Desiderius Erasmus Award
Award for Lifetime Contribution
The Desiderius Erasmus Award is presented to a geoscientist or engineer in recognition of his/her outstanding and lasting achievements in the field of resource exploration and development.
The Desiderius Erasmus Award consists of a trophy and a certificate. The Award can optionally include the EAGE Honorary Memberships Award.
The Desiderius Erasmus Award 2024 was presented to:
Philip Ringrose
Dr. Philip Ringrose is an outstanding geoscientist who has contributed significantly to various topics, ranging from reservoir characterization to exploring suitable reservoirs for CO2 storage. He is making extraordinary contributions to advancing subsurface CO2 storage through his scholarship, professional roles with Equinor, and service in leadership roles with societies and peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Ringrose has had a long and distinguished career since 1997 as a geoscientist at Equinor, serving as Project Leader, Program Manager, Advisor, and Lead Geologist. Furthermore, he served as the President of the EAGE (2014-15) and was Editor-in-Chief at Petroleum Geoscience, combining academic and industry experience. Most importantly, Dr. Ringrose has been a phenomenal mentor for many geoscientists, who have benefitted from his enthusiasm and unparalleled insight.
Past Winners of the Desiderius Erasmus Award
Conrad Schlumberger Award
Award for Outstanding Contribution
The Conrad Schlumberger Award is presented to a member of the Association who has made an outstanding contribution over a period of time to scientific and technical advancements of the geosciences, particularly geophysics. The Conrad Schlumberger Award consists of a trophy and a certificate.
The Conrad Schlumberger Award 2024 was presented to:
Alireza Malehmir
Professor Alireza Malehmir is recognized for his scientific work on near surface, mining and CCUS geophysics and has over 140 peer reviewed publications. Alireza has invented novel seismic acquisition techniques for within mine shafts and urban environments. He has been the inspirational leader of a number of increasingly larger collaborative efforts accumulating in the Smart Exploration project with 27 partner organizations. These collaborations provided a fruitful ground for new scientific ideas and allow him to introduce and test those ideas robustly in front of a large peer group. Professor Malehmir has also educated a substantial number of students in mineral resources at a time when this subject was unfashionable, but which is now deemed of critical strategic importance.
Alireza Malehmir has also served EAGE well as past chair of the near surface division and board member and will become editor of Geophysical Prospecting in 2024.
Past Winners of the Conrad Schlumberger Award
Arie van Weelden Award
Award for Young Professional
The Arie van Weelden Award is presented to a member of EAGE who has made a highly significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines in our Association and who qualifies as an EAGE Young Professional (a geoscientist or engineer aged 35 or below) at the time of their nomination. The Arie van Weelden Award consists of a trophy and a certificate as well as a cash prize equal to 1,000 euro.
The Arie van Weelden Award 2024 was presented to:
Grazia de Landro
Grazia De Landro is a Researcher at the University of Naples Federico II. She is known for her elucidation of the spatiotemporal evolution of seismicity induced by both natural and anthropogenic processes. Her contributions stem from poro-elasticity characterization of upper crustal materials as a function on stress, where she has delineated basic fluid-rock processes that control the generation and nucleation of seismic events. Toward energy security and decarbonization, she has applied these insights to inform induced seismic events during wastewater disposal. This work sets the foundation for future engineered processes, including CO2 storage, geothermal energy production, and H2 storage.
and Lukas Mosser
Lukas is one of the outstanding geoscientists of his generation. He has pioneered the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to address geoscience and engineering challenges from the pore- to reservoir-scale. His work stands out for being genuinely innovative and significant, setting new paradigms in geoscience, particularly in the interpretation and quantitative analysis of geophysical datasets. Lukas has turned numerous academic contributions into real-world products that are used by geoscientists in commercial solutions today. He has actively contributed to the EAGE community, particularly in fostering the next generation of geoscientists and engineers. His role in the Committee for Artificial Intelligence and as a co-organizer and committee member for EAGE Digital and Machine Learning Workshops has been pivotal and demonstrates his commitment to the enrichment and advancement of our professional community. Lukas’s achievements align with the prestigious nature of this award and embody the forward-thinking and innovative spirit that the EAGE seeks to recognize and foster, particularly among our young professionals.
Past Winners of the Arie van Weelden Award
Honorary Membership Award
The Honorary Membership Award is conferred upon a member of EAGE who has made a highly significant and distinguished technical and/or non-technical contribution to the geoscience community at large or to EAGE in particular.
The EAGE Honorary Memberships Award 2024 was conferred upon:
Leo Eisner
Dr. Leo Eisner is the President of Seismik in Prague, the Czech Republic. He is nominated for the EAGE Honorary Award for his contributions in various areas of geosciences and his distinguished career and service in the industry. His research interests include high-frequency asymptotic methods, waveform modeling in heterogeneous media, inversion and uncertainty estimates, reciprocity, and attenuation. He has also worked extensively in data analyses for seismicity, seismic hazard assessment, network design and optimization of monitoring, stress inversion, and geomechanics. He has had a distinguished industry career working in various positions starting as a senior research scientist in the UK and has held high-level research positions in Europe as well as the US. He has also taught at various universities in different parts of the world and has been involved in organizing many international conferences and workshops. Dr. Eisner presented his research findings at many universities and conferences around the world. He has published extensively in prestigious journals and conference proceedings. His publications have been cited by many authors in scientific journals. In addition, he has served on the editorial board of several journals. He has been a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysics, the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Past Winners of the EAGE Honorary Membership Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | George Apostolopoulos | Professor George Apostolopoulos from National Technical University of Athens-Greece is receiving the Honorary Membership Award in recognition for his outstanding, life-long support to the EAGE and the geoscience community. His technical contributions to the field of exploration and engineering geophysics are numerous and comprise the analysis of hundreds of geophysical datasets collected mostly in the Mediterranean area for a variety of relevant projects. Dr. Apostolopoulos has also mentored numerous highly skilled young professionals in industry, academia, and government. He is extremely active in scientific and professional societies and is a recognized pillar of the Balkan Geophysical Society and of the NSG Division of EAGE, which he chaired in 2016-2017. |
| 2022 | Gijs O. Vermeer | Gijs J. O. Vermeer is a modest geophysicist whose influence on the design of seismic surveys has been outstanding for over three decades. He is the preeminent authority. His first peer-review publication was the book Seismic Wavefield Sampling, published by the SEG in 1990. It provided a firm theoretical basis and practical recommendations for optimum seismic data acquisition, with its main thrust on spatial sampling. Gijs then proceeded to publish scientific papers on further developments in seismic survey design. In February 2001, defying the conventional order of scientific progression, he obtained a PhD at Delft University of Technology, with a dissertation entitled Fundamentals of 3-D Seismic Survey Design. A commercial version of the thesis was published in October 2002 as the SEG book 3-D Seismic Survey Design, a second, much thicker, edition of which was published in 2012. The now well-known concepts of cross-spread geometry, symmetric sampling and offset-vector tiles were formulated by Gijs, who continues to publish new insights in this field. His work has covered land, marine and seabed surveys and has been the principal guide for seismic survey design all over the world. Gijs Vermeer has never received a significant award from the EAGE or the SEG. EAGE is delighted to present Dr. Gijs J. O. Vermeer with both the 2022 Desiderius Erasmus Award and Honorary Membership |
| 2021 | John Arthur | John Arthur is a Chartered Geologist, who has specialised in the application of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics projects since 1965. John pioneered the assessment of marine geological hazards, especially shallow gas, with high resolution, digital multichannel seismic data in the North Sea. He directed major European geophysical programmes for Nirex Nuclear Waste Repository sites at Dounreay and Sellafield; the Trans-Manche Link – the final definitive coast-to coast sub-seabed evaluation – for the Channel Tunnel; and the BP/Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline in Turkey. John’s career began at Wimpey Laboratories in 1963 and progressed to Fairfield Aquatronics Limited. In 1982 John established the consulting company “Arthur and Associates” which evolved to “Top Hole Site Studies Limited”. John has promoted geophysics for a huge range of civil engineering projects all over the world. In 1974 he became a member of the EAGE and was one of the main drivers to establish the Environmental and Engineering Geophysics community within the association. With success! Due to his perseverance, John became one of the architects of EAGE’s Near-Surface Geoscience Division in 2001, which he guided as Chairman from 2010-2012. The way John invested his keen mind for EAGE, especially for the “Near Surface” community, has been outstanding. John Arthur receives Honorary Membership of EAGE in recognition of his services to EAGE’s Near Surface Geosciences and for his pioneering achievements in near-surface geophysics for more than half a century. |
| 2020 | Gladys Gonzalez | Gladys Gonzalez is nominated for Honorary Membership of EAGE for her outstanding achievements as a geoscientist and for her even more impressive and important leadership achievements in EAGE, particularly as President-Elect and President, 2012-2014. Gladys was the first female President of EAGE. As President, she took some bold but necessary decisions, creating a much-improved relationship between the EAGE Board and the EAGE office. She started a reorganization that resulted in a clearer description of the roles of both the Board of EAGE and the Board of Directors running the EAGE office. It was a huge task, requiring great courage, which she accomplished with tremendous compassion, professionalism, dedication and strength. In addition, her vision for the Association resulted in initiatives like Vision 2020, the Women in Geoscience community and the Young Professionals community. Because of her professional achievements and great accomplishments during her presidency, Gladys Gonzalez deserves to EAGE’s recognition with the 2020 Honorary Membership Award. |
| 2019 | Snežana Komatina | In her long and varied career, Snežana Komatina has demonstrated tireless effort in promoting geosciences to local scientific public and bridging the gap between local and international societies. She has been an inspiring mentor and teacher in Serbia with an outstanding record of publication and engagement with students, the industry and the wider public. |
| 2018 | Mohammed Alfaraj | For Mohammed Alfaraj, for his highly distinguished research in applied geophysics, his leadership in exploration and multidisciplinary field development, and for his loyal and devoted service to the international scientific community, including SEG, SPE, IEEE, AAPG, WPC, MEOS, and especially EAGE. Mohammed Alfaraj obtained a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1983, and Master’s and PhD degrees in Geophysics both from Colorado School of Mines in 1987 and 1993, respectively. He has made numerous important contributions in many geophysical fields, including dip moveout, vertical seismic processing, borehole geophysics, wavelet determination for quantitative seismic interpretation, resolution, diffraction imaging, and passive seismic monitoring. He also holds three US patents, with more pending. He is a skilled manager who, for a decade, led research for Saudi Aramco’s Geophysical R&D, including high risk, high reward topics. He later became Exploration Principal Professional, 2009-2016. He was elected President of the Dhahran Geoscience Society (DGS) for the 1997-1998 term, and received the Saudi Aramco 2004 Intellectual Property Award and the 2007 Achievement Award. His selfless service to EAGE has been outstanding: Associate Editor of Geophysical Prospecting (GP) since 2005; organization of research workshops, including the Sub-Salt Imaging Workshop in Cairo, 2009 and the Borehole Geophysics Workshop 2011; Guest Editor for a special 2012 GP issue on borehole geophysics, and a Special Editor for a 2014 GP issue titled “VSP and Microseismicity Frontiers”. As an editor and reviewer, his depth and breadth of experience and his meticulous, diligent work are very greatly valued. In 2013 he was elected Vice-President of EAGE and served with distinction as President, 2015-2016. |
| 2018 | Ian F. Jones | For Ian F. Jones for his highly distinguished research in applied seismology, especially in velocity model building, migration, imaging and inversion; for his dedication to the teaching of geophysics and the training of geophysicists; and for his service to the EAGE. Ian F. Jones received a joint honours BSc in Physics with Geology from the University of Manchester, UK, in 1977, an MSc in Seismology from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and a PhD in Geophysical Signal Processing from the University of British Columbia, Canada. After working for Inverse Theory & Applications Inc. in Canada for two years, he joined CGG, where for 15 years he was involved in R&D in the London and Paris offices, latterly as manager of the depth imaging research group. Since 2000 he has been with ION GX Technology, as a Senior Geophysical Advisor in their London office. Ian is very famous for his research, but he is just as famous for his powers of explanation and his ability to convey complex ideas in a non-mathematical way. His tutorials in First Break and his EAGE text book “An Introduction to: Velocity Model Building” are outstanding examples of this ability. He inspires many geophysicists with his willingness to share his knowledge and understanding, and those who have worked with him consider it a great privilege. Since 1998 he has organized numerous workshops and courses for EAGE, SPG and SEG and, since 2009, he has been an Associate Editor for both Geophysics and Geophysical Prospecting. He is as much esteemed in academia as he is in industry and was a member of the External Advisory Board for Imperial College’s MSC course in Petroleum Geophysics, 2012-2015, and is now a member of the External Advisory Board for University of Leeds MSc Geophysics, 2016-present. In 2016 he was made Honorary ‘Chief’ of the Igbo Peoples, Nigeria, 2016, for educational charitable works helping to teach science in a Nigerian school at a senior level. |
| 2018 | Aldo Vesnaver | For Aldo Vesnaver for his highly distinguished written and oral scientific contributions in applied geophysics and for his extensive service to the geophysical community, especially SEG and EAGE. Aldo Vesnaver received a Master’s Degree in Physics in 1983 and a PhD in Geophysics in 1990, both from the University of Trieste (Italy). He was a Research Scientist at OGS, Italy, with various assignments, 1983-2001: including seismic analyst, Team Leader and Vice-Director of Department. He worked for Saudi Aramco, 2001-2006, as Geophysical Specialist in R&D, and returned to OGS, 2006-2015, as Research Manager. He currently holds two positions: Faculty member of the ESFM PhD Consortium among the University of Trieste, OGS and the International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) of Miramare, and KADOC Chair Professor at the Khalifa University Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His 96 scientific contributions include the calculation of phase and frequency without unwrapping, time-lapse tomography, geophysical inversion, and using irregular and staggered grids in seismic tomography. He has been Editor-in-Chief, Guest Editor and Associate Editor of Geophysical Prospecting. As Chairman, 2009-201, and member, 2004-2007, of the EAGE Research Committee, he organized numerous workshops on a great variety of topics; he has continued this valuable work, including a workshop on Unconventional Resources, 2014, and Full Waveform Inversion, 2017. He was a member of the EAGE Awards Committee, 2005-2010. He has also been active in SEG, who presented him with the Lifetime Member Award in 2009, and in Italy, where he was Co-founder and later President of the Italian EAGE-SEG section. In all these activities, Aldo’s enthusiasm, commitment and ability to get people to cooperate has attracted many young professionals to the world of geophysics. |
| 2017 | Satinder Chopra | After MSc (1976) and MPhil (1978) degrees from Himachal Pradesh University, India, Satinder Chopra learned his trade as a processing and interpretation geophysicist with ONGC in India before moving to Scott Pickford in Calgary in 1998. Here, he led the introduction and demonstration of coherence cube processing as a means of visualising, with amazing resolution, geological structure in 3D seismic data. The success of this project set his direction and his name has become synonymous with a string of developments in seismic attributes: and not just their estimation but also in their interpretation in the context of hydrocarbon detection and play analysis, and in their communication to the industry through a series of practical workflows, case studies and publications. Satinder left Scott Pickford in 2004 and, after a brief spell at Paradigm in Calgary, joined Arcis Seismic Solutions, now a subsidiary of TGS-NOPEC, in 2004 as Manager and then Chief Geophysicist of Reservoir Services. While in managerial positions, Satinder has followed his research interests relentlessly and has made major contributions in curvature analysis, impedance inversion, AVO analysis and VSP data processing; all in the pursuit of improved interpretation of 3D seismic data for structure and reservoir properties such as porosity, saturation and fractures. Satinder is a born communicator. While respecting his rigorous background in physics, with books for Indian maths students, Satinder has generated some 170 journal publications (18 in First Break) and over 200 conference presentations (5 in EAGE conferences), as well as a total of 8 books with a ninth in preparation. He has been a Distinguished Lecturer for CSEG and AAPG/SEG, and an e-Lecturer for EAGE in 2014-15. Satinder has been unstinting in his time and support for associations in India, the USA, Europe and Canada, and has served CSEG especially on several committees and as editor of the CSEG Recorder. He has won a number of best paper and best poster awards and was made Honorary Member of CSEG in 2014. The Awards Committee has no hesitation in recommending the award of EAGE Honorary Membership to Satinder Chopra. |
| 2016 | Olivier Dubrule | The epithet, “Lies, damned lies and statistics” could never be applied to Olivier Dubrule’s geostatistics; rather the contrary because rigorous application of geostatistics enabled clearer understanding of uncertainty and its incorporation into sub-surface risk management through the integration of this primarily mathematical discipline with geological knowledge and rules. This was rigorously articulated in Olivier’s thirty or so papers in geostatistics and earth modelling and was recognised by his employer Total in a career that took him to vice-president in charge of Total’s Worldwide Geosciences and university relations, and to his current position as Visiting Professor of Petroleum Geostatistics at Imperial College, London. Olivier’s career has spanned both technical achievement and a great commitment to education and communication. Motivated by a desire to share knowledge he has been an organiser, convenor, chairman and contributor to almost countless conferences and workshops for both EAGE and its sister organisations, including AAPG, SPE and SEG. Olivier served as a DISC instructor for geostatistics; he authored the AAPG course notes on geostatistics that have become a standard reference, and he co-edited a thematic set of Petroleum Geostatistics that appeared in Petroleum Geoscience. Olivier has made significant contributions to the association, having been EAGE president 2004-2005 and the EAGE representative and Board member of IPTC Ltd. He has served on the EAGE awards committee as well as the editorial board of Petroleum Geoscience. For these and many other contributions to professional and university communities, and for his excellent technical achievements, we recommend the award of Honorary Membership to Olivier Dubrule. |
| 2016 | Lars Sønneland | An applied mathematician by background, Lars Sønneland spent just three years in academic research before joining the Geophysical Company of Norway (Geco) in 1974. The move clearly suited him and his employer because he has stayed with Geco through all its metamorphoses, recently retiring from Schlumberger after 41 years to become a consultant advisor to the Stavanger-based research group that he created and nurtured. Although Lars had early significant contributions in seismic acquisition, including a notable paper on dual streamer wavefield separation, it was his brainchild of Charisma, the first truly interactive commercial workstation capable of supporting 3D seismic interpretation, that set his future path. In a career spanning over 40 years, Lars has focused on developing ideas and applications for generating and interpreting 3D seismic attributes, whether from towed marine seismic, seabed seismic, borehole seismic or time-lapse seismic. His emphasis has been to integrate seismic interpretation with stratigraphic modelling, geological process modelling, reservoir simulation, geomechanics and microseismics. Although the output from the Stavanger research group that Lars led was focused towards commercial application, Lars has a significant publication record, including many patents, a good number of peer-reviewed articles and a large body of expanded abstracts presented at both SEG and EAGE annual meetings. He has been a tireless supporter of EAGE conferences and workshops and has contributed to the steering committees of several Norwegian scientific bodies. Lars’s technical work has been recognised with many best paper and best technology awards, and he has served on university review boards in Norway, Switzerland and Scotland. For his technical, university and association contributions over a lifetime of achievements in exploration and production, we recommend the award of Honorary Membership to Lars Sønneland. |
| 2015 | Neil Goulty | Neil Goulty, emeritus professor of applied geophysics at UK’s Durham University, has held continuous EAGE membership since 1980. His services to EAGE, to his students, to his university, to industry, and to academia amply merit the award of Honorary Membership. Apart from a brief spell at CalTech, his career has been based in the UK but his reputation is international, enhanced by the large number of both undergraduates and graduate students that have been influenced by him. He is a rigorous teacher of time series analysis, a knowledgeable researcher in seismic geomechanics and geology, a hard-working and dedicated supporter of EAGE journals (two periods as editor of First Break and a continuing editorial board member for Petroleum Geoscience), and an excellent author with an exemplary command of English. Neil has made important original research contributions in earth strain, coal seismology, cross-well seismic, seismic data processing, polygonal faulting, and geopressure – including recent leadership of a substantial consortium in this subject at Durham. Neil served as Publications Officer on the EAGE Board for two full terms ending in 2013, and he continues to support Petroleum Geoscience as both author and EBM. Neil’s professionalism, sound reasoning, good advice and dedication to the Association were amply evident during his period on the Board. Neil would often go beyond the call of duty to resolve an issue, such as travelling to a recalcitrant external publishing house in the midst of his teaching obligations to negotiate contract terms for an EAGE journal. His commitment to EAGE over the years has been second to none and there is ample evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by students and academic staff alike at Durham. EAGE is delighted to award Prof. Neil Goulty with Honorary Membership. |
| 2015 | Richard Ogilvy | After a master’s degree in applied geophysics, Richard Ogilvy immediately went into engineering geology. He gained practical exposure to all the potential field techniques as a mineral geophysicist in Australia before joining the British Geological Survey, where he became project leader for aerial and ground electromagnetic, self-potential, induced polarization (IP), and transient EM surveys. At BGS he contributed significantly to 3D resistivity modelling, TEM and IP tomographic instrumentation and processing, and still found enough time to gain a PhD from Leicester. Richard’s career has covered both research and application of potential field technology in almost every area of near-surface geoscience, notably including the characterization of rock masses for the UK nuclear waste repository. He has published prolifically and developed a substantial international reputation. Richard rose to senior management in BGS and represented the UK in the Environmental & Engineering Geophysics Society, where he was a member of the executive board and editor-in-chief of EJEEG, the forerunner of Near Surface Geophysics. Richard was instrumental in the smooth merger of the society with EAGE, which he joined in 2002 and served on the EAGE Research Committee. He has some 40 papers and extended abstracts with EAGE journals, including a First Break article with Andrew McBarnet, and is a frequent contributor to the annual meeting. At BGS, he has collaborated widely as a principal investigator and co-supervised 10 PhD students at several UK universities. Richard has brought much innovation to near-surface geoscience including: a new capacitive resistivity imaging system; TEM modelling codes; 2D spectral IP inversion, 3D resistivity inversion; novel resistivity tomography techniques, and new self-potential tomography software. In recognition of a lifetime of research contributions to near surface geophysics and support for the Association and its growing near-surface community, EAGE awards Honorary Membership to Dr Richard Ogilvy. |
| 2014 | Andrew McBarnet | As the former Editor of First Break, Andrew McBarnet has worked tirelessly on behalf of EAGE and its journals for an unbroken span of nearly 31 years, a record that may never be equalled. He has been with First Break from the very first issue, published in January 1983, starting as Associate Editor when the journal was published by Blackwell Scientific Publications. Brought in-house and nurtured, First Break has grown from 38 black-and-white pages per issue to EAGE’s full-colour flagship journal, published in English, Spanish and Russian, and distributed to all members with a circulation approaching 24,000. Andrew developed First Break through a gradual process of innovative expansion and restyling. Throughout his editorship Andrew’s professionalism has ensured that the journal’s content has been readable, interesting and informative. He is one of those rare professional journalists with the right knowledge and expertise for the job, impressing all who know him by his dedication and the way he applies himself with “dynamism, pride and joy”. Andrew typically compiled, edited, or even rewrote the EAGE news; he assembled all the industry news and features at his own initiative, and invited many contributions to the Special Topics using his extensive knowledge of the industry. In addition to First Break, Andrew edited the annual Recruitment Special and, until recently, all of the EAGE regional newsletters. He was very actively involved with EAGE’s book “Reflections on the First 50 Years”. For his outstanding services to EAGE and its communications to the geoscientific community we are delighted to award Andrew with Honorary Membership. |
| 2014 | Jacob Fokkema | Professor Jacob Fokkema, one-time professor at the Free University of Amsterdam and former Rector Magnificus at Delft University of Technology, is an exceptionally worthy recipient of Honorary Membership, both for his highly significant technical contributions over 35 years of research, and for his organizational and editorial work for EAGE. Jacob is widely recognized and respected among his peers for his uniquely excellent science, and for the creativity of the students fortunate enough to have earned their degrees under his direction. He has made a number of fundamental contributions to exploration geophysics, ranging from his 1979 proof of Rayleigh’s 1907 conjecture on wave scattering, essential for understanding reflections at irregular interfaces, through his 1990’s theory of acoustic reciprocity as the scientific basis for geophysical data analysis, now central to the subject, to his recent novel work on the attenuation of seismic multiples. He has authored or co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed papers, many published in EAGE journals, contributed over 60 papers to the EAGE annual conference, and has written a textbook on applications of reciprocity in seismic exploration. Jacob’s reciprocity result provided the foundation for seismic and electromagnetic interferometry, methods that have been enhanced by other researchers and are becoming widely used in the industry. He has supervised the research of a least 40 PhD students and numerous MSc students, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in their respective fields in academia, industry and government. During his period as Rector Magnificus of Delft University, Jacob was instrumental in establishing the IDEA-League international masters’ programme linking the universities of Delft, Aachen and ETH Zurich, and he continues to edit the Journal of Seismic Exploration. |
| 2013 | Roger Arthur Clark | Dr Roger Clark is a seismologist who has worked on a broad range of problems of interest to both academia and industry. In his early work he used global earthquakes to image the deep mantle. He produced one of the first images of lithospheric structure beneath the British Isles using surface waves. He has also had a distinguished career in ‘forensic’ seismology, using seismic methods to monitor nuclear explosions. Working with glaciologists, Dr Clark has applied reflection seismic methods to imaging ice-sheets using both GPR and seismic data. He has used a range of geophysical methods in environmental geophysics applications, including exploration for cave systems. In the area of exploration seismology, Dr Clark is best known for his pioneering work on attenuation and ‘Q’ estimation. Dr Clark has made great technical contributions to the benefit of society. In addition, for more than sixteen years, he has led the Leeds University MSc course in Exploration Geophysics, while maintaining undergraduate teaching, PhD supervision, consultancy work and pursuing his personal research. Dr Clark started teaching at Leeds in 1982 and became director of the MSc course in 1996. Since then, he has guided the course to its place as the premier applied geophysics course in the UK, attracting upwards of 20 students per year, mainly supported by private or industry funding. Thus, for his scientific research, his contributions to society at large, his huge impact on geoscience education and his long-term support of the EAGE and its values, it is our great privilege to award Dr Roger Clark Honorary Membership of EAGE. |
| 2012 | Robert Mitchum | Robert (Bob) Mitchum is awarded the Honorary Membership of EAGE on the basis of his monumental contribution to stratigraphic thinking over the past 50 years. In conjunction with Peter Vail and his colleagues and armed with Exxon’s worldwide database, Bob Mitchum has helped to develop and foster the fundamental concepts of sequence stratigraphy and the global controls thereon. Fortunately he has published and taught very extensively and thus has shared widely their work with the worldwide geoscience community at large. In doing so, he has changed forever the way that we as working geologists think. Sequence stratigraphy is undoubtedly one of the principal areas of growth in geological thinking over the last half century, aided by the now widespread availability of good quality reflection seismic. Bob Mitchum has given us a clear insight into this aspect of our science and we are immensely grateful to him for doing so. |
| 2012 | Paul F. Worthington | Paul F. Worthington is awarded the Honorary Membership of EAGE on the grounds of his excellent and unique contribution to our science over a long period and for his very considerable services to EAGE. His technical interests have included near-surface geophysics and more recently, petrophysics, where he has focused on understanding and characterising the controls on fluid fluxes in the subsurface. In his current role as a consultant his main interests are integrated studies for reservoir characterisation and management, reserves estimation and equity redetermination. Paul has published widely and is recognised globally for his technical expertise and is in great demand as a speaker, reviewer, chairman, editor and consultant. His contribution to EAGE has also been immense, as a member of some 40 years standing and as a founder and co-editor of Petroleum Geoscience since its birth in 1995. He has been responsible for reservoir engineering, fluid flow and petrophysical papers. As such he has helped materially in achieving the present high profile that Petroleum Geoscience now enjoys. |
| 2011 | Phil Christie | Phil has held a variety of technical and managerial positions in Schlumberger, and more recently, Western Geco. His research interests are many and have included coal-bed mapping, borehole seismic, sub-basalt imaging and 4D seismic. He is an enthusiastic and tireless worker in propagating the science and in building interfaces between academia and industry. Phil’s EAGE contribution has been stellar. Since joining EAGE in 1979 he has always been a very active member. He has been chairman of the EAGE Oil and Gas Geoscience Division, at the same time as acting as a Co-Editor and now Editor-in-Chief of Petroleum Geoscience. In 2008 Phil became President of EAGE and was always a very active Board member, dedicating all his time to travelling around the world representing EAGE. More recently, Phil has driven the revision to our Association’s Constitution and the By-Laws. Phil embodies everything that EAGE seeks to be and is a superb ambassador for the Association. |
| 2011 | Tijmen Jan Moser | Tijmen’s main technical contribution for the society is reflected in his insight and vision for solving real practical seismic propagation challenges. His later focus on ray theory calculations continues to impact many EAGE members as well as worldwide, as reflected in two Loránd Eötvös Awards in 2007 and 2010 for outstanding papers. He is particularly dedicated to the cause of EAGE as a professional society and contributes countless hours to uplifting the standard of our journal Geophysical Prospecting, both as reviewer as well as Editor-in-Chief. His relentless work on the Journal standard is reflected in more than doubling of its impact factor reaching a unique, all time high of 1.772 in 2009. |
| 2010 | Bill Dragoset | |
| 2010 | Geoff King | |
| 2010 | Markku Peltoniemi | |
| 2010 | Peter Duncan | |
| 2010 | Werner Liebl | |
| 2009 | Etienne Robein | Etienne Robein has contributed considerably to the activities of EAGE over the last ten years and more, in a variety of roles, including those of President, Chairman of the EAGE Research Committee, and member of the Awards Committee. In all these and other tasks he has applied his wisdom, knowledge and diligence. His contributions as a scientist are very highly regarded, for example his acclaimed book on Seismic Imaging, published by EAGE. |
| 2009 | Mike Bacon | Mike Bacon has provided supremely valuable voluntary service to EAGE over a considerable number of years. He was appointed as the Associate Editor of First Break for Geophysics in 1994, and served continuously in that capacity until the end of 2004 when he became Publications Officer and Chairman of the First Break Editorial Board. He retired from those positions at the London Annual EAGE Conference in June 2007 after more than 13 years service. During his tenure, First Break evolved into the slick production we have today, combining the function of being the Association’s magazine with readable technical articles. As a practising geophysicist, Mike has authored two outstanding textbooks as well as many scientific papers of the highest quality. |
| 2008 | Jim Cain | In recognition of their dedicated work on the creation, development and public release of the European Petroleum Survey Group database of coordinate systems, thereby conferring an incalculable benefit on the geoscience community at large. The work required a deep understanding of the complexities of geographic and projected coordinate systems in use worldwide, and an immense amount of painstaking work to compile an authoritative database documenting all such systems in use in the petroleum industry. The database is the only accessible and authoritative source of information on geodetic datums and projections in use round the world. It is vital to all aspects of geoscientific work. |
| 2008 | Roger Lott | In recognition of their dedicated work on the creation, development and public release of the European Petroleum Survey Group database of coordinate systems, thereby conferring an incalculable benefit on the geoscience community at large. The work required a deep understanding of the complexities of geographic and projected coordinate systems in use worldwide, and an immense amount of painstaking work to compile an authoritative database documenting all such systems in use in the petroleum industry. The database is the only accessible and authoritative source of information on geodetic datums and projections in use round the world. It is vital to all aspects of geoscientific work. |
| 2008 | Roel Nicolai | In recognition of their dedicated work on the creation, development and public release of the European Petroleum Survey Group database of coordinate systems, thereby conferring an incalculable benefit on the geoscience community at large. The work required a deep understanding of the complexities of geographic and projected coordinate systems in use worldwide, and an immense amount of painstaking work to compile an authoritative database documenting all such systems in use in the petroleum industry. The database is the only accessible and authoritative source of information on geodetic datums and projections in use round the world. It is vital to all aspects of geoscientific work. |
| 2008 | Bjørn Ursin | (with Desiderius Erasmus Award) Bjørn Ursin has been at the forefront of geophysical research, education and geo-industry for more than 30 years. His unique style, and innovative and consistent approaches to geophysics have resulted in new insights and supported technological breakthroughs for seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation. These achievements have not only shaped geophysical technology but more importantly inspired geophysicists to a new way of thinking and to a deeper understanding of geophysics. His background from industry has ensured that his academic activities are well grounded and relevant to exploration geophysics. Bjørn has authored or co-authored over 100 papers in international journals. He has always actively searched for international cooperation and has served EAGE as Editor-in-Chief of Geophysical Prospecting as well as in several committees over the years. |
| 2007 | Dragi Stefanovic | In recognition of his important activity in the development of education in geophysics and in the promotion of national and international cooperation within our science and Association. In particular, his presidency of the EAEG and his role in organizing the EAEG Conferences in Zagreb in 1977 and in Belgrade 1987 have made a significant contribution to the success of the EAGE in the new Europe. |
| 2007 | Sven Treitel | (with Desiderius Erasmus Award) In recognition of his pioneering work in the field of signal processing and filter theory. He was among the earliest geophysicists to recognise and to make full use of digital computers in seismic data processing. A field where Sven Treitel has played a crucial role is the development of seismic deconvolution techniques, deconvolution being among the most significant and helpful developments in seismic data processing, extending even into such processes as synthetic seismograms and pseudovelocity log generation. His papers in Geophysical Prospecting on digital filtering and inversion are among the most widely referenced in the industry. His works on inverse theory, on wave theory and all its applications to finite difference “wave equation” migration, and on a whole sequence of other seismic issues have greatly influenced the way we conduct our daily work as geoscientists. |
| 2006 | Augustinus Berkhout | (with Desiderius Erasmus Award) In recognition of his innovative and unified approach to a wide range of seismic issues, resulting in several technological breakthroughs for our industry. As a leading academic and as a pragmatic pioneer in the field of hydrocarbon exploration and production, he has listened and responded to the industry’s needs, thus creating a situation that has introduced new opportunities in both industry and academia – as manifested by the major projects that he has led, such as the Delphi Consortium. His many technical contributions, including those in the field of wave propagation in complex media and as applied to dynamic and static seismic problems have had a distinctly major impact in the industry. |
| 2006 | Edward Szaraniec | In recognition of a long list of excellent contributions that encompass electrical, electromagnetic, magneto-telluric, and seismic methods in both theory and application to mineral and groundwater exploration and to civil engineering. In particular, his synthesis of basic concepts in both electromagnetic and elastic wave propagation theory constitute a major achievement that has led to novel insights in both fields, particularly from the viewpoint of numerical modelling of EM as well as seismic phenomena. |
| 2005 | Alfred Frasheric | In recognition of his extensive and very active contribution to the geoscience community in Albania and internationally for more than forty years, as manifested in a huge number of scientific papers, books and monographs including works in geothermal, electrical and electromagnetic methods for ore deposits and petroleum, in hydrology and environmental issues among others, his participation in the Geothermal Atlas of Europe, Geothermal Energy in Europe, his major role as an educator and his active participation in the responsibilities and in furthering the aims of geoscience associations in Eastern Europe. |
| 2005 | Tamás Bodoky | In recognition of a long string of highly valuable services to the Association, including his instrumental role in the creation of the new EAGE in the mid 1990’s, his vital input as a member of the EAGE-PACE Foundation Board, his contribution to the success of the EAGE in the new Europe, his role as President of EAEG, his work in EAGE committees, as an organiser of the EAEG Conference in Budapest in 1985 and as a crucial supporter of many other conferences in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine, as a key person behind the production of a book on Loránd Eötvös works, in addition to several other activities beside his many valuable works in geophysics, works that well merited his appointment as the Director of the Eötvös Loránd Geophysical Institute of Hungary in 1994. |
| 2005 | Roy White | In recognition of his outstanding achievements that have profoundly influenced both the industry at large and academia. A scientist par excellence, his innovative approach to the application of signal theory to seismic data and wavelet estimation together with his statistical concepts have been fundamental in the crucial problem of matching the seismic to the well data, in deconvolution and in other valuable applications in addition to his other works in petrophysics, AVO, reservoir geophysics, accuracy of Q and other disciplines which have been adopted by the industry in various forms. His services to the Association in committees and in editorial capacity have been characterised by his usual efficiency and dedication. |
| 2004 | Anthony Spencer | In recognition of the key part he played in the establishment of the European Association of Petroleum Geologists (with its consequent incorporation into the EAGE), in the establishment and success of Petroleum Geoscience, in reinforcing the geological input into First Break, for his many editorial roles and for his other valuable services to the Association. |
| 2004 | Donald H. Griffiths | In recognition of his immensely valuable services to the geoscience community over more than fifty years, as one of the initial supporting members of the Association and as the founder and principal mentor of the sub-Department of Geophysics at the University of Birmingham. This was one of the earliest centres of geophysical learning in Britain and has to date produced around 400 post-graduates, some of whom have played and continue to play major roles in the petroleum industry, others in mineralogy and in such fields of the near-surface as hydrogeology, engineering and archaeology, in Europe and throughout the world. His technical contributions range from being one of the early researchers into palæomagnetism of sedimentary rocks and the nature of the Earth’s magnetic field to co-authoring a popular and highly valued text book in geophysics and from working in marine geophysics and large-scale land seismology, in pursuit of problems in global tectonics, to the development of some of the first practical electrical tomography systems. |
| 2003 | Jan Joost Nooteboom | In recognition of his valuable services to the Association over a long period of time. Jan Joost Nooteboom served as a Technical Programme Officer,Vice-President and President of EAEG. He played a crucial role in the EAEG’s “opening to the East” – his pleasant and modest personality helping greatly in fostering the relationships with the geo-communities of the former Soviet Block Countries. He contributed a great deal to the successes in the merger of EAEG and EAPG and in establishing a close relationship between SEG and EAEG. |
| 2003 | Gerd Zuncke | In recognition of his contribution to the Association, in particular for his 10-year chairmanship of the EAGE-PACE Foundation (Programme for Association and Cooperation in Earth Sciences). Under this successful programme hundreds of geoscientists from Central and Eastern Europe have been able to attend our annual event to present their work and many local geoscience events have been sponsored. |
| 2003 | Leon Thomsen | In recognition of his outstanding and fundamental contribution to seismic anisotropy which marked a milestone in our ability to handle the phenomenon in a practical manner in a wide range of geophysical applications while providing the bases and firm directions for further advances in this respect, and for his services to the Association. |
| 2003 | Peter Hubral | (with Desiderius Erasmus Award) In recognition of his many outstanding contributions to geophysics, including the introduction of image ray concepts, his work on true amplitude, on propagation in layered media and on reflection surfaces in conjunction with structural configurations, all of which have had far reaching consequences on the approach to imaging the earth, and for his services to the Association. |
| 2002 | Vlastislav Cerveny | For his lifelong dedication to advancing seismic ray theory and the tremendous impact his work had on seismic modeling, imaging and inversion. |
| 2002 | Virgil Bardan | In recognition of his scientific and technical advancement of Data Processing related to sampling, inversion and attenuation of multidimensional seismic data and his dedicated advice given to the Society. |
| 2001 | J.-C. Grosset | |
| 2001 | M. Al-Chalabi | |
| 2000 | J.F. Claerbout | |
| 1999 | T. Taner | |
| 1999 | N. Savostyanov | |
| 1999 | D.S. Parasnis | |
| 1998 | E. van der Gaag | |
| 1998 | I. Gausland | |
| 1998 | D. March | |
| 1998 | F. Rocca | |
| 1995 | G. Grau | |
| 1994 | M.J.G. Cox | |
| 1993 | D.G.Cane | |
| 1992 | S.E. Saxov | |
| 1992 | W. Goudswaard | |
| 1989 | K. Helbig | |
| 1988 | A.W. Smit | |
| 1988 | D. Michon | |
| 1988 | Th. Krey | |
| 1988 | A.A Fitch | |
| 1986 | N.A. Anstey | |
| 1985 | P.N.S. O’Brien | |
| 1976 | H.J. Hoogeveen | |
| 1964 | V. Baranov | |
| 1963 | O. Koefoed | |
| 1963 | B.Baars | |
| 1958 | A. van Weelden |
Alfred Wegener Award
Award for Outstanding Contribution
The Alfred Wegener Award is presented to a member of EAGE who has made an outstanding contribution over a period of time to the scientific and technical advancement of one or more of the disciplines in our Association, particularly petroleum geoscience and engineering.
The Wegener Award consists of a trophy and a certificate.
The EAGE Alfred Wegener Award 2024 was conferred upon:
Baojun Bai
Dr Baojun Bai is the Curators’ Distinguished Professor and the holder of the Lester Birbeck Endowed Chair at Missouri University of Science and Technology. Dr Bai has done an outstanding job in all aspects of research, teaching, service to professions, and advising students. He is a global leader in conformance control, well-known for his preformed particle gel technology. He has developed many novel methodologies for water/gas control, chemical EOR, carbon storage, and recently in geothermal energy. His work has been successfully applied in many oilfields. He is very active in professional service for societies and communities. He is thus the most deserving of the Alfred Wegener Award.
Past Winners of the Alfred Wegener Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Tao Yang | Dr. Tao Yang, a senior specialist in reservoir technology in Equinor and a member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences, is proudly recognized by this year’s Alfred Wegener Award. Dr. Yang is an industry expert with an excellent track record in petroleum and energy technology innovation and implementation while integrating geoscience, data science and engineering. Dr. Yang has made outstanding technical contributions in PVT and fluid characterization, gas-based improved oil recovery, digital innovation on real-time fluid identification, low carbon innovation in CCS and hydrogen value chain. Meanwhile he has tirelessly served the community through EAGE, SPE and SPWLA. He is thus the most deserving of the Alfred Wegener award. |
| 2022 | Matthew David Jackson | Matthew David Jackson is recognized for his outstanding contribution to petroleum and reservoir engineering, including the ongoing transition to a lowcarbon energy future. Dr. Jackson has advanced the fundamental understanding of physical flow and transport processes in porous geological media. That is critical to address a broad range of long-standing problems in geosciences and engineering — whether to understand flow in rocks that host groundwater, act as source rocks and carrier beds formetals and metal transport, or serve as reservoir targets for subsurface energy and carbon storage. Matthew is notably recognized for his work at the interface of multiphase fluid flow with a detailed geological characterization of rock architecture. This approach has also resulted in a fundamental change in understanding of magma storage and movement in the Earth’s crust. In addition, Matthew founded and currently leads the NORMS Laboratory for Reservoir Physics — a facility for measuring and modeling a range of reservoir properties relevant to flow and transport in the subsurface using intact rock samples and at elevated temperature and pressure conditions. |
| 2021 | Maša Prodanović | Professor Maša Prodanović is a talented applied mathematician turned scientist and engineer, currently an Associate Professor of the University of Texas at Austin, where she leads an active and highly successful research group. She is a worthy winner of the Alfred Wegener Award: like Wegener himself, she is a scientist of considerable imagination, unafraid to pursue new ideas. She has made many seminal contributions to our understanding of flow in porous media. She has applied rigorous concepts in image analysis and topology to quantify pore structure and fluid displacement, making pioneering contributions to the level set method. More recently, she has studied complex pore systems, including carbonates, through multi-scale analysis combined with sophisticated rock classification. This work has been extended to shales with studies of nano-scale flow. She continues to pursue innovative ideas, one example being her recent work on grain boundary wetting. But it is not just in academic achievements that she stands out. She has established the digital rocks portal which provides a huge service to the community through hosting images and other results, allowing a free exchange of ideas and data. In addition, she is an inspiring teacher and mentor to students at UT and beyond. Professor Maša Prodanović receives the Alfred Wegener Award for her outstanding work on porous media and her dedication to geosystems engineering. |
| 2020 | No recipient selected | |
| 2019 | No recipient selected | |
| 2018 | Tiziana Vanorio | Assistant Professor in the Geophysics Department at Stanford University, Tiziana Vanorio is recognized internationally for her expertise on the quantitative link between geophysical measurements and rock properties. Her highly innovative and cutting-edge research focuses on the geophysical characterization of the effect of rock-fluid interactions on rock properties, integrating laboratory measurements with imaging techniques. She conceived an original laboratory approach to track experimentally the dynamic coupling between rock properties and reactive transport, complementing simultaneous measurements of physical and chemical quantities with time-lapse, multi-scale imaging techniques. This approach has already been used for applications such as CO2 injection, diagenesis and catagenesis, providing very valuable data. More recently, Tiziana started to use 3D-printing to link digital and experimental rock physics. Tiziana has published 39 peer-reviewed articles including one in Science, 10 book chapters and 60 conference papers. She was the recipient of a European Marie Curie Fellowship in 2002 and received a NSF Career Award in 2015. Tiziana is also strongly dedicated to science education, teaching courses and supervising students. In particular, she created a virtual rock physics laboratory to help students become familiar with the operation of laboratory set-ups outside teaching hours. This virtual laboratory provides interactive and 3D-animated renderings of the instruments and their operation for rock properties measurement. For this innovative teaching, Tiziana is the recipient of the 2014 SPE Innovative Teaching award. For her innovative scientific and technical contributions EAGE is delighted to present Tiziana Vanorio with the 2018 Alfred Wegener Award. |
| 2017 | Sebastian Geiger | Sebastian Geiger’s background from Freiburg (geology), Oregon State University (hydrogeology), Australia National University (mathematics) and ETH Zürich (computational geology) brings huge experience, so it is not surprising that he already heads the Carbonate Reservoir Group at Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, co-directs the International Centre for Carbonate Reservoirs in Edinburgh, and is Computer Modelling Group Foundation Chair in Carbonate Reservoir Simulation. Sebastian is an outstanding contributor to petroleum and reservoir engineering in both academia and industry. He has advanced fundamental understanding of multi-phase, multi-rate processes in hydrocarbon and hydrothermal reservoirs, and of methods to represent them efficiently in reservoir simulations. A major achievement, with Stephan Matthai, has been the development of Complex Systems Modelling Platform code that uses an unstructured mesh to model realistic media, especially fracture systems, to simulate fluid flow and reactive chemical transport, and impact oil recovery from Middle East fractured carbonates. His 2004 paper in Geofluids represents a tour-de-force for its numerical sophistication and geological insight, defining characteristics of Sebastian’s research. Known for his open, accessible teaching and supervision (25 current PhD students and post-docs, and 44 MSc students in the past 5 years), Sebastian excels in both teaching and research. Active in EAGE, SPE and Interpore, he is Associate Editor for Transport in Porous Media and Co-Editor of Petroleum Geoscience. To date, he has published 62 peer-reviewed articles and 55 conference papers, including 33 publications in Petroleum Geoscience, First Break and EAGE conferences. He is a member of the EAGE Oil and Gas Divisional and Reserves committees. His scientific leadership is reinforced by core values that set the highest ethical standards for young geoscientists and engineers. For his ground-breaking contributions Sebastian Geiger fully merits the 2017 Wegener award. |
| 2016 | Kenneth Peters | Kenneth Peters has had a long career in petroleum geochemistry, having worked in academia, government labs and both the oil company and service company sides of industry. He is one of the pre-eminent contributors to his discipline and is an established expert in source rock characterisation and analytical pyrolysis. With colleagues, he has published The Biomarker Guide, a classic reference work that defines the role that biomarkers play both in petroleum exploration and in understanding geological history and processes. Biomarkers help to genetically correlate petroleum samples and to interpret thermal maturity and the extent of biodegradation, and the guide documents most of the world’s known petroleum systems. Dr. Peters was one of the first, in 1999, to publish a study that integrated sequence stratigraphy with petroleum chemistry, a discipline that, at the time, was not fully embraced by geologists. As asserted in a letter of support, Ken Peters’ research “contributed greatly to transforming organic geochemistry from a ‘nichescience’ into a leading field in the geosciences.” More recently, he has been involved in the numerical modelling of sedimentary basins and their petroleum systems in collaboration with Stanford University. Dr. Peters has published extensively, co-authoring two Nature articles and has received best paper awards as well as the Alfred Treibs Medal of the Geochemical Society and the AAPG Honorary Member Award. Ken is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, one of Schlumberger’s NeXT instructors, a Fellow of the Geochemical Society, a member of EAGE, AAPG, GSA and ACS and a Consulting Professor at Stanford University, where he co-leads the Basin and Petroleum System Modeling Industrial Affiliates Program. For his groundbreaking contributions to petroleum geochemistry Dr Peters receives the 2016 Wegener Award. |
| 2015 | Johannes Wendebourg | Alfred Wegener proposed continental drift before the age of 50 and Dr Johannes Wendebourg has made a similar, early impact on modelling sedimentary processes, petroleum systems and basins, in both academia and industry. In his PhD research at Stanford, he was a significant contributor to John Harbaugh’s team developing simulation codes for dynamic, quasi-3D, geological process modelling of sediment transport, deposition and fluid migration. Joining IFP as a geological engineer, he used basin modelling to estimate reserves in the Paris Basin for the French government and collaborated with industry in basins world-wide. As manager for basin modelling he partnered with Total, Statoil and BP in developing basin modelling algorithms, workflows and uncertainty analyses. With Shell in Rijswijk, Dr Wendebourg managed non-seismic research, covering geochemistry, basin modelling, petrophysics and potential methods including controlled-source EM. After assignments in Rijswijk and Houston, he moved to Total as head of petroleum evaluation where his expertise impacts on research planning, training, and petroleum systems evaluation throughout the Total group. Johannes has contributed fundamentally new workflows for petroleum prediction and risk assessment on real data, with important achievements in understanding parameter sensitivity and uncertainty in modelling petroleum systems, hydrocarbon exploration and reserves estimation. Despite his managerial duties, Dr Wendebourg lectures both for Total and as external professor for the IFP school, ENSPM. He frequently shares his deep insights with papers at AAPG Hedberg Conferences, SPE, PESGB and, of course, the EAGE annual meeting. Johannes is an associate editor of Marine Petroleum Geology and a member of the German GeoforschungsZentrum scientific committee. He also serves as an external examiner on PhD thesis committees. For service to both the science and practice of basin modelling and for his extra-curricular support to universities, journals and professional societies, EAGE grants the Alfred Wegener Award to Dr Johannes Wendebourg. |
| 2014 | John R. Underhill | Professor John Underhill fully deserves the Alfred Wegener Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of seismic interpretation methods that help us to understand how sedimentary basins form and evolve, and their application to the search for hydrocarbons. As a geologist with enormous expertise in structural and stratigraphical analysis, and in sedimentology, John has built a deserved reputation for innovative basin analysis, and finding new solutions to established problems. Of particular note are his contributions to revealing the development of the Triassic basin in the northern North Sea, with its potential as a new hydrocarbon play, and his compelling argument for salt withdrawal as the origin of the Sole Pit crater in the southern North Sea, previously thought to be an impact structure. Another area of John’s interdisciplinary geo-research that has received widespread attention has been an assessment of the geological, geomorphological and geophysical evidence for relocating Odysseus’ homeland, ancient Ithaca. His communication skills are renowned, whether with the media (as with the ancient Ithaca narrative) or with industry, or with academia. John has been recognised as a distinguished lecturer by the AAPG, the Geological Society of London and, not least, the European Association of Petroleum Geoscientists. He has also provided outstanding service to a broad geological community, including the UK Parliamentary Group for Earth Sciences, and as President of EAGE in 2011-12. John was recently appointed to the newly created Shell Chair of Exploration Geoscience at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, where he is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He continues to serve both EAGE and GSL as a co-editor of the journal Petroleum Geoscience which, due in no small measure to his unstinting efforts, enjoys record impact factor, record subscriptions and global readership. |
| 2013 | No recipient selected | |
| 2012 | Wojciech Górecki | In recognition of his outstanding achievements over four decades of academic research and organisational activity in the field of petroleum geology and exploration in Poland and his innovations in renewable geothermal energy. Professor Gorecki’s long and distinguished career has been characterised by diversity and multidisciplinarity. This has embraced hydrocarbon exploration in different challenging settings in Poland, including tight Rotliegendes gas and Lower Palaeozoic shale gas, as well as in the exploitation of geothermal aquifers. While much of this research has centred on Poland, he has also worked overseas, including Libya and China, where he has fostered interdisciplinary research teamwork and professional cooperation within the petroleum industry. In addition to mentoring and teaching successive generations of research students he has published very extensively and has contributed to more than 150 papers, books and monographs, along with six geothermal atlases; his work has been recognised by awards both at home and abroad. His approach and ideas have done much to aid the introduction of modern geoscientific methods and practices in Poland and he has been involved in creating strong and friendly links with many petroleum and geoscientific institutions worldwide. He has also played a key role in the Polish Geosynoptics Society (GEOS), an organisation affiliated to EAGE and has encouraged Polish participation in EAGE events. EAGE is pleased to be able to honour such an innovative geoscientist. |
| 2011 | Henning Omre | In recognition of his exceptional achievements in the field of geostatistics, and his involvement in the application of innovative geostatistical techniques to the progression and development of petroleum reservoir modelling. Early in his career, Henning was involved with the development and spread of object-based reservoir modelling, in particular for fluviodeltaic reservoirs, such as the Brent Formation in the North Sea. He went on to make a highly significant contribution to the quantification of uncertainty associated with reservoir modelling, using a Bayesian approach to kriging. Latterly, he has been extensively involved in the application of stochastic inversion techniques to lithofacies modelling. His work has been published extensively and recognised internationally. Currently Professor of Statistics at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, he has worked in many places worldwide from Australia and the USA to China. He has been involved with Joint Industry projects with major oil companies; and his enthusiastic and charismatic approach has been integral in the education of his many research students. |
| 2010 | Francois Roure | In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the understanding of thrust belts and foreland basins, and to the effects of tectonism on fluid movement. His work has been an excellent example of EAGE’s goal of a multidisciplinary approach to the study of rocks and their fluids. From his early highly original and innovative work based on deep seismic imaging of the deep structure of the Alps, the Apennines and the circum-Mediterranean, he has extended his field of interest and expertise to most other major structural provinces worldwide. In addition he has developed a particular interest in the relationship between tectonics, basin development and fluid movement. He has published very extensively. He has forged strong bonds throughout both academia and industry over the past 30 years, and has served very extensively indeed on numerous technical committees and consortia, both in France and internationally, funded variously by governments or oil companies. He has served as an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer. |
| 2009 | Carlo Doglioni | Carlo Doglioni specialises in structural geology, plate tectonics, crustal structure, subduction and volcanism, focusing on the circum-Mediterranean region. He has had a distinguished career in academia and research since 1981, at several universities in Italy, as well as being a visiting researcher at Basel, Oxford and Rice Universities. In addition to winning awards in Italy, his widely published research has been recognised internationally. In 1994 & 2005 he was AAPG Distinguished Lecturer and in 2004 he received the Spendiarov Award from the Russian Academy of Sciences. |
| 2008 | No recipient selected | |
| 2007 | Jonny Hesthammer | In recognition of his achievements as an educator in rekindling student enthusiasm for the geological, geophysical and reservoir technology aspects of oil and gas operations, and as a researcher focusing on the use of electromagnetic and seismic data for hydrocarbon detection. |
| 2006 | No recipient selected | |
| 2005 | Patrick Corbett | In recognition of his fundamental role in integrating the various geoscience and geo-engineering disciplines, particularly sedimentology, reservoir geology, well testing, petrophysics and reservoir engineering and for his very significant contributions in the study of depositional environments, flow patterns and permeabilities and the use of statistical methods in reservoir studies and characterisation. |
| 2004 | Andrew Hurst | For his valuable and prolific contributions in the fields of sedimentology and petroleum geology, particularly in sediment distribution in deep-water basins, allocyclic and autocyclic controls on sedimentation, mineral stability as a provenance indicator, heavy minerals in sandstones and their use in lithostratigraphy, risk analysis and economic evaluations, sensitivity of engineering parameters to geological characteristics and related fields. |
| 2003 | Emiliano Mutti | For his worldwide contribution to sedimentary dynamics of turbidites and their reservoir characterization during the last half century. His pioneering work has had a significant impact on petroleum geosciences. His broad international outlook and his attachment to the human values and “natural” geology are highly appreciated by all communities who have worked jointly with him. |
| 2002 | No recipient selected | |
| 2001* | K.J. Weber | In recognition of his numerous and outstanding contributions in his various roles at Shell, as a Professor at Delft and Associate Professor at ENSPM (IFP), at Heriot Watt and Imperial College, at TNO (Delft) and ITC. His efforts in bringing different disciplines together with practical solutions to very complex problems (e.g. the layer cake/ jigsaw/labyrinth classification for reservoirs) have been extremely valuable. * As from June 2001, all award titles will refer to the year in which they are presented to the winners, and no longer to the year in which the winning poster/paper was presented. |
| 2000 | No recipient selected | |
| 1999 | K. Glennie | For lifetime achievements in closely integrating Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology and indirectly spurring the welfare of the UK and Scotland. |
| 1998 | B.M. Durand | In recognition of his contribution to the integration of Organic Geochemistry as an essential tool in Basin Assessment, and of his contribution to the integration of Petroleum Geosciences and Engineering for Reservoir Characterization. |
Nigel Anstey Award
Award for Best Paper in First Break
From 2012, the Nigel Anstey Award is to be presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in First Break in the calendar year preceding the award. The Nigel Anstey Award consists of a certificate and a specially bound copy of the issue in which the pertinent paper appears. This reallocation of the Nigel Anstey Award to a published paper continues the requirement that the contribution has a distinctly valuable and tangible bearing on one or more of the disciplines in our Association. Up until 2011, the Nigel Anstey Award was presented to a member of the Association who has made a contribution of distinctly valuable and tangible bearing on one or more of the disciplines in our Association, without being linked to a specific publication.
The Nigel Anstey Award 2024 was presented to:
Yang Xue
And co-authors Dan Clarke and Kanglin Wang
For their paper ‘Multi-scenario deep learning 4D Inversion: A Brazil pre-salt case study‘. First Break, Volume 41, Issue 9.
Past Winners of the Nigel Anstey Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Kim Senger | And co-authors Peter Betlem, Tom Birchall, Luiz Gonzaga Jr, Sten-Andreas Grundvåg, Rafael Kenji Horota, Andreas Laake, Lilith Kuckero, Atle Mørk, Sverre Planke, Nil Rodes And Aleksandra Smyrak-Sikora For their paper ‘Digitising Svalbard’s Geology: the Festningen Digital Outcrop Model’. First Break, Volume 40, Issue 3, Mar 2022, p. 47 – 55. |
| 2022 | David G. Quirk | And co-authors John R. Underhill, Jon G. Gluyas, Hamish A.M. Wilson, Matthew J. Howe, and Sean Anderson For the paper “The North Sea through the energy transition” First Break, Volume 39, Issue 4, Apr 2021, p. 31 – 43 The energy transition has started. While traditional petroleum exploration and production will become increasingly difficult, the offshore region around the UK, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands offers many opportunities for companies prepared to embrace low-carbon energy and related activities. We present 19 ideas for new sustainable business. If climate commitments are to be met, the scale of the transformation will be immense. Assuming the economics of floating technologies improve, we envisage the majority of the North Sea (>100,000km2) to be repurposed for renewable power and related activities. In order to fully unlock the future value in wind, solar and ocean energies, as well as in subsurface storage, companies and governments will need to work together to create an integrated energy system. |
| 2021 | Kees W. Rutten | And co-authors Daan Den Hartog Jager and Geert-Jan Vis For the paper ‘Unconformity mapping in the Schoonebeek oil field, the Netherlands’, published in First Break, Vol. 38, November 2020. This is an impressive paper on the oldest oil field in the Netherlands (date of discovery 1943, development started by Shell (NAM) in 1947), with STOIIP (stock tank oil initially in place) of 1000 MMbbl. The field straddles the border between the Netherlands and Germany, where it is known under the name of Emlichheim. The field was shut-in in 1996. It was then redeveloped with horizontal wells and steam injection, and oil production resumed in 2011. The authors used seismic data acquired prior to the redevelopment in 2005, which became publicly available in 2010. They applied unconformity mapping techniques to three unconformities to clarify the stratigraphic relationships of the Early Cretaceous reservoir to its underlying and overlying successions, by providing a view that is unbroken by faults and that honours the erosional gaps of the three unconformities. The unconformities document the local subsidence, uplift, erosion and infill in great detail, enabling precise identification of likely remaining reserves. |
| 2020 | Ian F. Jones | For the paper ‘Tutorial: the mechanics of waveform inversion‘, published in First Break, Vol. 37, No. 5, May 2019, pp. 31–43. Full waveform inversion (FWI) methods are becoming widely used to provide high resolution velocity models for use in migrating data from complex regions, and constraining impedance inversions. This paper is pitched perfectly and appeals to a range of readers, from students entering FWI and wanting to understand the basics, to industry professionals looking for a clear discussion of the subject. The detailed explanation of how each step of the FWI process is carried out is particularly helpful. The excellent list of references provided allows readers to delve further into the subject. Ian Jones’ paper provides an exceptionally well explained overview of the FWI method, and is already being used widely as a go-to reference on the subject. |
| 2019 | Anders Draege | For the paper ‘A new concept – fluid substitution by integrating rock physics and machine learning‘, published in First Break, Vol. 36, No. 4, April 2018. This paper presents a new and patented concept for fluid substitution that can be integrated with machine learning to provide robust and simple fluid substitution with accuracy approximately equal to or better than Gassmann theory. The method is called ‘Rock physics Fluid Substitution’ (ROFS); a stepwise workflow is provided. For high porosity rocks, where the Gassmann assumptions are met, ROFS gives very similar results. For intermediate to low porosity rocks, ROFS gives more realistic fluid effects. The method can be applied to both siliciclastic rocks and carbonates. By using a rock physics model for carbonates, the new method can account for the effect of microstructure variations such as pore shape variations and cracks when performing fluid substitution. |
| 2018 | Kim Senger | And co-authors John Millett, Sverre Planke, Kei Ogata, Christian Haug Eide, Marte Festoy, Olivier Galland and Dougal A. Jerram For their paper ‘Effects of igneous intrusions on the petroleum system: a review‘ published in First Break, Vol. 35, No. 6, June 2017, pp. 47–56. In their excellent review paper, Senger and his co-authors give a global overview of the many types ofigneous intrusions, their geophysical signatures, and the numerous ways in which they can influence the entire petroleum system, including charge, migration, reservoir compartmentalization, trapping and sealing. All the individual petroleum system elements may be affected, positively or negatively, by igneous activity, as highlighted by case studies from different volcanic basins, conveniently brought together in a single table. The authors use both geological and geophysical concepts and provide a very well explained and well referenced overview to a general audience. |
| 2017 | Ahmed Ouenes | And co-authors Y. Kiche, L. Ouhib, R. Smaoui, M. Paryani, S. Poludasu, A. Bachir and D. Balogh For their paper ‘Efficient development of unconventional reservoirs using 3G workflows – Breaking the silos to achieve true integration with multi-disciplinary software‘, published in First Break, Vol. 34, No. 5, May 2016, pp. 109–116. Unconventional reservoirs challenge conventional workflows for characterisation and target selection since a sweetspot must not only have high hydrocarbon content but it must also enable high producibility. Producibility is enhanced by hydraulic fracture, so the third ‘g’ of geomechanics joins the existing two of geology and geophysics. Ahmed Ouenes and co-authors persuasively assert that their multi-disciplinary, integrated workflows can deliver significant savings over geometrically drilled completions. The authors demonstrate their approach on real case studies that bring together geology, geophysics and geomechanics, where stress and fracture modelling are integrated with seismic inversion-derived elastic properties and facies, to address the heterogeneity that challenges the economic development of unconventional reservoirs. The paper provides an excellent set of case-study examples and promotes practical aspects of geoscience applied to complex characterization and development projects. |
| 2016 | Andrew J. Cavanagh | And co-authors R. Stuart Haszeldine and Bamshad Nazarian For their paper ‘The Sleipner CO2 storage site: using a basin model to understand reservoir simulations of plume dynamics‘, published in First Break, Vol. 33, No. 6, June 2015, pp. 61–68. The Sleipner carbon capture and storage project has two decades of data and experience of geological carbon storage (GCS). This important paper integrates geophysics, geology, petrophysics and flow simulation to obtain a new insight into the controls on CO2 movement in the subsurface and the best approach to model it. Under gravity-dominated drainage, Cavanagh et al. show that Darcy flow modelling, applied for the first decade of Sleipner monitoring, gives a poor match to the fluid distribution inferred from 4D seismic. Instead, they propose a capillary percolation model, better suited to the drainage displacement of the wetting brine by injected CO2, under near hydrostatic conditions. With this model, a significantly better match is obtained to the interpreted plume dynamics. Furthermore, the new approach is better able to address CO2 dissolution and suggests that, within decades, dissolution will make a significant contribution to storage. This significant paper generates a new flow simulation benchmark and will guide our thinking on GCS for years to come. |
| 2015 | Gwilym J. Lynn | And co-authors A. Christian Ellis, Jonathan Brain, Richard Parker, Gerd-Jan Lörtzer and Sophie Michelet For their paper ‘Gannet F field – Unexpected fluid flow between reservoirs identified from time-lapse seismic data‘, published in First Break, Vol. 32, No. 4, April 2014, pp. 53–59. In this comprehensive, well presented case study, the authors have integrated time-lapse (4D) seismic data with high-resolution inversions, well data and geological modelling to constrain both static and dynamic flow models in the Gannet F field. The 4D data have revealed unexpected fluid flow between reservoir units, and have observed sweep in units without well penetrations, thereby constraining fluid distributions in space at discrete snapshots in time. The integrated interpretation has improved predictions of sand extent and reservoir quality and has identified undeveloped crestal volumes in southern reservoir units as future targets. |
| 2014 | Mai Westphal Stephensen | And co-authors Michael Larsen, Gregers Dam and Tomas Hansen For their paper ‘The Glenlivet gas discovery – an integrated exploration history‘, published in First Break, Vol. 31, No. 7, July 2013, pp. 51–63. The authors present a comprehensive case study showing the importance of careful integration of geological, petrophysical and geophysical data to de-risk an amplitude-supported stratigraphic play on the Glenlivet Prospect. The initial prospect definition was based on regional seismic mapping and evaluation of existing data from offset wells. The detailed analysis included petrophysical interpretation, porosity modelling, fluid substitution, and AVO modelling. The results were compared with seismic and attribute maps of the Vaila Formation in the Glenlivet area. Based on the integrated evaluation, a combined geological and geophysical risking of the identified prospect was performed, leading to the successful exploration well in 2009. The authors reviewed the prognosed and post-well results and investigated reasons for the observed deviations. The successful case study is important in that it may lead to further development of the West of Shetland gas basin. |
| 2013 | Caroline E. Gill | And co-authors Alberto Miotto, Mariano Floricich, Richard Rogers, R. David Potter, Josef Harwijanto and Peter Townsley For their paper ‘The Nelson full field model: using iterative quantitative improvements from the initial framework to the final history match‘, published in First Break, Vol. 30, No. 9, September 2012, pp. 43–53. The authors present a powerful methodology for building and updating constrained reservoir models. Their method incorporates various datatypes, including well data, 4D seismic surveys and production history, into reservoir models by updating structural framework, macrofacies and petrophysical properties, while managing all datatypes within an integrated workflow. The authors demonstrate their technique with a complex, channelized reservoir in the Nelson field in the UK North Sea, with implications for production optimization in many other depleting NW European fields. |
| 2012 | Kurtis Wikel | For his paper ‘Geomechanics: Bridging the Gap from Geophysics to Engineering in Unconventional Reservoirs‘, published in First Break, Vol. 29, No. 10, October 2011, pp. 71–81. This paper argues that a geomechanics approach to tracking the stresses in the subsurface caused by drilling and hydraulic fracture operations in the production of unconventional tight gas and oil and gas shale reservoirs pays major dividends and should be more seriously considered in the geosciences community. The paper presents many topics of interest. Firstly, it is a very clear presentation of geomechanical concepts. This is excellent in the frame of a journal such as First Break, which will be read by people from very different technical horizons. Secondly, it discusses the impact of a geomechanical approach in the optimization of hydraulic fracturing in non-conventional reservoirs, which is also a very timely topic. And thirdly, it promotes a multidisciplinary approach, which is very topical for an EAGE publication. In all, a very good paper to introduce this recently redefined EAGE award. |
| 2011 | Ashley Francis | In recognition of his very substantial, original and diverse contribution to seismic inversion and geostatistics, and to the quantifying of uncertainty and risk. He has been a major influence for the widespread adoption of stochastic inversion technology in practical reservoir characterisation work. His extensive publications – especially his two papers in First Break – and lectures have helped considerably to publicise and also to demystify stochastic modelling, and to move it into the realm of an everyday tool in geological modelling. Thanks to the successful launch of his company Earthworks, he has successfully developed high speed stochastic inversion software to allow the rapid commercial application of the technique. Ashley Francis’s other technical contributions, and his active participation in conferences define him as a geoscientist who has made a very major contribution to geoscience over more than two decades. |
| 2010 | Panos Kelamis | In recognition of his research in the complex area of land multiple estimation and removal, which has resulted in an impressive series of model-based and data-driven algorithms currently widely applied within the E&P industry. His extensive knowledge of both the theoretical and practical aspects of geophysics, and his high-quality contributions to the geophysical community in terms of more than one hundred journal publications, conference papers and workshop presentations, has made him one of the authoritive experts in this field. In the specific spirit of the Anstey Award, Dr Kelamis has always given special attention in the integration of data acquisition, processing and interpretation, linking together geophysical data of different nature (seismic, well logs, upholes etc.). |
| 2009 | No recipient selected | |
| 2008 | Halina Jedrzejowska-Tyczkowska | For her valuable contribution to the science of seismology during her distinguished academic career. She has been responsible for tangible advances in the fields of full-field elastic wave propagation; seismic data processing and inversion; statistics in seismic interpretation; seismic anisotropy; spectral analysis; seismic stratigraphy and hydrocarbon reservoir characterisation. Her enthusiasm in teaching and research, together with her ability to combine theory with practice, has inspired geophysicists in Poland and throughout the world. |
| 2007 | José Carcione | In recognition of his contributions in research for seismic response of complex rheologies, resulting in his authorship of a landmark book in this subject area. As a proof of his broad and in-depth expertise José Carcione has also made significant contributions in modeling of georadar and aquifer responses. |
| 2006 | Eric Duveneck | In recognition of the importance and originality of his work in the tomographic determination of high-resolution seismic velocity models, using kinematic wavefield attributes extracted from pre-stack data. His approach has led to significant improvements in the efficiency and accuracy of three-dimensional migration and inversion. |
| 2005 | David Whitcombe | In recognition of his significant contributions which have led to the development of practical and effective methods to solve everyday problems faced by seismic interpreters, including his innovative approaches to fast and accurate subsurface model building as well as his work in the use of seismic data for lithology and fluid prediction. |
| 2004 | Thomas Armstrong | For his significant and active contributions in a variety of seismic issues, such as migration aperture and VSP and particularly for providing an effective and long-awaited solution to the problem of overburden velocity anomalies. This latter work has filled a critical gap in seismic interpretation and in time to depth conversion, the worldwide application of the principles and methodology of which being already very much in evidence. |
| 2003 | Ian F. Jones | For his numerous and excellent contributions to many disciplines in seismic processing and, especially, for his innovative approach to methodologies in depth imaging and related processes, an approach that is often reflected in his publications and in his creative and stimulating presentations. |
Loránd Eötvös Award
Award for Best Paper in Geophysical Prospecting
The Loránd Eötvös Award is presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in Geophysical Prospecting in the calendar year preceding the award. The paper should be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution or an outstanding tutorial in one or more of the disciplines in our Association.
The Loránd Eötvös Award 2024 was presented to:
Leon Thomsen
For the paper A logical error in Gassmann poroelasticity. Geophysical Prospecting, Volume 71, Issue 4.
Past Winners of the Loránd Eötvös Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Anton Ziolkowski | For the paper Explosive source signature determination: Two unequal shots in the same hole. Geophysical Prospecting, Volume 70, Issue 9, Oct 2022, p. 1475-1486. |
| 2022 | Evgeniia Martuganova | And co-authors Manfred Stillerr, Klaus Bauer, Jan Henninges, and Charlotte M. Krawczy For their paper “Cable reverberations during wireline distributed acoustic sensing measurements: their nature and methods for elimination” published in Geophysical Prospecting, Volume 69, Issue 5, May 2021, p. 1034 – 1054. The application of distributed acoustic sensing in borehole measurements allows for the use of fibre optic cables to measure strain. This is more efficient in terms of time and costs compared with the deploying of conventional borehole seismometers. Nevertheless, one known drawback for temporary deployment is represented by the freely hanging wireline cable slapping and ringing inside the casing, which introduces additional coherent coupling noise to the data. The present study proposes an explanation for the mechanism of noise generation and draws an analogy with similar wave propagation processes and phenomena, such as ghost waves in marine seismics. This observation allows to derive a ringing noise filter function, to study its behaviour and to consider known effects of the gauge length filter. After examining existing methods aimed at eliminating ringing noise and results of their application, we propose a two‐step approach: (1) developing a denoising method based on a matching pursuit decomposition with Gabor atoms and (2) subtracting the noise model for imaging improvement. The matching pursuit method focuses on decomposing the original input signal into a weighted sum of Gabor functions. Analysing Gabor atoms properties for frequency, amplitude and position in time provides the opportunity to distinguish parts of the original signal denoting noise caused by the vibrating cable. The matching pursuit decomposition applied to the distributed acoustic sensing‐vertical seismic profiling data at the geothermal test site Groß Schönebeck provides a versatile processing instrument for noise suppression. |
| 2021 | Callum Walter | And co-authors Alexander Braun and Georgia Fotopoulos For their paper ‘High-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys for mineral exploration targets’, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 68, January 2020. The authors demonstrate that unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aeromagnetic surveys provide a cost-effective bridge between traditional low-coverage high-resolution terrestrial surveys and high-coverage low-resolution manned airborne surveys in the same area. At 35 m elevation, the UAV survey provided data at 1 m intervals along the line and 25 m line spacing, yielding a much higher resolution magnetic anomaly map than the manned airborne magnetic survey. An additional 45 m UAV survey allowed the first vertical derivative to be calculated, yielding even higher resolution and leading to a new gold discovery. This new technology provides a dramatic breakthrough in the acquisition of magnetic data. |
| 2020 | Tor Arne Johansen | And co-authors Bent Ole Ruud, Ronny Tømmerbakke and Kristian Jensen For their paper ‘Seismic on floating ice: data acquisition versus flexural wave noise‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 67, No.3, March 2019. Seismic surveying in the Arctic must honor restrictions that forbid disturbing or harming wildlife and causing permanent footprints. The choice of measurement acquisition parameters must strike a balance between optimum data quality and environmental constraints. Seismic data acquired on floating ice are hampered by pervasive noise due to ice vibrations related to highly dispersive ice flexural waves generated by the seismic source. The authors conducted detailed and difficult experiments on floating ice in van Mijenfjorden in Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic to analyse the impact of flexural waves recorded with various seismic receivers and sources deployed both on top of the ice and in the water below. Measurements indicate that flexural waves are severely damped at 5 m or deeper below the ice, while hydrophone data suffer less from these vibrations compared with data recorded on the ice. The authors communicate their experience with great clarity and provide outstanding supportive illustrations. They conclude that seismic mapping of deep seismic horizons seems to be best achieved using 25-m long geophone strings and an airgun source. For shallow targets, the use of hydrophones in combination with detonating cord is an appropriate solution. |
| 2019 | Jiri Mls | And co-author Tomas Fischer For their paper ‘A new mathematical model of asymmetric hydraulic fracture growth‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 66, 2018. The paper presents a mathematical model of asymmetric hydrofracture growth based on relations between the solid-phase stress and the fracture hydraulics. For a single fracture and single injection point, the model has three parameters: the hydraulic conductivities of the two fracture wings and the normalised stress gradient. It predicts the positions of the fracture tips as functions of time. The model is applied to a set of microseismic event locations that occurred during and after an injection process at the Canyon Sands gas field in West Texas. Two methods are proposed to delineate the fracture tips from the set of microseismic events, making it possible to determine the model parameters and check the agreement between the model prediction and the measured data. Comparison of the measured and modelled growth of fracture wings supports both the assumption of non-zero stress gradient and the existence of post-injection unilateral growth. |
| 2018 | Ehsan Zabini Naeini | And co-authors James Gunning and Roy White For their paper ‘Well tie for broadband seismic data‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 65, No. 2, March 2017, pp 503-522. Broadband seismic data present a fundamental problem for wavelet estimation from well logs: the well logs are too short to allow accurate estimation of the long-period content of the data. In this very clear paper, Naeini and his co-authors present a robust solution to the wavelet estimation problem for well tie to broadband seismic data using three distinctive techniques: parametric constant phase, frequency-domain least squares with multi-tapering, and Bayesian time domain with broadband priors. Using a case study from the North West Shelf, Australia, they demonstrate the performance of the three techniques and propose cross-validation as a powerful consistency test of the estimated wavelet across a survey at different well locations. |
| 2017 | Nicolas Hummel | And co-author S. A. Shapiro For their paper ‘Back front of seismicity induced by non-linear pore pressure diffusion‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 64, No. 1, January 2016, pp. 170-191. Diffusion of a pore-pressure perturbation from a borehole fluid-injection source triggers microseismic events whose spatio-temporal evolution is interpretable in terms of the diffusivity and hence permeability of the rock mass. The seismicity continues after injection ceases and there is a ‘back front’ corresponding to the distance from the injection point that seismicity terminates at a given time after fluid injection ceases. In the case of hydraulic fracturing, permeability becomes strongly pressure dependent and anisotropic, and the diffusion is no longer linear. Hummel and Shapiro extend our understanding of the effect of fluid injection, including hydraulic fracturing and geothermal injection, on the distribution of induced seismicity in space and time. Comparing simulations with measured data, the authors show that the spatio-temporal characteristics of the event clouds can reveal a non-linear dependence of permeability on pressure, allowing the diffusivity tensor to be estimated, with economic benefit. The back front is a particularly strong diagnostic of non-linear diffusion in the rock mass. |
| 2016 | Joost van der Neut | And co-author Kees Wapenaar For their paper ‘Point-spread functions for interferometric imaging‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 63, No. 5, October 2015, pp. 1033–1049. Joost van der Neut and Kees Wapenaar propose an original, quantitative analysis of point-spread functions in interferometric redatuming, in which acquisition (sources and/or receivers) are moved to a deeper level by building virtual reflection data. The authors show how this could be achieved by cross-correlation or multidimensional deconvolution. Other possible strategies, based on Marchenko redatuming, could also be chosen. This article presents theory and examples to estimate the spreading feature when examining redatumed data, which may suffer from distortions in the image domain, due to internal multiple reflections in the overburden. The point-spread functions can be utilised for diagnostic purposes in the image domain and, potentially, for the removal of multiplerelated artefacts. The approach can also be applied to other acquisition designs. The paper represents a major step towards the application of interferometric imaging by providing quantitative tools to evaluate and improve the quality of images from virtual reflection data. |
| 2015 | Laurence J. North | And co-author Angus I. Best For their paper ‘Anomalous electrical resistivity anisotropy in clean reservoir sandstones‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 62, No. 6, November 2014, pp. 1315-1326. This paper makes a significant contribution to the understanding of resistivity anisotropy in real rocks, noted by Conrad Schlumberger in 1920, through an elegant combination of laboratory measurements and numerical modelling. The authors report novel laboratory measurements of the full electrical resistivity tensor in reservoir-analogue, quartzose sandstones with clay contents less than 1.5%. The findings suggest that resistivity anisotropy is the norm, even in clean sandstones that are often considered isotropic. The laboratory results are supported by grain compaction modelling. The authors suggest that such anisotropy may be related to deposition and compaction processes in clastic rocks, which could also affect fluid flow, and they discuss the potential impact on formation evaluation from log data, as well as the interpretation of remote sensing methods such as controlled source electromagnetics. |
| 2014 | Klaus Helbig | For his paper ‘Review paper: What Kelvin might have written about Elasticity‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 61, No. 1, January 2013, pp. 1-20. Helbig succeeds in using a review paper to generate fresh insights, new clarity and innovative ideas, worthy of the Eötvös award, thanks to his analysis of a fascinating piece of scientific history. He recounts the main points of the ground-breaking analysis of the elastic tensor, made by William Thomson (later Baron Kelvin of Largs) in 1856, in his “XXI, Elements of a Mathematical Theory of Elasticity, Part 1, on Stresses and Strains,” and analyses why the paper elicited no reaction for 125 years. Helbig speculates on what might have been in Kelvin’s mind for a second part, and how the theory of elasticity might then have developed, accepting Kelvin’s eigensystem. Helbig’s paper provides a clear glossary for interpreting Kelvin’s tensor notation in the light of classical elasticity as we know it, and suggests the main points that could be still of great benefit in separating material properties from geometry, and especially in describing anisotropic symmetries. Helbig uses Kelvin’s formalism to link tensor structure to symmetry class and to identify a new symmetry class, the diclinic, fitting logically between monoclinic and triclinic classes, as earlier proposed by Muir and then by Helbig himself. This review is an outstanding contribution to Geophysical Prospecting and to elastodynamics in general. |
| 2013 | Michael S. King | And co-authors William S. Pettitt, Jonathan R. Haycox and R. Paul Young For their paper ‘Acoustic emissions associated with the formation of fracture sets in sandstone under polyaxial stress conditions‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 60, No. 1, January 2012, pp. 93–102. The authors report results of laboratory experiments to measure the acoustic emission and ultrasonic response of a rock volume subjected to controlled stress and damage conditions. Their achievement in developing a technique for creating true triaxial conditions on rock samples and monitoring fracture growth from acoustic transmissions and emissions is highly commendable. Using moment tensor analysis, the authors interpret the mechanisms governing onset and development of microcracks as they coalesce into a fracture propagating deep into the sample. The methodology has potential for understanding and monitoring field-scale rock failure processes in petroleum, geothermal and CO2 reservoirs and around critical engineered structures within mines and underground nuclear-waste facilities. |
| 2012 | Leiv-J. Gelius | And co-author Endrias Asgedom For their paper ‘Diffraction-limited imaging and beyond – the concept of super resolution‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 59, No. 3, May 2011, pp. 400–421. This paper provides a framework for understanding and analysing both diffraction-limited imaging as well as super resolution. The authors demonstrate that point-diffracted data can apparently be super resolved by making use of null-space solutions. Moreover, two scatterers with strong interaction could still be super resolved. The authors also analyse the effect of noise and the signal frequency bandwidth on the resolving power, putting in evidence the limits and the advantages of this technique. While mentioning that the super resolution technique is not able to form complete and reliable images of the subsurface, the authors assert that separating diffractions from reflections and identifying a local target region (for example, diffractions associated with local faults), may have the potential to add more details to the big picture. The authors bring the reader to understand clearly difficult concepts while maintaining a high level of a paper, which is not only scientifically correct but that finally indicates the road ahead for seismic exploration. |
| 2011 | J.B. Joubert | And co-author V. Maïtan For their paper ‘Borehole image logs for turbidite facies identification: core calibration and outcrop analogues‘, published in First Break, 2010, No. 6, pp. 55-66. In exploration, appraisal, and development of hydrocarbon fields, the understanding of the sedimentary model requires increasingly sophisticated techniques and analysis to interpret the geometry, facies, and petrophysical properties of the reservoirs. The objective is to understand the reservoir flow properties for making optimum decisions during field development. For this purpose, the use of high resolution image logs provided by service companies has become essential in sedimentary interpretation. When they are correctly calibrated against known facies, image logs can replace coring operations, which are time-consuming, expensive, and limited in the depth interval sampled. Recent examples of application have proved highly successful for exploration wells. Now mature fields can be reinterpreted in the light of the new understanding gained, enabling development plans to be revised with enhanced recovery methods. As a result of the success of this approach, image-based facies interpretation is now included in the standard procedure for evaluation of data from exploration, appraisal, and development wells. |
| 2010 | Federico Cella | And co-authors Maurizio Fedi and Giovanni Florio For their paper ‘Toward a full multiscale approach to interpret potential fields‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, 2010, pp. 543-557. A multi-scale analysis can highlight the edges of buried bodies by the derivatives of their potential field and, based on these constraints, improve the estimation of their depth and shape. A major advantage of this method is its ability to decouple the components due to shallow or local bodies from those regional or deeper ones. The validation by synthetic data highlights the application of this new method to field data from Southern Italy. |
| 2010 | Vladimir Glogovsky | And co-authors Evgeny Landa, Sergey Langman and Tijmen Jan Moser For their paper ‘Validating the velocity model: the Hamburg score‘, published in First Break, Vol. 27, No. 3, p. 77-85. Rarely does a paper address critically what does not work, especially for methods that are widely accepted or even standard for the industry. Glogovsky et al. have critically reviewed basic concepts of seismic imaging and highlighted major limits in velocity model building and in the subsequent depth imaging. The clarity and classy humour of their style made it a brilliant example of scientific communication of advanced topics to non-specialist geoscientists. |
| 2009 | Pierre Gouedard | And co-authors L. Stehly, F. Brenguier, M. Campillo, Y. Colin de Verdière, E. Larose, L. Margerin, P. Roux, F.J. Sánchez-Sesma, N.M. Shapiro and R.L. Weaver For their paper ‘Cross-correlation of random fields: mathematical approach and applications‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 56. This paper reviews three methods for imaging multiples, including model based and interferometric methods. The paper is easy to read, is very instructive, and stimulates the reader to consider how to make better use of multiples and seismic data from wells for imaging complex structures. |
| 2008 | Zhiyong Jiang | And co-authors Jianming Sheng, Jianhua Yu, Gerard Schuster and Brian Hornby For their paper ‘Migration methods for imaging different-order multiples‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 55, No 1. This paper reviews three methods for imaging multiples, including model based and interferometric methods. The paper is easy to read, is very instructive, and stimulates the reader to consider how to make better use of multiples and well seismic data for imaging complex structures. |
| 2007 | Evgeny Landa | And co-authors Sergey Fomel and Tijmen Jan Moser For their paper ‘Path-Integral Seismic Imaging‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 54, No. 5. The paper presents a new approach for prestack seismic imaging in a macromodel independent context. The optimum migration is found as a weighted stack of images obtained for a range of velocity models. The paper provides an original analysis of stationary phase construction in the velocity model domain and opens the door to a new family of automatic pre-stack time imaging procedures. |
| 2006 | Eusebio Stucchi | And co-authors Alfredo Mazzotti and Simonetta Ciuffi For their paper ‘Seismic preprocessing and amplitude cross-calibration for a time-lapse amplitude study on seismic data from the Oseberg reservoir‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 53, No. 2. The paper presents an outstanding work on the analysis and reliability of time lapse pre-stack seismic amplitudes, a topic of prime importance for reservoir monitoring. The analysis encompasses careful true-amplitude processing of each vintage, original procedures for amplitude cross-calibration and robust estimation of AVO attributes. The paper provides many useful figures for the representation and analysis of pre-stack amplitudes. |
| 2005 | Claudio Bagaini | And co-author Everhard Muijzert For their paper ‘Calibration of cross-line components for sea-bed 4C acquisition systems‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 341-349. This is a very original piece of work on a topic of critical importance at a time when new seismic acquisition technologies are crucial to improving our understanding of the subsurface for better recovery of hydrocarbon reserves. The paper is very clearly written, provides a comprehensive analysis of coupling issues in multicomponent recording and offers solutions that are successfully applied to a real case. |
| 2004 | Solomon Assefa | And co-authors Clive McCann and Jeremy Sothcott For their paper entitled ‘Velocities of compressional and shear waves in limestones‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 51, No. 1. This is an original piece of work in petrophysics and gives a new insight into our understanding of the elastic properties of limestones. The study is very relevant as it comes at a time when the industry is applying increasingly more amplitude-based seismic studies to carbonate reservoirs and when considering that carbonate reservoirs contain at least half of the reserves of hydrocarbons in the world. |
| 2003 | Kaushik Das | And co-authors Alex Becker and Ki Ha Lee For their paper entitled ‘Experimental validation of the wavefield transform of electromagnetic fields‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 50, No. 5. This paper reports an experimental demonstration that the wavefield transform technique for EM signals is valid. It forms an essential basis for future work on solving problems associated with Time Domain EM. It shows that these problems can be successfully scaled down to the laboratory and this gives valuable insights into which parts of the theory are adequate and which are not. |
| 2002 | Y. Zhang | And co-authors Steffen Bergler and Peter Hubral For their paper ‘Common-reflection-surface (CRS) stack for common offset‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 49, No. 6. The authors present a data-driven macro-model-independent technique that transforms 2D Prestack data into an accurate approximation for common offset section. |
| 2001* | I. Lecomte | And co-authors Håvar Gjøystdal, Anders Dahle and Ole Christian Pedersen For their paper ‘Improving modelling and inversion in refraction seismics with a first-order Eikonal solver‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 48, No. 3. The authors present an elegant and stable ray-and wavefront-based interactive modelling and inversion tool for refracted waves in complex earth models. * As from June 2001, all award titles will refer to the year in which they are presented to the winners, and no longer to the year in which the winning poster/paper was presented. |
| 2000 | No recipient selected | |
| 1999 | J.H.H.M. Potters | And co-authors H.J.J. Groenendaal, S.J. Oates, J.H. Hake and A.B. Kalden For their paper ‘The 3D Shear Experiment over the Natih Field in Oman – Reservoir Geology, Data Acquisition and Anisotropy Analysis‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 47, No. 5. This excellently illustrated paper reviews the design considerations, implementation and interpretation of a 3D shear wave survey over a fractured carbonate reservoir. It is an exemplary case study of the application of multi component seismology to reservoir characterisation. |
| 1998 | S. Grion | And co-authors A. Mazzotti and U. Spagnolini For their paper ‘Joint estimation of AVO and kinematic parameters‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 46, No. 4. By means of a neat parametrisation, the authors implement an efficient method of estimating the variation of reflection amplitude with offset that minimises distortions from interfering events and from errors in normal moveout correction. They go on to demonstrate its practicality by application to marine seismic data that exhibit non-hyperbolic moveout and sea-bottom multiples. |
| 1997 | Martijn Andrea | And co-authors M. Andrea, M.S. Sams, M.H. Worthington and M.S. King For their paper ‘Predicting horizontal velocities from well data‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 45, No. 4. The authors developed a scheme to model the anisotropy due to sedimentary layering and intrinsic anisotropy in mudstones. By fitting a model to ultrasonic data, the authors successfully predict the sonic log and the direct arrival times from a cross hole survey. |
| 1996 | Einar Iversen | And co-author Håvar Gjøystdal For their paper ‘Event-oriented Velocity Estimation based on Prestack Data in Time or Depth Domain‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 44, No. 4. This paper develops a new technique of seismic velocity determination allowing for a better depth conversion. Using ray theory, it is applicable to complex structural geometry and gives a quantitative estimation of the uncertainty. |
| 1995 | Gary Hampson | And co-author Helmut Jakubowicz For their paper ‘The Effect of Source and Receiver Motion on Seismic Data‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 43, No. 2. This paper proposes an elegant solution to neutralize the distortions introduced into seismic data by source and receiver motion. It is particularly important for surveys using marine sources with long signatures. |
| 1994 | P. Nielsen | And co-authors F. If, P. Berg and O. Skovgaard For their paper ‘Using the Pseudospectral Technique on Curved grids for 2D Acoustic Forward Modelling‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 42, No. 4. This paper shows that the use of curved grids for acoustic modelling of geological interfaces can give more accuracy with fewer grid points than Cartesian grids, thus allowing the possibility to compute larger models and 3D configurations. |
| 1993 | D.J. Monk | For his papers ‘Wave equation multiple suppression using constrained gross equalization‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 41, No. 6, August 1993 and ‘An approach to optimum slant stack; its applications as seismic noise attenuator‘, published in First Break, Vol. 11, No. 12, December 1993 (co-authors H. Crook and P. Cowan). These two papers describe efficient new techniques of noise attenuation in seismic imaging. |
| 1992 | H.L.J.G. Hoetz | And co-author D.G. Watters For their paper ‘Seismic Horizon Attribute Mapping for the Annerveen Gasfield, The Netherlands‘, published in First Break, Vol. 10, No. 2. This paper is a remarkable illustration of the interpretation of 3D seismic surveys on workstations. It shows how the application of new techniques such as automatic tracking and horizon attribute processing can improve very significantly the quality of seismic interpretation. |
| 1991 | A.H. Balch | And co-authors H. Chang, G.S. Hofland, K.A. Ranzinger and C. Erdemir For their paper ‘The Use of Forward- and Back-Scattered P-, S- and Converted Waves in Cross-Borehole Imaging‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 39, No. 7. This paper demonstrates how a range of advanced techniques can be combined into an effective processing sequence for unravelling the wavemodes recorded in cross-hole imaging and converting them into a meaningful image. |
| 1990 | H. Jakubowicz | For his paper ‘A Simple Efficient Method of Dip-Moveout Correction‘, published in Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 38, No. 3. The paper shows how a particular insight Into dip-moveout and stacking can be turned to advantage in order to derive a dip-moveout process that is both accurate and efficient. |
| 1989 | R.M. Dalley | And co-authors E.C.A. Gevers, G.M. Stampfli, D.J. Davies, C.N. Gastaldi, P.A. Ruijtenberg and G.J.O. Vermeer For their paper ‘Dip and Azimuth Displays for 3-D Seismic Interpretation‘ published in First Break, Vol. 7, No. 3. This paper demonstrates how a wealth of finely resolved geological detail can be released from 3-D seismic data through careful processing and imaginative modes of display. |
| 1988 | L. Ongkiehong | For his papers ‘Towards the Universal Seismic Acquisition Technique‘ (with H.J. Askin) and ‘A Changing Philosophy in Seismic Data Acquisition‘ published in First Break, Vol. 6, No. 2 and 9, respectively. These two papers promoted widespread interest and stimulated a reassessment of the fundamentals of seismic data acquisition. |
Norman Falcon Award
Award for Best Paper in Petroleum Geoscience
The Norman Falcon Award is presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in Petroleum Geoscience in the calendar year preceding the award. The paper should be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines in our Association.
The Norman Falcon Award 2024 was presented to:
Gisele Nery Camargo
And co-authors María González, Filipe Borges, Alexandre Maul and Webster U. Mohriak
For their paper Challenges for seismic velocity modelling of rafts and impacts for pre-salt depth estimations. Petroleum Geoscience,
Volume 29, Issue 1.
Past Winners of the Norman Falcon Award
The Norman Falcon Award was originally established in 1993 (and continued till 2002) as the Best Poster Award of the Petroleum Division. The Best Paper Award of the Petroleum Division (1999-2002) was called Petroleum Geoscience Award.
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Diveena Danabalan | And co-author Jon G. Gluyas, Colin G. Macpherson, Thomas H. Abraham-James, Josh J. Bluett, Peter H. Barry And Chris J. Ballentine For their paper The principles of helium exploration, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Volume 28, Issue 2, May 2022. |
| 2022 | Long Wu | And co-author Rune Thorsen, Signe Ottesen, Renata Meneguolo, Kristin Hartvedt, Philip Ringrose, and Bamshad Nazarian For their paper “Significance of fault seal in assessing CO2 storage capacity and containment risks – an example from the Horda Platform, northern North Sea” published in Petroleum Geoscience, Volume 27, Issue 3, Aug 2021. This paper is a masterful combination of subsurface geology and engineering applied to the assessment of carbon dioxide storage under the North Sea. The work studies the role of fault sealing: while a complete seal is good for storage security, a seal that allows some flow can dissipate pressure build-up and allows greater dynamic storage capacity. These two effects are studied in the context of a specific site with recommendations for injection design. The article is clearly and crisply written, serving as a benchmark for best practice. |
| 2021 | Douglas Watson | And co-authors Nick Schofield, Alistair Maguire, Christine Telford, Niall Mark, Stuart Archer and Jonathon Hardman For their paper ‘Raiders of the Lost Mud: the geology behind drilling incidents within the Balder Formation around the Corona Ridge, West of Shetland’, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 26, February 2020. This excellent study focuses on drilling problems on the Corona Ridge, an intrabasinal high in the Faroe-Shetland Basin. Drilling fluid loss, bit balling, wellbore breakouts and wellbore ‘ballooning’, where lost drilling fluid returns to the wellbore, are all recognised within the Balder Formation along the Corona Ridge. Many of the drilling incidents were traced back to both the lithological character of the Balder Formation and the mid-Miocene tectonic inversion of the Corona Ridge. This geological explanation has wider implications for exploration in the region, including the mitigation of drilling incidents in future wells through drill-bit selection. |
| 2020 | Quinten Boersma | And co-authors Rahul Prabhakaran, Francisco Hilario Bezerra and Giovanni Bertotti For their paper ‘Linking natural fractures to karst cave development: a case study combining drone imagery, a natural cave network and numerical modelling‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 25, No. 4, November 2019, pp. 454–469. The paper uses a wide variety of techniques that encompass outcrop analysis, drone imagery and fluidflow modeling to address a difficult problem in reservoir characterization: mapping the fracture and cave network of carbonate formations. Flow in carbonate formations that host either hydrocarbon or geothermal reservoirs is notoriously difficult to predict due to the high variability in the pore space and fracture systems, posing significant challenges in well completion as well as reservoir management. The paper is novel and of wide interest to the community as it integrates a multiscale approach of structural field data analysis with numerical modeling to define the correlation between fractures, fluid flow and large karst conduits. The research offers a great resource to our community looking to gain insight into structural mapping and modeling of carbonate reservoirs. |
| 2019 | Simon A. Stewart | For his paper ‘Hormuz salt distribution and influence on structural style in Northeast Saudi Arabia‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 24, No. 2, May 2018. This study uses previously unpublished reflection seismic data and wells to map part of the western margin of the Hormuz salt basin for the first time. It links Hormuz facies distribution to the evolution of major structures in NE Saudi Arabia. Most of these major structures host giant or supergiant oil fields in Mesozoic reservoirs. This study is based on seismic interpretation of structural style because the Hormuz occurs at up to 10 km or more depth and much deeper than the limit of drilled wells over the study area. The main result is a significant refinement of previous regional maps of Hormuz Group distribution. The paper is well written, potentially of wide interest, and could be set as recommended or essential reading in coursework. It is, ‘the kind of paper you would love to see in a text book on the topic and to use in courses for students and professionals.’ |
| 2018 | Erick Alvarez | And co-authors Colin MacBeth and Jonathan Brain For their paper ‘Quantifying remaining oil saturation using time-lapse seismic amplitude changes at fluid contacts‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 23, No. 2, May 2017, pp. 238–250. Evaluation of the saturation of the oil left behind in a hydrocarbon reservoir after some oil is displaced by water in production is vital for planning secondary and enhanced oil recovery strategies. In this excellent paper Alvarez and his co-authors show that time-lapse changes in the amplitude of the seismic reflection at an oil-water contact (OWC) can be used to estimate directly the displacement efficiency of water displacing oil, without the need for a rock and fluid physics model. A prerequisite for the proposed approach is that a discrete OWC be interpreted on either the 3D or 4D seismic data sets. The potential of this practical method is successfully established on both synthetic and real data examples. |
| 2017 | Marco Roveri | And co-authors R. Gennari, S. Lugli, V. Manzi, N. Minelli, M. Reghizzi, A. Riva, M. E. Rossi and B. C. Schreiber For their paper ‘The Messinian salinity crisis: open problems and possible implications for Mediterranean petroleum systems‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 22, No. 4, November 2016, pp. 283–290. Marco Roveri and co-authors review the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) and discuss unsolved problems and possible implications for Mediterranean petroleum systems. The paper explains and then challenges the accepted paradigm of a ‘shallow-water deep-basin’ model, which implies high-amplitude oscillations (greater than 1500 m) in the Mediterranean sea-level up to the point of its desiccation. By combining chronostratigraphic observations with global sea level curves and solar insolation data, the authors show that an alternative, deep-water, non-desiccated scenario of the MSC is not only possible but, in fact, a more credible model. This in turn has strong implications for the assessment of petroleum systems in the Mediterranean and adjoining areas (e.g. the Black Sea Basin), which are developed by the authors as an improved petroleum systems model for Messinian source rocks and hydrocarbon accumulations. |
| 2016 | Alex M.P. Cicchino | And co-authors Colin Sargent, Neil R. Goulty and Agus M. Ramdhan For their paper ‘Regional variation in Cretaceous mudstone compaction trends across Haltenbanken, offshore mid-Norway‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 21, No. 1, February 2015, pp. 17–34. Sediment compaction underpins basin modelling and pre-drill pore pressure prediction. Clay compaction is complex in that both mechanical and chemical compaction are driven by mineralogy, grain size, pore fluid chemistry, temperature, stress, rates of burial and possible exhumation. In a comprehensive study, Cicchino et al. systematically examine possible reasons for a regional variation in porosity by a factor of two in Cretaceous mudstones below 2700 m depth, offshore Norway. By integrating seismic data, well-logs, cuttings analyses, pressure measurements and temperature profiles the authors conclude that the porosity variation is caused by regional variations, over the past 3 Ma, in the ability of porewater to escape from mechanically compact mudstones undergoing chemical compaction and lithification. Since chemical compaction is arrested if porewater cannot escape, porosity is retained with a minor increase in pore pressure. This significant paper offers new insights into regional porosity variations and cautions against relying uniquely on porosity retention as a pore-pressure indicator. |
| 2015 | Peter J.R. Fitch | And co-authors Matthew D. Jackson, Gary J. Hampson and Cédric M. John For their paper ‘Interaction of stratigraphic and sedimentological heterogeneities with flow in carbonate ramp reservoirs: impact of fluid properties and production strategy‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 20, No. 1, February 2014, pp. 7–24. The authors develop a suite of static models that capture the range of plausible stratigraphic architectures and rock and fluid properties associated with carbonate ramps. They then use these models with experimental design techniques to explore, by flow simulation, the influence of stratigraphic and sedimentary heterogeneities, well placement and completion strategies, fluid properties, and rock types on flow during water-flooding in each model. In their simulations, the modelled geology was found to be more important than the fluid properties or the specific production scenario. Rock properties affected original oil in place more than recovery factor, and reservoir architecture exerted primary controls on recovery regardless of production strategy, although well spacing impacted sensitivity to factors controlling vertical flow. This excellent academic analysis brings insights that will assist both flow simulation and production strategy in real-world field developments. |
| 2014 | Darrin Burton | And co-author Lesli J. Wood For their paper ‘Geologically-based permeability anisotropy estimates for tidally-influenced reservoirs using quantitative shale data‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 19, No. 1, February 2013, pp. 3–20. Burton & Wood present a well-researched, argued and illustrated description of a workflow to relate permeability anisotropy at the reservoir scale to shale geometry, shale fraction and the vertical frequency of shale beds. Using data from well logs, cores and lidar scans at outcrops in Canada, New Mexico and Utah, they show how the unique shale character of each unit results in a different distribution of permeability anisotropy according to whether the geological environment is an estuarine point bar, a tidal sand ridge, or a tidal bar. Shales have been known to act as flow baffles for decades but this type of application has previously been limited by the lack of published shale-body distributions in tidally influenced reservoirs. The workflow presented here has wide-reaching application in other similar depositional environments. |
| 2013 | Alastair H.F. Robertson | And co-authors Osman Parlak and Timur Ustaömer For their paper entitled ‘Overview of the Palaeozoic-Neogene evolution of Neotethys in the Eastern Mediterranean region (southern Turkey, Cyprus, Syria)‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 18, No. 4, November 2012, pp. 381–404. This paper presents an integrated synthesis of the geological and tectonic development of the easternmost Mediterranean basin from late Palaeozoic to Mid-Miocene times. The results of fieldwork in remote onshore locations, in collaboration with local research and knowledge, are combined with recently published studies to produce a series of regional palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic reconstructions. These highlight the timings of basin development and ocean closure, along with associated ophiolite emplacement, which the authors use to support an alternative model for the timing and tectonics of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. |
| 2012 | Brit Thyberg | And co-author Jens Jahren For their paper entitled ‘Quartz cementation in mudstones: sheet-like quartz cement from clay mineral reactions during burial‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 17, No. 1, February 2011, pp. 53–63. This paper presents new findings resulting from detailed and high-resolution petrographic examination of deeply buried mudstones from the Vøring Basin, offshore Norway. The authors demonstrate that authigenic, sheet-like or platelet-shaped quartz cement parallel to bedding is developed as a result of clay mineral transformations during burial and compaction. These cements may act as mudrock stiffening agents and vertical permeability barriers and as such may contribute to shale anisotropy and overpressure development. These innovative observations may significantly affect our understanding of shale diagenesis, with the potential for wider implications in hydrocarbon exploration. |
| 2011 | Michael R. Lentini | And co-authors Scot I. Fraser, H. Scott Sumner and Richard J. Davies For their paper entitled ‘Geodynamics of the central South Atlantic conjugate margins: implications for hydrocarbon potential‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 16, No. 3, pp. 217–229. This geographically wide-ranging and excellent multi-disciplinary contribution examines rifting and complex extension behaviour in the South Atlantic area and presents a new model for restoration of this province. The study presents an innovative approach to the synthesis of gravity and magnetic data with regional seismic interpretation and mapping; this, coupled with facies modelling and palaeoclimatology studies, has allowed the geological history of the margin to be explored. Inherited basement structural trends appear to partition crustal strain, such that both pure shear and simple shear end-member mechanisms are recorded by the syn-rift subsidence patterns. The implications for source and reservoir rock distribution and hydrocarbon exploration potential have been addressed in the light of the results. |
| 2010 | Behrooz Esrafili-Dizaji | And co-author Hossain Rahimpour-Bonab For their paper entitled ‘Effects of depositional and diagenetic characterstics on carbonate reservoir quality: a case study from the South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 325–344. A comprehensive and detailed geological study of the Persian Gulf’s Permo-Triassic Upper Dalan-Kangan carbonate-evaporite interval, which hosts the largest reserve of non-associated gas in the world. The authors undertake a comprehensive and detailed facies analysis in the South Pars Field to establish within individual units the original depositional fabric and geometry, which is inherited from position within a homoclinal carbonate depositional ramp. While this forms the basis for rock typing, superimposed on this depositional fabric is a variable diagenetic imprint, resulting from differential burial and exposure.An excellent study, and a very well written paper, recording the very detailed petrographic and supporting work on an important heterogenous carbonate reservoir in a relatively unpublished area. |
| 2009 | Alexis Carrillat | And co-authors Tanwi Basu, Raul Ysaccis, Jonathan Hall, Amiruddin Mansor and Martin Brewer For their paper ‘Integrated geological and geophysical analysis by hierarchical classification: combining seismic stratigraphy and AVO attributes‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 14. The authors demonstrate the value of an innovative method combining seismic geomorphology, seismic stratigraphy, and fluid response from AVO, calibrated with existing geological and hydrocarbon data. Their method enables the identification of exploration leads in a consistent manner, reconciling the geological framework with seismic texture attributes and with AVO attributes for hydrocarbon mapping. The integrated workflow facilitates final interpretation of the sequence stratigraphic framework, depositional environment and ranking of the best prospects. |
| 2008 | Joseph M. Hovadik | And co-author David K. Larue For their paper ‘Static characterisations of reservoirs: refining the concepts of connectivity‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 13, No. 3. This landmark paper illustrates the interaction between static 3d reservoir models and their dynamic fluid flow simulation, with particular emphasis on permeability variation and the concepts of connectivity and continuity. Key factors controlling reservoir connectivity are addressed, and new techniques are introduced to allow detailed characterisation of spatial variation of permeability within the reservoir. These innovative concepts integrate into the simulation model, and have associated implications for sweep efficiency and reservoir performance. |
| 2007 | Anders Draege | And co-authors Tor Arne Johansen, Ivar Brevik and Camilla Draege For their paper ‘A Strategy for Modelling the Diagenetic Evolution of Seismic Properties in Sandstones‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 12, No. 4. The authors have presented innovative ways of incorporating geological and geochemical processes and implementing mineralogical reactions in rock physics modeling. The approach consists of a new interdisciplinary workflow: advanced geological modeling of mineralogy and porosity evaluation, followed by rock physics modeling of seismic properties that have been affected by diagenesis. The strategy presented can be treated as a new tool for exploration purposes, particularly for subsurface saturation, lithology and porosity prediction. |
| 2006 | Andreas Bosold | And co-authors Werner Schwarzhans, Ali Ashgar Julapour, Ali Reza Ashrafzadeh and Mohammed Hossein Ehsani For their paper ‘The Structural Geology of the High Central Zagros revisited (Iran)‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 11 No. 3. This is a multi-disciplinary study in classically thorough exploration style that examines the complex structure, geology and petroleum potential of this under explored area. Surface geological mapping is integrated with the limited well and seismic data available and is combined with recent satellite data, aeromagnetic, gravimetric and magnetotelluric data to generate useful petroleum play concepts. The work is of a particularly high standard and represents a valuable pioneering step in assessing the petroleum possibilities in this challenging area. Totally aside from its excellence as an achievement, the work is also a tribute to Norman Falcon for whom the Zagros Mountains region had claimed the biggest share of his geological activity and technical focus. |
| 2005 | Ane E. Lothe | And co-authors H. Borge and Roy H. Gabrielsen For their paper ‘Modelling of hydraulic leakage by pressure and stress simulations and implications for Biot’s constant: an example from the Halten Terrace, offshore Mid-Norway‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 10, No. 3, 2004. This is an integrated study that focuses on geomechanical modelling methodology. By means of a combination of simulation and subsequent verification against real pressure data within an overpressured petroleum basin, the authors have ably and effectively dealt with the complicated problem of predicting hydraulic fracturing and leakage over a geological time scale. |
| 2004 | Livio Ruvo | And co-authors Andrea Aldegheri, Roberto Galimberti, Elena Nembrini, Lucia Rossi and Roberto Ruspi For their paper entitled ‘Multi-disciplinary study of the heavy-oil reservoirs in the Armatella Field, Sicily‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 9, No. 3. This highly integrated reservoir study – based on laboratory fluid characterisation and being geologically constrained according to the structural evolution of SE Sicily – allowed a correct assessment of the reservoir geometry and of the field production behaviour. Using state-of-the-art methods for analysing the reservoir fracture network and properly designed modules for simulating non-conventional completions in a 3D dynamic model, it resulted into optimised drilling for draining undeveloped reserves. |
| 2003 | Wayne R. Bailey | And co-authors Tom Manzocchi, John J. Walsh, K. Keogh D. Hodgetts, J. Rippon, Phillips A.R. Nell, S. Flint and Julian Strand For their paper entitled ‘The effects of faults on the 3D connectivity of reservoir bodies : a case study from the East Pennine Coalfield, UK‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 8, No. 3. On the basis of an exceptionally well-documented 3D block of the delta/fluvial reservoirs, the authors demonstrate the dependence of connectivity on the resolution of the fault pattern and how small faults can significantly increase connectivity. |
| 2002 | C. Bates | And co-authors D.R. Phillips, R. Grimm and H. Lynn For their paper entitled ‘The Seismic Evaluation of a Naturally Fractured Tight Gas Sand Reservoir in the Wind River Basin, Wyoming‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience, Vol. 7, No. 1, February 2001. |
| 2001* | O.V. Vejbk | And co-author L. Kristensen For their paper ‘Downflank Hydrocarbon Potential Identified Using Seismic Inversion and Geostatistics: Upper Maastrichtian Reservoir Unit, Dan field, Danish Central Graben‘, published in Petroleum Geoscience in February 2000. * As from June 2001, all award titles will refer to the year in which they are presented to the winners, and no longer to the year in which the winning poster/paper was presented or published. |
| 2000 | No recipient selected | |
| 1999 | M. Landrø | And co-authors O.A. Solheim, E. Hilde, B.O. Ekren and L.K. Strønen For their paper ‘The Gullfaks 4D Seismic Study‘, published in Issue 5 of Petroleum Geoscience in 1999. |
Ludger Mintrop Award
Award for Best Paper in Near Surface Geophysics
The Ludger Mintrop Award is presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in Near Surface Geophysics in the calendar year preceding the award. The paper should be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines in our Association.
Between 1997 and 2002, the Ludger Mintrop Award referred to the Best Oral Presentation Award of the Geophysical Division.
The Ludger Mintrop Award 2024 was presented to:
Meling Stemland
And co-authors Bent Ole Ruud, Tor Arne Johansen
For their paper Case study of combined marine- and land-based passive seismic surveying in front of Nordenskiöldbreen outlet glacier, Adolfbukta, Svalbard.
Near Surface Geophysics, Volume 21, Issue 5.
Past Winners of the Ludger Mintrop Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Alessandro Arato | And co-author Federico Vagnon And Cesare Comina For their paper First application of a new seismo-electric streamer for combined resistivity and seismic measurements along linearly extended earth structures. Near Surface Geophysics, Volume 20, Issue 2, Mar 2022, p. 117 – 134. |
| 2022 | Mick Emil Kolster | And co-author Arne Døssing For their paper “Simultaneous line shift and source parameter inversion applied to a scalar magnetic survey for small unexploded ordnance.” published in Near Surface Geophysics, Volume 19, Issue 6, November 2021, p. 629 – 641 The paper addresses the challenges of processing the scalar magnetic survey data acquired with Uncrewed Aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect potential Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) more reliably. Given the increasing need for efficient detection techniques for humanitarian disarmament, this work deals with a technology that can provide important information in this framework. The paper presents an innovative survey data adjustment method based on the simultaneous inversion of source parameters and independent survey shifts. The presented methodology is particularly suited for surveys where the sensor path through space can be assumed well known, but the sensor position is shifted relative to the measurement. The proposed method is proven with synthetic and field data and improves the magnetic-UAV survey data processing used in UXO detection. Such nearsurface geophysical applications are expected to be increasingly used in mine and UXO clearing operations in the near future. |
| 2021 | Tor Arne Johansen | And co-author Bent Ole Ruud For their paper ‘Characterization of seabed properties from Scholte waves acquired on floating ice on shallow water’, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 18, January 2020. This is an excellent technical paper on a unique application of an unconventional seismic method. The Scholte wave theory and rock physics model are well analysed and clearly presented. The paper demonstrates the validity of the use of the Scholte wave in probing very loose sediments on the shallow sea floor under floating ice for determination of S-wave velocity structure, porosity and Vp/Vs ratio, and shows good results. Although the application areas of the method may be limited, the technical merit of this paper is significant and the authors thoroughly deserve the 2021 Mintrop Award. |
| 2020 | Bernhard Siemon | And co-authors Esther van Baaren, Willem Dabekaussen, Joost Delsman, Wim Dubelaar, Marios Karaoulis, and Annika Steuer For their paper ‘Automatic identification of fresh-saline groundwater interfaces from airborne electromagnetic data in Zeeland, the Netherlands‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 3–25. This paper addresses the challenge of finding the boundary between saline and fresh ground water using helicopter-borne electromagnetic surveys. In the light of decreasing supplies of fresh water in many countries around the world, this is an issue of great importance. This work introduces a novel approach to invert and analyse helicopter-borne electromagnetic data to derive the thicknesses of freshwater lenses and corresponding fresh–saline groundwater interfaces within a certain resistivity range. The bounds of this range were found to be predominantly correlated with the fresh or saline water and appeared to be almost independent of the lithology type. This makes the method applicable without further modification to geological formations in many environments. The results of the new approach were verified in the field by complementary geophysical and geochemical data. This work can significantly improve the search for fresh water in many areas of the world, wherever the cost of a helicopter survey can be borne. The ability to map salinity may also contribute to agricultural land management. In addition, repeated surveys to monitor changes in the fresh/saline water boundary will help to determine sustainable rates of fresh water extraction. |
| 2019 | Gianluca Fiandaca | And co-authors Line Meldgaard Madsen and Pradip Kumar Maurya For their paper ‘Re-parametrizations of the Cole-Cole Model for improved spectral inversion of induced polarization data‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 16, No. 4. This work involves a solid theoretical development, proposing three ways of re-parameterising the classic Cole–Cole model used in the inversion of induced polarization (IP) data for subsurface electrical conductivities. The effects of the three re-parameterisations are tested on synthetic time-domain and frequency-domain data using a Markov chain Monte Carlo inversion method, which allows for easy quantification of parameter uncertainty, and on field data using 2D gradient-based inversion. In all three re-parameterisations, the model parameters are less correlated with each other and consequently better resolved than with the classic Cole-Cole model, especially where the data have low signal-to-noise ratio, both for time-domain and frequency-domain IP data. In general, this leads to a significantly greater depth of investigation than the classic Cole-Cole, parameterisation, as shown with the field example. Overall, the proposed method can contribute to narrow the gap among IP theory, laboratory findings, and field applications. |
| 2018 | Matthias Bucker | And co-authors Adrian Flores Orozco, Andreas Hordt and Andreas Kemna For their paper ‘An analytical membrane-polarization model to predict the complex conductivity signature of immiscible liquid hydrocarbon contaminants‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 15, No. 6, December 2017, pp 547–562. Induced polarization measurements are often made to detect contaminating hydrocarbons in soils. This excellent paper presents a method for modelling the effect of liquid hydrocarbon in sediment pore space on membrane polarization, and the consequent effect on frequency-dependent induced polarization measurements. An analytical model of the pore fluids as a sequence of electrically polarized cylinders of different lengths and radii is extended by adding an additional cylinder torepresent the contaminating hydrocarbons. The results predict that conductivity magnitude and conductivity phase generally decrease with hydrocarbon saturation. The model suggests that the explanation for an observed slight increase in complex conductivity at intermediate hydrocarbon concentrations may be that the potential at the surface of non-wetting hydrocarbon droplets is larger than that at the pore wall. |
| 2017 | Sven Nordsiek | And co-authors E. Diamantopoulos, A. Hordt and W. Durner For their paper ‘Relationships between soil hydraulic parameters and induced polarization spectra‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 14, No. 1, February 2016, pp. 23–37. Few geophysical methods have a clear relationship with near-surface hydraulic properties but spectral induced polarization (SIP) is increasingly used to characterize fluid flow and transport with applications in groundwater and environmental studies. This paper reports excellent SIP laboratory work to develop theoretically founded empirical relations between hydraulic properties and frequency-dependent complex impedance. These relationships are vital to interpret SIP data in hydrogeological studies and a key aspect of the present work is a sample-holder that retains the structure of unconsolidated samples in both SIP and hydraulic measurements. Thirteen samples of eight sediments with varying salinities were analysed over a frequency range from 10 mHz to 100 Hz and the results, with corresponding uncertainties, were clearly discussed. While future studies at higher frequencies often used in field measurements would be welcomed, this paper has significant impact in this important area of SIP research. |
| 2016 | Derecke Palmer | For his paper ‘Is accuracy more important than precision in near-surface refraction seismology?‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 13, No. 1, February 2015, pp. 1–18. Derecke Palmer identifies the very real issue in near-surface refraction seismology of confusing model validity (accuracy) with traveltime misfit (precision), which is critically important in tomographic methods with their attendant risk of focusing purely on traveltime misfit. Furthermore, the ubiquity of non-uniqueness in refraction seismology underscores the importance of validating the starting model and not relying on a 1D velocity gradient coupled with the computing power of automated tomographic updates. As the creator of the generalised reciprocal method, Palmer provides an authoritative and insightful analysis, in which he presents a strategy to estimate model validity and the end-members of the family of data-consistent velocity models, and offers detailed examples with clear demonstrations. |
| 2015 | Meng Heng Loke | And co-authors Torleif Dahlin and Dale F. Rucker For their paper ‘Smoothness-constrained time-lapse inversion of data from 3D resistivity surveys‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 12, No. 1, February 2014, pp. 5–24. Rainwater infiltration through landfill sites presents a situation in which the distribution of groundwater fluids and pollutants are changing in both space and time. Time-lapse 3D (4D) geoelectric surveys are increasingly being used to monitor such sites and this paper describes both theory and an inversion workflow that simultaneously inverts the 4D data using a least squares (L2) approach. Roughness filters, using both L1 and L2 norms, are incorporated to smooth the modelled resistivity distributions in both spatial and temporal domains. The filters and the workflow are tested first on synthetic data to analyse the trade-off between noise robustness and resolution, and then on two real data sets with outstanding results. The authors provide solid guidance to practising geophysicists on 4D geoelectrical inversion processing in the presence of noise, which is likely to have a significant impact on near-surface monitoring in heterogeneous environments. |
| 2014 | Carlotta Ferrara | And co-authors V. Di Tullio, Pier Matteo Barone, Elisabetta Mattei, Sebastian Emanuel Lauro, N. Proietti, D. Capitani and Elena Pettinelli For their paper ‘Comparison of GPR and unilateral NMR for water content measurements in a laboratory scale experiment‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 11, No. 2, April 2013, pp. 143–153. The coupling of ground probing radar (GPR) is affected strongly by water saturation in the near surface; a property that itself is of interest in geotechnical investigations. In this experimental account, the authors use the early-time GPR signal, which carries information from both air wave and direct body wave, to map the spatial variation of water saturation in a concrete slab through its effect on dielectric properties in the top few centimetres of the slab. The controlled variation of saturation was monitored by using a portable unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor with a similar depth of investigation. The results show a very high degree of linear correlation between the GPR and NMR signals, which is proportional to proton density, i.e., to the water content. This elegant experiment supports the novel concept of a fast, high-resolution tool for mapping relative changes in water content in a porous material at shallow depth, and suggests an independent calibration procedure to obtain absolute saturations. |
| 2013 | Stewart Greenhalgh | And co-authors Xu Liu and Bing Zhou For their paper entitled ‘Velocity and attenuation dispersion relations for the effective Biot model: total-field formulation‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 10, No. 3, June 2012, pp. 197–206. In this paper, two approaches – the host phase fields and the total fields – were applied to formulate effective Biot governing equations from an original double-porosity dual-permeability model. The previously published host-phase formulation assumes that the macroscopic fluid flux of the included phase is zero, so that this term can be ignored in the equation governing conservation of momentum. The total-field formulation developed here has no such limiting assumption and gives rise to new and more general governing equations that cover the host-field approach as a special case. By computing the phase velocity and attenuation-dispersion curves of sample rocks, the authors show that the two sets of governing equations are consistent at very low frequency but for larger volume fractions of the included phase, there is a significantly increasing discrepancy in the slow P-wave as frequency increases. The slow P-wave, whilst difficult to observe, does exist and must be considered when computing the frequency-dependent reflection coefficients at an interface with a porous medium. |
| 2012 | La Hamimu | And co-authors Jamhir Safani and Mohd Nawawi For their paper entitled ‘Improving the accurate assessment of a shear-wave velocity reversal profile using joint inversion of the effective Rayleigh wave and multimode Love wave dispersion curves‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 9, No. 1, February 2011, pp. 1–14. This paper presents newly developed joint inversion codes of the effective Rayleigh wave and multimode Love wave dispersion curves based on modified genetic algorithms. To assess the accuracy of each inversion approach, differences between the true and the inverted shear-wave velocity profile are quantified in terms of shear-wave velocity errors. The field example shown underlines the usefulness of the approach with an added benefit for exploration in terms of improved certainty. |
| 2011 | Franz Königer | And co-authors G. Schmitt, R. Schuhmann and C. Kottmeier For their paper entitled ‘Free Line Sensing, a new method for soil moisture measurements using high-voltage power lines‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 151–161. The new ‘Free Line Sensing’ technology uses existing high-voltage power lines to detect variations in soil moisture. Measurement data demonstrate the capability of the method to monitor the integrated soil moisture of the subsurface. The resulting signal of the ‘Free Line Sensor’ strongly responds to precipitation events and the following drying of the soil. The method is of outstanding originality and shows new ways in using widespread electromagnetic fields, which are noise for other conventional methods. They are used for mapping soil moisture and are likely to be used widely. |
| 2010 | J. Bolèkve | And co-authors A. Revil, F. Janod, J.L. Mattiuzzo and J.-J. Fry For their paper ‘Preferential fluid flow pathways in embankment dams imaged by self-potential tomography‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 7, No. 5-6, pp. 447–462. The new method presented can handle the non-unique solutions inherent to SP-tomography and can incorporate additional constraints. It overcomes the limitations of qualitative interpretation usual encountered. Sophisticated quantitative modelling jointly with other geo-electrical methods opens up the high potential of a simple tool, neglected for a long time in the geophysical community. |
| 2009 | Nigel J. Cassidy | For his paper ‘Frequency-dependent attenuation and velocity characteristics of nano-to-micro scale, lossy, magnetite-rich materials‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 341–354. The paper reports the investigation of apparent complex permittivity, attenuation and propagation characteristics of a range of nano-to-micro scale quartz/magnetite mixtures, with the aim of determining how lossy magnetic minerals affect the propagation of ground-penetrating radar waves in the near-surface environment. This paper improves our understanding and use of georadar in exploration by recognising the distributions and using them to derive additional information. |
| 2008 | Rita Deiana | And co-authors Giorgio Cassiani, Andreas Kemna, Alberto Villa, Vittorio Bruno and Andrea Bagliani For their paper ‘An experiment of non-invasive characterization of the vadose zone via water injection and cross-hole timelapse geophysical monitoring‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 5, No 3. An important objective of near surface geophysics is the quantitative description of (substantial) processes taking place in the subsurface. The combination of recurring high-resolution geophysical measurements and numeric modelling realized in this paper is a large step towards this goal. The presented results allow better understanding of the migration of fluids in the vadose zone. |
| 2007 | Gilles Grandjean | For his paper ‘Imaging subsurface by seismic P-wave tomography: numerical and experimental validations‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 4, No 5. The paper presents a method of P-wave seismic imaging based on traveltime tomography and Kirchoff migration. The method uses Fresnel wave-paths, appropriate migration and filtering to improve the imaging quality in high-contrast media. The paper shows these techniques in action on synthetic data and with a specifically designed experiment. The new approach significantly improves seismic imaging, particularly in the near surface. |
| 2006 | Roger Wisén | And co-authors Esben Auken and Torleif Dahlin For their paper ‘Combination of 1D laterally constrained inversion and 2D smooth inversion of resistivity data with a priori data from boreholes‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 3, No. 2. The authors show that the combination of 1D laterally constrained inversion and 2D smooth inversion with the use of a priori information from borehole data adds significant value to the interpretation of continuous vertical electrical sounding data. The approach to the inversion of merged data represents an especially significant achievement that should also prove valuable for the inversion of geophysical data in general. |
| 2005 | Odile Abraham | And co-authors Rabih Chammas, Philippe Cote, Helle Pedersen and Jean-François Semblat For their paper ‘Mechanical characterisation of heterogeneous soils with surface waves: experimental validation on reduced scale physical models‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 249–258. The paper demonstrates very convincingly that seismic surface waves can be used to investigate strongly heterogeneous media in geo-engineering applications. It shows that the mechanical characteristics obtained from numerical propagation of surface waves in a heterogeneous medium coincide well with those predicted by a multiple scattering homogenisation technique, a conclusion validated experimentally on models. For that, the paper represents an important contribution to our further understanding of seismic surface waves and to improved application of the corresponding techniques. |
| 2004 | Colette Gregoire | And her co-authors Lucien Halleux and Volker Lukas For their paper entitled ‘GPR abilities for the detection and characterisation of open fractures in a salt mine‘, published in Near Surface Geophysics, Vol. 1, No. 3. The paper provides the first reliable quantification of fracture assessment with Ground Penetrating Radar. Studies with in situ measurements, including borehole verification, are combined with synthetic data to allow the determination of fracture geometry, an inversion scheme yielding direct estimates of the openings. The work provides valuable insight into the capabilities and limitations of georadar for fracture detection and is highly relevant to the study of rock stability and tightness. |
Robert Mitchum Award
Award for Best Paper in Basin Research
The Robert Mitchum Award is to be presented to the author(s) of the best paper published in Basin Research in the calendar year preceding the award. The paper must be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines represented by that journal. The Robert Mitchum Award will consist of a certificate and a specially bound copy of the issue in which the pertinent paper appears.
The Robert Mitchum Award 2023 was presented to:
Jonas Preine
And co-authors Jens Karstens, Christian Hübscher, Gareth J. Crutchley, Timothy H. Druitt, Florian Schmid, Paraskevi Nomikou
For their paper The Hidden Giant: How a rift pulse triggered a cascade of sector
collapses and voluminous secondary mass-transport events in the early evolution
of Santorini. Basin Research, Volume 34, Issue 4, Jul 2022, p. 1465 – 1485.
Past Winners of the Robert Mitchum Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Oliver B. Duffy | And co-authors Tim P. Dooley, Michael R. Hudec, Naiara Fernandez, Christopher A.-L. Jackson, and Juan I. Soto For their paper “Principles of shortening in salt basins containing isolated minibasins.” published in Basin Research, Volume 33, Issue 3, May 2021, p. 2089 – 2117. Shortening styles in salt-influenced basins can vary markedly, with the volume and distributions of salt prior to shortening being a key control. The authors use a suite of physical models to examine styles of thin skinned regional shortening in settings where the preshortening structure comprised minibasins surrounded by salt. This work significantly contributes to the understanding of the geometry and kinematics of shortened salt basins, as well as a deeper understanding of the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of minibasins. |
| 2021 | Chantelle Roelofse | And co-authors Tiago M. Alves and Kamal’Deen O. Omosanya For their paper Reutilisation of hydrothermal vent complexes for focused fluid flow on continental margins (Modgunn Arch, Norwegian Sea), published in Basin Research, Vol. 33, March 2021. Magmatic activity in sedimentary basins has a critical impact on all five elements of a petroleum system: maturation of source rocks, fluid migration, reservoir rocks, seals and traps. 3D seismic interpretation reveals the relative timing and spatial distribution of stacked thermal hydrothermal vent complexes on the Modgunn Arch. A minimum of four phases of hydrothermal vent complex formation are inferred. This work is vital for assessing hydrocarbon plays or geothermal prospectivity in volcanic sedimentary basins. |
| 2020 | Jinyu Zhang | And co-authors Peter M. Burgess, Didier Granjeon and Ronald Steel For their paper ‘Can sediment supply variations create sequences? Insights from stratigraphic forward modelling‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 31, Issue 2, April 2019. Classic sequence stratigraphy suggests depositional sequences can form due to changes in accommodation and sediment supply. The authors apply numerical stratigraphic forward modelling to compare stratal geometries forced by cyclic changes in relative sea level with stratal geometries forced by sediment discharge and water discharge changes. The results suggest that both relative sealevel oscillations and variations in sediment/water discharge ratio are able to form sequence-bounding unconformities independently, confirming previous qualitative sequence definitions. The authors propose that the supply-dominated sequences could be recognised in outcrop or in the subsurface if the observations of stratal offlap and the absence of coastal-plain topset can be made without any strong evidence of relative sea-level fall. These quantitative results suggest that both supply-dominated and accommodation-dominated sequences are likely to occur in the ancient record, as a consequence of multiple, possibly complex, controls. |
| 2019 | Christopher Kirkham | And co-authors Joseph Cartwright, Christian Hermanrud and Christopher Jebsen For their paper ‘The genesis of mud volcano conduits through thick evaporite sequences‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 30, Issue 2, April 2018. This novel study used high-resolution 3D seismic response and subsurface geometries for apparent mud volcano conduits (MVCs) in offshore Egypt to substantiate the potential for migration of fluids through thick sequences of otherwise impermeable evaporites. Interpretation of MVCs is complex because of imaging artefacts and abrupt lateral velocity changes. The traditional explanation for migration of sub-salt fluids into the post-salt section requires ‘windows’ in the salt layer caused by salt mobility. The authors carefully screened seismic data for 386 mud volcanoes in the study area to define 93 cases of data acceptable for interpretation. The data show that MVCs can be reliably identified and are likely rooted within the Pre-Salt sequence. The authors propose a detailed model for MVC formation, which includes rapid loading during evaporite deposition, undercompaction, and significant overpressure development in the Pre-Salt. The results (1) demonstrate the potential for petroleum and other fluids to penetrate >1-km-thick sealing evaporites, (2) are broadly applicable to many other salt basins worldwide, and (3) have far-reaching implications for petroleum exploration, sequestration of carbon dioxide, and disposal of nuclear waste. |
| 2018 | Paul Green | And co-authors Ian R. Duddy, Peter Japsen, Johan M. Bonow and Jean A. Malan For their paper ‘Post-breakup burial and exhumation of the southern margin of Africa‘ published in Basin Research, Volume 29, Issue 1, pp 96–127. This excellent paper presents the use of apatite fission track analysis and vitrinite reflectance data from outcrop samples to document five major cooling episodes that affected the southern margin of Africa, all of which are interpreted as dominantly reflecting exhumation. Erosion time in the hinterland is synchronous with canyon incisions and thick deposition of sediments offshore. The Late Cretaceous exhumation and regional cooling is a major event. Such phenomena are described at the same period in other locations (West African margin – Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Atlantic margin of Brazil), suggesting plate scale processes and the need to rethink models of post-rift development of continental margins. The paper is extensively documented, with many references and rigorous analysis of data. Hypotheses and uncertainties are clearly stated. The presentation is excellent. |
| 2017 | Francisco Pángaro | And co-authors V. A. Ramos and P. J. Pazos For their paper ‘The Hesperides basin: a continental-scale upper Palaeozoic to Triassic basin in southern Gondwana‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 28, Issue 3, October 2016, pp. 685-711. Francisco Pángaro and co-authors present a very comprehensive integration of 2D regional seismic lines, well-logs, cores, cuttings and biostratigraphic data, together with previously published interpretations covering neighbouring basins and structures in South America and southern Africa, to identify a new basin, the Hesperides, and to place it in the spatio-temporal evolution of SW Gondwana. The basin fills a gap of some 250,000 sq.km. in the previously uninterpreted Argentinian continental shelf and enables the integration of upper Palaeozoic to lower Triassic basins of SW Gondwana. Even though only two wells penetrate substantial thickness of Palaeozoic rocks, the remarkable continuity of the Palaeozoic record confers high confidence in the interpretation. The paper is outstanding in its scope and detail and forms a fundamental addition to the Gondwana story, with potentially long-term implications for both academic and industry geoscientists. |
| 2016 | Cari L. Johnson | And co-authors Kurt C. Constenius, Stephan A. Graham, Glen Mackey, Tess Menotti, Andrew Payton and Justin Tully For their paper ‘Subsurface evidence for late Mesozoic extension in western Mongolia: tectonic and petroleum systems implications‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 27, Issue 3, June 2015, pp. 272–294. Based on a synthesis of new 2D seismic reflection and refraction data, extensive whole core analysis and recent outcrop studies, Johnson et al. infer a westward continuation of the late Mesozoic extensional province of eastern Mongolia and China into the Gobi-Altai region of western Mongolia. They identify two phases of sinistral strike-slip faulting in the Tugrug basin: a Late Jurassic transtensional phase created accommodation space for a sequence of mainly lacustrine deposits that remain largely preserved despite a Neogene transpressional phase that resulted in structural inversion of parts of the basin. In this wide-ranging study that includes zircon dating, fluid inclusion and source rock analysis, the authors conclude that there is an active petroleum system within the Tugrug basin with the potential to hold hydrocarbons in conventional or unconventional reservoirs. This thorough and comprehensive analysis sheds new light on the prospectivity of Mesozoic basins in western Mongolia. |
| 2015 | James Pindell | And co-authors Rodney Graham and Brian Horn For their paper ‘Rapid outer marginal collapse at the rift to drift transition of passive margin evolution, with a Gulf of Mexico case study‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 26, Issue 6, December 2014, pp. 701–725. From seismic analysis of many magmatic and non-magmatic passive margins around the globe, Pindell et al. recognise a phase of rapid outer margin collapse and basinward rotation as an additional stage between the rift and drift stages of margin formation. Outer marginal collapse accords with the exhumation stage of other authors; it encompasses all the processes that form continent-ocean transition zones and probably takes place within 3 Ma. This paper describes the impact of such collapse, with varying styles of magma supply and salt, on accommodation space and subsequent sedimentary deposition. The authors then apply their observations to a case study from the eastern margin of the Gulf of Mexico. The paper uses excellent seismic data to support the authors’ interpretations, which provide further insights into the styles of development of passive marginal basins, with potential benefit to both academia and industry. |
| 2014 | István Csató | And co-authors Didier Granjeon, Octavian Catuneanu and Gerald R. Baum For their paper ‘A three-dimensional stratigraphic model for the Messinian crisis in the Pannonian Basin, eastern Hungary‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 25, Issue 2, April 2013, pp. 121-148. This paper combines high quality seismic data and excellent stratigraphic forward modelling to simulate the basin-fill history of the Pannonian Basin. Using the seismic data as constraints, the authors test possible tectonic scenarios by quantifying vertical movements, sediment supply, lake-level changes and transport mechanisms for each scenario. They conclude that the Messinian unconformity in the Pannonian Basin was caused by an absolute drop in water level, probably linked to the desiccation of the Mediterranean, followed by subsidence and regression in the basin centre with tectonic inversion and uplift along the basin margins. The authors discuss the important implications for hydrocarbon exploration by identifying turbidite facies in the bottomsets of the lowstand systems tracts. |
| 2013 | François Guillocheau | And co-authors Delphine Rouby, Cécile Robin, Catherine Helm, Nicolas Rolland, Christian Le Carier de Veslud and Jean Braun For their paper entitled ‘Quantification and causes of the terrigenous sediment budget at the scale of a continental margin: a new method applied to the Namibia-South Africa margin‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 24, Issue 1, February 2012, pp. 3–30. A new method is presented by the authors for estimating, in three dimensions with uncertainties, the history and volume of sediment accumulation at the entire basin scale, from upstream continental onlap to the most distal deep marine deposits. Having developed the method based on regional 2D cross-sections, available in most basins worldwide, the authors apply the technique to quantify the sediment accumulation volume history along the Namibia-South Africa margin. They identify a number of significant variations in accumulation volumes and rates and relate these to changes in relief, deformation and climate. By linking the spatio-temporal evolution of porosity with regional thermochronology, the new method can help to identify prospective areas of hydrocarbon maturity. Because the approach is relatively easy to implement in a variety of basin settings, it is very likely to benefit the practising explorationist. |
| 2012 | Sverre Henriksen | And co-authors William Helland-Hansen and Scott Bullimore For their paper entitled ‘Relationships between shelf-edge trajectories and sediment dispersal along depositional dip and strike: a different approach to sequence stratigraphy‘, published in Basin Research, Volume 23, Issue 1, February 2011, pp. 3–21. The authors use an extensive set of high quality seismic data over progradational successions at several locations along the Atlantic margin to develop and illustrate the concept of shelf-edge trajectory (i.e., the locus of the palaeo shelf break and how it migrates with time) and its impact on sedimentation patterns. The authors use plentiful examples from interpreted seismic data to support their assertion of a systematic and predictive relationship between shelf-edge trajectories and the occurrence of sand-rich environments at specific locations along the depositional profile. They show how the trajectory can rise, fall or remain flat, depending on sediment input, accommodation space and water depth. While the concept of trajectories is not original, the authors apply it in a number of different geological cases and take the idea to a new level. It is also appropriate that the first paper to receive the EAGE Mitchum award should deal with seismic sequence stratigraphy, of which Robert Mitchum was one of the earliest exponents and whose 1977 paper with Vail and Thompson is the first citation therein. |
Guido Bonarelli Award
Award for Best Oral Presentation
The Guido Bonarelli Award is presented in recognition of the best oral presentation at the EAGE Annual Conference in the calendar year preceding the Award. The paper presented should be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines in our Association. The nomination should also take account of the skills of the presenter and the clarity of the audio/visual aids of the presenter. The Award incorporates the Distinguishes Lecturer Award established in 1989. The name Guido Bonarelli Award was established in 1999 and, between 1999 and 2002, referred to the Best Oral Presentation Award of the Petroleum Division only.
The Guido Bonarelli Award 2023 was presented to:
Stian Hegna
For the paper The Acoustic Wavefield Generated by a Vessel Sailing on Top of a
Streamer Spread.
Past Winners of the Guido Bonarelli Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bogdan-George Davidescu | And co-authors Torsten Clemens, Mathias Bayerl, Christoph Puls For their paper Horizontal Versus Vertical Wells: Assessment of Sweep Efficiency in a Multi-layered Reservoir Based on Consecutive Inter-well Tracer Tests – A Comparison Between Water Injection and Polymer EOR. The paper addresses the issue of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) pilot testing to reduce the range of uncertainty for ranges of parameters and improve the economics of full-field deployment. The authors used consecutive tracer tests prior to and during polymer injection, as well as water composition, to elucidate the impact of various well configurations on sweep efficiency improvements. Vertical and horizontal well configurations for polymer injection and production both lead to substantial acceleration along flow paths. The horizontal well configuration also substantially increases the connected pore volume after polymer injection, indicating that the sweep efficiency is improved for the horizontal well configurations after polymer injection. |
| 2021 | No recipient selected | |
| 2020 | Erik F. M. Koene | And co-authors Jens Wittsten, Johan O. A. Robertsson and Fredrik Andersson For the oral paper ‘Eliminating Time Dispersion from Visco-Elastic Simulations with Memory Variables‘, presented at the 81st EAGE Conference & Exhibition, London 2019. The paper addresses the problem of modelling 3D wave propagation in visco-elastic media using the finite-difference method. In recent years, it has been recognized that the seismic wave equation solved with a finite-difference method in the time causes a predictable and removable error through the use of time-dispersion transforms. The authors demonstrate that the time dispersion transforms remain applicable when the visco-elastic wave equation is solved with memory variables, as is commonly done. The crucial insight is that both the wave equation and the memory variables are computed with the same time-dispersion error. They show how the time-dispersion transforms can be implemented in, for example, MATLAB, and demonstrate the developed theory on a visco-elastic version of the Marmousi model. The time dispersion transforms allow computation of the viscoelastic wave equation with large steps in time without significant loss of accuracy, and without having to make any modifications to the model. |
| 2019 | Volker Oye | And co-authors Sergei Stanchits, Nicholas Seprodi, Pierre Cerasi, Anna Magdalena Stroisz and Robert Bauer For the oral paper ‘Dynamics of stick-slip sliding induced by fluid injection in large sandstone block‘, presented at the 80th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Copenhagen 2018. Injection of waste water underground can induce slip on critically-stressed faults, releasing stress built-up over many years and causing earthquakes. A similar problem might occur with the underground sequestration of carbon dioxide. In research supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the authors designed a laboratory experiment to investigate this phenomenon, in which fluid injections close to an artificial interface of about 1 m length in a sandstone block were observed to induce sliding. Their presentation of the experimental setup and analysis of the resulting acoustic emission (AE) data is very clear. Analysis of the spatial distribution of the AE energy revealed the dynamics of stick-slip, indicating a nucleation phase of the sliding, then propagation of the rupture through the whole interface with an average rupture velocity of a few m/s. The speed and energy radiated during this event were approximately six orders of magnitude larger than observed during quasi-static sliding preceding the stick-slip. They conclude that the observed stick-slip motion is a laboratory analogue to earthquakes, and its occurrence can be related to the injection of fluids. |
| 2018 | Maksym Kryvohuz | For the oral paper ‘Source-side Up-down Wavefield Separation Using Dual NFHs‘, presented at the 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017, Paris, 12-15 June, Extended Abstracts, Tu A4 06. The authors of this very clear paper present a method to eliminate sea-surface reflections from nearfield hydrophone measurements using additional near-field hydrophones. The far-field signature of an airgun array may then be calculated on a shot-by-shot basis from the near-field hydrophone measurements without corruption from sea-surface reflections. The method was demonstrated on synthetic and real data. Elimination of the source-side sea-surface reflections extends the bandwidth of the seismic reflection data, which is especially important at low frequencies. |
| 2017 | Michele De Stefano | For his oral paper ‘Simulating geophysical models through fractal algorithms‘, presented at the 78th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Vienna, 30 May – 2 June 2016, Extended Abstract We SBT4 12. From the computer-graphics industry De Stefano borrows the diamond-square algorithm, which has its roots in fractional Brownian motion, and which can be used for efficient, low-cost generation of randomised realisations of 2D and 3D geophysical models. The realisations are produced by iterated interpolation steps, alternating between nested square and diamond meshes and using additive white Gaussian noise and an appropriate Hurst exponent, to generate random values at an appropriate scale. The output realisations respect the original starting seed values. While this paper presents work in progress, it is both innovative and promising in its potential benefits to uncertainty simulation, and to interpolation and upscaling within modelling and inversion algorithms. |
| 2016 | Joe Zhou | And co-authors Peter Chia, Jingyu Li, Henry Ng, Sergey Birdus, Keat Huat Teng, Ying Peng Phan, Jason Sun and He Yi For their oral paper ‘Unlocking the full potential of broadband data with advanced processing technology, a case study from NWS Australia‘, presented at the 77th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Madrid, 1-4 June 2015, Extended Abstract We N103 13. In this high-impact oral paper, Zhou et al. describe a broadband seismic case study from the Australian Northwest Shelf in which a combination of a twindepth airgun source array and twelve, 6-km slanted-depth cables were used to acquire a data set in which both the source and receiver ghost notches were substantially removed. The paper compares the performance of three methods of source signature estimation as well as two approaches to receiver deghosting. De-signature from near-field hydrophones proved most effective, while a method using sparse inversion in the 3D-Radon transform domain gave good 3D deghosting at the receivers. With a 3D attenuation-tomography method to estimate and compensate for Q, the authors show broad-band data that are almost flat to 160 Hz in the shallow section and that display excellent visual resolution in the deeper section. |
| 2015 | Mike Warner | And co-author Lluis Guasch For their oral paper ‘Adaptive waveform inversion – FWI without cycle skipping – theory‘, presented at the 76th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Amsterdam, 16-19 June 2014. In this first of two, innovative, companion papers, Warner and Guasch reformulate the conventional full-waveform inversion (FWI) algorithm so that it adapts predicted data to observed data using Wiener filters and then iterates the model by forcing the Wiener filters towards zero-lag delta functions. The authors show their adaptive FWI scheme to be immune to cycle skipping, a key issue in waveform inversion, and to invert, successfully, data for which conventional FWI fails entirely. Being robust to cycle-skipping, the new method does not require iteration from low-frequency components in the data or a highly accurate starting model. Adaptive FWI has some features in common with wave-equation migration velocity analysis (WEMVA) but it is applicable to all arrivals, including multiples and refractions, and does not incur the high-computational costs of 3D WEMVA. |
| 2014 | Kanglin Wang | And co-authors Paul J. Hatchell, Carsten Udengaard, Ken Craft and Shaun Dunn For their oral paper ‘Water velocity and tide measurement in marine seismic acquisition‘, presented at the 75th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition, London, 10-13 June 2013. Spatial and temporal variations in water velocity and tides significantly impact the non-repeatability of marine time-lapse seismic data, and adversely affect the quality of 4D data processing. To reduce such variations the authors have developed a seafloor device called Pressure Inverted Echo Sounder (PIES) that provides direct measurements of water velocity and tides during seismic data acquisition. Placing PIES units at multiple locations enables determination of lateral and vertical water velocity profiles. A recent field trial conducted during a 4-month ocean bottom nodes survey demonstrated that PIES provides continuous measurements of average water velocities and tides, which are consistent with temperature-pressure-conductivity measurements and oceanographic data from nearby stations. |
| 2013 | Lars Wensaas | And co-authors Marita Gading and Helge Løseth For their oral paper entitled ‘Exploratory Approach to Fractured Reservoir – A Case Study in a Brazilian Field‘, presented at the 73rd EAGE Annual Conference, Vienna, 23–26 May 2011. This fracture analysis of non-conventional reservoirs was conducted during the exploration phase of a fractured Albian carbonate oilfield, located in the Campos Basin, in the eastern Brazilian continental margin, using a limited number of wells. The study aimed at understanding the lithological, diagenetic and mechanical controls of fracture distribution and their relationship with faults and salt domes mapped on seismic data. Geometric and kinematic analyses, in addition to structural evolution work carried on during this study, were fundamental to establishing the correlation between fracturing and regional deformation. The importance of a conceptual structural geologic model, especially in cases where it is not possible to perform a 3D numerical model of fractures is highlighted in this work. |
| 2012 | Raphael S. Hatushika | And co-author Cláudia Lima de Queiroz For their oral paper entitled ‘Exploratory Approach to Fractured Reservoir – A Case Study in a Brazilian Field‘, presented at the 73rd EAGE Annual Conference, Vienna, 23–26 May 2011. This fracture analysis of non-conventional reservoirs was conducted during the exploration phase of a fractured Albian carbonate oilfield, located in the Campos Basin, in the eastern Brazilian continental margin, using a limited number of wells. The study aimed at understanding the lithological, diagenetic and mechanical controls of fracture distribution and their relationship with faults and salt domes mapped on seismic data. Geometric and kinematic analyses, in addition to structural evolution work carried on during this study, were fundamental to establishing the correlation between fracturing and regional deformation. The importance of a conceptual structural geologic model, especially in cases where it is not possible to perform a 3D numerical model of fractures is highlighted in this work. |
| 2011 | D.E. Bird | And co-author S.A. Hall For their oral paper entitled ‘South Atlantic Kinematics and The Evolution of Tristan da Cuhna Hotspot Tracks‘, presented at the 72nd EAGE Annual Conference, Barcelona, June 2010. The authors documented the relationship between the formation of the Tristan da Cuhna hotspot tracks and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean basin, particularly as continental extension ended and oceanic crust began to form. The presentation could help us understand the role of magma sources and crustal evolution. The authors examined seafloor spreading magnetic anomaly profiles and calculated new reconstruction poles for the South American and African plates and then used the results of a basin-scale 3D density inversion to compare the evolution of the Rio Grande Rise and Walvis Ridge hotspot tracks from ~130 Ma to 10 Ma. |
| 2010 | Laurent Sirgue | And co-authors Olav I. Barkved, Jean-Paul van Gestel, Ole Joran Askim and Jan Henrik Kommedal For their oral paper entitled ‘3D Waveform Inversion on Valhall Wide-azimuth OBC‘, presented at the 71st EAGE Annual Conference, Amsterdam, June 2009 The authors used full waveform inversion of wide azimuth field data from the Valhall Field and were able to extract much higher resolution velocity models than was previously possible. This greatly improves the quality of depth migration, and is itself a valuable interpretation attribute. The paper was judged to be a break-through. |
| 2009 | Michael Warner | And co-authors Ivan Stekl and Adrian Umpleby For their oral paper entitled ‘Efficient and Effective 3D Wavefield Tomography‘, presented at the 70th EAGE Annual Conference, Rome, June 2008. The authors demonstrate 3D wavefield tomography applied to surface-streamer seismic data and obtain a result which appears to remove the distorting effects of shallow high-velocity channels. The methodology is of wide general applicability and the paper was judged to be a break-through. |
| 2008 | Erik Monsen | And co-authors Hilde Borgos, Pierre Le Guern and Lars Sonneland For their oral presentation entitled ‘Geological Process Controlled Interpretation Based on 3D Wheeler Diagram Generation‘, presented at the 69th EAGE Conference & Exhibition in London, UK, 11 to 14 June 2007. The authors describe the automatic generation of interactive 3D Wheeler diagrams to capture the geological context and integrate it into 3D seismic interpretation. The work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2007 | Yu Zhang | And co-authors Sheng Xu and Guanquan Zhang For their oral presentation entitled ‘Imaging Complex Salt Bodies with Turning-Wave One-Way Wave Equation Migration‘, presented at the 68th EAGE Conference & Exhibition in Vienna, Austria, 12 to 15 June 2006. The authors presented a modified version of the one-way wave equation migration that can propagate wavefields to any possible direction, with true amplitude corrections. This enabled properly imaging of turning waves and hence the imaging of complex salt structures. The work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2006 | Karel Maron | And co-authors Stephen Bourne, Krijn Wit and Peter McGillivray For their oral presentation entitled ‘Integrated reservoir surveillance of a heavy oil field in Peace River, Canada‘, presented at the 67th EAGE Conference in Madrid, Spain, 13 to 16 June 2005. Through an extensive reservoir-surveillance programme involving seismic time-lapse, continuous microseismic and surface tilt meter data acquired over several years, the authors were able to advance the understanding of dynamic behaviour of a heavy oil reservoir produced by cyclic steam stimulation. The work led to significant production improvements and has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2005 | Yanghua Wang | And co-author Michael Warner For their oral presentation entitled ‘Fully data-driven and robust techniques for seismic multiple attenuation‘, presented at the 66th EAGE Conference in Paris, France, 7 to 10 June 2004. The authors develop a data-driven concept for predicting multiples without explicit knowledge of surface and sub-surface structure or of the source signature, and a second robust concept for attenuating the predicted multiples without affecting the primaries.The combination of the two innovative concepts is demonstrated to work effectively, promising considerable potential for attenuation of multiple energy in both marine and land environments.The work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2004 | Paul Hague | And co-authors Rob Staples, Toon Weisenborn and Peter Ashton For their paper entitled ‘4D seismic for oil rim monitoring‘, presented at the 65th EAGE Conference in Stavanger, Norway, 2 to 5 June 2003. The authors use time-lapse seismic modelling and real data to unravel the complex and un intuitive response of a moving oil-gas-water triplet, enabling a significant addition to a field’s recoverable reserves. This work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2003 | C.K. Clausen | And co-authors Pascal R. Gauer, James E. Sylte and Laurent Boissé For their paper entitled ‘Building a geological model for a compacting reservoir‘, presented at the 64th EAGE Conference in Florence, Italy, 27 to 30 May 2002. |
| 2002 | M. Bentley | And co-author M. Hartung For their paper entitled ‘A 4D Seismic Surprise at Gannet B and a Way Forward through Seismically-Constrained, Scenario Based Reservoir Modelling‘. |
| 2002 | E.K. Biegert | And co-authors Manik Talwani and Dirk Smit For his presentation on ‘Gravity gradients for de-risking prestack depth migration‘ at the 63rd EAGE Meeting in Amsterdam, 11-15 June 2001. |
| 2001* | R.L. Laws | And co-author E. Kragh For their paper ‘Rough seas and time-lapse seismic‘, presented at the 62nd EAGE Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 29 May – 2 June 2000. |
| 2001* | J. Ashbridge | And co-authors C. Pryce, F. Coutel, M. Welch and M. Ashton For their paper ‘Fault and Fracture Prediction from Coherence Data Analysis, a Case Study – The Magnus Field, UKCS‘, presented at the 62nd EAGE Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 29 May – 2 June 2000. * As from June 2001, all award titles will refer to the year in which they are presented to the winners, and no longer to the year in which the winning poster/paper was presented. |
| 2000 | No recipient selected | |
| 1999 | H. Rognø | And co-authors K. Duffaut, A.-K. Furre and L.B. Kvamme ‘Calibration of Time-lapse Seismic to Well and Production Data – Examples from the Statfjord Field‘ |
| 1999 | K.A. Berteussen | And co-authors J. Langhammer, K. Andreassen, H.I. Sognness and K. Henneberg For their paper ‘Multi-component Sea-bottom Data in Gas Hydrate Exploration‘, presented at the 61st Conference in Helsinki, Finland, 7-11 June 1999. |
| 1998 | G. Cambois | In recognition of his excellent presentation ‘AVO Attributes and Noise-Pitfalls of Crossplotting‘, presented at the 6oth EAGE Conference in Leipzig, Germany, 8-12 June 1998. |
| 1997 | L.A. Thomsen | And co-authors O. I. Barkved, B. Haggard, J.H. Kommedal and B. Rosland For their paper ‘Converted-Wave Imaging of Valhall Reservoir‘, presented at the 59th EAGE Conference in Geneva, 27-30 May 1997. |
| 1997 | J. Hesthammer | And co-author Haakon Fossen ‘Scaling of Deformation Bands and Consequences for Fluid Flow in Sandstone Reservoirs‘ |
| 1996 | M. Bentley | And co-authors D. Bertram, B. van de Leemput and R. Gelling ‘Quantitative Management of Subsurface Uncertainty using Scenarios’ |
| 1995 | Ian R. Sharp | ‘The control of growth folds and transfer zones on syn-rift sequences: Implications of the Sinai Case History for North Sea structural geometries‘. |
| 1994 | F. Schmidt | And co-author L. Tufan Erdogan ‘Paleohydrodynamics in Exploration‘. |
| 1993 | K. Tyler | And co-authors T Svanes, J.B. Jepsen and S. Omdal ‘Use of sequence stratigraphy interpretation and facies architecture in modelling heterogeneities in the Ness Formation of a North Sea Field‘. |
| 1992 | J.R. Underhill | And co-author M. Partington ‘Implications of a Regional Tectonic Control on the Intera-Aalenian (‘Mid-Cimmerian’) Sequence Boundary for North Sea Basin Development, Reservoir Prospectivity and Exxon’s Sea-Level Chart‘. |
| 1991 | J. Espitalié | And co-authors S. Drouet and F. Marquis ‘Experimental determination of the quantities of gas (C1-C5) and gasoline (C6-C15) generated during burial by primary cracking of kerogens – application to the validation of a compositional model in the Brent Formation (North Sea)‘. |
| 1990 | J. Rueckheim | And co-authors D. Leythäuser and K. Bjørlykke ‘Petroleum generation and accumulation in the Northern Rhine Graben and their relationship to reservoir diagenesis‘. |
| 1989 | J.R. Underhill | And co-author M.A. Alberts ‘The effect of Tertiary structuration on Permain gas prospectivity, Cleaver Bank Area, UK Southern North Sea‘. |
Louis Cagniard Award
Award for Best Poster Presentation
The Louis Cagniard Award is presented in recognition of the best poster presentation at the EAGE Annual Conference in the calendar year preceding the Award. The poster presented should be of high scientific standard and should represent a significant contribution to one or more of the disciplines in our Association. The nomination should also take account of the visual impact and the quality of the presentation. Between 1997 and 2002, the Louis Cagniard Award referred to the Best Poster Presentation Award of the Geophysical Division only. The list below incorporates the best poster presentation award recipients of the Norman Falcon Award between 1993 and 2002.
The Louis Cagniard Award 2022 was presented to:
Dieter Werthmüller
And co-author Evert Slob
For their paper Time-Domain CSEM Modelling Using Frequency- and LaplaceDomain Computations.
Past Winners of the Louis Cagniard Award
| Year | Award Winner | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Dieter Werthmüller | And co-author Evert Slob For their paper Time-Domain CSEM Modelling Using Frequency- and LaplaceDomain Computations. The paper addresses the issue of democratizing large-scale modelling of 3-D controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys, which is traditionally a prerogative of large companies and research consortia. Thanks to the advantages of the Python ecosystem and the increased access to increased computing power, the computation of CSEM responses of 3D real-world models has become a reality. The authors focus on speeding up the computation of timedomain responses through a frequency-domain approach, which improves existing methods by performing the computing in the real-valued Laplace domain instead of the complex-valued frequency domain. Such advancement extends the versatility of non-seismic methods to applications that go beyond the exploration of hydrocarbons, including water and geothermal resources, mining, and civil engineering- related project management. |
| 2021 | No recipient selected | |
| 2020 | Andreas Michael | And co-author Ipsita Gupta For their poster ‘Orientation of Hydraulic Fracture Initiation in Poroelastic Media: An Analytical Criterion for Perforated Wellbores‘, presented at the 81st EAGE Conference & Exhibition, London 2019. This work is notable for its significant contribution to the understanding and prediction of hydraulic fracturing behaviour. |
| 2019 | Anton Egorov | And co-authors Andrej Bona, Roman Pevzner, Stanislav Glubokovskikh and Vladimir Puzyrev For their poster ‘A feasibility study of time-lapse FWI on DAS VSP data acquired with permanent sources‘, presented at the 80th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Copenhagen 2018. The authors tackle the problem of detection and monitoring of carbon dioxide storage in the subsurface. In a feasibility study using synthetic data, they show that it is possible to conduct permanent monitoring of injected carbon dioxide using a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) cable in the injection well and a small number of permanently-installed sources. Applying full waveform inversion (FWI) to the time-lapse data allows the movement of the carbon dioxide plume to be tracked, making quantitative interpretation possible within a few hours of data acquisition. They show the applicability of their idea on a full model of the Otway site in Australia. The work is innovative and has enormous potential to help ensure safe carbon dioxide storage. |
| 2018 | Bamshad Nazarian | And co-author Philip Ringrose For their poster ‘Risk Associated with Legacy Wells in CCS and CO2 EOR Projects; a Simulation Study‘, presented at the 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2017, Paris, 12-15 June, Extended Abstracts Th P7 05. The authors of this excellent poster presentation use numerical reservoir simulation from realistic models of saline aquifers & depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs to determine the conditions under which legacy wells will create a risk leakage in large scale CO2 storage and CO2 EOR projects. The simulation study concluded that if Plug and Abandonment (P&A) is carried out on legacy wells the risk of CO2 leakage is negligible. Further, leakage would happen in abandoned wells when the average pressure has increased considerably during CO2 injection. Finally, they found that for infinite-acting reservoirs where the pressure build-up in the reservoir is negligible, CO2 intrusion through existing pass ways provided by legacy wells is limited. |
| 2017 | Ophélie Faÿ-Gomord | And co-authors F. Descamps, B. Caline, S. Vandycke and R. Swennen For their poster ‘Tight chalks – how does microtexture affect petrophysical and geomechanical properties?‘, presented at the 78th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Vienna, 30 May – 2 June 2016, Extended Abstract We P5 01. The authors of this excellent poster presentation use detailed petrographical, poroperm and mechanical property analyses to characterise thirty-five outcrop samples of low-permeability, non-reservoir North Sea chalks representing a broad spectrum in porosity, pore-throat diameter and rock strength. Such chalks may be under-explored reservoirs or may play important roles in hydrocarbon migration and so their microtextures are important to understand. Controlling factors are the non-carbonate content, related to deposition or diagenesis, and the degree of cementation, established from scanning electron-microscope (SEM) observations. These impact pore throat and body size, in turn affecting poroperm properties and rock strength. The analysis suggests that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logging, especially if combined with SEM observations on rock-cuttings, should allow an accurate prediction of the petrographical, petrophysical and possibly geomechanical characteristics of tight chalks penetrated by the drillbit. |
| 2016 | Mojtaba Rajabi | And co-authors Mark Tingay, Oliver Heidbach and Rosalind King For their poster ‘The role of faults and fractures in local and regional perturbation of present-day horizontal stresses – an example from the Clarence-Moreton Basin, Eastern Australia‘, presented at the 77th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Madrid, 1-4 June 2015, Extended Abstract Th P1 12. Stress fields impact borehole stability and hydrofrac design. The Australian plate exhibits an anomalous stress field that is not aligned to the plate motion vector and so Rajabi et al. embarked on an integrated study of acoustic imaging logs, borehole breakouts and drilling-induced fractures from 27 coal-seam gas wells in the Clarence-Moreton basin. While they found a mean direction for the maximum horizontal stress of N68°E, there are significant local variations, both laterally and in depth, which they attribute to the presence of faults, fractures and contrasts in lithology linked to the local geology. The results are significant because they are the first basin-scale stress-map data from this region and the mean direction found is almost orthogonal from that predicted by numerical plate-scale models. Since hydrofrac stimulation is the most common coalseam gas completion, the results will have a major impact on well design and completion in the basin. |
| 2015 | David Connolly | And co-author Julia Kemper and Ian Thomas For their poster ‘Using gas chimney detection to assess hydrocarbon charge and top seal effectiveness – offshore, Namibia‘, presented at the 76th EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Amsterdam, 16-19 June 2014. Seismic data with shallow gas anomalies often display degraded imaging below, posing the question as to whether the deeper section constitutes an active migration pathway or simply poor imaging due to local velocity anomalies. The authors describe a study in deep water, offshore Namibia, in which the goal was to improve understanding of the petroleum system and to identify drilling prospects. Gas chimneys were detected on 3D seismic data using directional seismic attributes and neural networks trained by an interpreter. Interpreted chimneys were tracked to the corresponding gas sources, identifying the source rocks and helping to interpret migration pathways, potential reservoir charging and top seal integrity. The analysis suggests that, in a typical slope-canyon prospect, Middle Cretaceous source rock is providing a hydrocarbon charge to prospective Upper Cretaceous reservoir targets. Up-dip, an overlying gas cloud indicates hydrocarbon saturation in the reservoirs, from where the lighter components are leaking. If the migrating hydrocarbons are a mixed phase, the target reservoirs may be oil prone, an interpretation yet to be tested by a bit. Such a well presented, refutable hypothesis, presented clearly before drilling, is a scientific method at its best and judged well worthy of the Cagniard award. |
| 2014 | Maurizio Ferla | And co-authors Jeroen Jocker, Ferdinanda Pampuri and Erik Wielemaker For their poster ‘Seismic anisotropy characterization in heterogeneous formations using borehole sonic data‘, presented at the 75th EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition, London, 10-13 June 2013. The authors present a new inversion workflow that they successfully applied to determine the transversely isotropic elastic properties of heterogeneous sand-shale sequences using sonic log data, from two wells of differing deviations that were binned according to their petrophysical properties. The results of the workflow have significant practical implications. Synthetics based on the anisotropy-corrected deviated well logs should yield a significantly improved time-vertical depth relation and better well-tie correlations. Additional applications include the use of the inverted anisotropic parameters as inputs into anisotropic seismic velocity models and AVO analysis. |
| 2013 | Sergei Stanchits | And co-authors Aniket Surdi and Roberto Suarez-Rivera For their poster entitled ‘Hydraulic Fracturing of Tight Shale Monitored by Acoustic Emission and Ultrasonic Transmission‘, presented at the 74th EAGE Annual Conference, Copenhagen, 4–7 June 2012. The authors study the effect of fluid viscosity on hydraulic fracture initiation and near-wellbore propagation on block samples of tight shales subjected to representative in-situ effective stress conditions. Firstly, they develop an understanding of the hydraulic fracturing conditions under controlled laboratory experiments and then extend this understanding to field processes. Their results provide a reference for practitioners in this important area to relate the viscosity of an injected fluid to the characteristics of dynamic fracture propagation and geometry. |
| 2012 | Catherine Wasse | And co-authors Philippe Heldens and Joost van der Burgh For their poster entitled ‘NL-onshore – Donkersloot Prospect Example‘, presented at the 73rd EAGE Annual Conference, Vienna, 23–26 May 2011. The poster presents a classic exploration workflow from the Netherlands onshore area. Prospectivity is defined and analysed by systematic and integrated structural mapping, petroleum system analysis and basin modelling, along with reservoir mapping and seismic anomaly modelling. This workflow is a clear and positive example of exploration methodology and prospect de-risking and represents the type of day-to-day activities that many industry based geoscientists would be involved in. As such, it illustrates how knowledge and technology are used to bring exploration prospects forward. The poster and presentation were judged to be of exceptionally high quality and standard. |
| 2011 | J.I. Mars | And co-authors A.A. Khan, V. Vrabie, A. Girard and G. D’Urso For their poster entitled ‘Water Leakage Detection in Dikes by Fiber Optic‘, presented at the 72nd EAGE Annual Conference, Barcelona, June 2010. A method is proposed for the identification of leakages in dikes using the temperature data obtained through fiber optic distributed temperature sensors. The authors showed how it was possible to treat leakage identification as a source separation problem. The sources were considered as defining the response of the ground, the known structures in the path of the fibre sensors (drains), the seasonal variations, precipitation and, of course, the leakages, the last ones were being their desired signals. They showed that with the help of techniques based on data decomposition and source separation (by PCA and ICA techniques), the leakages could be identified. |
| 2010 | Daniel Barker | And co-author Martin Landrø For their poster entitled ‘Controlled source strength variation by changing the firing pressure – A sensitivity study for 4D calibration‘, presented at the 71st EAGE Annual Conference, Amsterdam, June 2009. The authors conducted a modelling study to test a method for calibration of 4D seismic signals by varying the firing pressure of the air gun source. They also showed that the resulting bubble time period should not affect the result. |
| 2009 | Benoit Paternoster | And co-authors Danil Knyazev and Thierry DesVallieres For their poster entitled ‘Robust use of AVO to Geohazard Assessment – South-east Asia Gas Field Case Study‘, presented at the 70th EAGE Annual Conference, Rome June 2008. The authors used an innovative AVO approach incorporating automatic screening of the volume to assess geohazards associated with shallow gas. It cross-validated the AutoGasRisk methodology with geological interpretation. |
| 2008 | Brian Hornby | And co-authors Olav Barkved, Ole Askim, Francis X. Bostick III and Brock Williams Fortheir poster presentation entitled ‘Permanent Fiber-Optic Borehole Seismic Installation and Imaging at Valhall‘, presented at the 69th EAGE Conference & Exhibition in London, UK, 11 to 14 June 2007. The authors describe the first successful installation of a permanent borehole seismic system in an offshore production well. It employs fibre-optic communications and is being used for both active and passive surveys, giving high resolution images up to 400m from the borehole and offering the possibility of time-lapse monitoring of fluid fronts. This work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2007 | Isabel Varela | And co-authors Mosab Nasser, Mark Chapman and Enru Liu For their poster presentation entitled ‘Anisotropic Azimuthal Attenuation as an Indicator of Fracture Properties, a Case Study on Time-Lapse Walkaround VSP Data‘, presented at the 68th EAGE Conference & Exhibition in Vienna, Austria, 12 to 15 June 2006. The authors characterized fractures by analyzing a time lapse walkaround, multilevel VSP data set from a carbonate field in Oman with a long history of steam injection and production. They compared changes in traveltime and attenuation in response to fracture orientation. This work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2006 | Stéphane Operto | And co-authors Jean-Xavier Dessa and Jean Virieux For their poster presentation entitled ‘Crustal seismic imaging from ocean bottom seismometer data by full waveform tomography‘, presented at the 67th EAGE Conference in Madrid, Spain, 13 to 16 June 2005. The authors presented the first 2D full waveform inversion of dense real OBS data to generate deep images of a subduction system. Using parallel direct factorization for solving the frequency-domain visco-acoustic wave equation, they were able to image major thrusts at depths between 5 km and 15 km. The methodology offered impressive efficiency gains and has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2005 | Brad Artman | And co-authors Deyan Draganov, Kees Wapenaar and Biondo Biondi For their poster presentation entitled ‘Direct migration of passive seismic data‘, presented at the 66th EAGE Conference in Paris, France, 7 to 10 June 2004. Through a formulation that relates transmission response to the reflection response for passive seismic data in a general 3D heterogeneous medium, the authors develop a methodology for calculating the reflection response and are then able to apply many of the conventional reflection techniques and to carry out various processes for preparing and enhancing the data and performing efficient migration for imaging the subsurface.This work opens the possibility of the development of more advanced imaging conditions and has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2004 | Alexander Goetz | And co-authors Christof Müller, Stefan Buske and Stefan Lueth For their poster entitled ‘Fresnel-volume multicomponent migration‘, presented at the 65th EAGE Conference in Stavanger, Norway, 2 to 5 June 2003. The authors introduce a new and efficient method of Kirchhoff depth migration of multicomponent seismic data based on the polarisation angle. The formulation also enables the method to resolve spatial ambiguity in cases of restricted recording geometry. This work has been judged to represent a major breakthrough. |
| 2003 | A.J. Buckingham | And co-authors Michael C. Dentith and Ron L For their poster entitled ‘Texture and shape measures for magnetic image retrieval‘, presented at the 64th EAGE Conference in Florence, Italy, 27 to 30 May 2002. |
| 2002 | P. Herrmann | And co-author Guillaume Cambois For their poster ‘Statistically Correlated AVO Attributes‘, presented at the 63rd EAGE Conference in Amsterdam, June 2001. |
| 2002 | L. Pikulski | And co-authors Tadeusz Wolnowski and Jolanta Zielinska-Pikulska For their poster entitled ‘Study in the development of main dolomite (Ca2) in Western Poland in the aspect of hydrocarbons search‘, presented at the 63rd EAGE Conference, Amsterdam, Jun 2001. |
| 2001* | B.A. Smith | And co-authors N.J. Ventzel, L. Berg and O. Sandvin For their poster ‘3D VSP Imaging – Filling in the Ekofisk ‘Gas Hole’‘, presented at the 62nd EAGE Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 29 May – 2 June 2000. |
| 2001* | J. Marsky | And co-authors J.P. Barde, P. Chamberlain, P. Gralla, J. Harwijanto and T. Schröter For their poster ‘Explaining a Complex HC System in the Permotriassic of the Pericaspian Basins by integrating of independent models‘, presented at the 62nd EAGE Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 29 May – 2 June 2000. |
| 2001* | J. Wonham | Special Mention of the Falcon Award And co-authors François Lafont and Frederic Walgenwitz For their core display and poster ‘The Franklin Field‘, presented at the 62nd EAGE Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, 29 May – 2 June 2000. * As from June 2001, all award titles will refer to the year in which they are presented to the winners, and no longer to the year in which the winning poster/paper was presented. |
| 2000 | No recipient selected | |
| 1999 | E. Causse | And co-authors G. Haugen and B. Rommel For their poster ‘Large Offset Approximation to Seismic Reflection Travel Times‘, presented at the 61st EAGE Conference in Helsinki, Finland, 7-11 June 1999. |
| And co-authors B. Doligez, I. Clement, G. Desaubliaux, R. Eschard, D. Granjeon and F. Lafont ‘Geostatistical Modelling of Eolian and Fluvial Reservoirs (Cutler Fm., Permian, Utah)’ |
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| 1998 | J. Carcione | And co-author U. Tinivella For their poster ‘Acoustic Properties and AVO of Bottom Simulating Reflectors Associated with Gas-Hydrates‘, presented at the 60th EAGE Conference in Leipzig, Germany, 8-12 June 1998. |
| 1998 | I. Csató | And co-author T. Földes ‘Halokinetic Structures and Hydrocarbon Plays – Examples from the Middle East‘ |
| 1997 | J. Carcione | And co-author G. Seriani For their poster ‘Seismic Velocities in Permafrost‘, presented at the 59th EAGE Conference in Geneva, 27-30 May 1997. |
| 1997 | H. El Euchi | And co-authors A. Gaaya, F. Hamouda and F. Mejri ‘Northern Tunisia – A Promising Petroleum Province Despite Its Early Stage of Exploration, Structural Styles and Hydrocarbon Habitat‘ |
| 1996 | P. Dunlop | And co-author P. Corbett ‘Well Test Modelling in a Multistorey Fluvial Channel‘ |
| 1995 | P. Gralla | And co-author C. Visser ‘Evaporites – The key to chronostratigraphic subdivision of the Southern Rotleigend Basin‘ |
| 1994 | R. Young | And co-author E. Kvadsheim ‘Basin Modelling across the Froya High, Mid Norway’ |
| 1993 | N.M. Mcclure | And co-authors D.W. Wilkinson, D.P. Frost and G.W. Geehan ‘Geotechnical planning of extended reach wells – Wytch Farm Dorset‘ |
