SEG post-convention workshop: Marine electromagnetics:
New technologies for offshore exploration

Thursday Afternoon, November 10. 2005

Organizers: K. Strack (KMS Technologies), S. Constable (Scripps), R.N. Edwards (University of Toronto) L. Thomsen (BP)

Through support of the SEG Research Committee

The shortage of proven hydrocarbon reserves has resulted in exploration progressing from the continents, offshore into progressively deeper water, making the continental shelf a focus for geophysical exploration. The success there of the most common geophysical method, seismic, is evident by the level of offshore drilling activity and the subsequent production of oil and gas. However, there are marine geological terranes in which the interpretation of seismic data is difficult, such as regions dominated by scattering or high reflectivity that is characteristic of carbonate reefs, volcanic cover and submarine permafrost. Complementary geophysical techniques are required to study these regions. Only in the last five years has the relevance of electromagnetics been recognized by oil companies who now use EM to help them make exploration drilling decisions. The presence of petroleum, gas or gas hydrate increases whole rock resistivity by over an order of magnitude and a resistivity section is a low-resolution image of a hydrocarbon reservoir. Several contractors now offer magnetotelluric and CSEM services and the initial results are most promising.

In this workshop we will focus on understanding the technical merits of current EM acquisition and processing, including the possible limits of the method, to answer the question: Is this new technology reality or fiction?

Agenda to include:

1. Marine EM acquisition

2. Different methodologies (marine magnetotellurics, controlled source EM etc).

3. 3 D modeling and imaging

4. New progress in shallow water applications

5. Successful case histories

We will provide selected tutorials to introduce the audience to the technology. Technical contributions for posters are welcome, including short company presentations. After a poster session we will have a wrap up and discussion to understand where the industry is and where we are going.

Participants should bring their contribution on a CD or USB memory stick. If you would like to contribute, please send an e-mail to Kurt@kmstechnologies.com specifying the topic to which you would like to contribute. Before the workshop there will be an opportunity to put tutorials or early versions of the posters/presentations on a website.

MARINE EM POST CONVENTION WORKSHOP

Agenda

1:30 start... Welcome, WS format etc Kurt Strack

1:35 - 2:15 Tutorial Marine EM Steve Constaple

2:15 - 3:00 Summaries of service companies: Technical advancements (Emgs, Ohm, SLB)

3:00 - 3:15 Coffee break

3:15 - 3:35 Poster introduction limit 10 posters Leon Thomsen

3:35 - 4:30 Posters/rotating

4:30 - 5 Panel & discussion Nigel Edwards

> 5 wrap up Kurt Strack