First Break August 2023 - Near Surface Geo & Mining by EAGE

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SPECIAL TOPIC

Near Surface Geo & Mining EAGE NEWS New President’s energy transition vision CROSSTALK Where next for LNG? INDUSTRY NEWS Oil demand set to drop after 2026

ALL-ROUND BETTER SUBSURFACE IMAGING Scan the QR code to see for yourself.

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FIRST BREAK® An EAGE Publication

CHAIR EDITORIAL BOARD Gwenola Michaud (Gwenola.Michaud@cognite.com) EDITOR Damian Arnold (arnolddamian@googlemail.com) MEMBERS, EDITORIAL BOARD • Lodve Berre, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (lodve.berre@ntnu.no) • Philippe Caprioli, SLB (caprioli0@slb.com) • Satinder Chopra, SamiGeo (satinder.chopra@samigeo.com) • Anthony Day, PGS (anthony.day@pgs.com) • Peter Dromgoole, Retired Geophysicist (peterdromgoole@gmail.com) • Kara English, University College Dublin (kara.english@ucd.ie) • Stephen Hallinan, CGG Stephen.Hallinan@CGG.com • Hamidreza Hamdi, University of Calgary (hhamdi@ucalgary.ca) • Clément Kostov, Freelance Geophysicist (cvkostov@icloud.com) • Pamela Tempone, Eni (Pamela.Tempone@eni.com) • Angelika-Maria Wulff, Consultant (gp.awulff@gmail.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 Kosterijland 48 3981 AJ Bunnik The Netherlands • +31 88 995 5055 • eage@eage.org • www.eage.org 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 Edificio Centro Ejecutivo Santa Barbara Av. Cra. 19 #118-95 - Office: 501 • +57 310 8610709 • americas@eage.org • www.eage.org EAGE MEMBERS CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTIFICATION Send to: EAGE Membership Dept at EAGE Office (address above)

Environmentally friendly low impact, low carbon footprint, low power electromagnetic technique for mineral exploration

Editorial Contents 3

EAGE News

Personal Record Interview — Mike Stanley

Monthly Update

Crosstalk

Industry News

Special Topic: Near Surface Geo & Mining 39 Spatial-autocorrelation (SPAC) analysis using seismic ambient noise as applied to engineering applications in Alaska E. Babcock, S. Pullammanappallil, G. Speeter and C. Colwell 47

Drone geophysics: developing guidelines for international best practice Tim Archer

55 3D GPR array technology for optimisation of production planning in infrastructure projects Jaana Gustafsson, Jonas Siikanen, Jesper Emilsson, Johan Friborg and Mike Langton 59 The role of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveying for indoor Building Information Modelling (BIM) Hector R. Hinojosa, Daniel P. Bigman and Sean McConnel 67 P- and S-wave seismic imaging of a complex aquifer system in Kurikka, western Finland Michał Malinowski, Niko Putkinen, Bojan Brodic, Viveka Laakso, Elina Koskela, Suvi Heinonen, Jon Engström and Markku Paananen 73

Advances in seismic imaging of quick clays in Sweden Tatiana Pertuz, Myrto Papadopoulou and Alireza Malehmir

79 Permanent 3D data acquisition of geotechnical structures using web-based application of terrestrial LiDAR — chances and risks from an engineering geodetic point of view Daniel Czerwonka-Schröder and Karsten Zimmermann 85 Use of geophysical surveys in geotechnical engineering practice — a geotechnical engineer’s perspective Sugawara J.

FIRST BREAK ON THE WEB www.firstbreak.org

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

95 Environmentally friendly low impact, low carbon footprint, low power electromagnetic technique for mineral exploration Gordon Stove 102

An unbiased spiral array for MASW data acquisition Koya Suto

Calendar

cover: Forth Bridge in Edinburgh. The EAGE 2023 Near Surface Conference takes place in the UK city this month.

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European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers

Board 2023-2024

Near Surface Geoscience Circle Esther Bloem Chair Andreas Aspmo Pfaffhuber Vice-Chair Micki Allen Contact Officer EEGS/North America Adam Booth Committee Member Hongzhu Cai Liaison China Deyan Draganov Technical Programme Representative Wolfram Gödde Liaison First Break Hamdan Ali Hamdan Liaison Middle East Vladimir Ignatev Liaison CIS / North America Musa Manzi Liaison Africa Myrto Papadopoulou Young Professional Liaison Catherine Truffert Industry Liaison Mark Vardy Editor in Chief Near Surface Geophysics Florina Tuluca Committee Member

Oil & Gas Geoscience Circle Edward Wiarda President

Laura Valentina Socco Vice-President

Pascal Breton Secretary-Treasurer

Caroline Le Turdu Membership and Cooperation Officer

Peter Rowbotham Publications Officer

Yohaney Gomez Galarza Chair Johannes Wendebourg Vice-Chair Lucy Slater Immediate Past Chair Erica Angerer Member Wiebke Athmer Member Tijmen Jan Moser Editor-in-Chief Geophysical Prospecting Adeline Parent WGE & DET SIC liaison Matteo Ravasi YP Liaison Jonathan Redfern Editor-in-Chief Petroleum Geoscience Aart-Jan van Wijngaarden Technical Programme Officer

Sustainable Energy Circle Carla Martín-Clavé Chair Giovanni Sosio Vice-Chair

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.

Maren Kleemeyer Education Officer

Aart-Jan van Wijngaarden Technical Programme Officer

Esther Bloem Chair Near Surface Geoscience Circle

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. Orders for current subscriptions and back issues should be sent to First Break B.V., Journal Subscriptions, Kosterijland 48, 3981 AJ Bunnik, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 (0)88 9955055, E-mail: subscriptions@eage.org, www.firstbreak.org. First Break is published by First Break B.V., The Netherlands. However, responsibility for the opinions given and the statements made rests with the authors. COPYRIGHT & PHOTOCOPYING © 2023 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.

Yohaney Gomez Galarza Chair Oil & Gas Geoscience Circle

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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).

Carla Martín-Clavé Chair Sustainable Energy Circle

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HIGHLIGHTS

EAGE Vienna in the picture

Edinburgh awaits NSG 2023

Organic chemistry future event

Guiding EAGE’s next energy transition steps New president EAGE Edward Wiarda shares his personal career journey to date and how he envisions the next stages in EAGE’s evolution in the energy transition era. What attracted you to geoscience? My childhood vacations typically had a backdrop of mountainous surroundings and were dotted with hill walks, while looking upwards for birds and downwards for shiny rocks and crystals and poorly-defined fossils. A Dutch boy from a flat country, I took to heart at a young age the quote ‘one only needs one geoscientist to ruin a mountain vacation’ as I kept pestering my poor father (a public prosecutor) about how these fantastic folds came to exist. An early IMAX viewing of a documentary film about the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ got me hooked on geosciences. Along my academic journey across BSc and MSc curricula in geophysics and earth sciences at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, I took on specialisations in exploration geophysics, data processing and inversion, and the seismic imaging method. Highlights of your career to date In my early career as seismic data processing engineer and later as depth imaging specialist with WesternGeco and Schlumberger in London/Houston, I reprocessed large volumes of vintage 3D seismic surveys, typically from the 1980s and 1990s, which

frequently had a significant business impact for a wide range of operations in the North Sea, the Angolan Kwanza Basin, and in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2015, I took this experience, knowledge as well as my family from London to Bogotá. Ecopetrol, the national oil company of Colombia, had offered me the opportunity to join its geophysical exploration operations team. In those days, Ecopetrol had set in motion a transition from classical E&P of onshore heavy oil towards offshore gas exploration, in which reprocessing of vintage 2D and 3D seismic, new 3D seismic acquisition, and inversion of these datasets played a pivotal role. During my time with Ecopetrol, I worked with some of the brightest and most dedicated geoscientists I had encountered in my career, and a very talented EAGE LATAM office, and had the opportunity to visit a lot of the beautiful countryside of Colombia and its inhabitants. Your current job at EBN After six fantastic years overseas, I repatriated with my family back to The Netherlands, where EBN has enabled me to complete my own personal energy transition as a geophysicist by assigning me to the SCAN programme. This includes an ambitious FIRST

Edward Wiarda, president EAGE.

geothermal exploration campaign across The Netherlands as well as CCS initiatives. What’s next for EAGE? Now that we have updated the Association’s mission statement and firmly established a renewed framework of three partially overlapping EAGE Circles, i.e., Oil & Gas, Near-Surface Geoscience and Sustainable Energy, the next steps are to populate this space with active communities, high-quality events, a healthy pipeline of articles into our journals and relevant content on social media. In this effort, the EAGE needs to continue to evolve in line with the global energy transition towards clean energy, while continuously listening to our members’ needs, expectations and challenges. The first way is through ‘accrual’ of emerging clean energy and decarbonisation technologies with their associated members and industries, including geothermal ener-

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EAGE NEWS

gy, carbon capture and storage, subsurface energy (and waste) storage, offshore wind farm development, green hydrogen, etc. Another priority will be to grow our new Sustainable Energy Circle by guiding the ‘transfer’ of members, activities and content into the Circles overlap zones. One of the priorities of the Education Committee is to assess the skill gap between the capabilities of the member communities of the Oil & Gas Circle and those typically required by the emerging Sustainable Energy industry. In the short term, one of the key challenges of the EAGE then becomes meeting our members’ needs in filling this skills gap through our revised education programmes and high-quality workshops and events. Along the same lines, I see a need from both the oil and gas companies and professional member communities as well as the Sustainable Energy Circle to stimulate ‘outward communication’, rather than only inwards towards other geoscientists and engineers. Any particular initiatives you would like to promote? During my year tenure as president, I would like to stimulate and even proactively invite EAGE members to establish new communities within the new realm of our three overlapping EAGE Circles. These communities are considered the building blocks of our Association, and are all self-governed, independent of Circles. After Vienna, individual EAGE members and groups have already reached out with great ideas, now we need to condense those into communities, activities and content.

How can we accelerate the road to energy transition? Hard to say. In my view EAGE is still ahead of our peer societies, although we want to cooperate with them and lead by example. We first need to define clear goal posts and measures of success. Specifically for EAGE, I see the energy transition as the movement of our Near-Surface Geoscience and Oil & Gas Circles towards this newly created Sustainable Energy Circle, with increasing overlap between all three Circles as the global ‘new energy’ industry keeps growing. One proposed measure of success will be the percentage of overlap between Circles. How do we quantify this rather abstract overlap percentage. It can be accomplished through percentage measurements of 1) EAGE membership affiliation choice, e.g., more than one Circle vs. a single Circle; 2) New EAGE communities naturally falling in overlap zones of multiple Circles vs. a single Circle; and 3) Joint events and collaborations between Communities/Circles, in other words, cross-pollination of activities (workshops, side events, special sessions) and content between major events and key EAGE journals. These metrics still need time to be defined clearly. All EAGE members were recently invited to update their affiliations with EAGE Circles and existing communities and this should be helpful. As a society, the EAGE can accelerate the energy transition process by helping to remove some of the blocks that prevent us from transitioning towards a decarbonised energy mix.

What we need to do Communicate outwards to improve the image of the oil and gas industry and the sustainable energy sector, and to attract a new generation of geoscientists and engineers. Facilitate the transfer of skills, knowledge, experience, technologies, solutions and funding from the Oil & Gas Circle to the Sustainable Energy Circle. Data liberation and digitalisation: we are drowning in a sea of unstructured data, and still not sharing enough data between companies and industries. Support currently weak business models of sustainable energy by providing our EAGE members and their businesses platforms to share solutions on how to reduce costs, risk and uncertainties and create cooperation, synergy, efficiencies, supporting concepts of integrated energy systems. What do you like to do outside work? Since we now live two blocks from the Dutch North Sea shoreline, I am spending most of my spare time at or near the beach with my wife and two children. In Colombia, I summited two ‘Nevado’ peaks, Tolima (5.216 m) and Santa Isabel (4.950 m) with my climbing friends and witnessed clear evidence of the striking reduction of the snow caps. Back at sea level, we have now picked up wave surfing during increasingly hot summers in plain view of an increasing number of offshore wind farms. One could say I still have my eye on the energy transition process, even outside work.

Update your member affiliation for best EAGE experience Connecting with other members with similar professional interests is one of the key benefits of participating in EAGE activities. We highly recommend you maximise your engagement with the geoscience and engineering community by joining one or more of the new EAGE Circles, reaching out to a Local Chapter near you and par4

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ticipating in the Technical and Special Interest Communities relevant to your interests. In order that we can make sure your preferences are best served, we would like to invite all our members to take a few minutes to update their EAGE Affiliations in a short form. You can find the questionnaire in the link that was sent

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to your mailing address or by visiting our website eage.org. We appreciate in advance your updated affiliations which help us to continually improve your EAGE community. Access the EAGE Affiliations Module

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Our Annual in Vienna struck all the right notes Together, we accomplished our mission of uniting once again professionals, academia and industry leaders at the 84th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition held in Vienna on 5-8 June 2023, to exchange experiences, foster learning and explore new developments.

‘We had many papers, a huge number of participants from all over the world, a very diverse group. The networking opportunities have been fantastic. I’ve sat down with many companies, service companies, academia, and partners. There’s been a real buzz around the event this year. People are happy, they’re enjoying seeing each other face-to-face, and I think that’s resulted in such a great conference.’

Greg Rock Vice president exploration at OMV and 2023 Local Advisory Committee chair

This year’s theme, ‘Securing a Sustainable Future Together,’ acknowledged the need to find a pathway for energy transition, together with global challenges and uncertainties we currently encounter in today’s world. Our focus was on critical aspects such as energy security, a future low carbon world, the need to adapt our traditional approaches and collaborations, as well as emphasising the importance of transferable skills and the need for re-training and education. The ethos was clearly stated in the Opening Ceremony video and reaffirmed in an exclusive leadership interview in which Berislav Gašo, executive vice president, OMV Energy, talked with Andrew McBarnet, EAGE editor emeritus, about

the significant role of hydrocarbons for the future, together with the importance of engaging geoscientists and engineers in driving the energy transition and fostering a sustainable future. The need to attract a new generation of recruits to the resources industry was also discussed. As always, the Conference presented a dynamic platform where cutting-edge geophysical, geological and engineering research, ideas and case studies took centre stage, reaffirming their crucial role in addressing future energy challenges and seeking solutions for our industry. The Technical Programme of the EAGE Annual 2023 featured an exceptional line-up of presentations that captivated attendees with a wealth of valuable insights, engaging discussions and thought-provoking ideas. Besides the usual disciplines (geophysics, geology, reservoir

Technical presentations in progress.

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Great vibe in Vienna.

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engineering, integrated subsurface, mining and infrastructure, data and computer science), the trend of increasing attention for energy transition and renewable resources continued into this year, which was reflected under the new Energy Transition theme. One notable change this year was the return of the printed posters for poster sessions, improving the overall experience by fostering more interaction and facilitating informal exchanges of ideas and discussions among participants. This year we introduced a major Strategic Programme, building on the success of Forum Sessions at previous Annual Meetings. This addition expanded our offerings and provided delegates with an opportunity to engage with industry leaders and gain valuable perspectives on key industry topics through a range of panel discussions. The 2023 Strategic Programme kicked off with a debate during the Opening Ceremony discussing energy policies and climate actions around the world, continuing with the daily highlights: The path ahead for exploration; The role of technology, regulation and data in accelerating energy transition; and skills, concepts and experience towards a sustainable future. Our expert panellists drawn from OMV, BP, TotalEnergies, SLB, TGS, Chevron, S&P Global Commodity Insights, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Petronas, KOC, to name a few, had the

EAGE NEWS

opportunity to share their insights into the many issues affecting the professional lives of Conference participants. The Exhibition, as usual, delivered an impressive showcase of innovative products and services in the field of earth sciences, as well as serving as a vibrant venue for fostering new business contacts and opportunities. The two dedicated zones of the Exhibition, Digital Transformation and Energy Transition Areas, continued to receive high interest from companies at the forefront of developing innovative technologies, workflows and solutions paving the way for a digitalised and net zero future, respectively. The EAGE Community Hub on the Exhibition floor maintained the focal point for our communities and for students to enrich their EAGE Annual experience with professional development and networking opportunities. Besides the familiar, well received activities – mentoring, young professionals and women in geoscience and engineering sessions, and the popular GeoQuiz – this year we brought on stage a new initiative: The Skills for the Energy Transition session presenting opportunities for talents to explore the possibilities, needs and requirements for energy transition-related roles in companies, and opportunities for potential instructors and learners to join our education programmes.

Left to right: Opening panel session with Andrew McBarnet (moderator, EAGE), Christina Verchere (CEO, OMV Petrom), Hugo Dijkgraaf (CTO, Wintershall Dea), Sophie Zurquiyah (CEO, CGG) and Abderrezak Benyoucef (head, energy studies, OPEC).

As ever, there was a diverse range of Workshops, Short Courses and Field Trips on offer before and after the main Conference and Exhibition. This year’s Workshops covered topics in geology, geochemistry, geostatistics, geophysics, geothermal, hydrogen and CCS. The Short Courses focused on transferable skills for the energy transition, with offerings on offshore wind, CCS and new technologies pertinent to decarbonisation strategies. Field Trips were exciting journeys: an up-close look at cutting-edge exploration and production technologies and the laboratories at OMV’s core activity centre, a tour of historical buildings in Vienna, a site visit to the Neogene of the Vienna Basin, and a meeting on geothermal energy utilisation in the Styrian Basin.

The introduction of All Access Pass this year was well received. It played a pivotal role in enhancing the overall event experience, allowing participants to make the most of their involvement in the EAGE Annual 2023. We extend our appreciation to all the delegates, presenters, session chairs, speakers, exhibitors and sponsors who joined us this year in Vienna. Your active involvement and enthusiastic participation have been instrumental in making the 2023 Annual a resounding success. We already look forward to next year’s edition in Oslo, Norway on 10-13 June 2024. Stay tuned to www.eageannual. org for more updates as we will soon unveil the activities planned for the EAGE Annual 2024.

What participants had to say ‘This year in Vienna, we have had a fantastic technical programme like we had in Madrid. But also this year there’s been a lot more business energy, whether it’s in the exhibition which is huge and full of companies, or whether it’s in the social networking. It’s been an excellent year all around.’ – Lucy Slater, lead geophysicist, Trident Energy ‘Panellists clearly knew their subject and a lot of interesting takeaways such as partnership. Partnering is definitely a way forward. There is more opportunity for geoscientists in our industry, far more from what we had anticipated before the session.’ – Cerys James, vice president transformation and change, PGS ‘The EAGE Annual is always the highlight of the calendar for our team. It is the single best opportunity to meet face-to-face with many of our clients and key decision makers from across the industry. We have the opportunity to showcase our innovation and expertise against the backdrop of a conference filled by industry leaders in both the theoretical and practical applications of the science and technology that will take our industry sustainably into the future.’ – Daniel Swann, manager of corporate communications and EMEA marketing, Ikon Science

FOR THE FULL STORY IN PICTURES, SEE FOLLOWING PAGES

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EAGE ANNUAL EAGE ANNUAL - VIENNA 20RELIVING T WEEK IN

RELIVING THE INCREDIBLE WEEK IN VIEN IGNITING THE EXCITEMENT

A dazzling welcome at the Opening Ceremony

EAGE ANNUAL RELIVING THE WEEK IN INCREDIBLE LINE-UP OF TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS

Valuable insights, engaging discussions and thought-provoking ideas throughout all sessions

- VIENNA 2023 023 THE INCREDIBLE VIENNA IMPACTFUL STRATEGIC PROGRAMME

A stellar line-up of leaders tackling pressing issues impacting our industries and professions

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LIVELY EXHIBITION

A thriving hub for business talks, product showcase, cooperation agreements and networking opportunities

- VIENNA 2023 E INCREDIBLE N VIENNA A big thank-you to all those who came to EAGE Annual 2023, an event for the ages. We present here some of the many captivating moments for you to savour! Scan the QR code for the event report!

EAGE ANNUAL RELIVING THE WEEK IN VIEN EAGE ANNUAL RELIVING THE WEEK IN CELEBRATING TALENTS

Honouring outstanding contributions and student excellence

IMPRESSIVE LEARNING SPIRIT

The workshops and short courses promoted new knowledge and the transfer of existing skills

CAREER BOOST

Interactive activities supporting our members’ professional development and personal growth

- VIENNA 2023 E INCREDIBLE NNA - VIENNA 2023 E INCREDIBLE N VIENNA UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Unlocking new perspectives during the field trips

PARTY TIME

Cherish the happy moments at the Conference Evening

EAGE NEWS

Get yourself ready for GET2023 and the future of energy challenge As we enter a crucial era of change, the urgency to reshape our energy landscape has never been greater. The Covid-19 pandemic’s aftermath and the fallout from the Ukraine crisis have added to the challenges facing energy transition. The stakes are at an all-time high since even

Discussion at last year’s GET.

the slightest shift in global temperature can have profound effects on societies, economies, and the environment. Can we afford to ignore the alarming statistics? With global temperatures soaring, our world hangs in the balance.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial that geoscientists and engineers rise to the occasion, taking the lead in spearheading the movement towards clean, renewable energy. To achieve the necessary course correction in the energy transition, we need to take bold, revolutionary steps. The significance of conferences that drive discussions on energy transition cannot be overstated. Our EAGE membership understands the issues, already highlighted at our Annual in Vienna. That’s why we expect an exceptional turnout for GET2023. As an energy-transition focused conference, GET facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration, influences policy making, enables networking, showcases market opportunities, fosters global cooperation, and drives innovation. Bringing together over 500 delegates, featuring more than 150 speakers, and hosting 20+ exhibitors, the conference will recognise the critical challenges faced by the global energy sector and the urgent need for collaboration to accelerate the shift towards sustainable energy sources. Mike Branston, new energy domain lead, exploration data at SLB and Technical Committee chair for the conference, says: ‘GET2023 reflects the challenge that the global energy sector is facing and the urgent need to collaborate in order to

transition more rapidly towards the use of sustainable energy. It will serve as a cross-industry forum for people working in this domain to network and share knowledge on crucial themes related to the utilisation of the subsurface in support of the energy transition.’ The comprehensive Technical Programme seeks to delve into a range of vital topics, including the uses of the subsurface for the energy transition, offshore renewable energy, CCUS, energy storage, geothermal energy, and more. It will explore the synergies between different subsurface applications, address the interactions between energy transition initiatives and society/environment, and shed light on future georesources. Education and training will also be emphasised to equip attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate this changing energy landscape. Your attendance can contribute to moving the conversation forward and developing innovative ideas for a sustainable energy future. Register for the conference before 30 August 2023 to take advantage of the early bird prices. Submit your abstract by 15 August 2023, for a chance to present. Visit www. eageget.org for event details and great sponsorship options. Join us as we race for a brighter energy future.

EAGE Online Education Calendar 15-16 AUG

INTEGRATED SEISMIC ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING, BY J. BOUSKA

INTERACTIVE ONLINE SHORT COURSE

4 HRS/DAY, 8 PARTS

21-22 AUG

MEDIUM AND LOW-GRADE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: GEOSCIENCE AND GEOMECHANICS, BY G. WACH & M. DUSSEAULT

INTERACTIVE ONLINE SHORT COURSE

4 HRS/DAY, 8 PARTS

23-24 AUG

GEOLOGY AND ENGINEERING OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE, BY G. WACH & M. DUSSEAULT

INTERACTIVE ONLINE SHORT COURSE

4 HRS/DAY, 2 PARTS

24 AUG 28 SEP

NAVIGATING CAREER CHALLENGES OF THE ENERGY TRANSITION, BY E. BLOEM, L. LEVATO & G. MICHAUD

EXTENSIVE ONLINE COURSE

24 HRS (INCL. 6 WEBINARS OF 2.5 HRS EACH)

* 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

Edinburgh awaits your participation at EAGE Near Surface Geoscience 2023

Full room for the opening of Near Surface Geoscience 2022.

It’s not long now until the opening of one of the most anticipated events in the field of near-surface geoscience. We are talking about EAGE’s Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2023 being held on 3-7 September in the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh. The occasion promises to showcase cutting-edge technologies and practical applications in the realm of near-surface geoscience.

In addition, our vibrant exhibition offers a unique opportunity to witness innovation and discovery. Participants can engage with leading companies, explore cutting-edge products, services and technologies, and delve into the exciting world of near-surface geoscience. It will all start with the opening session where an expert panel will discuss the path ahead for near-surface geophysics in the transition towards a net-zero future, one of

‘Participants can expect a good discussion about energy solutions involving the near surface. They can also get lessons from what the energy companies have developed over the years,’ says Alireza Malehmir, professor at Uppsala University. This year is our most comprehensive event ever featuring four parallel meetings: the 29th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, the 3rd Conference on Geophysics for Infrastructure Planning, Monitoring and BIM, the 2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics, and the 1st Conference on Sub-surface Characterisation for Offshore Wind. The technical sessions embedded in these conferences cater for a wide spectrum of interests all in one venue. From near-surface geophysical exploration techniques to environmental monitoring solutions, from land use to infrastructure, from groundwater to offshore wind farms, there is surely something for everyone.

the major challenges the world is facing. The panel will be composed of policy makers and leading experts in the fields of offshore energy/renewables, risk assessment, infrastructure and the environment. They will share their vision and expertise addressing challenges and opportunities

in data acquisition and processing, the need for technological developments, and resource and risk management. You can also hone your skills at the hands-on workshops focusing on practical applications. The workshop ‘Updated CIRIA Geophysical Standard’ will present the new standards for geophysical support of ground investigations, while the workshop ‘From AEM Data to 3D Hydrogeological Conceptual Model’ will touch base with the main principles behind groundwater mapping and hydrogeological conceptual modelling using airborne electromagnetics (AEM). This event will also be a great moment to connect with several active groups among EAGE Communities, Local Chapters and Student Chapters in the area. Stop by the EAGE Community Hub to discover all the ways to get involved and make a difference: from chairing and reviewing, to mentoring, leading communities and more. Students attending the event will have opportunities to get advice on effective ways to create a strong resume, as well as go on a tour to connect with exhibiting companies, learn about their latest projects and hear their advice for early careers entering the near-surface field. If you are curious about what your peers are up to, do not miss the poster session on 5 September, featuring a fantastic collaboration with BGA (British Geophysical Association) showcasing the best near-surface geophysics research from their post-graduate students. Visit our website www.eagensg.org to learn more about the event. You can save money on your attendance by signing up before 20 August.

Exhibition, an important networking place.

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EAGE NEWS

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Petroleum Geoscience (PG) transcends disciplinary boundaries and publishes a balanced mix of articles that drives the science to enhance sustainable development covering all aspects of the petroleum system. The journal content reflects the international nature of the research. A new edition (Volume 29, Issue 3) will be published in August, featuring 8 articles. Near Surface Geophysics (NSG) 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 21, Issue 4) will be published within August, featuring 5 articles. Editor’s Choice article: • Resistivity and full-decay IP inversion for imaging a coastal aquifer prone to saline intrusion: The Pontina Plain case study (Central Italy) – G. De Donno et al. Basin Research (BR) is an international journal which aims to publish original, high impact research papers on sedimentary basin systems. A new edition (Volume 35, Issue 4) will be published in August, featuring 15 articles.

Bombay students showcase opportunities in geoscience and engineering At EXPLORATI 2023, the EAGE Student Chapter IIT Bombay, with the support of the EAGE Student Fund, promoted geoscience and engineering education through activities such as the Crossword and the T-Shirt Design Competition. The initiatives aimed to raise awareness of the Fund’s mission and encourage students to get involved in supporting it. By participating in these events, students have fun, showcase their skills and learn more about geoscience and engineering topics. The Crossword competition is an educational and challenging experience for students to test their knowledge. Meanwhile, the T-shirt design competition allows them to get creative and promote the EAGE Student Fund through wearable art, a versatile way to reach people of all ages and backgrounds. We are grateful to EAGE for encouraging and supporting our mission. Events like EXPLORATI 2023 can help build a sense of community among students interested in geoscience and engineering. They can connect with their peers by sharing ideas, lessons and experiences. Through the event, the Chapter also promotes other EAGE activities like the Laurie Dake Challenge, Minus CO2 Challenge, and the Global GeoQuiz. These are opportunities for the students to develop their skills, expand their network, and make a positive impact on the world. By inviting other colleagues to participate in our event, we can build connections and relationships with students and faculty from other institutions who share a common interest in geoscience and engineering. Overall, these activities can help build a sense of community among students and encourage them to take an active role in supporting the EAGE Student Fund.

Editor’s Choice article: • Fault growth and orthogonal shortening in transtensional supradetachment basins: Insights from the ‘Old Red’ of western Norway – P. T. Osmundsen et al.

CHECK OUT THE LATEST JOURNALS

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EAGE Student Chapter IIT Bombay at EXPLORATI 2023.

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EAGE NEWS

Help us to identify skills needed for the energy transition

Our interactive tool will make it easier to assess which skills might be needed in the energy transition era.

Look out for the new EAGE interactive tool we are creating to make it easier for members to assess which skills they may need in the emerging energy transition era. The idea is to identify courses that can help you acquire the required skills, providing a comparison between current and future role skills profiles. Members will be able to choose from a dropdown list of existing and potential future roles and assess which technical skills are relevant and how this might work in practice. We are keen to ensure that the recommendations proposed by the interactive tool meet your needs, connecting you

with our available EAGE education programmes and finding out where there may be gaps that can be covered by new courses. To do this, we have put together a concise survey consisting of four questions that require only a few minutes to complete. Responses will remain anonymous and will help us identify the technical skills required for the energy transition. You can fill in the survey by scanning the QR code, or by visiting our Energy Transition Hub at eage.org/ energytransition.

Here’s how to upskill for the coming energy transition Do you have the technical skills to face energy transition challenges? That is the question. If you’re not sure, then a new programme on our e-learning platform – learninggeoscience.org – could be just what you are looking for. ‘Navigating Career Challenges and Opportunities of the Energy Transition’

starting on 24 August is designed for geoscientists and engineers who want to boost or switch their careers; take responsibility for their own professional development; or want to be prepared to deal with anticipated changes. It all provides the opportunity to learn as part of a group, rather than in silo.

The programme lasts for five weeks and consists of six online group coaching meetings with self-paced tasks that are centred on experiences and presentations. Participants are expected to develop and maintain their confidence throughout the programme by defining their goals and direction in their journey towards reskilling and upskilling.

ADDITIONS THIS MONTH On 15-17 August, the First EAGE Conference on Deepwater Equatorial Margin: New Energy Frontier for South America will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro. 21 abstracts will be presented and become available on EarthDoc two weeks in advance of the workshop. On 3-7 September, the Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition 2023 will be hosted in Edinburgh. This year, we are planning four parallel programmes, specifically the 29 th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, the 2nd Conference on Hydrogeophysics, the 3rd Conference on Geophysics for Infrastructure Planning, Monitoring and BIM, and the 1st Conference on Sub-surface Characterisation for Offshore Wind. Approximately 200 abstracts will be presented and will become available on EarthDoc two weeks before the event. New issues of Petroleum Geoscience, Basin Research and Near Surface Geophysics will be published in August.

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EAGE NEWS

Seismic velocity changes in the Groningen reservoir explained at LC Netherlands meeting Dong Zhang (EAGE Local Chapter Netherlands) writes: A live event in April at the new Echo building in Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) featured Dr Wen Zhou from the Department of Applied Geophysics. It was hosted by the EAGE Local Chapter Netherlands (since awarded Best Local Chapter of the Year at the recent EAGE Annual). Dr Zhou was invited to talk about seismic velocity changes associated with distant drilling in the Groningen reservoir, the largest natural gas field in Europe and one of the largest in the world. He began a general introduction about distant induced earthquakes, with examples from Strasburg and Groningen, and the potential mechanisms behind them. In terms of passive reservoir monitoring, reservoir pressure diffusion could be an indicator of different mechanisms.

Technical talk by Dr Zhou on seismic velocity changes in the Groningen reservoir.

Dr Zhou asked the question: can seismic waves, e.g., borehole seismic data, be used to monitor pressure changes? By way of answer, he offered a detailed description and elaboration on a related research project on passive seismic reservoir monitoring in Groningen. This consisted of ambient-noise interferometry, train-noise interferometry, P-wave timelapse variation, and S-wave timelapse variation. Dr Zhou concluded that P- and S-velocity changes

are observed using repetitive train noise, and the changes are correlated with drilling that produced overpressure in the reservoir. He also mentioned that ambient-noise level changes can be found. Questions from the audience and enthusiastic discussion followed after the talk. It seemed most audiences were curious about the train-noise interferometry. Some were left wondering whether more trains from opposite directions or stranger signals from trains would help. Others were curious about the best practice for the correlation of signals. There was also a comment from the audience about the fault model. This live event was a success thanks to the great effort and contribution of the speakers. The event is available on the EAGE YouTube channel for anyone interested in this exciting new technology. Stay informed about the Chapter activities through their LinkedIn page.

First water footprint workshop to be held in Latin America Our first EAGE Workshop on Water Footprint will be launched on 24-25 October 2023 in Bogota, Colombia. Companies, non-governmental organisations, pro-

What is water footprint and how is it measured will be some of the questions addressed in the workshop.

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fessionals, students, and other interested parties that interact with water resources are invited. The aim is to better understand the dynamics, progress, research, projects, and initiatives that are being developed in industry and academic sectors around water footprint - how is it measured and how this information can help mitigate environmental impacts. The meeting will feature national and international success stories, industry-academia knowledge exchange spaces, and forums with experts. Participants will be able to discuss concepts, methodologies, trends, and opportunities for integrated and corporate water management improvement that may benefit a country’s sustainability and competitiveness.

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Integrated and corporate water management impact a country’s sustainability and competitiveness.

If you would like to showcase your research and best practices, or are just interested in participating at the event, mark your calendar and join us in October.

EAGE NEWS

Mark your calendar for data processing workshop in Cairo A new dawn for data processing is rising, and it’s all happening in Cairo on 26-28 February 2024 at our first EAGE Data Processing Workshop in the region. So make sure to be there and join the conversation. A common playground for all the traditional energy industry, seismic processing has become a foundation stone for all the activity related to the energy

EAGE launches its first data processing event in Cairo.

industry of the future and the energy transition. Moving from the evergreen 2D and 3D time processing, the technology has been relentlessly evolving into 4D then 4C. Today it is becoming an ever larger domain with data processing spanning from seismic to inversion from calibration to geotechnical integration in a never slowing pace of innovation. The energy transition with all the requirements from renewables to critical minerals, decarbonisation and transition fossil fuels is demanding a huge amount of data processing. All this has been possible via two main enabling factors: data acquisition technology steps forward and the availability of an unprecedented amount of computing power. The full azimuth multi-component high density data sets allow us to exploit

a new frontier in seismic imaging triggering a full technological value chain of algorithms and workflows aimed at the most complex data inversions to build subsurface models with a level of accuracy never reached before. The necessity of building offshore wind farms or extensive solar plants onshore all demand data processing in high resolution of the shallow portion of the earth crust, namely the near surface. This is where the integration with geological and geotechnical data can meet the demand for de-risking of these sites. Satellite imagery data will also become more and more widespread as a backbone for accurate site characterisation in the domain of agriculture and forestry. Find out more about the First EAGE Data Processing Workshop in Cairo at the EAGE website.

Energy transition on the agenda for Aberdeen LC Aberdeen Local Chapter evening talks in 2023 have focused on energy transition. In February Stefano Bagala (BatiGea) presented an overview of energy storage systems. This included the subsurface structures for hydrogen and compressed air storage, why it is needed and how it could be achieved. Bagala included case/pilot studies and a summary of past and ongoing research projects at the European level. A very interactive question and answer session showed the keen interest generated by the talk. In June Fraser Gardiner (Aberdeen Minerals) presented a comprehensive overview of the nickel-cobalt-copper sulphide mineralisation prospects in the northeast of Scotland, and how these metals are critical for the projected demand for battery technology through the energy transition. With

glacial till across the region of interest, electro-magnetic (EM) methods are key for mapping conductive/magnetic zones, especially pyrrhotite which has conductivity similar to graphite. In September 2022 a helicopter EM survey was performed (SkyTEM) with the helicopter towing a transmitter/ antenna below at low altitudes. Gardiner gave us insights into the challenges presented in terms of public awareness and communication. The EM results have been processed and interpreted, accounting for regional noise from pipelines and power lines. With 2023 drilling confirming the EM results and offering potential for improving concentrations below the drilled boreholes, the project looks to have a bright future. The audience had the chance to examine recently acquired core through the sulphides.

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LC Aberdeen tackled energy transition with Stefano Bagala’s lecture.

Interested in hearing more about these activities? Connect with Local Chapter Aberdeen via LinkedIn or find a EAGE Local Chapter in your area.

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EAGE NEWS

How EAGE can boost your early professional career Adapting to a constantly changing industry is a challenge that students and young professionals have to face when choosing their career paths. As an EAGE member, a multitude of resources are at your disposal to equip you with the necessary support to navigate every step: here are some pointers and success stories to get you inspired. There is no better way to understand what the industry is requiring from its professionals than combining the valuable insights of experienced geoscientists and engineers with the fresh perspectives of our younger members. This is the objective of the EAGE Mentoring Programme, a one-year career development initiative led jointly by the Young Professionals and the Women in Geoscience and Engineering Special Interest Communities. As a mentee, Richard Ayisi Mensah, a recent graduate from the University of Miskolc, has received guidance on how to upgrade his current skills to fulfill the industry’s needs. He explains that his mentor ‘has been remarkable advising about career choices and courses that could accelerate the attainment of my personal goals’. With this advice in mind, Richard accessed a job in a prestigious company and will showcase his research in an upcoming international conference. ‘My mentor showed me what accepting this job will look like in terms of development opportunities, career progression, and academia-industry transition. I ended up accepting the offer: the best thing I could have done for myself.’ Our mentors too have benefited from the innovative points of view they experience from motivated young professionals. Dragana Duric, associate professor, University of Belgrade, highlights that ‘the exchange of ideas and insights was intellectually stimulating and an opportunity for mutual learning’. Prof Duric, who lives in Serbia, was matched with a geoscience student based in Colombia. Having a ‘cross-continental collaboration’ has enriched her journey in unexpected ways. ‘Engaging in this type of mentoring was transformative for me personally. I embraced a fresh approach, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment 18

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rather than a purely instructional one. The experience opened my eyes to the immense value of mentorship in empowering students to achieve their goals and facilitating their personal and professional growth.’

as artificial intelligence, seismic acquisition, geochemistry, and many more. We have ten different technical communities you can choose from to explore the various paths you can take in your career.

Collaborative and knowledge exchange initiatives are key to our early careers professional development.

Within the trusted network of professional associations such as EAGE, lies a phenomenal capacity to collectively guide students and young professionals to unlock their full potential and excel in their fields, as in the case of Richard Mensah. So whether you are willing to boost your career or to share your valuable experience, the EAGE Mentoring Programme is a great place to start. Expanding your professional horizons Another way people in their early careers can enhance their understanding of the industry is joining Technical Communities. These specialised networks aim to bring forward the latest trends, best practices, and professional development opportunities in various disciplines, such

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For example, if you are curious about renewable energies, the Decarbonization and Energy Transition (DET) Community is, in words of Board member Carla Martín-Clavé, ‘the perfect place for any student, early career or senior professional looking for support to make a change in his/her career and to join the new low-carbon technologies energy sector’. Speaking of her own experience, Martín-Clavé stresses the importance of joining technical knowledge exchange initiatives: ‘When I first joined a community, I was still a student, and being part of the DET committee has helped me to learn from senior professionals driving and shaping the energy transition in geoscience’. Our Special Interest Communities also have a lot to offer. Take for example the

EAGE NEWS

Young Professionals’ special session at the 84th EAGE Annual: Career Diversity Within and Beyond Geoscience. It was an interesting session in which the skills that might be useful in future careers, as well as how the careers can look like with the skills on hand, were addressed through the lens of various disciplines. Yuriy Ivanov, chair of the Young Professionals community explained that ‘the motivation behind the session was to emphasise that geoscience is a multi-disciplinary field that addresses a variety of problems and challenges. It is important that young professionals at early stages of their careers don’t lock themselves into a narrow subject by selecting a certain area, but have access to exciting opportunities by capitalising on the multi-disciplinarity of what we do.’ One participant at the session, Juan Manuel Jiménez, an undergraduate geology student, said that attending the Young Professionals session was an enriching experience. ‘Engaging with industry professionals and fellow young geoscientists broadened my horizons and fostered meaningful connections. This session highlighted the vast opportunities available and inspired me to explore diverse career paths within geoscience.’ In your early career, there are plenty of opportunities to shape and enrich your professional journey through EAGE. Take advantage of them all. If you are also interested in supporting your fellow colleagues, the Young Professionals committee is looking for new members. Find out how you can contribute to your community at eage.org/about_eage/ volunteer.

Chile to host a workshop on mining in the energy transition era

Our workshop will feature the latest trends in resource exploration and the role of mining in energy transition.

Mining faces many challenges as a crucial industry for world development complicated by the complexities of the global economy, demand for decarbonisation and various socio-environmental issues. Our Third EAGE Workshop on Mineral Exploration in Latin America, in Santiago, Chile, on 9-10 November, will continue the quest to find answers. It will bring together mining companies, prospectors, government agencies, academics, and mineral exploration service providers (contractors, equipment manufacturers, and software providers), to discuss local and global trends in resource exploration, as well as the role of mining in the energy transition. The workshop will also provide insight into how Latin American governments are investing in geoscientific data and generating policies to promote the exploration of critical minerals, in addition to how exploration companies use cutting-edge technology and software to increase the chance of discovering mineral deposits in the future.

Attendees will also hear a keynote presentation from Richard Inglis, chief geoscientist at Newmont, with over 30 years of experience in exploration and mining around the globe. This is an event not to miss if it is in your field, so be sure to book your place.

Santiago, Chile, is ready to welcome you next November.

EAGE Student Calendar 7 AUG

MINUS CO2 CHALLENGE: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 6 FINALISTS

ONLINE

10 AUG

EAGE STUDENT CHAPTERS AMERICAS REGION MEETING

ONLINE

25 AUG

EAGE STUDENT WEBINAR ON NEAR SURFACE

ONLINE

5 SEP

NEAR SURFACE GEOSCIENCE CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2023 (STUDENT ACTIVITIES) EDINBURGH, UK

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

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EAGE NEWS

Future of organic geochemistry is focus of IMOG 2023 The countdown is on for the highly anticipated 31st International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry (IMOG) in the beautiful city of Montpellier, France. Here organic geochemists from all corners of the globe will convene to exchange knowledge insights, showcase the latest technologies, and collectively shape the future of the field. IMOG 2023 promises to be a dynamic conference that breaks new ground, fosters collaboration, and propels the field of organic geochemistry into the future. Pim van Bergen, chairperson for the hosting organisation, the European Association of Organic Geochemistry (EAOG), says: ‘As with every IMOG, 2023 will be an innovative conference that brings together the best minds in the fields of organic matter cycles over geological and modern time scales and integrated paleo-environmental and climatic studies. Also, our peers in the petroleum industry continue to bring the tools and knowledge which improve the whole life cycle, from more efficient exploration and production to responsible decommissioning, and relevant new technologies.’ With 500 expected attendees, 80 oral presentations and 300 poster presentations, IMOG 2023 allows the interchange of research results in organic geochemistry, including topics ranging from biogeochemistry to petroleum geochemistry. The scientific committee, led by Courtney Turich, has meticulously crafted a series of plenary and parallel oral sessions, each delving into

intriguing topics from both established labs and new contributors that push the boundaries of our understanding. As always, this IMOG conference will open with the prestigious Geoff Eglinton Presentation, an honour bestowed on the submission considered to best represent the spirit of high quality and highly innovative science. This year, Janina Groninga, a PhD student from Marum in Bremen, earned the award. His exceptional submission, ‘Unrav-

in organic geochemistry, the Trieb’s Medal. We will celebrate Dr Wakeham’s career and his substantial contributions including ground-breaking research on molecular-level analysis of fluxes and organic matter especially in oxygen deficient zones. Organic geochemistry is a key field at the crossroads of energy, climate change and achieving a better future for people and the planet. IMOG 2023 embraces research on climate-sensitive

Well attended session at previous IMOG meeting.

elling microbial biomarker signatures obtained by mass spectrometry imaging in hydrothermal sediment’, rose above a pool of over 200 submissions. Groninga’s well-deserved recognition pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the esteemed Prof Geoff Eglinton. An early career investigator will also be awarded the Pieter Schenck award. Finally, we will honour the lifelong contributions of Dr Professor Stuart Wakeham, who has been awarded the highest recognition

environments and emphasises sustainability, paving the way for innovative solutions. Join us on an incredible scientific exploration at IMOG 2023. Secure your place by registering before 1 September 2023, and visit our website imogconference.org for further details. Together, we will establish new connections with peers, see latest research, and create innovative strategies for a more sustainable future in organic geochemistry.

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 ! 20

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PERSONAL RECORD INTERVIEW

Mike Stanley

Personal Record Interview

A building story with a seismic sequel Mike Stanley of MKS Consulting was in the house building business in Canada before an unlikely sequence of events in South Sudan turned his attention to seismic. Learning on the job, he became a senior executive in a geophysical services company based in the Middle East, before his next incarnation as a major player in the second-hand seismic equipment market and related brokering and leasing activities. His company has since 2016 completed over 150 transactions, the largest worth over $10 million.

Modest upbringing in Manitoba? My mom worked as an administrator in a doctors’ office and while she provided everything we needed, there was not a lot of ‘extra’ to go around. I remember wondering how business-oriented folk had carved out successful careers, so I would try to seek them out and ask lots of questions. Building trade straight from high school? I had worked in construction since the age of 15 as a labourer during the summer. I was fortunate to have hard working men and women shape my understanding of a strong work ethic. How did seismic business come into your life? Seismic business found me. In 2006 I was running my own residential carpentry business in Calgary, when a friend, who happened to work in seismic, asked for help with a humanitarian building project in South Sudan. There I encountered my first seismic field camp and subsequently was invited to get involved on the company’s business side. Highlights of rise to ops manager in Dubai I began as an analyst with the geophsysical services company in Calgary. Within four years, I completed my Business Diploma, and became a Dubai-based executive manager, with the added duty of contract and client relations. The highlight would

be the development of strong relationships with the project team. Managing personnel with 30-40+ years of experience required some sensitivity with a willingness to learn and collaborate. In 2016 it was back to house building My time as operations manager ended during the industry downturn in 2015. After relocating back to Nova Scotia, Canada from Dubai, I was trying to determine ‘what’s next?’. Even though I had managed a multi-million dollar company, my CV was confusing to potential employers, and I struggled to find a job. So I went back to basics and did some house-building. I remember my mom saying that to support my brother and I she would work at a fast-food restaurant if necessary. Maybe that inspired me. How the company came about? While I was trying to figure out how to capitalise on my experience, I was contacted by former seismic industry colleagues. They had a vast amount of seismic equipment stranded in North Iraq, and they hired me to consult and travel to the location to find a solution. I managed to negotiate the export approval process recovering 100% of their equipment. This was the genesis of my future business. By word of mouth, customers began to contact me for similar projects, especially finding second-hand equipment at a time when seismic business was ailing and there was no money about. FIRST

The status today My company was registered in 2016 and has become a seismic industry leader in the used seismic equipment market. We have exclusive representation agreements with several international service companies and broker sale and leasing transactions. Now we also purchase seismic equipment on a speculative basis, knowing it has future value for potential sale. Our growing pool of equipment for lease includes TZ source vessels, acoustic transponders, Sercel 428 cabled equipment, and recently acquired Sercel WiNG nodes. What next? In such a volatile industry, I’ve never claimed to know what the future holds. But I believe that the trade, lease, and logistics set-up we have created can be replicated in other niche industries. For the moment we will continue to equip our customers according to the demands of the industry. We also hope to grow our services outside of purely seismic equipment into other E&P sectors adopting the same business model. Time away from work? When I am not travelling, I spend as much time as possible with my young son and daughter, including coaching their baseball and basketball teams. I also stay active and competitive by participating in CrossFit five days a week. When travelling, I can always find a CrossFit affiliated gym in which to work out, and that keeps me in a healthy, active state of mind.

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EAGE MONTHLY UPDATE SAVE ON REGISTR ATION

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The Energy Transition

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

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Fitting LNG into the energy transition puzzle In the discussion of pathways to a more sustainable, low carbon What happened was a whole lot of ‘re-routing’ of available world, the value of the LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) business rarely output, including a sharp surge in gross LNG imports into Europe gets a mention. Quite possibly people are probably unaware given (up 66 bcm). This was balanced by the steep decline in the rest the low profile role it plays in the overall energy mix, and the fact of the world, particularly in Asia. It was the US that supplied that a mere three countries - Qatar, USA and Australia – dominate approximately two thirds (43 bcm) of the increased LNG inflows into Europe. The country is in fact destined to become with the global export market. Yet it was rapidly sourced international LNG supplies that Qatar the biggest long-term supplier of LNG worldwide thanks rescued Europe last winter when gas pipeline imports from to abundant supplies of gas (legacy of shale revolution), pipeline Russia were drastically cut in the fall-out over the invasion of facilities to export facilities, and cheaper transport costs to the Ukraine. This was mentioned quite a bit at LNG 2023, a four European market than rivals such as Qatar and Australia. yearly international event for anyone who is anyone in this Other ‘swing suppliers’ in 2022 were also able to redirect niche industry. Yet the prestige meeting, attracting 10,000 or so significant flexible volumes to the European market, with Qatar delegates, went largely unnoticed in Vancouver, which hosted (5 bcm), Egypt (5 bcm), Norway (3 bcm), Angola (2 bcm), at short notice when the original venue of St Petersburg was Trinidad and Tobago (2 bcm) and even Russia (2 bcm) providing cancelled for obvious reasons. Even environmental activists only the bulk of the remaining third. Which brings us to the virtues of LNG and its importance put up a token show of protest at this major fossil fuel gathering, surprising for such a normally vociferous ‘green’ city. in delivering energy transition as well as providing a safety net Europe’s escape from energy catastrophe for energy security. Definition first: LNG is a was of course a little more complicated. Luck, ‘No sudden surge in clear, odourless, noncorrosive, nontoxic liquid in the form of a mild 2022 winter not only in that is formed when natural gas is cooled to new gas production’ around -260 F. This shrinks the volume by Europe but in Asia and especially China, a big LNG consumer, had a lot to do with it. China about 600 times, making the resource easier to was still in recovery mode from Covid with a depressed economy store and transport through marine shipments. LNG is not stored from which it is only now showing signs of full recovery. It also under pressure and is not explosive or flammable in its liquid turned to burning more coal during this period. In addition the state. Hence it is touted as a an extremely safe hydrocarbons spiking spot price caused substantially less LNG (18%) to be resource to ship around the world. imported by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Most LNG is transported by tankers in large, onboard, Bottom line: there was actually no sudden surge in new gas super-cooled (cryogenic) tanks, also in smaller ISO-compliant production miraculously becoming available. As reported by the containers that can be placed on ships and trucks (this latter not International Energy Agency (IEA), the utilisation rate of global always popular with local communities). At import terminals, liquefaction capacity averaged 84% in 2022, unchanged from LNG is stored in cryogenic storage tanks before it is returned 2021 levels and slightly above the 2017- 2021 average of 83%. to its gaseous state or regasified to be transported by natural gas Even so 2022, global trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG) set a pipelines to natural gas-fired power plants, industrial facilities, record high, averaging 51.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), a and residential and commercial customers. 5% increase compared with 2021, according to the US Energy Ironically in June 2022 at the height of the scramble for gas, Information Administration. LNG’s enviable safety record was tarnished by an explosion

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CROSSTALK

at the Freeport, South Texas plant, the second largest in the So, ability to reduce the emission intensity of LNG could US. The resultant drop in supply to the global market caused a prove a drag on future trade expansion in the decarbonisation era. More crucially LNG’s role as a bridge fuel in the energy discernible spike in LNG price, already sky high. A major environmental benefit is that natural gas/LNG transition process poses a dilemma on both the supply and emits around 40-50% less CO2 than coal and 30% less than oil. demand side. Pricing against other fuel options is extremely volatile, e.g., the spike in 2022 has largely settled down, This immediately makes a case for LNG imports to help replace coal worldwide in accordance with the calls for phase-out of Chinese demand is not as yet pressuring the market and coal by numerous international organisations, notably the EU Europe has done a good job in building its reserves for the coming winter although as some wag at LNG2023 noted, and recently the G7 countries. The year 2021-22 highlighted ‘praying for a warm winter still does not count as an energy LNG’s flexibility in times of crisis as well as being a significant, policy’. and relatively clean, import for energy needy countries like Uncertainty leaves selling in the spot market (so successful Japan and China, the world’s two biggest users. during the recent crisis) vulnerable to over-supply. There has For some time LNG has also had obvious application been an understandable move where possible to long-term when stored to fill in the electricity generation gaps due to the contracts. That poses a problem for those buyers reluctant to weather susceptibility of renewables such as wind and solar. In commit too far ahead when uncertain of how much gas will be addition, LNG plays a key role in powering shipping. Despite needed in the future, dependent among other things on the pace high prices for LNG fuel last year, DNV stated that the orders of energy transition and the cost of competing fuel options. for LNG-powered vessels in 2022 were close to the record The same applies to investors in new LNG plant, espe240 orders in 2021. LNG-powered container vessels and car cially as inflation and the rising cost of materials are making carriers constituted nearly two thirds or 74% of the ship orders an impact on construction costs. Moduduring the last year. DNV’s platform shows lar incremental construction of facilities that 355 LNG-powered ships are already in ‘Emission intensity and floating LNG platforms for producoperation while owners have placed orders could prove a tion, storage and offloading are being for 521 more. adopted in some cases to improve the So far unresolved methane emission significant drag economics. issues in shipping are just one of the caveats on trade’ Not just as a gesture towards the host to the benefits of LNG. As a hydrocarbons country, LNG2023 participants were unfailfuel it is of course still very much an atmosingly complimentary about the late entry into the LNG export phere pollutant, at a time when buyers are increasingly looking market of Canada despite being the fifth-largest gas producer for the least greenhouse emissions, so called responsibly in the world. Its first 14 million tonnes per year LNG terminal sourced gas. Electrical drive trains to drive compressors in the at Kitimat on the west coast of British Columbia is being production of LNG, rather than gas, is an attractive option for developed by LNG Canada and is due on stream in 2025 with plant builders particularly if the electrical capacity is available a second stream in the planning. The lowest carbon emission (often problematic) and better yet if it can be from renewables profile in the world is being claimed for this and three smaller (still problematic). projects Woodfibre, Cedar and Ksi Lisims at varying stages of CCS is another option. According to a Wood Mackenzie being built or approved. A distinctive feature has been the close assessment, LNG players are well placed to lead the CCS liaison and ownership deals negotiated with local indigenous charge, with strong balance sheets, operational capability and communities. reservoir expertise. One approach involves capturing reservoir Meantime, a report from Reuters in March painted a potenCO2, which is seen to have significant cost advantages over tially ugly picture suggesting a flood of LNG export projects post-combustion capture. Reservoir CCS can reduce the overall due online worldwide in mid-decade will vie against lower-cost intensity of LNG projects by 25%, and in some cases up to renewable energy and a revived nuclear power sector. Proposed 50%. Post-combustion CCS involves capturing CO2 from the and approved new plants would boost LNG supply by 67% LNG flue gas stream. This is not necessarily more expensive to 636 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2030 from 2021 if incorporated into a new-build LNG facility, owing to design levels, potentially saturating the gas market. In Qatar, a massive and location synergies, Wood Mackenzie says. Tax credits or LNG expansion project will add 49 mtpa by 2027. US projects other policy incentives may also help to improve the economics could add 125 mtpa of capacity by late 2027, according to data of post-combustion CCS. This could be particularly relevant compiled by BTU Analytics. for US LNG developers after the incentives included in the No such alarm was manifest at last month’s meeting in Inflation Reduction Act. A number of major operators have Vancouver. already announced plans to incorporate CCS into their plants.

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

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HIGHLIGHTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

TGS deploys LiDAR buoy offshore Norway

Chevron plans Australia characterisation project

PGS reprocesses data offshore Indonesia

Oil demand will drop after 2026 says IEA report The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that demand for oil as transport fuel will decline after 2026, but overall consumption is expected to be supported by strong petrochemicals demand. Growth in the world’s demand for oil is set to slow ‘almost to a halt’ in the coming years, with high prices and security of supply concerns hastening the shift towards cleaner energy technologies, according to the IEA’s Oil 2023 Medium-Term Market Report. Based on current government policies and market trends, global oil demand will rise by 6% between 2022 and 2028 to reach 105.7 million barrels per day (mb/d), supported by robust demand from the petrochemical and aviation sectors, says the agency. However, annual demand growth is expected to shrink from 2.4 mb/d this year to 0.4 mb/d in 2028. In particular, the use of oil for transport fuels is set to decline after 2026 as the expansion of electric vehicles, the growth of biofuels and improving fuel economy reduce consumption. ‘The shift to a clean energy economy is picking up pace, with a peak in global oil demand in sight before the end of this decade as electric vehicles, energy efficiency and other technologies advance,’ said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. ‘Oil producers need to pay careful attention to the gathering pace of change and calibrate their investment decisions to ensure an orderly transition.’ Global oil markets are still slowly recalibrating after three turbulent years

caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and then by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, added the IEA. Global oil markets could tighten significantly in the coming months, as production cuts by the OPEC+ alliance temper an upswing in global oil supplies. China was the last major economy to lift its Covid-19 restrictions at the end of 2022, leading to a post-pandemic oil demand rebound in the first half of 2023. Yet demand growth in China is forecast to slow markedly from 2024. Nevertheless, burgeoning petrochemical demand and strong consumption growth in emerging and developing economies will more than offset a contraction in advanced economies, says the report. Global upstream investments in oil and gas exploration, extraction and production are on course to reach their highest levels since 2015, growing 11% year-on-year to $528 billion in 2023. While the impact of higher spending will be partly offset by cost inflation, such sustained investment would meet forecast demand in the period covered by the report. However, it exceeds the amount that would be needed in a world on track to achieves net zero emissions by 2050. The report’s projections assume that big oil producers maintain their plans to build up capacity even as demand growth slows. This is expected to result in spare capacity cushion of at least 3.8 mb/d, concentrated in the Middle East. The report nonetheless notes factors that could affect market balances over the medium term FIRST

– including uncertain global economic trends, the direction of OPEC+ decisions and China’s refining industry policy. Oil-producing countries outside the OPEC+ alliance dominate plans for increasing global supply capacity in the medium term, with an expected rise of

Global oil demand will rise by 6% from 2022 to 2028.

5.1 mb/d by 2028 led by the US, Brazil and Guyana. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq lead plans for capacity building within OPEC+, while African and Asian members are set to struggle with continuing declines, and Russian production falls due to sanctions. This makes for a net capacity gain of 0.8 mb/d from the 23 members in OPEC+ over the report’s forecast period.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

TGS deploys first LiDAR wind measurement buoy offshore Norway TGS has deployed the first-ever LiDAR buoy measurement campaign to support Norwegian offshore wind development. The buoy has been deployed in the Utsira Nord zone, using sensors to conduct wind, metocean, and environmental measurements to enhance decision-making for the three floating wind project areas to be awarded in Norway’s first floating wind lease round. Data is available on a multi-client basis. Terje Aasland, Norway’s oil and energy minister said: ‘This is a good example of how we have picked up pace in offshore wind development and that the consortia have started concrete activities.’ Jan Schoolmeesters, EVP of Digital Energy Solutions at TGS, added: ‘Our multi-client floating LiDAR buoy deployments enhance the decision-making ability of all stakeholders investing in this region’s offshore wind development future, and this is proven by significant interest and commitment from Utsira Nord wind consortia.’

Utsira Nord is TGS’ sixth global deployment.

The TGS buoy is equipped to provide an extensive range of data throughout a 12-month measurement campaign, with the possibility of extending for an extra year. Alongside measuring wind speeds, the data package encompasses metocean and environmental information, encompassing significant wave heights, profiles of ocean currents, and acoustic surveillance of birds and bats. Data is continuously streamed, quality-controlled, and made available to customers on a daily basis through the Wind AXIOM platform, a site evaluation and wind data analytics tool allowing stakeholders to analyse the most influential factors impacting their offshore wind projects.

Utsira Nord marks the sixth global deployment of TGS’ multi-client floating LiDARs over the past 12 months, but is the first aimed at floating wind development, being situated in approximately 270 m of water depth. The previous five buoys are active off the US East Coast. TGS said it is planning additional deployments in offshore wind markets globally. The project follows the announcement of the first offshore wind tenders as part of Norway’s ambition of allocating lease areas with an installed capacity of 30GW by 2040. The government will announce the lease winner for Utsira Nord floating wind lease zone and the Sørlige Nordsjø fixed foundation lease area by the end of the year. Meanwhile, TGS has added Unexploded Ordnance analysis to the Central Atlantic Call Areas covered by Wind AXIOM. Unexploded Ordnance (UXOs) and remnants from military activity represent significant HSE and cost risks to the development of offshore wind farms and are routinely assessed as part of a wind farm site assessment.

Searcher completes 3D survey offshore Namibia

Shearwater Empress vessel.

Searcher, Shearwater and NAMCOR have completed a multi-phase, multi-client 3D seismic acquisition campaign in the Namibian Orange Basin. In Phase 1, Searcher acquired 1700 km2 of 3D seismic data within the

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boundaries of block PEL 85 – a substantial area within the Orange Basin’s most prospective acreage and ‘perhaps today’s most exciting exploration arena on Earth’, said Searcher. Fast-track data has already yielded invaluable insights into geological features and hydrocarbon prospectivity, significantly reducing risk and uncertainty, the company added. ‘We have been astonished by the quality of the Phase 1 imaging even on the early data volumes, allowing us to derisk reservoir, source and multiple traps already,’ said Neil Hodgson vice-president of geoscience. Phase 2 required Searcher to mobilise the vessel Shearwater Empress over block PEL 3 to acquire 5000 km2 of 3D seismic data. Phase 2 was designed and executed

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to image and delineate the reservoir geology of the Kudu gas field, along with other potential plays within the survey area. The offshore region of Namibia has garnered significant attention due to recent deepwater discoveries, thick sedimentary sequences, favourable structural elements and the presence of prolific source rocks of the Orange Basin. Searcher has acquired more than 6700 km2 of 3D seismic data in Namibia during the 2022-2023 season, representing the largest multi-client 3D offering in the Orange Basin. Insights from the datasets range from regional-scale understanding, prospect derisking and field development imaging. Fast-track data is available with final products to be completed by Q4 2023.

INDUSTRY NEWS

PGS wins offshore wind characterisation project PGS has won a large offshore windfarm site characterisation contract in the US from a ‘leading renewable energy company’. PGS will use the vessel Sanco Swift, which is rigged as an offshore wind site characterisation vessel. Mobilisation is scheduled for August 2023 and acquisi-

PGS vessel Sanco Swift.

tion is expected to complete in February 2024, with total project duration of approx. 180 days. The company’s second offshore wind site characterisation project will be acquired with PGS’ ultra-high-resolution 3D (UHR3D) P-Cable. ‘The UHR3D system provides significantly more detailed subsurface data for shallower targets compared to traditional seismic acquisition systems,’ said PGS. Berit Osnes, executive vice-president new energy of PGS, said: ‘Our geophysical approach to map and understand the shallow subsurface layers with our UHR3D system is significantly more efficient than conventional solutions. Energy companies acknowledge the value of shorter lead time for accessing high-quality data.’

WIRELESS MARINE EXPLORATION

750m with Continuous Recording for 70 Days

Chevron plans 4D survey offshore Australia

200 Day Recording Down to 3,450m

Chevron is planning a 4D marine seismic survey (MSS) over production licences WA-46-L, WA-47-L and WA-48-L in the Wheatstone and Iago gas fields in Commonwealth waters north of Barrow Island, Western Australia. The 4D MSS aims to repeat the acquisition of the 3D MSS conducted over the same area in 2011-2012, as part of a monitoring program. The 4D MSS is scheduled to occur between mid-December 2023 and mid-April 2024, subject to vessel availability, and is expected to take ~75 days to acquire. While the seismic and support vessels may mobilise to the operational area during December 2023, seismic acquisition will not commence before 1 January, 2024. Seismic acquisition will be conducted 24 hours a day. The Full Power Zone for the 4D MSS defines the area where the seismic source will be discharged at full power. The Full

3C FIBER OPTIC DOWNHOLE

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Power Zone extends over ~1,644 km2 in water depths that range from ~60 m to 1130 m. The operational area extends over ~3730 km2 and in water depths that range from ~50 m to 1250 m. The operational area is situated ~30 km from the Montebello Islands and ~119 km from the mainland.

Years Long Operational Lifetime @ 150°C

BOOTH #923 Acquisition is expected to take 75 days.

An environmental plan has been submitted to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority.

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TECH TALK

30 Aug | 1:45 pm | Room 372B Automated Processing Development at CO2 Site www.GEOSPACE.com sales@geospace.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

Global oil reserves increase by 52 billion barrels year-on-year, says Rystad Global recoverable oil reserves stand at 1624 billion barrels, an increase of 52 billion barrels from last year’s estimate, according to research by Rystad Energy. In a scenario where global warming is limited to 1.9°C, this oil will contribute about 0.2°C of additional warming by 2100, based on one barrel of oil emitting 400 kg CO2. Therefore, about 20% of any additional warming will come from burning oil in cars, ships and aeroplanes and all other uses that lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Emissions from oilfield operations are estimated at 5% of all crude-related emissions. ‘The industry is working actively to reduce the intensity of upstream emissions, which can vary from 10 kg of carbon dioxide per barrel of oil (kgCO2/ barrel) in Saudi Arabia to more than 100

kgCO2/kg in heavy oil fields in Venezuela,’ said Rystad. Since Rystad’s 2022 report, 30 billion barrels of crude oil have been extracted, the same level as in 2018 and 2019, with 84 billion barrels added in fields, discoveries and exploration prospects. Increased reserves in producing fields and approved projects in 2022 amount to 71 billion barrels, while 13 billion barrels were found in new discoveries during 2022, equalling a net total addition of 54 billion barrels. Although 1624 billion barrels of oil are technically recoverable, fewer than 1300 billion barrels are likely to be economically viable before 2100 at an average Brent price of $50 per barrel. The potential longevity of proven reserves varies widely among OPEC and non-OPEC producers, ranging from fewer than five years for the UK to more than 20 years for

Canada. Iran leads OPEC members with almost 13 years of proven reserves. ‘The upstream sector is working hard to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oilfields. However, even with these mitigation measures and governmental efforts, if global warming is to be successfully limited to 1.6°C only half of the world’s recoverable reserves would be required. It’s not unreasonable to conclude that policies and technological advances can reduce oil consumption and boost the energy transition, bringing us closer to a 1.6°C scenario,’ said Rystad CEO Jarand Rystad. One key driver of waning oil demand is the surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales. Rystad estimates EV sales will continue to accelerate and pass 50% of global car sales by 2030, leading to peak oil demand of 105 million barrels per day (bpd).

US approves wind energy project offshore Atlantic City The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the construction and operation of the Ocean Wind 1 project offshore New Jersey. Located 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City, the project includes up to 98 wind turbines and up to three offshore substations and will have an estimated capacity of 1100 MW. The decision also documents monitoring and mitigation measures that Ocean Wind will undertake to reduce potential impacts on protected species, such as marine mammals, sea turtles, and Atlantic sturgeon. Measures include vessel speed restrictions and clearance zones during construction. Meanwhile, BOEM has issued a finding of ‘no significant impacts on environmental resources’ from offshore wind leasing on the US Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico, a key milestone towards the first offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf. 30

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Offshore New Jersey’s wind project will comprise 98 wind turbines with a capacity of some 11MW.

On 31 October 2022, BOEM announced two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore Texas and Louisiana that total about 682,000 acres – a subset of the 30-million-acre Call Area announced in November 2021. On 22 February, 2023, BOEM announced its proposal for the first offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico for areas within the WEAs. BOEM prepared an environmental assessment (EA) of the entire 30-million-acre Call Area to identify additional

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WEAs. The EA considered potential environmental consequences of site characterisation activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys) associated with issuing wind energy leases in the Gulf of Mexico. If BOEM proceeds with the sale, the bureau will publish a Final Sale Notice at least 30 days ahead.

INDUSTRY NEWS

TGS launches processing project offshore India

The project covers the country’s east coast.

TGS has launched an extensive West Coast India seismic processing project that complements the India East Coast 2Dcubed project from 2022. The project encompasses all available 2D seismic data across three-quarters of a million square kilometres offshore India’s west coast. TGS will utilise its proprietary 2Dcubed technology to create a single, conformable pseudo-3D dataset. Will Ashby, executive vice-president for the Eastern Hemisphere at TGS, said: ‘India is now the most populous country in the world; along with its fast-paced economic growth, energy consumption is expected to grow by around 3% per annum through to 2040. Increasing India’s exploration and production footprint is critical to the country’s energy security strategy. TGS’ investment in data offshore India will ultimately help to increase access to reliable and affordable energy.’ The dataset will provide coverage offshore Kutch Saurashtra, Mumbai, Kerala-Konkan Basins, and the Gulf of Mannar. TGS’ Data will allow local and international companies to develop structural and geological models in their

ModelVision

pre-study evaluation process using one conformable 3D volume, said the company. 2Dcubed is a technology from TGS for generating a 3D seismic migration volume from a set of 2D and 3D seismic lines. An advanced structurally conformable interpolation algorithm revitalises existing 2D multi-vintage and 3D data. The resultant volume can be used for regional interpretation and optimising subsequent 3D and 2D survey designs. TGS has completed similar scale projects offshore East Coast India and other areas in Asia Pacific, including Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Australia. The same technology has been applied throughout the Norwegian and UK North Seas. The project is scheduled to complete by Q3 2024, with first data by Q1 2024. Meanwhile, TGS expects IFRS revenues for Q2 2023 of $206 million, compared to $230 million in Q2 2022. POC revenues are expected to be $241 million, up from $136 million in Q2 2022. POC multi-client revenues are estimated at $129 million, the same as in Q2 2022, with late sales of approx. $63 million, compared to $97 million in the same quarter of last year, which included significant M&A-related transfer fees. For the Acquisition business unit (formerly Magseis) gross revenues are expected to be $116 million in Q2 2023, up from $103 million in Q2 2022. Kristian Johansen, TGS CEO, said: ‘E&P companies have focused their exploration spending on non-discretionary categories in the first half of the year, prioritising drilling, infrastructure-led exploration and 4D, as well as fulfilling work commitments. TGS has been well positioned to benefit from this through our ocean bottom node business, which is showing solid revenue growth and good operational performance. Furthermore, we continue to see strong prefunding for new multi-client projects, which makes us confident that full-year multi-client investments will be well above $350 million, with an early sales rate in excess of 70%. Our late sales were up 37% sequentially and were also significantly higher than in Q2 2022 when adjusting for transfer fees.’ FIRST

Magnetic & Gravity Interpretation System All sensors Processing 3D modelling 3D inversion Visualisation Analysis Utilities

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INDUSTRY NEWS

PGS reprocesses data offshore Indonesia PGS’ has launched the North Sumatra MC2D data rejuvenation project to provide new insights into ‘one of the hottest hydrocarbon provinces in Indonesia’ after the successful Timpan-1 discovery in 2022. Latest 7700 line km PSDM reprocessing and regional-scale data coverage will allow for better understanding of basin development history and play analyses, to give improve insights of existing and new petroleum systems. PGS’ North Sumatra MC2D covers both existing discoveries and open blocks, enabling seismic well ties and correlations into frontier areas for better mapping of play fairways. This will provide confidence for future licensing

opportunities of these open blocks, said PGS. Data rejuvenation workflows are built on the knowledge acquired by PGS during the North Sumatra MC3D project in the same basin. Processing will include 2 ms, high-resolution, broadband processing and depth conversion, based on full waveform inversion. ‘The goal of the North Sumatra MC2D project is to address the challenges associated with imaging the deeper pre- and syn-rift package, which host both source and reservoir rocks. The higher-resolution imaging will also address challenges linked to fault imaging and hydrocarbon migration pathways,’ said Alex Vartan, VP

Asia Pacific at PGS. Data will be ready in Q2 2024.

Reprocessing of 7700 line km has started.

Searcher shoots 3D survey offshore Gulf of Papua Searcher Seismic has launched the Nanamarope 3D multi-client seismic survey over multiple permits offshore the Gulf of Papua. The 1919 km2 Nanamarope MC3D, in co-operation wiit Larus Energy, is designed to evaluate and derisk several prospective plays identified within the Mesozoic and Tertiary intervals, improve imaging of secondary play types as well as resolve the velocity contrasts in the sub-

surface. ‘The 3D data is crucial to enhancing the geological understanding of the sparsely explored offshore Gulf of Papua and developing drill-ready prospects like those recently identified by a supermajor in the permit immediately adjacent to the Nanamarope 3D,’ said Searcher. Searcher said it has built up a big library of regional seismic, geochemical, and airborne data across the Gulf of Papua, a region which has attracted

substantial interest from international exploration companies. ‘Searcher’s comprehensive data library has revolutionised the understanding of the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the region, unveiling numerous play types with vast untapped hydrocarbon potential including a new Mid-Miocene turbidite play,’ the company added. Fast-track data will be available by late Q3 2023.

US launches environmental review of wind energy project offshore Massachusetts The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced an environmental review of a proposed 2430-megawatt wind energy project offshore Massachusetts on the US East Coast. BOEM is publishing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Beacon Wind. This is the 11th offshore wind energy COP review initiated under the Biden-Harris administration. The lease area is 17 nautical miles (nm) south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 32

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approximately 52 nm east of Montauk, New York. The project comprises construction and operation of two wind energy facilities (Beacon Wind 1 and Beacon Wind 2) offshore Massachusetts with a total capacity of at least 2430 MW of wind energy, which could power over 850,000 homes a year. Some 155 turbines will be installed, including up to two offshore substation platforms and up to two offshore export cables, which are planned to make landfall in Astoria, New York, and Waterford, Connecticut.

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Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, BOEM has approved the nation’s first two commercial scale offshore wind projects, held three offshore wind lease auctions – including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sale offshore the Pacific Coast in California – initiated an environmental review of ten offshore wind projects, and advanced the process to explore wind energy areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine and Central Atlantic.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Seismic survey of coal bed methane scheme in Mongolia gets underway Jade Gas Holdings is shooting a 2D seismic survey at the flagship Tavan Tolgoi coal bed methane Project (TTCBM) in the south Gobi region of Mongolia. The survey will further augment the extensive data set that Jade has obtained through its exploration activities in the Red Lake area and beyond over the last few years, and incorporates learnings from a seismic program undertaken by a previous operator. Local Mongolian seismic operator Geosignals is mobilising crew and equipment, including vibroseis units and wireless recording equipment, from Ulaanbaatar to the TTCBM project site. The 19-line, 105 km survey includes two lines specifically following the planned trajectories of the upcoming lateral wells. The objective of the survey is to delineate the coal seams to assist with geosteering the forthcoming lateral wells in the target

seams, maximising contact with the coal and derisking the wells by identifying potential geological hazards prior to drilling. It is hoped that the survey will enable Jade to better visualise and understand the structural architecture of the entire Red Lake area, identifying areas that have undergone structural flex that may indicate areas of improved permeability. Jades is also identifying potential zones of seam thickening where resource concentration will be higher and integrating the corehole drilling in the north of the area will extend field limits of the current 246 Bcf1 unrisked Gross 2C contingent resources. Jade executive director, Joe Burke, said: ‘The data captured under this seismic program is an important step to assist our technical team as they continue planning for the upcoming pilot production drilling later this year.’

TGS, PGS and SLB expand 3D coverage offshore Malaysia TGS, PGS and SLB have signed a multi-client reprocessing agreement to expand

multi-client 3D coverage in the prospective Sarawak province offshore Malaysia. This will be achieved by reprocessing legacy datasets with Petronas Malaysia Petroleum Management’s (MPM) approval to complement and merge with newly acquired phases. The reprocessing addendum enhances a multi-year contract awarded initially by Petronas in August 2020 to acquire and process up to 105,000 km2 of multi-client 3D data over a five-year period in the basin. The second phase of the Sarawak acquisition program is underway in blocks ND-3 and SK-3B and will be merged with approx. 6700 km2 of reprocessed data. Will Ashby, EVP of Eastern Hemisphere at TGS, said: ‘This multi-client reprocessing agreement in Sarawak will further strengthen our data footprint across Malaysia.’ FIRST

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Oil and gas round-up A consortium of Wellesley (50%), DNO (30%), Aker BP (10%) and Equinor (10%) have announced a significant gas and condensate discovery on the Carmen prospect in the Norwegian North Sea licence PL1148. Preliminary evaluation of data indicates gross recoverable resources in the range of 120-230 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe). At 175 MMboe, the mid-point of this range, Carmen ranks as the largest discovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf since 2013. The two wells have established a deeper hydrocarbon-water contact, tripling the mid-point of DNO’s pre-drill expected range. Carmen is DNO’s sixth discovery in the Troll-Gjøa area since 2021 and is close to existing infrastructure. Other discoveries are Røver Nord, Kveikje, Ofelia, Røver Sør and Heisenberg. Norway has given OMV consent for exploration drilling in Blocks 6607/3 and 6607/6 in the Norwegian Sea. Well 6607/3-1 S will be drilled in production licence PL 1016 to test the Velocette prospect. Water depth is 475 m. Partners in PL 1016 are OMV (40%, operator), INPEX (40%), and Longboat Energy (20%). Equinor’s plans for development and operation of the subsea fields Irpa and Verdande, and the production well Andvare in the Norwegian Sea have been approved by Norwegian authorities. Irpa gas field will be tied back to Aasta Hansteen, whereas

the oil field Verdande and the Andvare well will be tied back to Norne. The gas discovery is located almost 80 km from the Aasta Hansteen field, and the development will extend the field’s productive life by seven years, up to 2039. Irpa, the second subsea field tied back to Aasta Hansteen, will be the deepest field on the Norwegian continental shelf, at 1350 m. Norway has approved nine plans for development and operation (PDOs) and one plan for installation and operation (PIO), all operated by Aker BP. Total recoverable resources from these projects are estimated to above 700 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) net for Aker BP, with an average break-even price of $35-40 per barrel. OMV and Romgaz have made a final investment decision on the Neptun Deep project offshore Romania, comprising two natural gas fields, Domino and Pelican South, in the Neptun Deep offshore block. OMV and Romgaz will jointly invest up to 4 billion euros for the development phase of the project, set to bring on stream around 100 billion m3 of natural gas. First production is estimated for 2027 and production will increase to 140 kboe/day, for almost 10 years. OMV has won approval from Norway for its Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) of the Berling gas and condensate discovery in the Norwegian Sea. In the first five months of 2023 production in Norway was 50.5 billion Sm3

of gas, 43 million Sm3 of oil, 5.5 million Sm3 NGL/condensate. Eighteen exploration wells have been drilled, 12 of which are wildcat wells. Discoveries have been made in seven of the wells. The discoveries total between 9 and 32 million Sm3 oil equivalent (o.e.). Twenty four Plans for Development and Operation (PDOs) have been approved. Just under 40 wildcat and appraisal wells are expected this year. Nineteen oil and gas projects on the Norwegian shelf were approved in July, with investments in excess of $19 billion. These projects include new developments, further developments and improved recovery of existing fields. Orlen Group and its licence partners have received approval of the Plan for Development and Operation of Ørn and Alve Nord fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The development will provide the company with approx. 0.4 bcm of natural gas per year at peak production. Alve Nord and Ørn carbon intensity will be more than three times lower than the global average for upstream industry. Norway has also approved development and production plans for other ORLEN Group fields Fenris and Tyrving as well as for the Yggdrasil area. Norway has approved Aker BP’s development plans for Symra and Solveig Phase 2 in the Utsirahøyden area in the North Sea. The Symra field will be a tie-in to the Ivar Aasen production platform.

Rystad predicts shortage of manufacturing capacity for offshore wind turbines A supply headache could be on the horizon for the offshore wind industry before the end of the decade, according to research from Rystad Energy. Its modelling shows that in 2029, demand for offshore turbine towers will outstrip manufacturing capacity. Rystad Energy’s Offshore Wind Capacity Outlook shows that in 2029, demand will surpass manufacturing capacity ‘by a significant margin’. Steel demand for offshore wind towers will total more than 1.7 million tonnes in 2029, but manufacturing capac34

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ity will be a maximum of around 1.3 million tonnes. If Europe is to reverse this trend, manufacturers need to expand tower manufacturing in the next two years, says the report. Alexander Flotre, vice-president, Rystad Energy, said: ‘Turbine sizes keep growing as the importance of offshore wind to the global power grid accelerates, and tower demand is projected to surge accordingly. This is a golden opportunity for manufacturers to capitalise on increased demand, but new capacity needs

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to be added imminently if Europe is going to avoid a supply headache.’ While the average turbine capacity fixed in Europe in 2023 is expected to reach almost 10MW, Rystad Energy estimates that 50% of turbines installed between 2029 and 2035 will be bigger than 14 MW, with some projects forecasting to build 20 MW at the beginning of 2030. As rotor dimensions grow, turbine sizes increase and larger towers are required. This growth is more prominent in Europe.

INDUSTRY NEWS

PGS releases 20,000 km2 of Cyprus reprocessed data PGS has released its Cyprus Vision seismic imaging giving insights into the Cyprus EEZ in a single volume of contiguous, KPSDM depth data.

This section, through the main discoveries in the Miocene interval equivalent to the Zohr discovery in Egypt, shows the velocity field overlaid on the amplitude relief section down to the base of salt. The central presalt layer shows the relative acoustic impedance derived from prestack data.

BRIEFS TGS has won a contract for an ocean bottom node survey in the North Sea. The survey is planned to mobilise in Q3 2023 with a project duration of 1-2 months.

This project, in partnership with the Cypriot Ministry for Energy, Commerce and Industry, includes the full reprocessed Cyprus Vision volume, spanning almost 20,000 km2 delivered on a common grid, with coverage of offshore blocks 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the offshore Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. ‘Cyprus Vision data is essential for those who wish to investigate Eastern Mediterranean energy plays. Cyprus is at the crux of major markets, with sizeable commercial gas discoveries, such as Calypso and Glaucus, in carbonate plays analogous to Egypt’s Zohr. These and additional potential plays in presalt Miocene sandstone reservoirs in the Cyprus EEZ can now be properly evaluated,’ said Joshua May, business development manager for Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East at PGS.

CNOOC has launched a bidding round for eight blocks offshore China covering an area of 18,464 km2. One block is in Donghai Basin with acreage of 4000 km2, five blocks are in Pearl River Mouth Basin with acreage of 12,793km2, one block is in Beibu Bay Basin with acreage of 1077 km2, and one block is in Qiongdongnan Basin with acreage of 594 km2. Closing date for bids in 31 January, 2024. PXGEO has won a contract from Petrobras for a 3D ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the Campos Basin, Brazil. The survey is to be acquired in water depths of 2300 m with a duration of 10 months. The EMGS vessel Atlantic Guardian was warm stacked for the entire second quarter. Utilisation for the quarter was 0% compared with 18% for the second quarter 2022. EMGS had one vessel in operation and recorded three vessel months in the quarter. In the second quarter 2022, the company recorded three vessel months. The company expects to report $0.1 million in multi-client revenues for Q2 2023.

UK announces 22 oil and gas projects in coming years The UK North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has announced plans to progress 22 oil and gas projects which would target 1.5 billion barrels. Managing directors of the 22 largest North Sea operators heard at the NSTA’s recent Tier Zero performance review meeting that seven projects, capable of producing almost 100 million barrels and requiring about £1.1 billion of expenditure, have been approved since the start of 2022. At last year’s Tier Zero performance review, the NSTA challenged operators to get their production efficiency back on track after a drop of seven percentage points to 73% in 2021 amid widespread maintenance shutdowns. Production efficiency, which indicates how well companies are using their assets, went up to 78% in 2022. ‘The NSTA will continue working with operators to help them restore it to the longstanding target of 80%,’ said the NSTA.

Operators must meet the North Sea Transition Deal target of lowering overall production emissions by 50% by 2030 in order to preserve their social licence to operate. ‘The NSTA expects decisions to be made this year on the preferred development options for at least two electrification projects,’ it added. The NSTA said it will soon announce awards for the UK’s first ever carbon storage licensing round, which received 26 bids from 19 companies. ‘Additional licensing rounds will be needed to meet the UK’s storage requirements and the NSTA is collaborating with government and other regulators to determine the timing of future activities.’ Companies licensed to drill in the North Sea will be required to report findings to the UK regulator to develop a more comprehensive picture of the UK’s carbon capture and storage potential. The new powers for the NSTA will be brought forward in an amendment to the UK Energy Bill. FIRST

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Avangrid has awarded TDI-Brooks a shallow water geotechnical site investigation survey at block OCS-A-0508 off the US East Coast, also known as Kitty Hawk Wind. Data collected will inform the design of the export cable and inter-array packages. Hartshead Resources is mobilising for a geotechnical survey across the Anning and Somerville fields, offshore UK. The company will deploy Geoquip Marine Operations, a 83-m Class 2 dynamic positioning offshore survey vessel, with specialist deep seabed testing and borehole testing capability. The survey will confirm seabed and sub seabed soil conditions to finalise design of offshore facilities.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

ENERGY TRANSITION BRIEFS Plans for phase one of a green hydrogen production, storage and distribution facility in Aberdeen, UK, powered by renewable energy, have been approved. The Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub is being delivered by bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited (bpAHEL) – a joint venture between bp and Aberdeen City Council. Phase one is targeting production from 2025, delivering over 800 kg of green hydrogen per day. TotalEnergies has agreed with Petronas and Mitsui to develop a carbon storage project offshore Malaysia. The partners will evaluate several CO2 storage sites in the Malay Basin, including both saline aquifers and depleted offshore fields. Copenhagan Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has agreed to invest $350 million into offshore wind projects in Korea. The projects include both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind and are located in the Jeonnam Province, including Shinan County, Yeonggwang County, and the Ulsan region. The UK North Sea Transition Authority has offered an additional licence as part of the UK’s first carbon storage licensing round, which opened in June 2022 and closed to applicants in September 2022. All applications have now been assessed, with a total of 21 offers made. Flour Corporation has signed an agreement with the CO2 mineral storage operator Carbfix to pursue integrated CCS solutions. Fluor will provide its Econamine FG Plus carbon capture technology. Carbfix’s technology dissolves CO2 in water and injects it into porous basaltic rock formations, where natural processes cause the CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals within two years. The agreement covers other CO2 removal projects such as direct air capture and bioenergy carbon capture and storage. The Danish Energy Agency has published plans to procure 6 GW and 3 GW of offshore wind at Energy Island Bornholm, before the end of 2030.

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US auctions solar energy projects in Nevada The US Department of Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) auction for utility-scale solar energy development in Nevada has generated in $105.15 million in high bids. The auction of four parcels across 23,675 acres in the Amargosa Desert – the highest-yielding onshore renewable energy auction in the agency’s history – could support nearly 3 gigawatts of renewable energy to the electrical grid. ‘The technological advances, increased interest, cost effectiveness, and tremendous economic potential make these projects a reliable path for diversifying our nation’s energy portfolio,’ said (BLM) Secretary Deb Haaland. The Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone was one of 17 that the BLM initially identified in a 2012 blueprint on solar energy development in six western states. The BLM is considering adding more states and identifying new or expanded areas for solar development. The BLM also recently announced a proposed update of its renewable energy regulations to promote the development of solar energy on public lands, including by reducing fees for projects by around 80%, facilitating development in priority areas by streamlining review of applications, and delivering greater certainty for the private sector.

NV Energy placed the high bids for both leases auctioned in the Amargosa Valley Solar Energy Zone. Parcel A includes 3775 acres with a high bid of $35.25 million, and Parcel B includes 3451 acres with a high bid of $46.6 million. Provisional preferred applicants were identified for the two parcels auctioned outside the solar energy zone. NextEra Energy Resources placed the high bid of $21 million for rights to submit a solar energy development proposal for a 10,129-acre parcel (Parcel 1) and Leeward Renewable Energy placed the high bid of $2.3 million to submit a solar energy development proposal on a 6320-acre parcel (Parcel 2). The BLM is currently processing 74 utility-scale onshore clean energy projects proposed on public lands in the western United States. This includes solar, wind and geothermal projects, as well as interconnected gen-tie lines that are vital to clean energy projects proposed on non-federal land. These projects have the combined potential to add more than 37,000 MW of renewable energy to the western electric grid. The BLM is also reviewing more than 150 applications for solar and wind development, as well as 51 applications for wind and solar energy testing.

Sercel wins equipment contract from BGP Sercel has won multiple equipment contracts from geophysical services provider BGP. The contracts include delivery of 54 Nomad 65 Neo vibrator trucks and 29,000 GPR300 seabed nodes. The equipment will be used this year on several big onshore and OBN seismic surveys conducted in the Middle East. Meng Qingbing, president of BGP International, said: ‘Throughout BGP’s long-term cooperation with Sercel we AUGUST

2023

have been impressed by their agility in anticipating our needs and meeting our tight deadlines.’ Emmanuelle Dubu, Sercel CEO, said: ‘These major equipment sales strengthen Sercel’s already long-established presence in the Middle East. Featuring Sercel’s QuietSeis broadband digital sensor technology, the GPR records the highest-quality data for the most accurate imaging in all seabed environments, including shallow water, as for this award in the Middle East.’

INDUSTRY NEWS

TGS downgrades its offshore wind energy installation forecast to 2035

Analysis using TGS Wind AXIOM to calculate energy production and explore bathymetry for 25 GW of potential leases on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal).

TGS’ forecast for installation of floating offshore wind energy by 2030 and 2035 has been adjusted downwards for the second time in 12 months, representing a 25% downgrade year-on-year for its 2030 outlook. The company’s biannual Floating Offshore Wind Report predicts that 12.4 GW of potential floating wind capacity will be operational or under construction

globally by 2030, increasing to 39 GW by 2035. These figures are down 1.8 GW and 6.4 GW, respectively, compared to the analysis from Q4 2022, and down 3.7 GW and 8.7 GW from Q2 2022. ‘The reduced momentum in installation is primarily due to lower-than-expected rates of securing offtake contracts and permits, resulting in greater volume shifting post-2030. Of the forecast 12.4 GW by 2030, 6 to 7 GW is projected to be operational, while the remainder is expected to be under construction.’ According to TGS’s updated Floating Market Attractiveness Index published in the report, the UK remains the world’s most attractive floating wind market, followed by Norway, South Korea, the US and Japan. The report also shows that floating wind’s Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Capex for both existing and future projects is expected to decline over time

but at a slower rate than recent projections showed due to increasing supply and capital costs. Using project data to predict LCOE, TGS predicts energy costs for floating wind will be around $94-110/MWh by 2030 (for projects starting offshore installation), $77/MWh by 2035, and $55/ MWh by 2040 owing to scale economies, decreasing capital costs, technology innovations and longer lifetimes. TGS|4C Offshore’s director of research Richard Aukland said: ‘Floating wind holds a lot of promise, but delivery is challenging. Offtake visibility is currently limited, and regulatory uncertainty is high in key emerging floating markets. There are many countries whose processes have not yet been tested and matured through bottom-fixed wind. Consequently, we don’t expect the build-out of floating wind to scale significantly until after 2030.’

Mexican Geophysical Union.indd 1

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Special Topic

NEAR SURFACE GEO & MINING This month we showcase innovations in the field that are being featured in papers presented at the 2023 EAGE Near Surface Conference and Exhibition in Edinburgh, UK on September 3-7. E. Babcock et al discuss the implementation of SPAC at different field sites in Alaska: a canyon, a hill, and a riverbed. Tim Archer summarises work released by the Near-Surface Geophysics Inter-Society Committee on UAV Geophysics Guidelines. Jaana Gustafsson et al discuss the benefits of optimised production planning when installing new, and/or maintaining existing, buried infrastructure. Hector R. Hinojosa et al present case studies illustrating how indoor 2D and 3D GPR surveys create digital information for BIM databases. Michal Malinowski et al demonstrate that seismic data can be considered a great asset in 3D modelling of the buried valleys’ aquifer system, reducing uncertainties introduced by conceptual models based on borehole data. Tatiana Pertuz et al present a 2D seismic profile to demonstrate the high conductivity of near-surface materials and that seismic methods have greater potential than other geophysical methods. Daniel Czerwonka-Schröder et al present the integration of a LiDAR project into a web-based platform using an example from Austria. Sugawara J discusses the advantages of using a geophysical survey in geotechnical practice and key points that require attention. Koya Suto proposes an omnidirectional, variable offshore offset array with a spiral pattern that aims to eliminate biases. Gordon Stove presents the results of surveys in the north of the UK for geothermal and lithium brine exploration using a novel electromagnetic technologies.

Submit an article

Special Topic overview January

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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

Securing a Sustainable Future Together

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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Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition 2023 Edinburgh, United Kingdom www.eagensg.org

August 2023 15-16 Aug

2 nd EAGE Workshop on Fluid Flow in Faults and Fracture - Modelling, Uncertainty and Risk www.eage.org

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Australia

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First EAGE Conference on Deepwater Equatorial Margin: New Energy Frontier for South America “From Exploration to Production with Social Sustainability” www.eage.org

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

22-23 Aug

EAGE Workshop on Unlocking Carbon Capture and Storage Potential www.eage.org

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

September 2023 3-7 Sep

Near Surface Geoscience Conference & Exhibition 2023 www.eagensg.org

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

10-15 Sep

IMOG 2023 31st International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry www.imogconference.org

Montpellier

France

12-13 Sep

EAGE Conference on the Future of Energy - Role of Geoscience in the Energy Transition www.eage.org

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

17-21 Sep

24th World Petroleum Congress www.24wpc.com

Calgary

Canada

18-20 Sep

Seventh EAGE Borehole Geophysics Workshop www.eage.org

Milan

Italy

18-20 Sep

Second EAGE Seabed Seismic Today Workshop www.eage.org

Milan

Italy

18-21 Sep

Fourth EAGE Workshop on Landslide Hazard and Community Impact Assessment (Landslide 2023) www.eage.org

Lviv and Online

Ukraine

20-21 Sep

PESGB/HGS Africa Conference 2023 africa.pesgb.org.uk

London

United Kingdom

20-22 Sep

First EAGE Conference on South Atlantic Offshore Energy Resources www.eage.org

Montevideo

Uruguay

25-27 Sep

Seventh EAGE High Performance Computing Workshop www.eage.org

Lugano

Switzerland

27-29 Sep

IPETGAS 2023 www.ipetgas.org

Ankara

Turkey

The Hague

The Netherlands

October 2023 2-4 Oct

IOR+ 2023 22 nd European Symposium on Innovative and Optimised Resource Utilisation www.ior2023.org

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2-4 Oct

Geoterrace 2023 www.eage.org

Lviv and Online

Ukraine

5-6 Oct

First EAGE Workshop on Hydrogen & Carbon Capture Sequestration in LATAM www.eage.org

Medellin

Colombia

5-7 Oct

57 th CEEC Meeting ceecsg.org

Tirana

Albania

9-13 Oct

Africa Oil Week africa-oilweek.com

Cape Town

South Africa

11-13 Oct

7 th World Engineers Convention www.wec2023.com

Prague

Czech Republic

16-19 Oct

18 th International Congress of the Brazilian Geophysical Society & Expogef sbgf.org.br/congresso

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

17-18 Oct

EAGE Workshop on Data Science - From Fundamentals to Opportunities www.eage.org

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

23-26 Oct

15 th Euroconference on Rock Physics and Rock Mechanics euroconf23.dryfta.com

Woudschoten

The Netherlands

24-25 Oct

First EAGE Workshop on Water Footprint www.eage.org

Bogota

Colombia

29 Oct 3 Nov

Mexican Geophysical Union (UGM) Annual Meeting: RAUGM2023 www.raugm.org.mx

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico

November 2023 3-5 Nov

14th SPG Biennial International Conference & Exposition spgindia.org

Kochi

India

7-8 Nov

2 nd EAGE/Aqua Foundation Indian Near Surface Geophysics Conference & Exhibition www.nearsurfacegeophysics.in

New Delhi

India

7-10 Nov

17 th International Scientific Conference on Monitoring of Geological Processes and Environmental Conditions www.eage.org

Kyiv and Online

Ukraine

9-10 Nov

Third EAGE Workshop on Mineral Exploration in Latin America: “The Role of Mining in the Energy Transition“ www.eage.org

Santiago de Chile

Chile

14-17 Nov

GET 2023 4th EAGE Global Energy Transition Conference & Exhibition www.eageget.org

Paris

France

15-17 Nov

Second EAGE Workshop on Geothermal Energy in Latin America: Worldwide Opportunities www.eage.org

Guanacaste

Costa Rica

15-17 Nov

3 rd EAGE Workshop on Fiber Optics Sensing for Energy Applications www.eage.org

Chengdu

China

21-22 Nov

2 nd EAGE Workshop on Quantifying Uncertainty in Depth Imaging www.eage.org

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

21-23 Nov

Fifth EAGE Borehole Geology Workshop www.eage.org

Al Khobar

Saudi Arabia

27-30 Nov

Fifth EAGE Conference on Petroleum Geostatistics www.petroleumgeostatistics2023.org

Porto

Portugal

28-30 Nov

EAGE/AAPG Hydrocarbon Seals Workshop www.eage.org

Al Khobar

Saudi Arabia

December 2023 4-6 Dec

4th EAGE Eastern Mediterranean Workshop www.eage.org

Athens

Greece

4-8 Dec

17th Workshop of the International Lithosphere Program ILP-Task Force VI on Sedimentary Basins ilp-abudhabi.com

Abu Dhabi

UAE

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

January 2024 30-31 Jan

EAGE/AAPG Workshop on New Discoveries in Mature Basins www.eage.org

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First Break August 2023 - Near Surface Geo & Mining

Articles inside

Environmentally friendly low impact, low carbon footprint, low power electromagnetic technique for mineral exploration

An unbiased spiral array for MASW data acquisition

Use of geophysical surveys in geotechnical engineering practice — a geotechnical engineer’s perspective

Permanent 3D data acquisition of geotechnical structures using web-based application of terrestrial LiDAR — chances and risks from an engineering geodetic point of view

Advances in seismic imaging of quick clays in Sweden

P- and S-wave seismic imaging of a complex aquifer system in Kurikka, western Finland

The role of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveying for indoor Building Information Modelling (BIM)

Drone geophysics: developing guidelines for international best practice

Spatial-autocorrelation (SPAC) analysis using seismic ambient noise as applied to engineering applications in Alaska

Special Topic NEAR SURFACE GEO & MINING

TGS downgrades its offshore wind energy installation forecast to 2035

Sercel wins

US auctions solar energy projects in Nevada

UK announces 22 oil and gas projects in coming years

PGS releases 20,000 km2 of Cyprus reprocessed data

Rystad predicts shortage of manufacturing capacity for offshore wind turbines

Oil and gas round-up

TGS, PGS and SLB expand 3D coverage offshore Malaysia

Seismic survey of coal bed methane scheme in Mongolia gets underway

Searcher shoots 3D survey offshore Gulf of Papua

PGS reprocesses data offshore Indonesia

TGS launches processing project offshore India

US approves wind energy project offshore Atlantic City

Global oil reserves increase by 52 billion barrels year-on-year, says Rystad

Chevron plans 4D survey offshore Australia

PGS wins offshore wind characterisation project

Searcher completes 3D survey offshore Namibia

TGS deploys first LiDAR wind measurement buoy offshore Norway

Oil demand will drop after 2026 says IEA report

CROSSTALK

A building story with a seismic sequel

Future of organic geochemistry is focus of IMOG 2023

Chile to host a workshop on mining in the energy transition era

How EAGE can boost your early professional career

Energy transition on the agenda for Aberdeen LC

Mark your calendar for data processing workshop in Cairo

First water footprint workshop to be held in Latin America

Seismic velocity changes in the Groningen reservoir explained at LC Netherlands meeting

ADDITIONS THIS MONTH

Help us to identify skills needed for the energy transition

OUR JOURNALS THIS MONTH CHECK OUT THE LATEST JOURNALS

Edinburgh awaits your participation at EAGE Near Surface Geoscience 2023

Get yourself ready for GET2023 and the future of energy challenge

Our Annual in Vienna struck all the right notes

Update your member affiliation for best EAGE experience

Guiding EAGE’s next energy transition steps