27 September 2023 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. (CDT)
Accurate subsurface imaging forms a critical part of all exploration and production projects with seismic acquisition being the most common method utilized on traditional energy projects. Seismic data is also beginning to provide significant value for emerging clean energy projects where it can be used for everything from geothermal well place, the tracking of lithium brines, identification of critical mineral deposits, wind farm placement, and for delineation and monitoring of CO2 plumes on carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
Traditional high-resolution seismic programs often require the movement of large amounts of equipment and regularly require the preparation (e.g., plowing/flattening for Vibroseis) or clearing (e.g., tree cutting in forested regions for drill/recording equipment access) of seismic lines for safe equipment deployment. As we focus on reducing GHG emissions via alternative energy sources and CCS, we also need to focus on preserving biodiversity.
New innovative seismic acquisition methods can help achieve both these goals, but it is important to ensure that any new method proposed is fully validated for use throughout the full geophysical lifecycle, which includes seismic acquisition, processing, interpretation, and quantitative analyses such as inversion. In this presentation, I will show results from EcoSeis, which can provide a 50% reduction in land footprint while maintaining subsurface data quality and enabling safe and efficient field operations (Naghizadeh et al, 2023). This project involved collaborative research and development with contributions from multiple producers, service providers, innovators, and funders. For further information, please see the recent SEG TLE publication: EcoSeis: A novel acquisition method for optimizing seismic resolution while minimizing environmental footprint (optiseis.com).
Speaker Bio
Andrea Crook
Andrea Crook, is the co-founder & CEO of OptiSeis Solutions Ltd., where she leads a team focused on innovation and operational excellence and has helped develop EcoSeis, a method for achieving a 50% land footprint reduction while safely acquiring high-quality subsurface data. At OptiSeis, she oversees advancements in geophysical research, seismic acquisition design, operations, processing QC, and interpretation services, as well as software development.
Andrea’s extensive geophysical experience in seismic processing and geophysical operations was established at Shell Canada and Boyd PetroSearch. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B.Sc. Honors in geophysics and continues to engage academically by acting as an instructor for the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, as well as actively contributing to the field of geophysics with numerous award-winning papers and presentations. Andrea is the recipient of the 2019 Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists Technical Achievement Award and is the Society’s 2023 Symposium Honoree. She is on the Board of Directors for the Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.