Issue 2

This edition of GEO ExPro is focused on North America; Rejuvenating Exploration; Machine Learning and AI; and Geomechanics.

Download PDF

Columns

5 Editorial

6 Regional Update

8 Licensing Update

10 A Minute to Read

46 Technology Explained: Data, the Cloud and Me

56 Reservoir Management: Counting the Cost

58 Hot Spot: Global Bid for Successful Rounds

64 GEO Profile: Big Data Crowns a Career

72 GEO Media: Oil Wealth and the Osage Murders

74 Exploration Update

76 Q&A: Time for a Hackathon!

Features

14 GEO Tourism: Canada’s Ocean Playground

20 Technology Explained: Strong Foundations, Deep Integration, Infinite Possibilities

24 Industry Issues: Collaborating for MER

28 Seismic Foldout: Santos Vision

34 GEO Education: Basin Classification

40 Recent Advances in Technology: From Arrhenius to CO2 Storage – Part I

50 Seismic Foldout: What Lies Beneath the East Palawan Basin?

60 Technology Explained: Pie in the Sky?

68 Reservoir Management: An Introduction to Geomechanics

Articles

Recent Advances in Climate Change Research: Part I – Blackbody Radiation and Milankovic Cycles

Geoscience will probably play an important role in mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. In part one of this series, we discuss some history and physics behind the topic of climate change Read More

Subsurface Characteristics of the Eagle Ford Shale Play

What subsurface characteristics say about non-core upside and the limitations of the Eagle Ford shale play in Texas. The Eagle Ford is an attractive play with ample remaining drilling locations Read More

AAPG ACE 2019 – A Sustainable Future in Petroleum Energy

The AAPG ACE 2019 in San Antonio focused on sustainable petroleum development and the need to maximise recovery while minimising our carbon footprint on present and future generations. This conference Read More

Exploring the Spectacular Geology of Nova Scotia

Now known as Canada’s Ocean Playground, Nova Scotia is jam packed with geological vistas and has long been recognised by geologists as a showcase of Earth’s history. Base map showing Read More

Maximizing Economic Recovery in the Outer Moray Firth

Maximizing Economic Recovery of remaining oil and gas reserves in the Outer Moray Firth through a Special Interest Group. Location of Outer Moray Firth. The Outer Moray Firth (OMF) Read More

Fun in the Sun for Club Med Upstream Oil and Gas Operators

In total, E&P operators have been able to unearth over 1.5 Bboe offshore gas resources in the East Mediterranean Sea Basin. Discovered conventional gas resources in the East Mediterranean region Read More

Following the Shale Gale

Reduced costs mean tight oil is now the second cheapest source of new oil volumes globally. A drill rig in the Fayetteville shale gas play, Arkansas. © Bill Cunningham, USGS. Read More

Rejuvenated Seismic Reveals Flex Trend Plays in Gulf of Mexico

Modern broadband imaging technology has rejuvenated legacy data in the Gulf of Mexico to delineate plays above and below the salt and improve imaging of known subsalt fields, enabling exploration Read More

Oil Wealth and the Osage Murders

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by American journalist David Grann Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth Read More

Assessing Anadarko’s Permian Acreage

Wood Mackenzie assess Anadarko’s Permian acreage and discuss the prize that Oxy has its eyes on. In April 2019, Chevron Corporation and Occidental Petroleum both made bids to acquire Anadarko Read More

Artificial Intelligence and Seismic Interpretation

The key to all seismic interpretation is the interpreter’s experience and knowledge, so why should artificial intelligence change that? The reality is, it shouldn’t. Figure 1: Exmouth Basin section with Read More

An Introduction to Geomechanics

Geomechanics is the study of how subsurface rocks deform or fail in response to changes of stress, pressure and temperature and it is becoming increasingly important in oil and gas Read More

A Minute to Read: Oil and Gas News from Around the World

Taken from GEO ExPro Vol. 16, No. 2: focusing on rejuvenating oil and gas exploration; machine learning and artificial intelligence; and geomechanics. Taken from GEO ExPro Vol. 16, No. 2 Read More

Santos vision: innovative seismic data processing in a super giant oil basin

Figure 1: Structural map of the top of salt encompassing the 34,000 km2 of the Santos Vision program and including the outline of the next phase extension. The survey covers Read More

A Balancing Act

Oil and gas majors must hedge their bets if they are to ride the energy transition conundrum. An industry in transition: exploring the options with more horsepower. If you happen Read More

Making The Most of Your Trip to London

Travel and Lifestyle for Oil and Gas: A recommendation of places to eat and things to do to make the most of your visit to London for the EAGE Annual Read More

The Future of Marine Seismic Acquisition

Some thoughts on the future of marine towed streamer seismic acquisition for offshore oil and gas exploration. Polarcus XArray™ Triple source acquisition. © Polarcus. Seismic acquisition and exploration technology have Read More

A Resurgence of Oil and Gas Exploration Activity in Azerbaijan

A number of high value prospects in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea have piqued the interest of major operators, fostering a resurgence of oil and gas exploration activity Read More

AAPG Risk and Uncertainty Forum 2019: Q&A with Marc Bond

GEO ExPro spoke to Marc Bond, Co-chair of the AAPG Risk and Uncertainty Forum, to learn more about the issues which the meeting will address. Marc Bond, Co-Chair of the Read More

Oil and Gas Leasing US Gulf of Mexico

Two region-wide oil and gas lease sales in 2019 in the Gulf of Mexico offer thousands of unleased blocks. 2017–2022 Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program Area for the Read More

Assessing Geological Uncertainty: Counting the Costs

Are we getting better at assessing geological uncertainties that underpin our economic decisions? It is a common misconception that inherent subsurface geological complexity prevents us from accurately estimating key reservoir Read More

What lies beneath: unraveling the potential of the East Palawan Basin, Philippines

The underexplored East Palawan Basin Insights from the only five wells drilled to date, together with modern seismic data, reveal that there is still much to be unraveled in the Read More

Geological Basin Classification

Basin classification based on tectonic settings provides a framework not only for understanding the genesis and evolution of petroleum basins and their sedimentary fill but also process-based analogs for the Read More

Big Data Crowns a Career

Tolulope Ewherido, Vice President, Technical-Geoscience at ExxonMobil, is able to satisfy her passion for technology and her interest in Big Data, while steering the company towards the most efficient use Read More

Using Cloud Technologies in Geosciences

How can cloud technologies help me as a geoscientist? Here we offer a demystifying guide and provide the answers to some of your questions. Within geoscience, the technical workflow is Read More

Increasing the Understanding of Coding in Oil and Gas

As we move into the world of machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is increasingly important that geoscientists gain a better understanding of coding and how it can be used Read More

The global energy sector from a subsurface perspective