Industry

The Australian Geoscience Council will be hosting their 2018 Convention at the Adelaide Convention Centre, 14-18 October.

AGCC 2018 will be the largest Geoscience event to be held in The Asia Pacific Region since 2012. It features a wide-ranging scientific program and will examine and address current and emerging issues that effect geoscientists and our society. Based around five Technical themes it will cover big issues and ideas concerning energy security options & markets in a clean world, resource-driven development, Geoscience education & socialisation, emerging technologies, and smoothing the impact of boom/bust commodity cycles

Abstract Submissions open: 14 October 2017

Abstract Deadline: 16 June 2018

Keynote plenary sessions at the AGCC will address the major issues that impact Geoscience, such as Earth’s past and future climate; life origins and evolution; future resource security; geohazard risk and mitigation; and the future role of Geoscience in our society.

The Convention Website contains more details.
 

 ASEG ACT Branch members,

You are invited to the ACT Branch’s Annual General Meeting with a special presentation from guest speaker Ron Hackney (details below). Drinks and snacks are provided.

Date: Thursday, 30 March 2017
Time: Drinks and snacks from 4pm followed by the AGM at 4:30pm.
Location: Sir Harold Raggatt Theatre, Geoscience Australia

AGENDA:

1.    Opening of meeting 4:30 pm 

2.    Guest speaker presentation (Ron Hackney) – 4:35 pm

3.    Minutes of the 2016 Annual General Meeting

4.    Report on the activities of the Society during the last year: 
       i.    President

5.    To receive and consider the financial accounts:
       i.    Treasurer

6.    The Annual General Meeting for 2017 - nominated in accordance with the Society's Constitution and are unopposed:
       i.    President                            
       ii.    Secretary                             
       iii.    Treasurer                            

7.    Appointment of Committee members:

8.    Thank  you to outgoing Executive

Meeting Close.

Guest Speaker Presentation by Ron Hackney - Title: From geophysics to deep stratigraphic drilling for tectonics, climate and ancient life in northern Zealandia
 
Abstract: The Lord Howe Rise, a submerged and extended continental ribbon that separated from Australia in the Late Cretaceous, is the key to understanding one of Earth’s last remaining scientific frontiers – the continent of Zealandia. Geoscience Australia and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology are now leading an international effort through the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) to realise deep stratigraphic drilling of a sedimentary basin in northern Zealandia. If funded, this drilling will provide insight into Cretaceous tectonics, paleoclimate and paleoceanography at the eastern margin of Gondwana and help define the limits to deep microbial life in extreme environments. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the geophysics involved in selecting the ideal drill site and defining the crustal framework of the region to be drilled.

Biography: Dr Ron Hackney is a Senior Geoscientist in Geoscience Australia's Resources Division. He completed a BSc (Honours) degree at the Australian National University in 1993, before undertaking a MSc in Geophysics at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. Ron's PhD at the University of Western Australia (2001) examining the crustal structure related to the iron-ore bearing Hamersley Ranges was followed by a post-doc at the Free University of Berlin and a Junior Professorship in Solid Earth Geophysics at the University of Kiel. He returned to Canberra in 2008 to work at Geoscience Australia, where he has since contributed to a range of studies in Australia's offshore sedimentary basins.

I hope to see you there!

James Goodwin  |  Secretary
ACT Branch |  Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
 
t +61 2 6249 9705
 

The WA Branch of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the SEG invites you to attend the upcoming ASEG WA Tech Night presented by the 2017 SEG Distinguished Lecturer Paul Hatchell of Shell, Houston, Texas, USA.

Getting more for less: Frequent low-cost seismic monitoring solutions for offshore fields

Time-lapse seismic reservoir surveillance is a proven technology for offshore environments. In the past two decades, we have seen this technology move from novel to necessary and enable us to monitor injection wells, water influx, compaction, undrained fault blocks, and bypassed reserves.  Value is generated by influencing the management of our field operations and optimising wells to reduce cost, accelerate production, and increase ultimate recovery.

Significant advances in technology are improving the quality of our data. Errors in acquisition repeats are nearly eliminated using permanently installed systems or dedicated ocean- bottom nodes. We now routinely obtain surveys with such a high signal-to-noise ratio that we can observe production-induced changes in the reservoir after months instead of years. This creates a demand for frequent seismic monitoring to better understand the dynamic behaviour of our fields. Increasing the frequency of seismic monitoring will have a proportionate cost implication, and a challenge is how to design a monitoring program that maximises the overall benefit to the field.

Reducing individual survey costs is important to enable frequent monitoring.

Paul Hatchell joined Shell in 1989 after receiving his PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Wisconsin. He began his career at Shell’s Technology Center in Houston and worked on a variety of research topics including shear-wave logging, quantitative seismic amplitude analysis, and 3D AVO applications. Following a four-year oil and gas exploration assignment in Shell’s New Orleans office, Paul returned to Shell’s technology centers in Rijswijk and Houston where he is currently a member of the Areal Field Monitoring team and Shell’s principal technical expert for 4D reservoir surveillance. His current activities include developing improved 4D seismic acquisition and interpretation techniques, seafloor deformation monitoring, and training the next generation of geoscientists.
 

Event website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aseg-wa-april-tech-night-seismic-talk-tickets-32998714042

Registration Costs:              Free to members and non members 

Registration closing date:    Thursday 30th March 2017

The WA Branch of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists invites you to attend the upcoming ASEG WA Tech Night presented by Dr. Andi A Pfaffhuber, Principal Geophysicist of NGI Perth.

Geophysics, the disruptive innovation for the geotechnical industry?

The talk's title is quoting a statement made by a geotechnical engineer at last year's International conference on geotechnical and geophysical site characterisation. In my talk I will illustrate how close we might be to that predicted disruption of the industry.

The presentation will use a range of case studies to illustrate how geophysical and remote sensing methods are being used innovatively to deliver geotechnical efficiency. Expect to be entertained with cases that show…

•    how radar satellite data is used to track infrastructure- and slope settlement to millimetre resolutions.
•    how terrestrial photo/lidar/radar methods are combined for geohazard assessment and urban infrastructure settlement.
•    how "geotechnical" airborne geophysics is used to.
•    perform soil investigations for geotechnical design of surface infrastructure. 
•    find major weakness zones along tunnel alignments.
•    classify hazardous quick clay.
•    find the base of massive debris- and rock slides.
•    and how LIDAR is applied in tunnelling to control and document rock properties, shotcrete and rock support.

Dr Andi Pfaffhuber has recently moved to Perth with two goals: to establish onshore activities at NGI's Perth office and to spend a sabbatical time away from NGI's main office in Oslo.

Andi has been with NGI for ten years and built up a Geosurveys section that provides the missing link between high quality survey data and complex, real life geotechnical challenges. This link and mutual understanding is the core benefit that the team's assembled expertise and experience provides in consulting and research projects anchored in NGI's building, construction, transportation and natural hazard market areas.

Representing NGI Andi has lead several projects using innovative technologies to map the earth's surface and subsurface with respect to settlement, bedrock topography, weakness zones, slope stability and contaminated ground.

Event website: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aseg-wa-may-tech-night-tickets-33000305803

Registration closing date:  Monday 8^th May

Regsitration Costs: Free to members and non members

A Live Webinar featuring, Christopher L. Liner, PhD, Former SEG President and Storm Endowed Chair of Petroleum Geology University of Arkansas

Duration/Format: 2 half-day interactive webinar sessions, April 25 & 26, 2017, 8:30 am to 11:30 am Central Time (Houston, USA)

This course is an overview of carbonates from geology to seismic interpretation, with particular emphasis on karst topography and seismic expression thereof. 
Carbonate reservoirs represent the majority of worldwide petroleum reserves, including emerging unconventional reservoirs. Unlike clastics, carbonate mineralogy is relatively simple, 
while complexity arises from depositional environment lateral variability, pore structure, digenesis and dissolution. These factors influence bulk rock properties and, in turn, seismic response. 
The course offers a broad overview of carbonate geology and properties that are mappable on a seismic scale as potential hydrocarbon reservoirs. To illustrate key concepts, field sites and case histories are presented from global locations.

Session 1: Geology
Session 2: Rock Physics
Session 3: Wireline
Session 4: Seismic 101
Session 5: Horizons
Session 6: Attributes
 

To register for the course please click here

Magnetotellurics for Regional and Local Exploration

The talk will present a number of case studies from around the world showing the application of MT surveys at lithospheric, district and locals scales.

Shane Evans has a BSc (Hons) in Geophysics from Curtin University and a MSc (Geology and Geological Engineering) from Queens University (Kingston, Ontario). After gaining his MSc in 2003, Shane moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to work in the DeBeers Geoscience Centre. During his time at DeBeers, Shane researched the use of magnetotellurics for crustal and lithospheric mapping throughout Southern Africa, India and Canada.

In 2005 Shane set up Moombarriga Geoscience in Perth, with the aim to become a specialist MT geophysical contractor. In 2008 Moombarriga purchased 4 Phoenix recorders and acquired its first commercial MT dataset for KUTH Energy, Tasmania.

Since that time Moombarriga Geoscience has acquired over 3,000 MT sites for both energy and mineral interests; the client list includes universities, government geological surveys, exploration companies and energy companies throughout Australia and the world.

Please register prior to midday close Tuesday 7 March 2017

Dear Victorian members,

Please join us on the 16th of March, for our monthly technical meeting.

This time we will have the pleasure to welcome Warren Gray from SeisIntel. Warren's talk  titled "Three years in the marine exploration world", will give a review of the seismic exploration evolution over these last three  difficult years.

The talk will be followed by the Annual General Meeting.

Please RSVP before the 14th of March COB using the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/three-years-in-the-marine-exploration-world-and-agm-tickets-32426287900

IMPEDIMENTS TO EXPLORATION SUCCESS: SOLUTIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

Come along and discover the outstanding science being conducted by Australia’s geological surveys, CSIRO, UNCOVER and the DET CRC.

Registration: There is no cost for attendance, however numbers are limited, so please register to attend https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/science-in-the-surveys-2017-tickets-31618985236

This year’s event will be hosted by the Geological Survey of Victoria. Take the opportunity to directly engage with senior government geoscientists. Learn how their teams are working to improve understanding of Australia’s geology, its mineral potential, and the exploration opportunities it presents. Industry professionals, researchers, government, sector stakeholders and geoscience students are invited to attend.

Highlights include:

• Survey presentations on research programs from around Australia, including new exploration opportunities
• Geoscience Australia mineral program update
• An update and overview of the UNCOVER initiative
• Details of exploration incentive schemes
• Update from the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC
• Update on CSIRO mineral programs

Special guest speakers Further details, including program, will be advertised closer to the date at www.australiaminerals.gov.au

For more information please contact Cameron Cairns, Geological Survey of Victoria

E: cameron.cairns@ecodev.vic.gov.au

P: 03 9452 8972

Local Branch Meeting & 2017 QLD Branch AGM – Tuesday 21st March 5.30pm

Location: XXXX Brewery; Corner of Black Street and Paten Street Milton, Cinema (upstairs – behind the restaurant/bar)

There is street parking and an undercover carpark at XXXX Brewery available for meeting attendees to use.

Please RSVP to megan@energeo.com.au by 5pm Friday 17th March to attend this meeting.

AGM

All official Branch Positions (President, Treasurer and Secretary) will be up for nomination.
Nominations must be seconded and you cannot nominate someone who has not agreed to be nominated.
Please have all nominations sent to me (megan@energeo.com.au)  by Friday 17th  March – so I can announce candidates for positions before the AGM!
Fiona Duncan (President), Henk van Paridon (Treasurer) and Megan Nightingale (Secretary) will all run for re-election.

March Meeting Details

Speaker:    Tariq Rahiman

Talk Title:    Geophysical Site Investigation Techniques

Talk Overview:

Previously the domain of the resource exploration industry, geophysical expertise is now being increasingly used to support traditional engineering site investigation techniques in order to provide complete and accurate geotechnical characterisation of large construction sites. High resolution and near-surface geophysical techniques when integrated with intrusive sampling and testing, are proving to be a cost effective and reliable way to image and test large volumes of construction footprint areas. Geophysical techniques are particularly helpful where borings and intrusive testing are limited for reasons that may include investigation budget limitations, inaccessibility and environmental disturbance constraints. Integration of geophysics with geotechnical investigative techniques offers the potential to improve management of project risks and costs, as well as enhance understanding of site conditions
This presentation focuses on geophysical techniques used in engineering applications, including seismic refraction, seismic reflection, multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW), electrical resistivity imaging (ERI), electromagnetic (EM), ground penetrating radar (GPR), and down hole techniques. The basic theory behind the methods, field methodology and outputs for engineering applications will be covered. Examples will also be presented from recent projects 
around Australia 

About the Speaker:

Dr Tariq Rahiman is a principal  geologist/geophysicist with Golder Associates in Brisbane. He has over 15 years’ experience in geological/geophysical site evaluations of mining and civil infrastructure projects, and near shore and deep sea installations in Australia, SE Asia and SW Pacific. He currently heads the geophysics team at Golder’s Brisbane Office that provides Australia wide services in shallow ground geophysical surveys for geotechnical and environmental site investigations.
 

Local Branch Meeting – Tuesday 28^th February 5.30pm

XXXX Brewery (Corner of Black Street and Paten Street Milton) - Cinema (upstairs – behind the restaurant/bar)

There is street parking and an undercover carpark at XXXX Brewery available for meeting attendees to use.

Please RSVP to megan@energeo.com.au by 5pm Friday 24^th February to attend this meeting.

Speakers: David Close and Tony Hallam

Talk Title: AVO Dark Arts and Quantitative Interpretation: A review of theory and practise

Talk Overview:

Amplitude variation with offset or angle can be a powerful interpretation tool, but the theory behind the various interpretation techniques can seem opaque and off-putting to many practising geophysicists. This presentation will provide an introduction to AVO theory, techniques and quantitative interpretation (QI) pitfalls illustrated with an Otway Basin example.

The Eastern Otway Basin is known for its very strong DHI responses across most of the gas fields discovered there. In particular, the far stack and fluid factor response standout as key gas indicators. However, the Minerva field is an exception to the rule. Can a more detailed analysis of the field explain the anomalous amplitude response through the crest of the field and what can we do to better identify gas accumulations with other QI techniques?

About the Speakers:

David Close

David Close is currently the Unconventional Exploration Manager and Chief Geologist for Origin Energy in Brisbane, Australia. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford and a B.Sc. from the University of Tasmania. David worked in Mexico, U.S.A and Canada for Schlumberger and Apache Canada prior to joining Origin. David has worked in a range of conventional and unconventional exploration roles and has developed expertise in unconventional resource exploration and evaluation, and quantitative seismic interpretation. David is a member of PESA, ASEG, SEG, and AAPG

Tony Hallam

Tony Hallam has been a geophysicist with Origin Energy for 6 years. Starting in a functional team he gained exposure to many of Origin’s assets including conventional and CSG. The last 3 years have predominantly been spent working Origin’s offshore conventional assets on the southern margin where he has contributed to exploration via interpretation both structural and quantitative, seismic processing QC, P&L generation and risking and the development of an upcoming exploration and development drilling campaign.