Ken Tubman

Ken Tubman has been a member of SEG since 1979. He has volunteered with SEG in multiple ways such as volunteering on committees, editing, and working on the SEAM Board. Most recently he served on the SEG Board as a Director at Large from 2018 to 2020. He is also an SEG Foundation Trustee Associate. His current volunteering with SEG includes the Digital Transformation Trask Force and the Annual Meeting Task Force (as well as leading a sub task force.) 

Tubman has spent more than 35 years in the energy industry. He current serves as chairman of the board of directors of SAExploration, a leading seismic acquisition company. He has held senior positions within ConocoPhillips (including vice president geoscience and reservoir engineering, vice president subsurface), Veritas DGC (senior vice president Veritas Hampson Russell, vice president geoservices), and Marathon Oil (vice president technical innovation.) He started his career with ARCO and has held various technical and management positions in the central functions and business units. A common thread though most of his career is involvement in technology delivery and development. 

Tubman holds a PhD in geophysics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Massachusetts. 

Position Statement
I have been a member of SEG for more than 40 years. That emphasizes the honor I feel at the nomination to be considered for SEG President. Over those years, I have volunteered on multiple committees; however, it was my recent term as a Director at Large that gave me a much stronger appreciation for the Society, the value it provides, and the challenges we face. As an organization with significant connections to the oil and gas industry, SEG both benefits and faces challenges as that industry changes. One approach to deal with this change is for us to be more creative and flexible in responding. Another is for us to position differently, broadening beyond just a single industry focus. We need to use both approaches to position our Society for the future. 

We have always had geophysical applications in other areas. The Near Surface Technical Section is one good example. That and other focus areas — such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage and medical applications — need to strengthen, deepen, and expand. These need to play stronger roles in our future. 

We need to strengthen our offerings in a number of ways appropriate for today’s environment. We can offer more than just meetings and publications. We can provide a strong community that gives our stakeholders access to knowledge, services, technology, and exchange of ideas. We need better representation across those stakeholders (technical and business) to be sure the community delivers its full potential. Inclusion across the spectrum and collaboration with other societies will make us stronger.

Joseph M. Reilly

Joseph M. Reilly received a bachelor’s degree (1977) from the University of Rochester, New York, a master’s degree (1980) from Virginia Tech, and is a licensed geophysicist in the State of Texas. His first professional employment was working under Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission contracts performing subsurface investigations for geothermal energy and nuclear waste disposal. In 1980 he joined Mobil Exploration and Producing Services Inc. in Dallas. He has worked on exploration, development, and producing projects throughout the world, continuously adapting to the norms and culture of those host societies. He is the author/coauthor of several hundred technical presentations and published papers. 

During 2000–2005 he managed ExxonMobil’s Geophysical Processing, and Geophysical Applications groups. From 2005 to 2008 he was manager of Integrated Seismic Research at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company where he led the effort to launch the Breakthrough program that has since come to be recognized as full-waveform inversion. Following that he served as chief research geoscientist for ExxonMobil Upstream Research until his recent retirement in 2021. 

He has served SEG in many capacities: technical cochair of the 1996 SEG/HAGI Conference, a decade on the board of directors of the International Petroleum Technology Conference (an SEG/SPE/AAPG/EAGE corporation) including a term as chairman, SEG Technical Committee chair and 2012 Technical Program chair for the Offshore Technology Conference, and three terms as chair of the SEG Bylaws Committee. Finally, he has served as SEG conference paper reviewer and moderator for many years. In 2011, he was awarded Life Membership in SEG. 

Position Statement
I open by saying what an honor it is to be nominated to run for the office of Second Vice President. As all are fully aware, numerous circumstances are occurring simultaneously that either threaten or provide new opportunities for SEG to deliver on its strategic pillars of Innovation, Digitalization, Preservation, Collaboration, Representation, and Contribution. SEG is designed as a member-driven society; success in achieving our goals will undoubtedly require the combined energy of the elected Board, Council, committees, and global membership working closely with staff, our sister societies, and potentially new partners. What I can offer as a candidate for the Board is 41 years of industry experience and the global acquaintances and insight gained over those years. I would highlight two decades of experience in joint society activities working directly with their management, staff, and elected officers. Strategic decisions made in our joint activities have the potential to advance, or hinder, the technical, societal, and financial goals of SEG. I also have been directly engaged for the past several years in the challenges of natural and anthropogenic geohazards and carbon capture, utilization, and storage. I feel that I can add to the upcoming Board’s experience base in these evolving areas.

Jeffrey Shragge

Jeffrey Shragge is an associate professor in the geophysics department at the Colorado School of Mines, a coprincipal investigator of the Center for Wave Phenomena, and a leader of the Mines Humanitarian Engineering and Science program. Previously, he held the Woodside Professorship in computational geosciences at the University of Western Australia. Shragge is a member of SEG, the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the American Geophysical Union. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics (Queen’s University), a master’s degree in geophysics (University of British Columbia), and a PhD in geophysics (Stanford University). Shragge was a 2010 recipient of SEG’s J. Clarence Karcher Award. 

Over the past two decades, Shragge has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, with a majority appearing in Geophysics, and more than 75 expanded abstracts and conference proceedings. His research focuses on computational seismology, with an emphasis on 3D/4D acoustic and elastic modeling, imaging, and inversion algorithms as well as GPU computing. He is also an active researcher in near-surface and humanitarian applications of geophysics. 

Shragge is serving as the editor-in-chief of Geophysics and the chair of the Geophysics Editorial Board until 31 July 2021. Previously, he was an assistant editor (2013–2019) and associate editor (2009–2013) of Geophysics. Shragge also served on the SEG Publications Committee (2018–present), the Committee on University and Student Programs (2008–2020; Chair 2015–2018), the Field Camps Committee (2014–2018; Chair 2016–2018), the Travel Grants Committee (2010–2014; Chair 2012–2014), and has contributed to many other SEG committees. 

Position Statement
Over the previous few years, the field of applied geophysics has undergone significant and rapid changes due to prevailing conditions in the oil and gas sector and experienced a growing emphasis on geophysical technologies associated with handling issues related to climate change and how humans interact with our environment. As the leading society of applied geophysicists, SEG has a responsibility to continue documenting advances in the geophysical theory and practice of resource extraction and management, as well as to promote the development of novel technologies tuned to the needs of emerging domains of application. The Publications Portfolio must continue to develop and refine forward-looking publication strategies that maintain our position at the forefront of applied geophysics research. To these ends, I would support initiatives aimed at

• Developing a new open access (OA) journal, especially for authors facing OA mandates from funding sources
• Improving the disseminating speed of research articles to address increasing competition from preprint servers
• Providing a modern pathway for online publication of reproducible software and numerical experiments tied to research publications
• Improving diversity and inclusion within the Publication Portfolio, especially in regard to editorial board membership
• Supporting the Board’s efforts toward ensuring a financially sustainable Publications Portfolio

Ana Curcio

Ana Curcio simultaneously earned her degrees in physics from the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences and in engineering plus a master’s degree in geodesy-geophysical engineering from the Faculty of Engineering at Buenos Aires University, where she also developed her PhD. She is oil and gas production specialist at Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires. 

Curcio is chair of the SEG Latin America Regional Advisory Committee, District 6 Representative, SEG Annual Meeting reviewer, and organizer of SEG Annual Meeting Business of Applied Geophysics sessions. She served as global cochair of the 2019 SEG Annual Meeting and SEG Council representative. Curcio is treasurer of the Asociación Argentina de Geólogos y Geofísicos Petroleros and is an International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy division VI committee member. 

Curcio worked for Schlumberger Brazil in hydraulic fracturing. Her exploration geophysicist position at PanAmerican Energy allowed her to develop skills in seismic interpretation (onshore, offshore, and deep targets) and unconventional reservoirs. At Petrobras, she led microseismic operations, anisotropy studies with vertical seismic profiling, pore pressure studies, and their integration with seismic and geomechanics. Her international consultancy activity is on electromagnetic methods, covering the entire scope of the technology spectrum. She reached leadership level and is proficient in supervising a field crew operationally and technically. She is also a postgraduate professor, lithium geosciences and technology, at UNLP-UNJ. 

Currently, Curcio is geophysical advisor for lithium/hydrocarbon exploration projects that include multiphysics prospecting. Her main area of interest is the integration of seismic and electromagnetics; applications for reservoir monitoring and hydraulic fracturing; elastic and electrical anisotropy; multiphysics integration; and lithium and rare elements exploration. 

Curcio is motivated to work on improving cultural and ethnic diversity. In addition to Spanish and English, she communicates in Portuguese and Chinese. 

Position Statement
As SEG Director at Large, based in the roles of the position, my commitment will be:

1. Connecting the world of applied geophysics. I will contribute by detecting the technical gaps and necessities in different regions and promoting a network based on cultural and ethnical diversity. Here, interaction with District Representatives and Regional Advisory Committees is crucial.
2. Inspiring student and young professional engagement. I will continue with the construction of a bridge between the new generation of young geophysicists and expert/retired geophysicists, encouraging them to inspire each other.
3. Constructing a bridge between academia and industry.
4. Energy transition. Promote education and opportunities for geoscientists.
5. Growing the business. This will be a result of all actions described in 1–4.
6. Gender equality: Continue supporting awareness of the value of a diverse workforce in the profession. Listen to women’s voices and thoughts, but also listen to men’s voices and thoughts, educating each other in professional coexistence. 

Some of these are extensions of the model I promoted as chair of the Latin America Regional Advisory Committee.

Olga I. Nedorub

Olga Nedorub is a geophysicist at APA Corporation working the Permian Basin and Gulf Coast. She focuses on geophysical data analysis and integration for conventional and unconventional field development, waterflood optimization, and regional studies.

Nedorub has been an involved SEG member for more than 10 years. She chaired local Unconventional Resources Technology Conference workshops and served on the SEG Council as well as the Finance, Distinguished Lecture, Translations, Emerging Professionals International, EVOLVE, and Membership committees. Serving as the Technical Program Committee chair during 2020 was the most challenging, rewarding, and impactful position Nedorub has held. It enabled her to be a part of the first entirely digital Annual Meeting in SEG’s 90-year history. Nedorub’s understanding of many of the interlocking components of the SEG organization and her work alongside experts across various disciplines have allowed her to see challenges and contribute to SEG’s constant improvement.

Nedorub served as 2018–2019 president of the Permian Basin Geophysical Society. She believes that a thriving local presence and meaningful activities are crucial for a strong global organization.

Nedorub earned a degree in materials engineering and design from the Taganrog State University of Radio Engineering (Russia), a bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of South Florida, and a master’s degree in geoscience from the University of South Carolina.

Outside of the geoscience world, Olga is an accomplished artist and is experienced in fundraising for large public art projects around Midland, Texas.

Position Statement
I take “exploration” in the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in its broadest definition of “the action of traveling through an unfamiliar area for the purpose of discovery of information or resources.” Like adventurers, for 90 years SEG members pushed the limits of the known. I am honored to be nominated to run for the position of Director at Large. If elected, I will work alongside my colleagues on the following three key components to ensure the longevity of the SEG:

• The global demand for geophysicists in all socioeconomic sectors is the foundation of a successful society. “Why do I need to hire a geophysicist?” is the priority question that SEG can address through education and public outreach. Geophysicists with steady employment form a strong membership base.
• “Why do I want to join SEG?” is the second question for SEG to address by improving its resources, training, networking opportunities, collaboration between business and academia, and value provided to communities. Geophysicists with an interest and purpose form a strong membership base.
• “What can we do better to support all applied geoscience professionals in all parts of the world, from our roots in the oil and gas industry to the emerging sectors?” By addressing this question, SEG solidifies its position as a trusted source for all energy and applied geoscience questions. Geophysicists across the world form the SEG.

Allen Bertagne grew up in the oil business, spending his early years in Venezuela, Libya, and the UK. Upon completing a Bachelor’s in Geology at Imperial College, and a Master’s at UT Austin under Milo Backus, he embarked on an exciting career, working at Exxon, CGG, PGS, and Shell and currently running BRT Energy Advisors. 

Allen's parallel “SEG career” began in 1995 when he joined the TLE Editorial Board, becoming chair two years later. During that time, he led a series of changes including establishing Interpreter’s Corner and updating of the look, feel, and structure of the publication. Following this, he served for two years as SEG representative to GeoArabia, a leading geoscience journal focused on the Middle East. 

He next served as First Vice President on the 2000-2001 Executive Committee, led by Ms. Sally Zinke, and worked closely with the other Executive Committee members on developing the first-ever SEG Strategic Plan. 

In December 2017, Allen was asked to be Technical Coordinator of the SEG EVOLVE Program, allowing him to create a comprehensive 5-month virtual internship for students. Since then, more than 400 students from over 40 countries have participated in EVOLVE, resulting in his excellent personal rapport with the next generation of geophysicists. 

During this time, he also served two 2-year terms as Council Representative of District 1 (Houston), participating actively in the important discussions taking place in that forum.  

Position Statement
Council Representatives are selected by SEG members from around the world and as such represent the total membership of the SEG. The Council is therefore an integral part of the Governance of the SEG. 

If elected Chair of the Council, I will use my in-depth knowledge of the Society, global experience, and organizational skills to help ensure that the voices of SEG Members from around the world are expressed through the Council and their views taken into account in SEG’s future plans, decisions, and public messaging. 

I want to thank my two highly-qualified colleagues who have also agreed to stand as Chair of the Council candidates at this important moment in SEG’s history. I am confident that the next Chair will help ensure that the Society advances in the right direction while staying true to our core Mission of being the leading international professional society in applied geophysics.