-lapse studies, attention must be paid to the choice and timing of the baseline survey. Secondly, an offshore survey was described where the recording used conventional geophones to monitor the injected CO2 in an EOR scenario. Also in this session was a presentation showing the effectiveness of a VSP dataset recorded using a moving-source-moving-receiver configuration, for high-resolution imaging of stratigraphic clinoforms in carbonate reservoir monitoring.

Some of the current challenges highlighted by the participants included the need for robust and cost-effective sensor deployments (for example, deep-water permanent fibre optics deployments and on wireline); new sensors (3C optical point sensors together with DAS fibres, or DAS helical fibres) being developed; handling large volumes of data, as data processing is not coping with DAS evolution; integrating data recorded at different scales, including joint tomography and joint FWI; and better exploitation of the vector information in 3C geophone data.

Looking back, it’s clear that holding a virtual workshop was highly worthwhile.

The quality of the abstracts and presentations was excellent. However, there was some disappointment that the workshop did not attract a larger representation of energy transition applications instead of the usual hydrocarbon exploration. The committee have resolved to actively solicit abstracts covering the newer, greener technologies going forward.

Delegate numbers were respectably high, possibly as a result of the virtual nature of the workshop attracting some more junior delegates that may not normally be able to travel to an in-person event due to the cost. The virtual platform held up well, allowing delegates to participate in the short course, the discussions, and to hold offline meetings with other delegates. However, it was agreed by everyone that in-person workshops offer better networking opportunities and an active social programme which are just not possible virtually. This all means that we are very much looking forward to meeting face-to-face again for the next workshop.

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EAGE NEWS

EAGE Local Chapter London treated to two talks in November Our first talk in November was provided by Simon Buckley (NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen) who updated us on the virtual geoscience revolution, in which geomatics, visualisation and geoscience technology meet the demand for remote knowledge sharing.

After a brief overview of the public V3Geo virtual 3D model and outcrop repository (https://v3geo.com) covering a worldwide selection of geological sites, and LIME desktop interpretation and visualisation software, Buckley took us on a virtual geological field trip to Svalbard. We were immersed in a photo-realistic geological environment where we saw magnificent geological structures and spectacular outcrops illustrating the stratification of the depositional system. These were shown from different angles and zoom levels, overlain by geophysical log measurements and even augmented with synthetic seismic images. Finally, we visited two further outcrops chosen by a real-time poll of the participants.

At a separate meeting Peter Hanssen of Equinor gave a technical talk on acquisition of ocean-bottom seismic (OBS) data with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Currently, OBS

data acquired either by ocean-bottom cable or standalone nodes are slow to deploy and expensive to operate. A more economical and environmentally friendly option is to utilise multi-purpose hovering AUVs. Thousands of receivers can be distributed on the seabed precisely and very fast, improving

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the data density and survey turnaround time. Increasing the number of receivers results in less effort on the source side.

There is no need for as many source points, meaning less sound pollution and milder environmental impact. Such AUVs will be versatile devices that can be shared between different subsea stakeholders and can be used for various, not necessarily seismic related tasks, which makes this option less capital intensive and more attractive for associated industries.

EAGE Local Chapter London acknowledges Artem Kashubin of PetroTrace, Bingmu Xiao of CGG and Yulia Biryaltseva of Equinor for arranging these events.

EarthDoc is one of the largest geoscience & engineering database with over 75000 event extended abstracts, technical articles and journal papers. Over 3000 proceedings of around 40 EAGE’s meetings and more than 300 articles of the EAGE’s journals were published on EarthDoc in 2021. You can find papers from significant events such as the EAGE Annual, the Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition, the GET 2021 (2nd Geoscience & Engineering in Energy Transition Conference) and many others.

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EAGE NEWS

Time to enter EAGE/EFG Photo Contest 2022 Photo enthusiasts, listen up: entries are now open for the EAGE/EFG Photo Contest 2022! All members of EAGE and EFG’s national associations are invited to submit photos under the theme ‘Legends of Geoscience’ – images that capture extraordinary actions or aspects in all

Some winners from previous contests.

fields of geoscience. Photos can be summited in four sub-categories: ‘Geosciences for Society’ – images depict how geosciences and society are directly interlinked in addressing sustainability issues, including the responsible use of natural resources, ensuring global health and resilience, improving energy efficiency, processing raw materials, etc.

‘Women Geoscientists’ – images focus on women who chose a career in different fields of geosciences.

‘Landscape and Environment’ – images portray the beauty and variety of the fascinating geoscience world.

‘Geoscientists’ Life’ – images show impressions from your work in the field, in the physical office or wherever your ‘office/workstation’ locates.

Keep in mind that you may submit a maximum of two photos in total. The photos must be copyright free and must meet the technical quality: high resolution (300 dpi) and minimum 1920 x 1080 pixels. We will also need the following details in your submission: your name and email, name of the association you

are registered with, a nice title of your photograph, when and where the picture was taken and a little story behind the shoot.

Submissions are open from 1 January to 15 March 2022. All entries will be reviewed by experts with regard to their relevance to the theme and of course the technical quality. After this review process, the accepted photos will be published online, and all members of EAGE and EFG’s national associations will have the opportunity to cast their votes in two rounds, for the 12 finalists and top three photographs. The winners will be announced in September 2022.

The 12 best photos will be displayed at the 83rd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition being held in Madrid on 6-9 June. They will also be printed in a calendar displayed at multiple events of EFG and EAGE in late 2022 – early 2023.

More information is available on our website.

Submit your photo, win prizes and get a spot in our exhibition!

Stavanger launches its own chapter In November 2021 EAGE welcomed a new Local Chapter. With a strong community in the area, several active EAGE collaborations with partner organisations in Norway and an existing Local Chapter in Oslo, it was only a matter of time before Stavanger joined the network.

The founding team, led by Surender Manral (product champion geophysical interpretation at Schlumberger), gathered an initial community which comprises of passionate and committed members from Schlumberger, Earth Science Analytics, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, ONE-Dyas, Petoro and Cegal – and the plan is to reach out to more local stakeholders and individuals.

At the heart of each EAGE Local Chapter is the will to collaborate

New day in Stavanger.

and promote geosciences and related engineering subjects by creating new connections, sharing knowledge and opportunities. The new chapter intends to foster dialogue on energy transition and global energy sector transformation along with oil and gas activities.

LC Stavanger will kick off with some exciting talks: Digitalisation in the energy industry (with Eirik Larsen, chief

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solutions officer at Earth Science Analytics); The role of new energy in world’s growing energy demands (with Steve Freeman, head of energy transition, D&I at Schlumberger); and Evolving role of academia for the future of geosciences (with Egil Tjåland, associate professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology).

If you live, work, study or do business in Stavanger, this is the place to be. And if you are farther away, you are still welcome to connect via the online activities organised by the Chapter. Make sure to join the LinkedIn group ‘EAGE – Local Chapter Stavanger’ to meet the community, learn about their upcoming plans and get involved.

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EAGE NEWS

2022 student activities shaping up nicely Our advice to EAGE student members: keep an eye out for the upcoming editions of Stay Connected. A ton of new activities for 2022 are due to be announced.

During the year, we will be bringing you nine new instalments of our student lecture webinars. These special events last around an hour, and can be joined free of charge by any student member of the Association.

Last year, we brought in a range of new topics from our Near Surface Geoscience Division and Decarbonization and Energy Transition Community. A return of some of last year’s popular deliveries as well as brand new topics can be expected.

So whether it is reservoir engineering, geothermal energy or mineral exploration, we’ve got you covered.

Our Student e-Summit Series is set to continue in 2022. The summits, taking place each quarter, will bring together student chapter representatives on a different topic for each edition. The aim of these

meetings are twofold: they provide fresh insights into the topic being discussed, but also provide a way for representatives to make connections with other student chapters, allowing you to make connections outside your own institution.

2022 is not all online. Our main activities at EAGE conferences are also returning. Students attending our Annual Conference in Madrid can benefit from a bunch of dedicated activities. Also make sure to explore our activities related to the Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition, and check out the various EAGE conferences organised this year.

We expect to see a return of student-led activities, as is the case with the upcoming student meeting in Uppsala, Sweden, scheduled for early May.

If you’re currently at university and keen to really get the most out of your engagement with EAGE, consider establishing a Student Chapter at your institution. They provide fertile ground for new projects and events, and are key in creating and deepening social networks.

We are now welcoming student chapter applications for 2022.

Setting up a student chapter does not only provide you access to special activities such as EAGE’s e-Summits and online Geo-Quiz, but is also a great way to develop your own geoscience activities.

Be the architect of your own success and establish your student chapter today.

More information on getting started is available at EAGE.org/students/about-student-chapter/.

EAGE Student Calendar JAN 2022

MINUS CO2 CHALLENGE FINAL ROUND

ONLINE

APR 2022

STUDENT CHAPTERS GEOQUIZ

ONLINE

JUN 2022

LAURIE DAKE CHALLENGE FINAL ROUND

MADRID, SPAIN

6-9 JUN

83RD EAGE ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION (STUDENT ACTIVITIES)

MADRID, SPAIN

18-22 SEP

NEAR SURFACE GEOSCIENCE CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2022

BELGRADE, SERBIA

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION PLEASE CHECK THE STUDENT SECTION AT WWW.EAGE.ORG

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EAGE NEWS

Our journals are going fully online Geophysical Prospecting and Near Surface Geophysics will be published in online-only format effective from the 2022 volume.

This is a proactive move towards reducing the environmental impact caused by the production and distribution of printed journal copies. It will allow the journals to invest in further innovation, digital development and sustainability measures.

Published articles will continue to be disseminated quickly through the jour-

nals’ broad network of indexing services, including ISI, MEDLINE and Scopus.

Articles will also continue to be discoverable through popular search engines such as Google. The journal articles will still be available on EAGE’s online database EarthDoc to subscribers of the journals.

As part of its commitment to plant a tree via Trees for the Future for every copy we actively stop printing, Wiley (our journal publisher) will be planting 1132

trees for Geophysical Prospecting and 587 trees for Near Surface Geophysics.

Read more about Wiley’s commitment to reduce print environmental impact and support reforestation here: https:// www.wiley.com/network/societyleaders/ latest-content/new-go-green-fund-reduces-print-environmental-impact-and-supports-reforestation.

Learn more about Trees for the Future at trees.org.

EAGE Digital 2022 targets how energy industry can harness tools of digital era The programme for the Second EAGE Digitalization Conference and Exhibition, on 1-3 February 2022 in Vienna, is now live. It promises the perfect opportunity for participants to discuss the value of digitalization in ensuring the

future success of the energy industry. The agenda is divided into both Technical and Strategic programmes for a comprehensive view of the main challenges and opportunities.

The Technical Committee has put together a diverse programme covering latest advances in data management, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, cloud computing and other digitalization initiatives. The value of these tools is demonstrated across a wide range of inter-disciplinary applications including exploration, seismic processing and interpretation, reservoir characterization, production optimization, asset management and predictive maintenance.

Parallel sessions for the oral and poster presentations will be complemented by three dedicated sessions addressing Open Source Tools, Producing Machine Learning Applications and Digital Tools for Energy Transition.

The Strategic Programme over three days will tackle the key themes of leadership, technology and business in the digital era with senior executives and thought leaders sharing their ideas and insights.

Topics likely to be covered include innovation and better decision making; new ways of working; how machine learning is revolutionising subsurface workflows; how to get more return on investment from the data collected; scalability - from potential to successful implementation, and digitalization for the energy transition.

Along with oil industry operators and service companies, many larger tech players and digital start ups are expected to take part, highlighting the value of partnerships and networked strategy models.

Register now to take part in EAGE Digital 2022 and take this great opportunity to connect with the digital leaders of the energy industry. Visit eagedigital.org for more details.

The EAGE Student Fund supports student activities that help students bridge the gap between university and professional environments. This is only possible with the support from the EAGE community. If you want to support the next generation of geoscientists and engineers, go to donate.eagestudentfund.org or simply scan the QR code.

Many thanks for your donation in advance!

D O N AT E T O DAY !

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EAGE NEWS

We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support to EAGE in 2021!

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We thank all our valued advertisers for their loyal support in 2021!

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We would like to thank our exhibitors for their generous support to EAGE in 2021! #

3d-Radar AS • 3DHISTECH

Aarhus Geoinstruments • Aarhus Geophysics • Aarhus GeoSoftware • Abitibi Geophysics •

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Ad Terra Energy • Advanced Geosciences Europe S.L. • Alcatel Submarine Networks • Allton • Amplified Geochemical Imaging GmbH • ARK CLS Ltd • Atlas Fluid Controls • Avalon Sciences Ltd • Avenia BGP Inc • Biodentify • Bizeta s.r.l. • BLUWARE, INC. • BRGM

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Baker Hughes • Beicip-Franlab •

CGG • CoCoLink Corp • Craytive Technologies BV • CVA

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Europe Holding

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Technologies

Earth Science Analytics • Earth Signal Processing Ltd. • EBN BV • EIWT • Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA

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Delft Inversion • dGB Earth Sciences • DownUnder GeoSolutions • Dynamic Graphics Ltd • Dynamic

(EMGS ASA) • Eliis SAS • Elsevier B.V. • Engenius Software • Enverus • EOST Strasbourg • EPI Ltd • ESRI • Eurotech Computer Services Norway AS • Evotec AS • Exalo Drilling S.A

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FEBUS OPTICS • FEI SAS as part of Thermo Fisher • Fugro

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Gardline

Limited • GEGExperts • GEM Systems Advanced Magnometers • GEO ExPro GeoPublishing Ltd • GEODEVICE LLC • Geofizyka Torun S.A. • Geolab • Geolog • Geological Society of London • Geomatrix Earth Science Ltd • Geometrics Inc. • Geomind AS • Geopartner Geofizyka • Geophysical Insights • Geophysical Technology Inc • GEOREVA • Geospace Technologies Corp. • Geospace Technologies Eurasia LLC • Geotec SpA • Geotech • Geoteric • GeoTomo LLC • Geotomographie GmbH • Geovariances • Getech • GF Instruments, s.r.o. • GK Processing • Guideline Geo Watt University • HGS Products B.V.

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Halliburton Landmark • Heriot-

Ikon Science Ltd • Imperial College London • ImpulseRadar Sweden AB • InApril AS •

INOVA Geophysical, Inc. • INT Inc. • Intrepid Geophysics • ION • IP Romanov • IRIS Instruments Co., Ltd. • JSC Marine Arctic Geological Expedition (MAGE)

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Jiangsu Huaneng Cable

K.U.M. Umwelt- und Meerestechnik Kiel GmbH • Kadme AS •

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Kappa Offshore Solutions • Katalyst Data Management • King Abdullah University of Science and Technology • King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals • Kyoto University

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Leobersdorfer Maschinenfabrik GmbH • Lim Logging

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Magseis

Fairfield ASA • Marac Enterprises Inc. • Maritim Management AS • MDS • MIND Technology, Inc • Morenot Offshore AS N

NGI • NORSAR Innovation AS

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OCTIO AS • OPENGOSIM LTD • Oxford University Press • OYO Corporation

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PanTerra

Geoconsultants BV • PartnerPlast AS • Petroleum Experts Limited • Petrosys Europe Ltd • PetroTrace Limited • PGS Exploration (UK) Ltd. • Polarcus DMCC • PRO Geofizyka Krakow

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Qeye

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RadExPro Europe • Resoptima AS • Robertson Geo • Rock

Flow Dynamics • Rock Physics Technology • ROGII Inc • RoQC Data Management • Rosgeo Overseas AG • Royal Society Publishing • RPS Energy

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SAExploration • Sander Geophysics • Saudi Aramco • Saudi Geophysical Consulting Office •

Schlumberger • SeaBird Exploration • Searcher Seismic • Seequent • Seiche • Seismic Image Processing Ltd • Seismic Source Company • Sercel • Severo-Zapad LLC • SGS Nederland B.V. (Subsurface Consultancy) • Sharp Reflections GmbH • Shearwater GeoServices Ltd • Shell International Exploration & Production • Sherritt International Corporation • SiberGeo OU • Sigra Pty Ltd • Silixa Ltd • Sino Geophysical Company • Sinopec Geophysical Corporation • Sisprobe • Society of Exploration Geophysicists • Sonardyne International Ltd • Sound QI Solutions Ltd. • SPH Engineering • Spotlight • STEMA Systems • Strata Technology LTD • Stryde Limited • SYRLINKS

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TARGET Energy Solutions • TDI-Brooks International Inc. •

TechnoImaging • Teledyne Marine • TERRASYS Geophysics GmbH & Co. KG • TGS • The EasyCopy Company • TotalEnergies S.E. • Troika International Ltd W

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Verif-i Limited • Vinci Technologies • Vista Clara Inc. • VNIIOkeangeologia • VSProwess Ltd

Weihai Sunfull Geophysical Exploration Equipment

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Zonge International Inc. • ZZ Resistivity Imaging Pty. Ltd.

PERSONAL RECORD INTERVIEW

Rich Pancost

Personal Record Interview

Managing life as a geoscientist and activist From modest beginnings in rural Ohio, Rich Pancost today is professor of biogeochemistry and head of school, Earth Sciences, at the University of Bristol, and was director of the interdisciplinary Cabot Institute he co-founded 10 years ago. His research focuses on tools based on organic compounds to reconstruct past climate. Outside academia, he is a prominent environmental and social justice activist with an outspoken blog.

Lessons from life on the farm?

Growing up on a farm certainly instilled a love for the environment. But it also made me aware of precarity and uncertainty. We were a small, family farm, and we always knew that one overly rainy summer or nasty accident would be catastrophic. This certainly informed the focus of the Cabot Institute on environmental uncertainty.

You chose geology over law?

I love politics, science, the humanities. I was always torn. But geology won out for two reasons. First, I fell in love with field work, the Wind River Range during summer field camp as well as the Appalachian Mountains when half covered with snow.

But second, I would be paid as a PhD student and could not afford law school.

Relevance of organic geochemistry today?

Organic geochemistry is the central geochemistry. It is the chemistry of carbon and the chemistry of life. It drives the redox state of the Earth and by extension the behaviour of so many other elements.

It is intimately related to climate change, whether via the burning of fossil fuel or its burial and sequestration in the geosphere.

We cannot understand our planet’s history or its future without understanding organic geochemistry.

Which research projects have excited you most?

The type of projects I like the most are the collaborative ones, where new ideas arise

from friendship and collective effort. But I probably get the biggest buzz out of discovering a new biomarker, some vestige of an ancient microorganism’s long lost biochemistry.

background or moving far from loved ones.

Is there a positive future for your students?

Of course! We must be honest with our students: academic jobs are few in number, and academic settings can be as exploitative, racist and sexist as any. But the number of people who are committed to improving our discipline is growing, and our voices are getting louder. And even when our jobs are not ideal, there is much to love in them. Of course, we are also dismantling academic essentialism.

My students have wonderful, inspiring, world-changing careers in industry, politics and civil society. There are great opportunities in so many areas to find a community with shared values and passions.

Any regrets in life so far?

I’ve always been passionate about diversity and equity. But I wish I had invested time earlier in my career to learn more sooner. To develop a more sophisticated understanding; to explore privilege and intersectionality; to learn from those with different experiences than my own.

What prompted your blog?

When I became director of the Cabot Institute, my team thought I had a lot to say, so they suggested I write it down — and maybe if I wrote more I would talk less! Having done so, it was difficult to write such an honest blog. It is not how we do things in the Midwest. But many earlier career academics seemed to value a senior colleague openly discussing issues that had previously been hidden, such as sharing the difficulties of coming from a working-class FIRST

Can activism affect change?

It is the only thing that can affect change.

What’s next?

In the short term, after being Cabot director and head of school for ten years, I want to do some fundamental science – I want to see some strange isotope signatures in some strange compounds.

But that is a temporary itch. Looking a few years down the road, I also want to collaborate and apply my understanding of organic matter to climate and environmental solutions.

Lastly, the frisbee connection?

I encourage all of you to have something that demands your attention in a way that keeps work from imposing itself.

That can be family or reading, but for me it was Ultimate. I can think about biomarkers when I run, but I cannot think about them when I am on the pitch! So I do just love running around and love being part of a team, but I also love the escape.

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Make sure you’re in the know

EAGE MONTHLY UPDATE 2022 will be another exciting year with EAGE. We‘ve selected a few highlights about what to expect this year. More to follow, keep an eye on us.

E U R O PE Second EAGE Digitalization Conference and Exhibition

Vienna, Austria

7-9 Feb

Second EAGE Conference on Seismic Inversion

Porto, Portugal

4‑6 Apr

EAGE GeoTech 2022

London, UK

6‑9 Jun

83rd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition

Madrid, Spain

22‑24 Aug

Third EAGE Workshop on Marine Acquisition

Oslo, Norway

18‑22 Sep

Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition 2022

Belgrade, Serbia

A M E R I CAS

1‑3 Feb

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19-20 May

Third EAGE Workshop on HPC in the Americas

Salvador, Brazil

24-26 Aug

Second EAGE Workshop on EOR in the Americas

Bogotá, Colombia

28-30 Sep

First EAGE Conference on Guyana Basins

Georgetown, Guyana

Oct

Second EAGE Workshop on East Canada Offshore Exploration

Calgary, Canada

21-23 Nov

First EAGE/ SBGf Workshop on Reservoir Monitoring

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

22-25 Nov

Third EAGE Conference on Pre- Salt Reservoir

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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EVENTS

RUSSIA & CIS

11‑14 Apr

Saint Petersburg 2022 10th International Geological and Geophysical Conference

Saint Petersburg, Russia

25-29 Apr

Engineering and Mining Geophysics 2022

Gelendzhik, Russia

8‑12 Aug

GeoBaikal 2022

Irkutsk, Russia

5-8 Sep

Geomodel 2022 24th Conference on O&G Exploration and Development

Gelendzhik, Russia

21-23 Sep

Third Conference on Data Science in Russia & CIS

Novosibirsk, Russia

3‑7 Oct

Horizontal Wells 2022

Sochi, Russia

14-16 Oct

4 Caspian Sea Conference

Baku, Azerbaijan

th

CONNECT WITH EAGE LOCAL CHAPTERS NEAR YOU NEW IN 2022 LOCAL CHAPTER STAVANGER

& AFRICA

MIDDLE EAST

ASIA PACIFIC 23-24 Aug

EAGE Asia Pacific Workshop on CO2 Geological Storage

Perth, Australia

13-15 Sep

EAGE Conference on Digital Innovation for a Sustainable Future

Bangkok, Thailand

24-27 Oct

EAGE 5th Asia Pacific Meeting on Near Surface Geoscience & Engineering

Taipei, Taiwan

5-7 Dec

2nd EAGE Workshop on Fibre Optic Sensing for Energy Applications in Asia Pacific

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

6-8 Dec

2nd EAGE/SEG Workshop on Geophysical Aspects of Smart Cities

Hong Kong

21-23 Feb

International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2022

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

21‑23 Mar

Fourth EAGE Workshop on Well Injectivity/ Productivity and Reservoir Management in Carbonates

Doha, Qatar

12‑14 Sep

Mediterranean and North African (MEDiNA) Conference and Exhibition

Tunis, Tunisia

25-27 Oct

Second EAGE Subsurface Intelligence Workshop

Manama, Bahrain

7-9 Nov

Sixth EAGE Eastern Africa Petroleum Geoscience Forum

Cape Town, South Africa

6-8 Dec

Second EAGE Conference on Renewable Energy in the Middle East and Africa

Muscat, Oman

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CROSSTALK

BY AN D R E W M c BAR N E T

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Unmasking the unknowns of 2022 Predictions are a mug’s game. It seems especially futile to guess ‘That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is with any accuracy what 2022 may have in store. Specifically the most important of all the lessons of history’ for the geoscience and engineering community, there are so Napoleon famously stated that history is a myth (set of many factors involved that may affect its business and operalies, in some translations,) that men agree to believe. In other tions almost all out of its control. The shortlist would include words we turn the past into the narrative we want it to be. The renowned Dutch historian Pieter Geyl in Napoleon: For and ongoing impact of the pandemic, oil supply and demand and the price machinations of global hydrocarbon producers, pace Against (1948) and later in Use and Abuse of History (1955) of energy transition developments in numerous industry sectors, argued that historians base their interpretation of the past oil company appetite for E&P spending, economic health of influenced by the present. Geyl noted that in France’s imperial main providers of geoscience services, potential for technology days in the 19th century French historians admired Napoleon as breakthroughs, etc, etc. a patriotic hero, but in the 20th century his dictatorial tendencies To help us reflect upon if not cope with exercises in and harmful impact on France were being highlighted reflecting futility, history and legend have handed down some memorable contemporary events in the era of Stalin and Hitler. Although analogies. Current favourite in the Crosstalk canon is ‘The a respecter of history, Winston Churchill, Britain’s Second hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in World War prime minister and subsequent chronicler of the war, did somewhat give the a dark room, especially if there is no cat’, ‘Unfortunately no controversially attributed by some to the game away when remarking ‘History will be Chinese philosopher Confucius. This conun- science can enlighten kind to me for I intend to write it’.

Perhaps we should therefore settle for drum worthy of Monty Python has recently what awaits us gained some contemporary notoriety from its ‘history is just one damn thing after another’ in 2022’ use by Russian authorities to explain away usually attributed (out of context) to the hisinconvenient accusations against the state. In torian Arnold Toynbee. That is certainly what one case, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Putin, used the last couple of years feel like. And now, here we go again. the ‘black cat’ obfuscation when asked about the conclusion Just as the world was coming to terms with the Covid-19 virus of the Mueller investigation into alleged Russian ‘collusion’ in and looking ahead to a recovery in the global economy, possibly helping President Trump’s winning election campaign in 2016. quite rapid, the emergence of the fast spreading Omicron variant Separately Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s representative to the looks like dampening expectations. Those analysts intrepid United Nations, referred to the ‘black cat’ saying of a Chinese enough to hazard a guess about the 2022 global energy market philosopher in denying involvement in Russian aggression are wisely cautioning that the unknowable impact of Omicron against Ukraine in 2014 and the poisoning in the UK in 2018 of could undermine their calculations. a former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

In fact the whole energy prediction has become such a crapUnfortunately no science can enlighten what awaits us in shoot that the research teams from major international agencies 2022, and the past is not a reliable guide to the future. This is and oil companies have taken to offering a range of scenarios. a topic that has vexed historians and those who make history.

The process involves first identifying key factors involved in British author and philosopher Aldous Huxley, author of the shaping our energy future. This in itself is quite speculative 1930s classic Brave New World, was especially dismissive – in that it can only cover what we know today. The second

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stage is to test various combinations to come up with some project requires a long-term commitment and uncertain return credible future energy picture. The number of ‘ifs’ that have to on investment in a changing energy resource environment.

Any new projects are thought likely to continue the survey be juggled varies in proportion to how far ahead you want to look. formats developed in response to the ceaseless demand for And, back to the earlier point, sitting here in early 2022, more cost effective marine seismic operations (where new E&P money is likely to be spent). Multi-client is now the norm for we can only envisage the type of world we live in today. The accepted deadline for capping global warming at 1.5% is genmany projects providing economies for oil company clients, erally agreed to be 2050, over a quarter of a century from now. never mind the extra risk, permitting hassles, etc borne by the service sector.

A lot can happen to our way of life in that time. Put it another Probably the most obvious operational shift is the increase way, think back 25 years ago and the changes since then. in hybrid surveys harnessing the established imaging benefits Notably the smart phone, Google (founded in 1998) and just of ocean bottom node (OBN) seismic alongside conventional about everything online was not part of our lives then, although towed streamer acquisition. These surveys are now part of the it was in the works for those in the know. If you attended the playbook of all the leading actors, e.g., Shearwater, PGS, BGP opening keynote address at the EAGE 1999 Conference & and PXGEO. The hybrid option provides oil operators with a Exhibition you would have heard a top gun from the Finnish very attractive proposition at nearly two for the price of one. telecommunications company Nokia lay out most of the features Surveys can typically be sparse or dense grids as required. For that are offered on modern smart phones. It seemed somewhat contractors, existing technology has proved easily adaptable futuristic at the time. Unluckily for Nokia, it was unable to although improvements in node delivery and retrieval systems capitalise on its vision in the years that followed, overtaken by can be expected.

Apple and others.

The market for pure OBN surveys has not turned into the Trawling through the musings of reputable energy analysts boom once promised. On the face of it, this is odd given that like the International Energy Agency, Deloitte, Barclays, Rystad oil companies are concentrating on maximising production Energy, WoodMac, IHS Markit, etc, you can at least get a sense from existing and near field reservoirs, thus ideally suited for of the current energy and other variables in play for 2022, and imaging with seabed seismic acquisition. wow, it’s complicated.

Yet, it seems oil companies often have to Take the prospects for the service sector ‘The big question is be convinced that the benefits justify the of the oil and gas industry as a case study obviously how much extra cost and logistical challenges compared of one variable amongst the many. The big question is obviously how much business it business the service with the latest towed-streamer alternatives.

Improvements in source technology in parcan expect. In October at the EAGE Annual sector can expect’ ticular are making a significant difference Meeting, unscientific polling of participants to the clarity of reservoir imaging possible was optimistic, that is to say, oil companies with streamer vessels. One day, heavily robotic nodal syswould continue to be stringent but budgets were not expected to tems, conceptually the ultimate solution, may surface but be cut and indeed there was some sentiment that more seismic there is no immediate sign of any breakthrough in this work could be commissioned particularly in the latter quarters regard. of the year. This broadly mirrors statements by CEOs of the The pace of seismic technology evolution is likely to be major seismic players. tempered by service company financial constraints. The immeYet if you unpack this forecast, you realise we have no way diate concern for Shearwater and PGS at least is to increase of knowing which way oil companies are going to jump with their revenues to escape from the substantial deficits they are regard to their E&P spend, even those which have published currently carrying. R&D may therefore be a lesser priority. their likely budgets. If the future price of oil is the indicator of In this context oil companies have been talking technology the likely scale of expenditure, good luck with that. Oil compacooperation with the service sector. The reasoning is simple. nies have been raking in the cash as prices have risen to $70-80 As ever, they are looking for the most cost-effective solutions per barrel. But they have chosen to use the money to reward possible, but also these days for increasingly environmentally stakeholders, buy in their own shares invest in renewables, etc. friendly surveys. The service sector on its own may not be able E&P initiatives have been modest. This may be fear that OPEC+ to deliver on the timescale required by oil companies. A helping and the US shale business can rapidly change the market hand is therefore needed. dynamics. It may be that conspicuous new oil development post The possibilities are so endless that a wonderfully puzzling COP26 does not go down well, case in point Shell’s withdrawal Chinese proverb comes to mind: If you do not change direction, from the proposed UK Cambo oil field project west of Shetland. you may end up where you are heading.

There is also the point that any new rather than incremental

Views expressed in Crosstalk are solely those of the author, who can be contacted at andrew@andrewmcbarnet.com.

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Unlock your energy resources of the future, in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible The world’s smallest, lightest and most affordable seismic nodal system

Redefines the cost of seismic acqusition

Access ultra high-resolution data

Minimise environmental footprint

MAKING HIGH-DENSITY SEISMIC AFFORDABLE FOR ANY INDUSTRY

HIGHLIGHTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

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Equinor to halve emissions at Osberg

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Shell wins right to shoot seismic in South Africa

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Mozambique launches sixth round

Oil becoming significantly cheaper to produce says Rystad Costs within the upstream sector have come down considerably in 2021, making new oil more competitive and significantly cheaper to produce, according to Rystad Energy’s annual cost of supply analysis.

The average breakeven price for new oil projects has dropped to around $47 per barrel – down around 8% over the past year and 40% since 2014, with offshore deepwater remaining one of the least expensive sources of new supply.

Rystad’s cost of supply curve for liquids indicates that back in 2014 an oil price of close to $100 per barrel was required to produce 100 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2030. By 2018, the required oil price was closer to $55 per barrel, and in 2020, it dropped to $45 per barrel. Our latest estimate remains unchanged this year at $45 per barrel for 100 million bpd of production in 2030.

‘We maintain the required oil price to produce 100 million bpd in 2030 unchanged, despite the declining average breakeven price of new oil projects, because the potential supply for 2030 has decreased since last year due to delays in sanctioning activity and conservative shale producers,’ said Rystad.

In 2014, Rystad estimated that the total 2030 liquid potential was 104 million bpd, while in 2018, this jumped considerably to 135 million bpd mainly driven by increased potential volumes from North American tight oil. However, low activity levels in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid19 pandemic and a general focus on

the energy transition, led to a downward adjustment in the overall liquid potential.

In 2020, the potential 2030 supply was revised down to about 116 million bpd, and in 2021 it was revised it further to 113 million bpd.

‘As the theoretical supply in 2030 exceeds the demand trajectory by more than 10 million bpd, climate policies should be more demand-focused rather than supply-focused. Supply cuts enacted within one country will largely be countered by supply increases from other countries, while demand cuts are not met with new sources of demand,’ said Espen Erlingsen, head of upstream research at Rystad Energy.

From 2014 to 2018, tight oil and OPEC were the clear winners as both segments saw a reduction in the breakeven price and an increase in potential volumes. Back in 2014, Rystad Energy estimated the average breakeven price for tight oil to be $82 per barrel and the potential supply in 2025 to be 12 million bpd. Since then, the breakeven price has come down while the potential supply has increased. In 2018, Rystad estimated an average breakeven price for tight oil of $47 per barrel and potential supply of 22 million bpd. The breakeven price for tight oil has continued to fall, reaching a current average of $37 per barrel. However, tight oil production potential in 2025 has dropped from Rystad’s 2018 estimate to around 16 million bpd. This drop is due to the sharp reduction in activity during 2020.

Lower activity last year, and a modest FIRST

recovery this year removed potential tight oil supply from the market.

Between 2014 and 2018, offshore shelf and deepwater experienced a cost reduction of around 30%. However, the lack of new sanctioning activity over the period reduced the potential 2025 offshore liquid supply. Meanwhile, since 2018, breakeven prices for offshore deepwater fell by 30%, and for shallow water by 17%. These cost reductions put average breakeven prices for deepwater just below tight oil. At the same time, the potential 2025 offshore liquids supply has not changed much. This means offshore has been the most attractive development over the last three years.

From 2014 to date, the average Brent breakeven price for new oil sands projects has declined from around $100 per barrel to around $55 per barrel. The main reason is that many future phases will be developed as smaller, incremental brownfield expansions rather than large-scale greenfield projects.

Onshore Middle East is the cheapest source of new production with an average breakeven price of around $32 per barrel.

This is also the segment with one of the largest resource potentials. Offshore deepwater is the second cheapest source of new production, with an average breakeven price of $36 per barrel. Shelf remains the segment with the largest resource potential at 126 billion barrels of unsanctioned volumes. Russia onshore continues to be one of the more expensive resources due to the high gross taxes in the country.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

CGG carries out North Sea carbon screening study CGG has completed a carbon storage screening study in the northern North Sea to support CCUS operators in identifying suitable CO2 storage sites.

GeoVerse provides an in-depth review of potential CO2 storage plays in a region extending over CGG’s North Viking Graben 3D seismic dataset, including areas in both UK and Norwegian waters.

Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO, CGG, said: ‘Our GeoVerse Carbon Storage screening study is part of a new suite of products that will support the energy transition through capitalizing on CGG’s wealth of geoscience know-how and data science expertise, which includes more than 130 geothermal projects and support for the Sleipner, Troll, Weyburn, Pembina and Gorgon CCUS projects. These new GeoVerse products will

address a wide spectrum of applications, from geothermal resource assessment, through critical mineral exploration, and carbon sequestration.’

The resulting Storage Play Quality Index maps are delivered through the GeoVerse platform and provide key information for the evaluation of capacity, injectivity and containment at play scale.

TGS launches CO2 atlas for southern US TGS has launched its CO2 Storage Atlas covering the southern US, in collaboration with consultancy firm Canadian Discovery.

The CO2 Storage Atlas, Southern US Edition is a subsurface classification dataset designed as a prospecting and technical assessment tool for potential carbon dioxide (CO2) storage and enhanced oil recovery potential in depleted reservoirs. The Atlas is delivered in a convenient web interface with interactive browse and query capability, bringing together critical analytics about new storage volumes and CO2 emitters.

The Atlas encompasses an area of over 87,000 miles2 across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, assessing more than 7000 potential storage resources using TGS’s national well databases and proprietary subsurface interpretation products. The Southern US Edition provides consistent volumetrics with ranges and confidence at all productive stratigraphic levels across the region.

Katja Akentieva, vice-president of TGS New Energy Solutions, Western Hemisphere, said: ‘We are enabling further

development of CCS infrastructure in the United States, ensuring that storage opportunities are assessed carefully and using the most comprehensive subsurface knowledge. Unlocking new storage capacity will be necessary in order to achieve a net-zero emissions world. We have identified and assessed over 2Gt of storage capacity which can be utilized by the emitting facilities, qualifying them for 45Q tax credit. Our solutions will provide stakeholders of the carbon capture value chain with significant time and cost savings.’

DNV and Equinor develop carbon capture software KFX CO2 simulation software is being developed by DNV and Equinor to increase safety in carbon capture and storage.

Equinor has partnered with DNV for the next three years to further development of DNV’s KFX CO2 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software.

KFX CO2 software simulates accidental releases of CO2 from storage

facilities or leaks from pipelines, trucks or ships. CO2 is usually transported and stored in liquid or supercritical state. It is much heavier than air and a release of concentrated CO2 will therefore typically follow the contours of the terrain and accumulate in pits, valleys and lower-lying grounds. KFX CO2 will take complex thermodynamics and interac-

tion between geometry and terrain into account, including dry-ice formation and sublimation of CO2. ‘The development project, funded by Equinor, will bring these detailed simulation capabilities to KFX CO2, supporting a new level of safety for handling captured CO2,’ said DNV’s project manager Kjell Erik Rian.

Seabird builds backlog for 2022 Seabird Exploration has won an extension for a 2D survey in the Asia Pacific region, which is now is expected to be completed in the middle of Q1 2022, adding about 50% to the original programme. The company sees other opportunities in the 28

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region after the current contract has been completed.

Meanwhile, SeaBird Exploration has won a contract to provide two source vessels for an OBN project starting in Q2 2022 with estimated duration of 100 days. It will

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utilize chartered vessels on the project, fitted with seismic source equipment from SeaBird’s equipment pool. With the Fulmar Explorer already fixed on a one-year contract, the company has more than 550 vessel-days of work for the next 12 months.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Equinor to cut CO2 emissions at Osberg Field by half

The Oseberg field is located in the North Sea. Credit: Harald Pettersen / Equinor ASA.

An Equinor-led consortium will reduce CO2 emissions from the Oseberg Field Centre and the Oseberg South platform in the North Sea by an estimated 320,000 tonnes a year while increasing Oseberg gas production.

An amended $1.1 billion plan for development and operation (PDO) has been submitted to Norway’s Ministry of Petroleum and Energy with a view to opening the new facility in 2026.

Oseberg will transition from being primarily an oil field to becoming a substantial gas producer with large remaining gas resources.

Two new compressors will be installed to boost recoverable gas volumes and the Oseberg Field Centre and Oseberg South platform will be partially electrified.

Oseberg is the third largest oil producer ever on the NCS, producing around 3.2 billion barrels of oil. Oil production is in the tail phase, but 60% of the gas resources are still in the ground. Only Troll and Snøhvit have more remaining gas resources on the NCS. ‘We expect Oseberg to produce more than 100 billion sm3 of gas towards 2040.

In terms of energy, the annual gas export from Oseberg will equal a quarter off all Norwegian hydropower,’ said Geir Sørtveit, Equinor’s senior vice president for exploration and production west.

For the year 2020, Oseberg emissions totalled around one million tonnes of CO2. Since 2010, emissions at Oseberg have been reduced by around 15%, and there is an ambition of further reducing emissions by 50-70% by 2030.

‘The solution adopted gives a cut in emissions of about 50% from the Oseberg Field Centre and the Oseberg South platform,’ said Sørtveit.

Equinor (49.3%) is the operator of the Osberg Field and the partners are Petoro (33.6%), Total (14.7%) and ConocoPhillips (2.4%).

Magseis Fairfield wins 4D OBN contracts in Gulf of Mexico and North Sea Magseis Fairfield has won two contracts for 4D Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) surveys in the Gulf of Mexico from a repeat customer. The surveys will be conducted with Magseis Fairfield’s ZXPLR technology.

Start-up is expected in Q1 2022 with one project running for approx. five months, with options for extensions, and the other operating for approx. two months with an optional project for a further two months.

‘These awards further strengthen our backlog in our core area of Gulf of Mexico

and builds our 2022 visibility,’ said Carel Hooijkaas, CEO in Magseis Fairfield.

The company has also won a 4D ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the North Sea using Z700 technology. Start-up is expected in Q2 2022, and the project will run for approximately one month. ‘The survey will commence following completion of the Asia project that was announced in August 2021. We are pleased to see that our Z700 crew continues to experience high demand,’ added Hooijkaas.

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Shell wins legal battle to shoot seismic surveys offshore South Africa The South African high court has rejected an application brought by environmentalists to stop Shell starting seismic surveys off the eastern seaboard’s Wild Coast.

The applicants, including Greenpeace Africa, had been seeking to stop the survey on the basis it could cause ‘irreparable harm’ to the marine environment, especially to migrating hump-back whales ‘The court refused to ban the seismic survey on the basis that irreparable harm to marine species was not proven by the applicants,’ said Katherine Johnson of Natural Justice, one of the applicants.

‘The court ruled that given financial and other prejudice to Shell if the seismic surveys were delayed, the balance of convenience was in Shell’s favour.’

Johnson said further litigation from the group cannot be ruled out, as it had

concerns that Shell had not obtained the necessary environmental impact assessments.

Shell said that it had met all the legal obligations to undertake the survey in line with regulations, and received the necessary approvals.

In 2020 Shell acquired a 50% stake in the offshore exploration right held by Impact Africa, a subsidiary of Impact Oil & Gas. Another group, Sustaining the Wild Coast, which represents communities along the coastline, has lodged a separate court application also seeking to halt the seismic survey.

‘We are calling for an immediate halt to the survey and that no seismic surveying be allowed without a proper environmental authorisation,’ said Sinegugu Zukulu, a spokesman for the group.

CGG licenses 3D data to UK Northern Lights CCUS project CGG has licensed its Northern Viking Graben multi-client seismic data set in the Northern North Sea to Northern Lights JV DA, for use in its future CO2 storage developments. Northern Lights JV DA is the operator of the first industry-scale project for transport and store CO2 on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

After this first data licensing success in the growing CO2 storage market, CGG said that it will continue to expand its multi-client data library to support initiatives by industry players to identify and derisk subsurface storage sites and provide key information to estimate storage resources and help define efficient and safe monitoring solutions.

Northern Lights is developing the world’s first cross-border open-source CO2 transport and storage infrastruc-

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ture network to offer CO2 storage as a service to customers across sectors in Europe to help the tran- Dechun Lin, sition to net EVP, Multi-Client, CGG. zero emissions.

Its aim is to help industries mitigate emissions that cannot be avoided in other ways, and to provide safe and permanent storage of CO2 under the seabed in Norway.

Dechun Lin, EVP, multiclient, CGG, said: ‘This underlines the increasingly important role and added value that our geoscience data, technologies and expertise bring to our clients and society, in support of the energy transition to a low carbon future.’

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Environmental activists protest outside Shell’s offices in Sandton, South Africa. Credit: Kim Ludbrook/EPA.

PGS wins 4D contracts offshore Brazil and in the North Sea PGS is scheduled to start a 4D acquisition survey for Petrobras over the Roncador and Albacora Leste fields offshore Brazil in Q2 2022.

Acquisition is expected to complete in Q3 2022. ‘We have acquired several 4D surveys offshore Brazil and gained significant operational experience,’ said president and CEO of PGS, Rune Olav Pedersen.

PGS has also won a 4D contract in the North Sea. A Ramform Titan-class vessel is scheduled to commence acquisition in early August 2022 and complete mid-September.

‘It is encouraging to see our clients securing capacity well in advance, like in this case, and we believe in a continued improvement of the contract market next year,’ added Pedersen.

INDUSTRY NEWS

UK hydrocarbons exploration still needed says UK Oil and Gas Authority boss Exploration and production of oil and gas from the North Sea is still needed if the UK is to meet its energy needs, while ensuring an energy transition to net zero, said the chairman of the UK Oil and Gas Authority, Tim Eggar.

Speaking at the combined PROSPEX and PETEX conference in London, Eggar said: ‘Oil and gas currently provide around three quarters of total UK energy consumption. All forecasts, including the independent Climate Change Committee, point to them being required for heat, power and transportation for the foreseeable future.

‘We only have to look back a matter of weeks, when we saw long queues at petrol stations and a gas crisis which brought the prospect of higher gas bills for

millions of consumers. Our own analyses show domestic gas production has less than half the carbon footprint of imported LNG. In fact, we can produce gas with a lower carbon footprint than almost all other producing countries. So it really makes no sense to be more reliant than we need to be on imports – particularly from countries with less to no commitment to reducing their emissions.’

Despite industry’s commitment in the North Sea Transition Deal to half emissions by 2030 and be a fully net zero basin by 2050, Eggar told delegates that industry must do much more to ensure it exceeds these targets: ‘Industry’s social licence to operate is barely holding. Failure to deliver the transition deal is not an

option. These emissions targets should be viewed as the absolute minimum. Industry should look to smash these targets, not just meet them.’

He predicted that the ‘highly skilled geosciences community’ would help to ramp up vital carbon capture and storage solutions to scale to meet the targets.

‘We’re blessed with world-class CO2 storage potential here in the UK. There is a tremendous opportunity to meet not just the UK’s requirements for carbon removal, but to support the storage of carbon dioxide from the rest of Europe.

The success of CCS is going to depend on you – people who understand the rocks, understand the infrastructure, understand the risks and opportunities.’

US Gulf of Mexico lease sale attracts nearly $200 million in bids US Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 257 has generated $191,688,984 in high bids for 308 tracts covering 1.7 million acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Thirty three companies participated in the lease sale, submitting $198,511,834 in total bids. Lease Sale 257 offered approx.

15,148 unleased blocks located from three to 231 miles offshore, in the Gulf’s Western, Central and Eastern Planning Areas in water depths ranging from nine to more than 11,115 feet (three to 3,400 m).

It was the eighth offshore sale held under the 2017-2022 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Programme.

The Biden administration had sought to impose a moratorium on new oil and gas leasing while it reviews offshore and onshore programmes and implements improvements. The sale took place as a result of a US District Court’s preliminary injunction. The US government is appealing against the decision.

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has pledged to use updated greenhouse gas emission models to take substitution impacts and foreign oil consumption into account, resulting in what

PXGEO wins contracts offshore Brazil and Egypt

it claims are the most robust projections ever of the climate impacts of offshore lease sales, as well as analysing the social cost of carbon to better understand the true impacts of fossil fuel leasing decisions.

Meanwhile, a US Department of the Interior report on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices has identified significant reforms that should be made to ensure a fair return to taxpayers, hold operators responsible for remediation, and more fully include communities and tribal, state, and local governments in decision-making.

The report completes the review of the federal oil and gas programmes called for in Executive Order 14008. It recommends adjusting royalty and bonding rates, prioritizing leasing in areas with known resource potential, and avoiding leasing that conflicts with recreation, wildlife habitat, conservation, and historical and cultural resources.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said: ‘This review outlines significant deficiencies in the federal oil and gas programmes, and identifies important and urgent fiscal reforms.’

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PXGEO has completed the Sapinhoa 4D Baseline OBN programme for the Petrobras-led BMS-9 consortium in the deep-water Santos Basin, offshore Brazil.

The four-month project utilizing PXGEO’s proprietary Manta OBN technology programme was completed towards the end of October 2021, within the agreed project schedule.

The company has also agreed with Petrobras to acquire a threemonth OBN seismic project in Brazil, starting in H2, 2022.

Finally, PXGEO has won a project in the Egyptian Red Sea, which was due to commence in November 2021 with an approximate duration of four months and be acquired by seismic vessel PXGEO 2.

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Cambo gas field offshore UK is put on hold after Shell pulls out Development of the Cambo discovery west of the Shetland Islands in the UK North Sea has been put on hold after Shell confirmed it is pulling out of the project.

The project was heavily criticised during the COP26 global summit on climate change in Glasgow, UK, but Shell said the decision was an economic one.

‘After comprehensive screening of the proposed Cambo development, we have concluded the economic case for investment in this project is not strong enough at this time’, said a company statement.

Cambo operator Siccar Point said that it could no longer proceed to the original timescale and was therefore ‘pausing the project’ while it evaluates the next steps.

‘Cambo remains critical to the UK’s energy security and economy,’ Jonathan

Roger, chief executive officer of Siccar Point. ‘Whilst we are disappointed at Shell’s change of position, we remain confident about the qualities of a project that will not only create more than 1,000 direct jobs as well as thousands more in the supply chain, but also help to ease the UK’s transition to a low carbon future through responsibly produced domestic oil instead of becoming even more dependent on imports, with a relatively higher carbon intensity,’ Roger added.

‘We will continue to engage with the UK Government and wider stakeholders on the future development of Cambo.’

Cambo would help to reduce the volume of imports required by delivering up to 170 million barrels of oil equivalent

Environmentalists protest against the Cambo field at COP26 in Glasgow.

Credit: Jane Barlow/PA Images/Alamy.

during its 25-year operational life, according to Siccar Point. The company also highlighted that the development will be on average 50% lower in emissions from the outset than existing fields ‘thanks to a vast range of measures’.

Last month, industry body Oil & Gas UK warned that if new projects like Cambo are not approved then UK production would plummet with gas output falling up to 75% by 2030.

Shell said that it would continue to invest in offshore UK oil and gas: ’Continued investment in oil and gas in the UK remains critical to the country’s energy security. As Shell works to help accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy, we remain committed to supplying UK customers with the fuels they still rely on, including oil and gas.

‘We believe the North Sea – and Shell in it – have a critical role to play in the UK’s energy mix.’

Located 125 km north-west of the Shetland Islands, the Cambo field was discovered in 2002 and had five wells drilled into the structure. Siccar Point acquired a 100% operated interest in the field from the takeover of OMV in January 2017 and brought Shell UK bought a 30% stake in May 2018.

TGS reprocesses Timor-Leste data TGS has completed the first phase of the seismic reprocessing of 1270 km2 of data along the trend of the Chuditch-1 gas discovery offshore Timor-Leste for client Baron Oil. Processed to an interim pre-stack depth migration, these initial data are already providing encouraging indications of improvement in the quality of subsurface imaging around the Chuditch gas discovery and offset prospects, compared to the legacy data, said Baron Oil.

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Interpretations from these interim data will now be used to feedback iteratively into the final seismic processing, which remains on schedule and budget, with final data delivery to Baron during Q2 2022. The final processed version will be critical in the re-evaluation of the Chuditch discovery and surrounding prospectivity, in particular the evaluation of in-place volumes and the location of potential future wells, added Baron Oil. Jon Ford, technical director of Baron said: ‘The delivery of the initial products

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from the 3D seismic reprocessing is a significant milestone in our re-evaluation of the Chuditch trend. To date, encouraging improvements have been observed in data quality which we are confident will lead to a substantially clearer subsurface image in the final reprocessed products.

‘In parallel, we continue with other studies which, when combined with the seismic reprocessing, will deliver a complete and high quality technical and commercial evaluation of this exciting asset during 2022.’

INDUSTRY NEWS

Lebanon launches delayed second licensing round Lebanon’s second offshore licensing round for eight blocks has been relaunched with the closing date for submissions set at 15 June, 2022.

The Lebanese Petroleum Administration (LPA) is inviting bids on blocks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. Blocks 4 and 9 were awarded in the first licensing round.

The round was originally launched in April 2019. The initial deadline to submit applications was set to 31 January, 2020.

However, at the request of interested energy companies, and later on due to the implications of the global Covid-19 pandemic the deadline was postponed to 30 April, 2020 and then to 1 June, 2020.

Once the applications are received, the LPA will prequalify applicants within three weeks after the deadline for submission of interest.

Petrobras unveils five-year $68 billion plan are economically viable in an oil price scenario of $35 per barrel in the medium and long term, added Petrobras.

The oil and gas production estimated for 2022 and 2026, respectively, are 2.7 and 3.2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Some $2.8 billion will be spent on cutting emissions, including investments in operational efficiency incorporated in the projects for emissions mitigation (scopes 1 and 2), bioproducts (renewable diesel and aviation biokerosene) and research and development.

Investments are planned in the digital transformation and innovation area of around $1.6 billion over the 2022-26 PE horizon, focusing on efficiency, environmental compliance, operational safety, and sustainability.

© Geraldo Falcão / Agência Petrobras.

Petrobras has approved a strategic plan for 2022-2026 to invest $68 billion, 24% higher than in the previous plan.

In the E&P segment, $57 billion will be invested between 2022 and 2026. For this period, 15 new platforms will start operating in six fields. All projects considered

Mozambique launches sixth licensing round Mozambique has launched its Sixth Licensing Round for 16 areas, five of which are located in the Rovuma Basin, seven in Angoche, two in the Zambezi Delta and two in Save, totalling more than 92,000 km2. Interested parties have until 30 June, 2022 to submit bids. licences are expected to be handed out in October

2022. Operators need to prove that they have more than $2 billion in assets.

The tender was launched three months after the approval of new rules reducing the time between the holding of public tenders for the concession of areas to two years, as opposed to three years under previous legislation.

A gas facility at the Rovuma Basin.

Ikon Science and Wipro work to digitally transform legacy data Ikon Science is working with Wipro to accelerate digital transformation of legacy databases by leveraging Curate, Ikon’s subsurface knowledge management solution.

‘Digital transformation initiatives often compromise end users by creating siloed data and complexity. The partnership between Ikon Science and

Wipro addresses this by using Curate as the focal point of a comprehensive and scalable digital transformation solution,’ said Ikon Science in a statement.

‘Curate harnesses user knowledge management and geopredictive applications to empower energy companies to leverage and contextualize disparate existing data regardless of source,’ it added.

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Wipro will leverage Curate as one of its technology solutions in the delivery of legacy data migration to cloud platforms, including OSDUTM and other industry or energy company-specific repositories. Wipro is a leading deployment and operationalization partner for the OSDUTM data platform.

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ExxonMobil unveils emissions reduction plan for US Permian Basin ExxonMobil plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from operated assets in the US Permian Basin by 2030, accelerating and expanding its emission-reduction plans for unconventional operations in New Mexico and Texas.

The plans include elimination of routine flaring in the Permian Basin operations by year-end 2022; electrification of operations in New Mexico and Texas, including low-carbon power sources; and expansion and acceleration of methane monitoring, equipment upgrades and flaring reduction Greenhouse gas emission-reduction efforts in the Permian Basin will be supported by electrifying operations, contin-

uing investments in methane mitigation and detection technology, eliminating routine flaring, upgrading equipment, and employing emissions offset technology.

The company plans to electrify its operations with low-carbon power, which may include wind, solar, hydrogen, natural gas with carbon capture and storage.

ExxonMobil plans to expand its methane detection programmes utilizing satellite surveillance and a network of groundbased sensors for continuous monitoring, and aerial flyovers that identify leaks for rapid repairs.

By year-end 2021, ExxonMobil anticipates reduced flaring volumes across its

Permian Basin operations by more than 75% compared to 2019. The company plans to eliminate all routine flaring in the Permian by year-end 2022. The company is also securing alternative natural gas delivery points across the basin to minimize non-routine flaring.

At the end of the third quarter 2021, ExxonMobil reported producing an average of 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from its unconventional assets in the Permian Basin, accounting for more than 40% of the company’s US net production. As production increases in the Permian, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be mitigated accordingly.

SSE launches £12.5 billion UK renewables plan SSE has unveiled a £12.5bn ($16.6 billion) capital investment plan to accelerate the UK’s progress towards net zero.

The company, which owns and operates three of Britain’s electricity networks, will increase its capital investment by two thirds to support the global push to decarbonise.

SSE will enable delivery of more than a quarter of the UK’s 40GW offshore wind target by 2030 and over 20% of the necessary upcoming electricity networks investment in the UK, as well as continuing its international expansion, it claimed.

Alistair Phillips-Davies chief executive, SSE, said: ‘Our Net Zero Acceleration programme involves a substantial ramping up of investment – equivalent to nearly £7 million ($9.3 million) each day in low-carbon infrastructure.’

By 2026 SSE’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme will deliver £1bn ($1.33 billion) additional capital investment per year versus previous plans; a doubling of existing renewables net installed capacity to 8GW; a sustainable renewables development pipeline in excess of 15GW; more than 2.5 times more capital allocated to renewables growth and growth in electric-

ity networks, increasing Regulated Asset Value (RAV) to £9bn ($12 billion) (net of stake sales, below).

By 2031, SSE has pledged to deliver a fivefold increase in renewables output to more than 16GW, including new flexible technologies such as carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and batteries.

SSE has also new targets for scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions, cutting in half the previously planned emissions for 2030.

The first six months of its financial year saw adjusted operating profit up 15% to £376.8 million and adjusted profit before tax up 30% to £174.2 million.

Equinor and SSE reach financial close on next phase of giant UK offshore windfarm Dogger Bank wind farm owners, Equinor and SSE, have announced financial close on the third phase of the world’s largest windfarm, Dogger Bank C offshore the east coast of the UK. The total senior debt facilities are £2.5 billion, plus ancillary facilities of around £0.4 billion. The final group of lenders, comprises 28 banks and three export credit agencies. The majority of lenders were the same as for Dogger Bank A and B. 34

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Eni recently agreed to purchase a 20% interest in Dogger Bank. The farm down transaction is expected to close in Q1 2022. The overall shareholding in Dogger Bank C will be SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%). ‘‘The significant appetite from lenders underpins the attractiveness of UK offshore wind assets. We have achieved a competitive project financing, contributing to a nominal equity return within

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the interval of 12-16%, including farm downs,’ said Eitrheim. said Pål Eitrheim, Equinor’s executive vice president of renewables.

The project is being built in three 1.2 GW phases, with Dogger Bank C being third in line. Dogger Bank C will require total capital expenditure of around £3 billion, including the capex for the offshore transmission station (OFTO).

INDUSTRY NEWS

OGA report highlights big opportunities for investment in UKCS The second Wells Insight report from the UK Oil and Gas Authority highlights significant opportunities remaining in the UKCS, despite Covid resulting in a slowdown in 2020.

The report reveals that the number of exploration and appraisal wellbores spudded has declined steadily (nine in 2020, down from 29 in 2019), but success rates have improved, and operators have discovered more than half a billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in the past three years.

Oil rig in the North Sea.

A total of 73 new development wells were completed in 2020, down from the 2019 high (106), but similar to 2017/18 levels. However, total development drilling spend remained high in 2020, more than £2.1 billion, largely because of the more complex developments, such as high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) fields.

At of the end of 2020, only 51 wells were planned for 2021 or around half of those drilled in 2020. However, there is a forecast rebound in drilling activity with Central North Sea and Northern North Sea leading the way in the years after 2021.

BRIEFS ConocoPhillips has completed its acquisition of Shell’s prolific Delaware basin position in the US for $9.5 billion in cash.

The assets include ~225,000 net acres and producing properties located entirely in Texas, as well as more than 600 miles of operated crude, gas and water pipelines and infrastructure.

With a total of more than 8000 wellbores so far drilled on the UKCS, the active well stock (excluding wells permanently abandoned) comprises 2625 wellbores, of which 1736 are producing. alongside a large number of ‘shut-in’ wells (717 in 2020 up from 476 in 2019) which might still be valuable if production was restored.

There was also a drop in surveillance (608 activities in 2020 down 54 from 2019), meaning only 23% of the stock was being surveyed. This is far below the 50% target recommended by the North Sea Transition Forum’s Wells Task Force.

Well intervention rates also dropped slightly in 2020 to 22% of total well stock (25% in 2019). The lower intervention rates may be explained by the impact of the pandemic which reduced travel for offshore workers, but clearly there is a greater potential for operators to improve well production performance through interventions.

Intervention investment (£269 million in 2020) returned to 2017-2018 levels after an increased spend in 2019 (£393 million).

On the positive side, the average unit cost of interventions declined in 2020. Preventative maintenance returned the largest production benefits at the lowest cost per unit of production. .

Carlo Procaccini, OGA Head of Technology, said: ‘The pandemic clearly affected industry’s activity in 2020, but there are significant opportunities available to operators to improve production performance through more well interventions.’

A group of trade bodies representing the five countries across Europe pioneering lower carbon oil and gas in the North Sea have signed an agreement to work together to advance the transition to net zero emissions. The UK, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany will host an annual summit to share progress to cut industry emissions and develop technologies which could be critical in helping other sectors reduce emissions.

ConocoPhillips is planning 2022 capital expenditures of $7.2 billion. The figure includes a $200 million investment in Scope 1 and 2 emissions-reduction projects across the company’s global operations and investments in several early stage low carbon technology opportunities to address end-use emissions. Planned expenditures include production efficiency measures, methane and flaring intensity-reduction initiatives and investments in CCUS and hydrogen.

Chevron has announced a 2022 organic capital and exploratory spending programme of $15 billion, at the low end of its $15 to $17 billion guidance range and up more than 20% from 2021 expected levels.

TGS, CGG and BGP complete Suriname multi-client project TGS, CGG and BGP have completed acquisition of Phase 1 of the multi-client Suriname 3D project.

This 3D survey is adjacent to the prolific Block 58 and will cover the up-dip portions of the same Upper Cretaceous channel systems that have proven successful recently.

Phase 1 includes 11,100 km2 of new 3D seismic data acquisition and 3000 km2 of 3D seismic data reprocessing. The acqui-

Storegga has entered into an agreement with Sval Energi to explore joint business opportunities for carbon storage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including bidding for storage licences.

sition was undertaken by the vessel BGP Prospector.

CGG will process the multi-client data in its Houston subsurface imaging centre using a depth imaging workflow, including its proprietary technologies: time-lag full-waveform inversion (TLFWI) and high-frequency FWI Imaging.

Early products will be available from April, 2022 with final TTI Kirchhoff PSDM products ready from November 2022.

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In a story in our October issue about 45-8 Energy, CVA and Avenia forming the Earth2 initiative to promote the role of subsurface hydrogen (both natural hydrogen and storage) in the energy transition, we referred to 45-8 Energy as 8-Energy. We are happy to put the record straight.

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Oil and Gas round-up The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted Lundin Energy a drilling permit in production licence PL 886 in the Southern Norwegian Sea. Lundin is the operator (60%) in partnership with Spirit Energy Norway (20%) and Petoro (20%). The licence area consists of parts of blocks 6306/6, 6306/8 and 6306/9. The well will be drilled around 72 km east of the Ormen Lange field.

Petrobras has identified hydrocarbons in the Santos Basin pre-salt, in a pioneer well in the Aram block. Well 1-BRSA-1381-SPS (Curacao) is located 240 km from the city of Santos-SP, at a water depth of 1905 m. The Aram block was acquired in March 2020, in

the 6th Bidding Round of the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), under the production sharing regime. Petrobras is the operator of the block (80%), in partnership with CNODC (20%).

Trinidad and Tobago has launched its 2021 Deep Water Competitive Bid Round, with the deadline for submission being 2 June, 2022. Seventeen offshore deepwater blocks are on offer located off the northern and eastern coasts of Trinidad and Tobago.

Equinor has entered into an agreement to acquire all of Spirit Energy’s production licences in the Statfjord area which spreads across the Norwegian and UK Continental Shelves and are

developed by three integrated production platforms (Statfjord A, B, C). Equinor will pay $50 million, plus a contingent payment linked to commodity prices for the period between October 2021 to December 2022.

Shell has announced a material discovery at the Blacktip North prospect in the US Gulf of Mexico. The Blacktip North well encountered approx. 300 feet net oil pay at multiple levels. Blacktip North is located in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 336, approx. 4.5 miles northeast of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery, 25 miles northeast of the recently announced Leopard discovery, 30 miles northeast of the planned Whale host, and 42 miles from the Perdido host.

TotalEnergies signs energy deals in Libya TotalEnergies has signed various agreements for the sustainable development of Libya’s natural resources.

The agreements will develop solar projects supplying electricity to the Libyan people and invest in projects reducing gas flaring in oil fields in order to supply gas to power plants as well as to restore the country’s oil production to 2 million barrels per day and supplying world markets.

Among the signed agreements is an agreement between TotalEnergies and the

General Electricity Company of Libya for the development of solar photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 500 MW designed to supply electricity to the national grid.

Additionally, the Council of Ministers of the Government of National Unity approved the joint acquisition

by TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips of the 8.16% interest held by Hess in the Waha concessions, which will increase TotalEnergies’ interest

in these concessions from 16.33% to 20.41%.

TotalEnergies has confirmed its willingness to develop the production capacity of the Waha concessions, notably the 100 kbpd North Gialo project, representing a $2 billion investment and to invest in gas gathering projects to reduce flaring and supply power plants in the region and using solar energy to power Waha’s industrial facilities.

BP unveils plan for UK green hydrogen plant BP is planning a large-scale green hydrogen production facility in the northeast of England that could deliver up to 500Mwe (megawatt electrical input) of hydrogen production by 2030.

The company is aiming to start production at HyGreen Teeside by 2025, with an initial phase of some 60MWe of installed hydrogen production capacity. A final investment decision on the project is expected in 2023.

The combined 1.5GW capacity of HyGreen Teesside and H2Teesside could deliver 30% of the UK government’s 36

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target of developing 5GW of hydrogen production by 2030. Industries in Teesside account for more than 5% of the UK’s industrial emissions and the region is home to five of the country’s top 25 emitters.

BP has already announced a series of agreements with potential industrial ‎customers for hydrogen in the Teesside area, including both existing and planned operations, as it grows demand for the hydrogen expected to be produced by H2Teesside. The Teeside projects will also fuel the UK’s first major hydrogen ‎transport hub.

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BP is also pursuing projects for green hydrogen production at its refineries in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Lingen in Germany and Castellon in Spain. It has carried out a feasibility study identifying opportunities for green hydrogen production in Western Australia and was most recently chosen as the preferred bidder to develop a green hydrogen production hub in Aberdeen, UK. BP has so far built a renewables pipeline of 23.3GW, strengthening confidence in its 2025 target of delivering 20GW of developed renewables to FID.

Special Topic

LAND SEISMIC Land seismic systems are continuing to develop to facilitate ever more channels, more hard-wearing and smaller nodes along with more cableless systems that ensure that efficient acquisition can take place in all terrains, in challenging weather and with little downtime.

Adrien Meffre et al review the key processing and imaging steps helping to revive legacy land seismic surveys in a structurally complex area.

C. Jason Criss presents the latest innovations in vibroseis technology.

Damien Dieulangard et al discuss the most important specifications we should consider for land seismic recording systems.

David Rampton et al demonstrate why Crosswell tomography is just such a technology for making in situ estimates of subsurface properties in simple geologic settings when source-receiver separation is small and when noise levels are low.

S. L. Rowse et al discuss the physics of impulsive and vibroseis sources and their interactions with the ground to show that improving the amplitude/frequency content and efficiency of the vibrator, especially at low frequencies, cannot be fixed by ‘mere engineering’.

Nicolas Tellier et al introduce an ultra-high producitvity acquisition technique that enables operators to maximise theoretical productivity of vibrators while addressing the limitations of the most advanced acquisition methodologies currently in use.

Claudio Strobbia et al present a new set of modelling tools that account for noise in the design of land surveys.

A. Crosby et al examine the impact of nodal acquisition and increased trace density on image quality to assess the benefits of nodal acquisition on survey efficiency and environmental footprint.

Submit an article

Special Topic overview January

Land Seismic

First Break Special Topics are covered by a mix of original articles dealing with case studies and the latest technology. Contributions to a Special Topic in First Break can be sent directly to the editorial office (firstbreak@eage.org). Submissions will be considered for publication by the editor.

February

Digitalization / Machine Learning

March

Reservoir Monitoring

April

Unconventionals and Passive Seismic

May

Global Exploration Hotspots

June

Leading Geosciences in a New Era

It is also possible to submit a Technical Article to First Break. Technical Articles are subject to a peer review process and should be submitted via EAGE’s ScholarOne website: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/fb

July

Modelling / Interpretation

August

Near Surface Geo & Mining

September

Reservoir Engineering & Geoscience

October

Energy Transition

November

Marine Acquisition

December

Data Management and Processing

You can find the First Break author guidelines online at www.firstbreak.org/guidelines.

More Special Topics may be added during the course of the year.

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HOW TO SECURE YOUR NODAL ACQUISITION?

WiNG IS THE ANSWER! Nantes, France sales.nantes@sercel.com

Houston, USA sales.houston@sercel.com

www.sercel.com

ANYWHERE. ANYTIME. EVERYTIME.

FEATURE: WHATSUP!

Let’s continue exploring unknown unknowns in 2022 Not knowing what we don’t know can be unsettling. We tend to remain in our comfort zones, says Gwenola Michaud. It is only through interaction and collaboration that we can start exploring unknown unknowns and become curious about the opportunities they bring.

Known knowns – Knowledge. In geophysics, we are driven to improve the signal of interest from recorded measurements. The signal we want to process is often enhanced by modelling it or by removing some noise to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. In data analytics, the known known is the identified information known to exist in the data. In daily life, what we know is our expertise, which we strive to improve continuously through learning and experience. This is what we hopefully enjoy doing and are paid to do.

Knowing what we know interfaces closely with what we don’t want to know to keep focused on our life or work goals.

Known unknowns – collaboration opportunities. In engineering, we have many known unknowns, such as the subsurface properties on which we focus our analyses. This is the limitation of our knowledge at a given moment. A known unknown in project management is also identified as a risk, while in data analytics, it could be a missing data entry. The solution is then to complete the missing information by deriving it from other sources and improving the data quality. An example is to derive True Vertical Depth along a well path from the azimuth and inclination of its trajectory and Measured Depth. In daily life, knowing what we don’t know, don’t want to know, or don’t know yet helps us to remain focused on what is important for us right now. It can also drive us towards collaboration with people with more expertise than we have.

Unknown Knowns – untapped knowledge. This is the knowledge we have but haven’t realised yet. This is truly linked to the learning phase, bringing us humbling surprises or exciting experiences. In this categorisation, a model can explain the data, but we don’t know it yet.

It requires us to connect the dots and to

Figure 1 4 areas of known knowns (top right), known unknowns (bottom right), unknown knowns (top left) and unknown unknowns (bottom left).

get to the fantastic ‘lightbulb’ moment of seeing added value brought by the data.

The ultimate objective of data analytics is to bring to light what we should know.

We aim to get insight from data like never before and to speed up our learning experience. In daily life, not knowing what we should know often happens due to some bias, beliefs, or simple unawareness. We can have thousands of excuses for not paying attention to this untapped knowledge. Being aware of this area could bring new perspectives and opportunities.

As an example, being part of a community like EAGE can help us get some insights into our untapped knowledge.

Unknown unknowns – exploratory area. This is the most obscure one.

In business, people may say that you don’t know what you don’t know until it’s too late. Yet I like to see it as an untapped opportunity or exploratory area.

In data analytics, it could be seen as the unidentified information or asset, which needs to be identified through patterns or connections to shed some light on this area. It is then exciting to realise that we

can transform some unknown unknowns into known unknowns, leading to new opportunities. In daily life, to explore this area, we need some extra help to realise the existence of different beliefs or models, which could be some new conditions for progress.

The pandemic has given us all the opportunity to explore this last category over the last two years. None of us could have anticipated what it would take to go through this period. Yet, we have learnt so much on the personal side and within the diverse organisations we work for, leading us to be stronger and more resilient. We don’t know what 2022 will bring of course (unknown unknowns), but let’s continue sailing through these four areas as smoothly as possible, keeping an eye on what we know is important for our family and business (known knowns), what we could collaborate on (known unknowns) and what we could learn (unknown knowns).

Let’s keep some time free to explore some unknown unknowns as they come along.

With this, I wish you and your families a successful and peaceful 2022.

Views expressed in this article are solely those of the author, who can be contacted at gwenola.michaud@cognite.com

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CALENDAR

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 7‑9 FEBRUARY 2022

Second EAGE Conference on Seismic Inversion Porto, Portugal and online www.eage.org

February 2022 1‑3 Feb

Second EAGE Digitalization Conference and Exhibition Leadership, Technology and Business of Tomorrow www.eagedigital.org

Vienna

Austria

7‑9 Feb

Second EAGE Conference on Seismic Inversion www.seismicinversion2022.org

Porto and online

Portugal

14-16 Feb

EGYPS

Cairo

Egypt

17 Feb

Fifth EAGE Naturally Fractured Reservoirs Lightening Sessions www.eage.org

Online

21‑23 Feb

International Petroleum Technology Conference (IPTC) 2022 https://2022.iptcnet.org/

Riyadh

1‑3 Mar

EAGE Middle East Geomechanics Workshop Lessons Learned & New Frontiers www.eage.org

Online

15-16 Mar

EAGE Workshop on Naturally Fractured Reservoirs in Asia Pacific www.eage.org

Online

21‑23 Mar

Fourth EAGE Workshop on Well Injectivity/ Productivity and Reservoir Management in Carbonates www.eage.org

Riyadh

Qatar

4‑6 Apr

EAGE GeoTech 2022 Second EAGE Geoscience Technologies and Applications Conference and Exhibition www.eage.org

London and online

United Kingdom

11-14 Apr

Saint Petersburg 2022 10 th International Geological and Geophysical Conference Geosciences: Time for Change, Time for Chance www.eage.ru

St. Petersburg and online

Russia

25-29 Apr

Engineering and Mining Geophysics 2022 Conference & Exhibition www.eage.org

Gelendzhik and online

Russia

25-29 Apr

Engineering and Mining Geology 2022 Conference www.eage.ru

Gelendzhik and online

Russia

28-29 Apr

First EAGE Workshop on Gas Exploration in Latin America www.eage.org

Online

www.egyps.com

Saudi Arabia

March 2022

April 2022

EAGE Events

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CALENDAR

May 2022 4-5 May

Seismic 2022 and Beyond – The Continuing Role of Seismic in the Energy Industry www.spe-aberdeen.org

Online

19-20 May

Third EAGE Workshop on HPC in Americas www.eage.org

Salvador

Brazil

30 May 4 Jun

Joint Workshop Meeting APSLIM II and 19IWSA www.sw3d.cz

Želiv

Czech Republic

31 May 1 June

EAGE Workshop on Quantitative Geoscience as a Catalyst in a Carbon Neutral World www.eage.org

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

83 rd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition 2022 www.eageannual2022.org

Madrid

Spain

June 2022 6-9 Jun

August 2022 4-5 Aug

Second EAGE Workshop on Advanced Seismic Solutions Gulf of Mexico www.eage.org

Mexico City

Mexico

8‑12 Aug

GeoBaikal 2022 www.eage.ru

Irkutsk and online

Russia

22‑24 Aug

Third EAGE Marine Acquisition Workshop www.eage.org

Oslo

Norway

23‑24 Aug

EAGE Asia Pacific Workshop on CO2 Geological Storage www.eage.org

Perth

Australia

24-26 Aug

Second EAGE Workshop on EOR in Latin America www.eage.org

Bogotá

Colombia

September 2022 5-7 Sep

ECMOR 2022 European Conference on Mathematics of Geological Reservoirs www.eage.org

The Hague and online

Netherlands

5-8 Sep

Geomodel 2022 24th Conference on Oil and Gas Geological Exploration and Development www.eage.org

Gelendzhik and online

Russia

5-9 Sep

Fifth EAGE Conference on Petroleum Geostatistics www.eage.org

Porto

Portugal

12-14 Sep

MEDiNA Technical Conference and Exhibition www.medinace.aapg.org

Tunis

Tunisia

13-15 Sep

EAGE Conference on Digital Innovation for a Sustainable Future www.eage.org

Bangkok

Thailand

18-22 Sep

Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition 2022 www.eage.org

Belgrade

Serbia

19-21 Sep

Sixth EAGE High Performance Computing for Upstream www.eage.org

Milan

Italy

26-28 Sep

Sixth International Conference on Fault and Top Seals www.eage.org

Vienna

Austria

28-30 Sep

First EAGE Guyana-Suriname Basin Conference Discoveries and Opportunities to Harness the Potential of a New Oil Patch www.eage.org

Georgetown

Guyana

Russia

October 2022 3-7 Oct

Horizontal Wells 2022 www.eage.org

Sochi and online

12-14 Oct

Energy Transition Conference in Latin America www.eage.org

Online

24 - 27 Oct

EAGE 5th Asia Pacific Meeting on Near Surface Geoscience & Engineering www.eage.org

Taipei

Taiwan

25-27 Oct

Second EAGE Subsurface Intelligence Workshop www.eage.org

Manama

Bahrain

31 Oct 2 Nov

Sixth EAGE Rock Physics Workshop www.eage.org

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia

EAGE Events

Non-EAGE Events

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