Please Join us for our January Technical Luncheon! To be held at Schlumberger's offices in Addison. Thank you to Sterling Seismic and Schlumberger for Sponsoring the event. Lunch to be served at 11:30 and the talk to begin at Noon. 

Abstract:

Design, acquisition and processing of three Permian Basin 3D VSP surveys to support the processing and interpretation of a large 3D/3C surface seismic survey

Three 3D borehole seismic (VSP) surveys were designed and acquired in Andrews and Ector Counties, Texas in 2019 to provide data to support the processing and interpretation of a high-fold multicomponent 3C/3D survey.  The three downhole receiver well locations were chosen in available wells in three distinct geological settings within the area covered by the surface seismic surveys.  Large aperture 3-component (3C) borehole geophone arrays and both P-wave and S-wave vibrator sources were utilized, providing valuable time-depth and velocity information.  In addition to the travel time information, high-resolution VSP reflection images were produced for the various wave types recorded (P-P, P-S and S-S) which gave useful insights into the signal properties of each.  This presentation provides a brief overview of the acquisition, processing and interpretation of these VSP surveys as well as some thoughts on the value of borehole seismic in general for exploration, development and reservoir monitoring.

Speaker Bio:

Rich received his B.Sc. in Geophysical Engineering 1984 from the Colorado School of Mines. He joined Western Geophysical in Houston in June of 1984 and worked for them in various positions for just over twenty-two years, ultimately attaining the position of Senior Area Geophysicist. Throughout his career he has been involved in all phases of surface seismic data processing including land, marine, OBC and multicomponent applications. In 1988 he transferred to Western’s Denver office. In 1996 he began working on azimuthal anisotropy issues related to both P-waves and converted waves primarily for fracture detection and reservoir characterization. In 2006, he left WesternGeco and became a partner in HiPoint Reservoir Imaging and Apex HiPoint (later to become Sigma3) to focus on all aspects of borehole seismic acquisition and processing – including active VSP imaging and passive hydraulic fracture monitoring. With Sigma3, Rich was the principal processor of borehole seismic datasets from zero-offset, 3D and 4D and converted wave VSPs.  Rich joined Sterling Seismic in January 2019 and continues his work with advanced VSP and surface seismic processing and imaging.  He currently oversees all borehole seismic processing (3C geophone and DAS) and CCUS projects as well as all depth imaging at Sterling. Rich has co-authored numerous papers and articles on these subjects for the SEG, EAGE, CSEG, AAPG and various other local geophysical societies. In 2007, Rich and his co-authors, were presented with the SEG Best Paper Presentation Award at the SEG Annual Meeting. He and his co-authors were also presented with the Best Paper in The Leading Edge Award for 2011.