About
7–9 June 2022
Austin, Texas, USA
Workshop Objective
The 6th workshop in the popular injection induced seismicity workshop series hosted by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is scheduled for 7–9 June 2022 in Austin, Texas. Since the first workshop held in 2012, significant advancements have been made particularly in extensive seismic monitoring efforts as well as fundamental understanding of causal relations to both disposal wells and hydraulic fracturing operations.
Over the last decade, research efforts have advanced the scientific understanding in many areas, yet the issue of injection induced seismicity has continued to expand globally and particularly in North America. Enhanced seismic monitoring and state-of-the-art processing have expanded to provide detailed and high-resolution mapping of seismogenic faults, providing critical observations of how injection and hydraulic fracturing interact with susceptible structures. Regulations have been introduced in several regions to mitigate induced seismicity risks, which appear to have successfully curtailed seismicity in certain cases most notably associated with disposal into the Arbuckle formation in Oklahoma, and the Ellenburger formation in the Fort-Worth Basin. Industry has expanded use of seismic monitoring and developed operational protocols and recommended practices to mitigate the impacts of anomalous seismicity.
The workshop will highlight success and ongoing challenges associated with injection induced seismicity, through shared experiences of practitioners including researchers, regulators and government agencies, along with industry experts. The organizers welcome a cross-disciplinary stakeholder group and look forward to stimulating discussions on the next phase in this ongoing induced seismicity saga. Sessions will feature invited presentations covering recent case studies, research highlights and regulatory successes and challenges. The workshop format will be a combination of formal presentations and panel discussions, along with interactive poster and breakout sessions to encourage participant interaction. Topical poster submissions will also be considered.
Featured speakers include keynote presentations by Mark Zoback (Stanford); Aaron Velasco (University of Texas El Paso; State Seismologist, Railroad Commission of Texas); and Jim Wright (Commissioner Texas Railroad Commission).
Organizing Committee
- Hannah Chittenden-Diamondback
- Cody Comiskey-Chevron, Co-Chair
- William Ellsworth-Stanford
- Michelle Gaucher-BC Oil & Gas Canada
- Shawn Maxwell-Ovintiv, Co-Chair
- Steve Willson-Apache Corporation
Venue
Courtyard by Marriott Residence Inn
Austin Downtown/Convention Center
300 East 4th Street
Austin, Texas
For more information, please email Debbie Mitchell (SEG) ([email protected]).
Attend
Registration Rates
SPE members, contact Debbie Mitchell, Meeting Planner, [email protected] to register at the member rate and receive payment instructions.
Registration Categories
Early Bird through 6 May 2022:
US$450 (SEG and SPE members) | US$600 (non-member) | US$250 (student)
Regular pricing after 7 May 2022:
US$550 (SEG and SPE members) | US$650 (non-member) | US$300 (student)
Workshop Location
Courtyard by Marriott Austin Downtown | Convention Center
300 East 4th Street
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 236-8008
Room rate US$159.00 based on hotel availability, plus 17% hotel tax.
Book online or call +1 (512) 691-9226
Reservation due date: 17 May 2022
Parking
Limited valet parking is available at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 300 E 4th St, for US$52/day.
Nearby public parking garages:
Parking Garage for E 2nd and San Jacinto
201 E 2nd St. (.2 miles)
401-499 E 4th St. (.1 mile)
301 Congress Ave. (.2 miles)
100-198 E 5th St. (.3 miles)
Hotels within Walking Distance
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown–University
805 Neches St.
Austin, Texas 78701
10 min walk/.4 mi
Room rate US$220
Book Online or call 512-474-8600
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
700 San Jacinto at 8th St.
Austin, Texas 78701
9 min walk/.4 mi
Room rate US$339
Book Online or call 512-476-3700
The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel
701 Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas 78701
9 min walk/.4 mi
Room rate US$512
Book Online or call 512-457-8800
The LINE Austin
111 East Cesar Chavez St.
Austin, Texas 78701
7 min walk/ .3 mi
Room rate US$499
Book Online or call 512-478-9611
Hotels within Driving Distance
Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake
20 N Interstate Hwy 35
Austin, Texas 78701
1.4 miles/4 min drive
Room rate US$245
Book Online or call 512-472-8211
Embassy Suites by Hilton Austin Central
5901 N Interstate Hwy 35
Austin, Texas 78723
4.8 miles/9 min drive
Room rate US$144
Book Online or call 512-454-8004
Hotel San Jose
1316 S Congress Ave.
Austin, Texas 78704
1.3 miles/5 min drive
Room rate US$374
Book Online or call 512-444-7322
Hotel Indigo Austin Downtown–University, an IHG Hotel
810 Red River St.
Austin, Texas 78701
.5 miles/3 min drive
Room rate US$312
Book Online or call 877-846-3446
Extended Stay America–Austin–Downtown–Town Lake
507 S 1st St.
Austin, Texas 78704
1 mile/5 min
Room rate US$120
Book Online or call 512-476-1818
Moxy Austin-University
2552 Guadalupe St.
Austin, Texas 78705
2 miles/9 min
Room rate US$219
Book Online or call 737-471-2621
Hotel Granduca Austin
320 S Capital of Texas Hwy
West Lake Hills, TX 78746
9.3 miles/18 min drive
Room rate US$263.00
Book Online or call 512-306-6400
Browse the Downtown Austin Hotels page, HERE, which includes a digital map for your reference.
Call for Abstracts
Session Topics
The committee invites submissions on related topics for interactive presentation during a poster session. The intent is to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing with participants through an engaging technical session. Submissions on all related topics are encouraged, including: case studies of seismicity induced by various operations (CCS, geothermal and mining for example) with an emphasis on fundamental mechanisms, risk assessment and mitigation efforts. Poster space is limited but the committee’s hope is to be able to accommodate all submissions.
Abstract Format
Abstracts should be a maximum of one page, text plus one figure. Abstracts should be on 8.5 x 11 inch paper size, text in Roman font, and include both text and figures. Abstracts will not be published, but will be used as a basis for accepting poster presentations.
Keynote Speakers
Mark D. Zoback
Dr. Mark D. Zoback is the Benjamin M. Page Professor of Geophysics, Emeritus at Stanford University, where he was also the Director of the Stanford Natural Gas Initiative and Co-Director of the Stanford Center for Induced and Triggered Seismicity and the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage and Senior Fellow in the Precourt Institute for Energy. Dr. Zoback conducts research on in situ stress, fault mechanics, and reservoir geomechanics with an emphasis on shale gas, tight gas and tight oil production as well as CO2 sequestration. Dr. Zoback served on the Secretary of Energy Subcommittee on shale gas development and the National Academy of Engineering Committee that investigated the Deepwater Horizon accident. He is the author of two textbooks and the author/co-author of about 400 technical papers. His most recent book, Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics, was written with Arjun Kohli, and published in 2019 by Cambridge University Press. His online course, Reservoir Geomechanics, has been completed by over 10,000 people around the world. Dr. Zoback has received a number of awards and honors including election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2011 and the Robert R. Berg Outstanding Research Award of the AAPG in 2015. He was the 2020 chair of the Society of Petroleum Engineers Technical Committee on Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage and 2021 Honorary Lecturer for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
Aaron Velasco
Over his career, Aaron Velasco, PhD, has been fortunate to be able conduct a variety of seismological and interdisciplinary research studies, including earthquake source modeling, seismotectonics, earthquake hazards, earthquake interactions, 3-D Earth modeling, and nuclear treaty monitoring research (seismic event detection, location, and discrimination). Dr. Velasco current projects include: determining 3-D Earth structure from analysis of multiple data sets in Colombia; exploring techniques for joint inversion; studying aftershocks of large earthquakes in Nepal and Mexico; studying volcanic structure in the East African Rift System in Kenya; studying local earthquakes in the El Paso, TX region; and understanding the link between earthquakes, in particular, the mechanisms for dynamic triggering. Dr. Velasco also has projects that focus on educational aspects of science, including programs that fund early geoscience undergraduates to promote diversity in the geosciences. He also currently serve the State of Texas as the State Seismologist, which merges his technical expertise with science policy.
Jim Wright
Jim Wright is a life-long south Texan, and a fifth-generation Texas rancher. As such, he understands the important relationship the energy industry has with the state and its ability to revitalize and rejuvenate the economy.
He was elected to the Railroad Commission in November 2020.
Wright is no stranger to the energy industry; his first job was at a hazardous waste facility when he was 19. It was there that he began building his understanding and knowledge of the energy sector.
Since then, he has successfully used his hands-on experience to create a group of environmental services companies that service the energy industry.
As a commissioner, Wright is committed to fighting for fair standards to allow compliant companies to keep operating and growing the economy, while cracking down on those who skirt the law.
He understands that the Commission must evolve, and believes that can be done by bringing more people to the table, including stakeholders and the public to fully inform the Commission. This will ensure consistent regulation of the energy sector, improved transparency, and stronger ethics standards.
Wright is a Texan through and through. He was in the national finals of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) when he attended Calallen High School in Corpus Christi. He rode bulls competitively for more than 20 years and was a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA).
He believes in public service and giving back to the community. He has served on the board for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Coastal Bend and the Robstown Area Development Commission.
A devout Christian, Wright attends many of Texas’ Cowboy Churches, where his son, Luke, is a well-known speaker. He and his wife, Sherry, live in Orange Grove and have five children.
Technical Program
Download detailed Technical Program
TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2022
1:30–6:30 p.m.
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
Workshop Chairs Shawn Maxwell, Ovintiv and Cody Comiskey, Chevron
SESSION 1: INJECTION INDUCED SEISMICITY UPDATE
- Mark Zoback, Stanford
- Aaron Velasco, UTEP/Tx RRC
- Jim Wright, Tx RRC
SESSION 2: RESEARCH UPDATE
- Peter Hennings, UT CISR
- David Eaton, UofC
- Ryan Schultz, Stanford
ICE BREAKER AND RECEPTION
WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 2022
8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
SESSION 3: REGULATORY CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES PANEL
- Paul Dubois, Tx RRC
- Stu Venables, BCOGC
- Todd Shipman, AER
- Jim Gonsiewski, ODNR
- Adrienne Sandoval, OCD
- Colin Brooks, OCC
SESSION 4: CASE STUDIES
- Katie Smye, CISR
- Jamie Rich, Coterra
- Amanda Greig, Ovintiv
- Stefan Hussenoeder, XOM
SESSION 5: BREAKOUT TOPICS AND REPORTS
SESSION 6: POSTERS
THURSDAY 9 JUNE 2022
8:00 a.m–12:00 p.m.
SESSION 7: DATA AVAILABILITY PANEL
- Alexandros Savvaidis, TexNet
- Colin Brooks, OCC
- Heather DeShon, Southern Methodist University
- Justin Rubenstein, USGS
SESSION 8: WAY FORWARD PANEL
- Mike Brudzinski, Miami U
- Stu Venables, BCOGC
- Brian Bohm, Apache
CLOSING REMARKS