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NSW tech talk: Engaging Students in Geophysics with Interactive Notebooks and Team-Based Learning

Wednesday, May 17, 2023
1730
1930

Title: Engaging Students in Geophysics with Interactive Notebooks and Team-Based Learning

Speaker: Dr Stuart Clark, Associate Professor, The University of New South Wales

Time: 5:30 for 6 pm start

Address: Level 2, Club York (99 York St. Sydney. Room ‘York 2’)

Zoom Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xCG5S4rURfCOsCbPzUXkiw#/registration

 

Dr Stuart Clark

Associate Professor·The University of New South Wales

Stuart is currently an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW Sydney. His research interests are understanding the influence on deep Earth processes on the development of sedimentary basins and the use of machine learning in developing geological models. Stuart teaches geology and geophysics at UNSW and is a passionate advocate for Team-Based Learning. Stuart has presented the design and results of his teaching methodology at a number of conferences and events as well as running workshops and training events for colleagues in higher education. In 2019, Stuart was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Rising Star category.

SA tech talk: SEG Honorary lecture - Surface and Borehole Seismic Monitoring of CO2 Geological Storage

Wednesday, May 24, 2023
1200
1330

Title: ‘Surface and Borehole Seismic Monitoring of CO2 Geological Storage'
Presenter: Prof. Roman Pevzner

Location: Balcony Room, Hotel Richmond, 128 Rundle Mall, Adelaide

Date: Wednesday 24th May

Time: 12 pm for a prompt start

Cost: Members & students free, non-members $10, includes finger food & drinks

Registration: There is no registration for this event

 

Abstract:

Geological carbon capture and storage (CCS) or sequestration is a critical component of CO2 emission reduction, which aims to alleviate the global climate change. Geological carbon storage always requires a subsurface monitoring program to address two main goals: (1) surveillance at the reservoir level to verify compliance of the growing CO2 plume with the original plan and (2) early detection of adverse effects, such as leakage of the injected fluid from the containment zone or significant induced seismicity associated with the injection.

Seismic methods play an important role in achieving both goals. Change in CO2 saturation in the pore space inside of the storage reservoir or in the overburden results in the change of elastic properties detectable through changes in seismic reflectivity or travel times. Induced seismicity generates a direct signal usually associated with propagation of the pressure front.

The range of seismic methods — which can be deployed — includes surface and borehole active time-lapse seismic surveys with re-deployable or permanently mounted source and receiver arrays and passive monitoring, e.g. using any components of the wave field originated from the seismic sources beyond our control. Many CO2 geosequestration sites are located near large sources of CO2 emission, such as populated areas with existing infrastructure. As such, the monitoring strategy must accommodate sharing the land (or ocean) with other users and have a minimal environmental impact. Furthermore, geosequestration is a form of waste disposal, which must be cost efficient. All these factors make CCS a leader in innovation, being an early adopter of such disruptive technologies as distributed fibre optic sensing and permanent reservoir monitoring. Small-scale demonstration projects focusing on testing and development of CCS technologies play a critical role in this innovation.

This lecture is based on Australian CCS projects, such as CO2CRC Otway Project and CSIRO In-situ Lab Project, which showcase evolution of the seismic monitoring technology from conventional land 4D seismic to continuous or on demand monitoring using permanent downhole and near-surface geophone and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) arrays. We discuss how monitoring objectives can be achieved using various acquisition geometries, including land 4D, 4D vertical seismic profiling (VSP), and offset VSP, all of which can be implemented using conventional and permanently mounted seismic sources. Also covered is automation of data acquisition and analysis, as well as passive data analysis.

Bio:

Roman Pevzner joined Curtin University (Perth, Western Australia) in 2008 as an associate professor in the Discipline of Exploration Geophysics progressing to professor in 2018. Previously he headed the software development department in DECO Geophysical service company from 2002–2008. At the same time, Roman has also conducted research and teaching at the Geological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Seismometry and Geo-acoustics Department. Roman Pevzner has received his PhD in Geophysics (2004), Masters of Science in Geophysics (2001), and Bachelor of Science in Geology (1999) from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

His main areas of interest include subsurface monitoring using active and passive seismic methods, borehole seismic, distributed fiber optic sensing for geophysical applications, and CO2 geosequestration. Roman has co-authored 75 journal papers and more than 170 refereed conference publications.

WA tech talk: Geophysics for a Sustainable Future

Thursday, June 1, 2023
1730
1900

Title: Geophysics for a Sustainable Future
Date & Time: 1 June 2023, 5:30 pm
Speaker: Michelle Thomas
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aseg-wa-special-tech-night-michelle-thomas-tickets-633138493277

Venue:

The Shoe Bar and Cafe
376 – 420 Wellington Street
Perth, WA 6050

Abstract:

In her talk this June at ASEG WA technical night, Michelle will discuss minerals geophysicists’ role in achieving the United Nations General Assembly’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focused on the dimensions of People, Prosperity, and the Planet. This discussion will build upon the Geophysical Sustainability Atlas published in the Leading Edge by Capello et al., 2021, and the UNESCO Geoscience in Action report it subsequently inspired. 

Biography: 

Michelle Thomas is the global practice lead of geophysics at BHP, responsible for geophysics technical excellence and capability at BHP. Her focus is on connecting the physical properties of the Earth to critical business decisions across BHPs global value chain today and into the future.

Michelle joined the mining sector early in 2021 following a 22-year career in the petroleum industry, including senior technical and leadership roles in innovation, exploration, and geophysics.

Michelle holds a BA(Hons) in Earth Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK, and an MSc in Petroleum Geology from the Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) in France.
 

VIC tech night: Current and future trends in spectral and remote sensing geology

Tuesday, May 9, 2023
1800
2030

Title: Current and future trends in spectral and remote sensing geology

Speaker: Dr. Rob Hewson

Date & Time: Tuesday the 9th of May from 1800

Location: The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Place Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aseg-victoria-technical-meeting-night-tickets-623549702947

 

Abstract: The recently deployed or planned hyperspectral satellite VNIR-SWIR sensors (e.g., Italian PRISMA, German EnMAP, Japanese HISUI, US-NASA SBG) are a new development in geological remote sensing. These advances signal a major leap, providing a wealth of new global surface mineral related imagery for exposed arid to semi-arid areas. Such new sensors follow the continuing extensive resource of archived and currently acquired imagery from multi-spectral satellite VNIR-SWIR/TIR sensors, including NASA’s / METI’s ASTER, Maxar’s WorldView-3 and ESA’s Sentinel-2. This presentation includes mineral mapping examples from the Northern Territory Jervois Mineral and the Namibian Haib Cu Porphyry Prospects, utilizing the ASTER, WorldView-3 and Sentinel-2 sensors as well as from the new hyperspectral PRISMA instrument. Relevant factors in the application for exploration include their obvious surface mapping nature, as well as the sensors’ spectral / spatial resolutions, and their SNR affecting their ability to correct for atmospheric effects.

 

Speaker bio: Dr Rob Hewson graduated with BSc(Hons) in geophysics at Melbourne University and worked from 1982 to 1989 at Shell Australia. After a MSc in geophysics at Macquarie University he undertook a PhD within geological remote sensing at UNSW. During his PhD he was a part-time geophysicist for the NSWGS's Discovery 2000 project, followed by CSIRO Exploration and Mining Division 1998 – 2010 undertaking research in remote sensing. In particular his research focussed on the mineral spectroscopy and geological case studies of ASTER satellite and HyMap airborne imagery.

From 2010, he subsequently consulted for the NSW, Tasmanian Geological Surveys and also the DSTO Defence while also a research fellow and casual lecturer at RMIT University. He was appointed Assistant Professor between 2016 – 2019 at University of Twente, The Netherlands. He currently works from Central Victoria, as a geological consultant specialising in remote sensing, integrating both spectral geology and regional geophysics.

 

Note: Light refreshments will be served at this event.

Unveiling New Horizons Of The Cosmos With The James Webb Space Telescope

Wednesday, April 19, 2023
1800
1900

Title: Unveiling New Horizons Of The Cosmos With The James Webb Space Telescope

Speaker: Jaime A. Alvarado-Montes

Date & Time: Apr 19, 2023 at 1800

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zHQtyIHoTeW8-Mt-EjsTEQ#/registration

Abstract: 

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) marks the dawn of a new era in astronomy. Not only is JWST important regarding its technological advances applied to the forefront of science, but also because it portends many other significant achievements. Among the most complex and expensive science instruments ever constructed, JWST can potentially be a preeminent tool that will deepen human knowledge about the cosmos and its contents. JWST was put in orbit at the second Lagrange point, a special place around the Sun where the telescope is out of the Earth's shadow and its solar shield will block out the heat from the Sun, Earth, and Moon. This is a unique advantage that maintains JWST at exceptionally low temperatures, enabling observations in the infrared previously unattainable by other instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope. Such a thermally stable position, combined with the cutting-edge instruments on board JWST, grants us unprecedented access to the most remote corners of the Universe. This will facilitate an understanding of its origin, the formation and evolution of ancient galaxies, the properties of extrasolar planets, and ultimately the formation of the Solar System and the evolution of life as we know it. In this talk, I will discuss the significance of JWST and its long and intricate path to orbit. Also, I will showcase some of the most important findings made by JWST to date and how this instrument is revolutionizing our capacity to do far-reaching astronomy.

Bio:

My name is Jaime Andrés Alvarado Montes and I’m a professional astronomer originally from Colombia. Currently, I’m a PhD candidate at Macquarie University and I’m passionate about computing techniques, software skills, writing, and learning about science and its constant evolution. My research field are the planetary sciences, with an emphasis on extrasolar planets, moons, rings, asteroids, and comets. Most of my work is about how extrasolar systems evolve: the study of such systems can give us valuable information about their formation and can subsequently help us understand more about the history of our own Solar System. At the moment I'm in the last three months of my PhD and I’m planning on continuing my career in academia as a postdoctoral research fellow, because my ultimate goal is to become a full-time researcher and professor.

 

SA/NT AGM and Tech Night: Using NMR to Characterize Aquifer Properties in In-Situ Mining: An Australian Uranium Case Study

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
1730
1900

Title: Using NMR to Characterize Aquifer Properties in In-Situ Mining: An Australian Uranium Case Study

Presenter: Nick Jervis-Bardy

Location: Thomas Cooper Room, Coopers Alehouse, 316 Pulteney St, Adelaide

Date: Wednesday 12th April

Time: 5:30 pm for a 6:15 pm start

Cost: Members & students free, non-members $10, includes finger food & drinks

 

We have Nick Jervis-Bardy from Orica: Digital Solutions speaking on ‘Using NMR to Characterize Aquifer Properties in In-Situ Mining: An Australian Uranium Case Study’

https://fasttimesonline.co/using-nmr-to-characterize-aquifer-properties-in-in-situ-mining-an-australian-uranium-case-study/

Bio:

Nick has 8 years of experience working as a geophysicist in mining and exploration. This includes three years at Heathgate Resources where he specialised in Borehole Magnetic Resonance (BMR) logging, processing, QAQC, and database management. He provided geophysical and technical support to wireline logging, geology, hydrogeology, resource analysis, and production planning departments. Nick is currently working in a half business development and half technical role for Orica: Digital Solutions supporting BMR rental customers and consulting projects.

 

Induced Polarization effects in Electromagnetic data: opportunity or waste of time?

Thursday, March 30, 2023
1645 (ACT)
1745 (ACT)

Title: Induced Polarization effects in Electromagnetic data: opportunity or waste of time?

Speaker: Francesco Dauti, PhD student at University La Statale of Milan

Date/Time: 30/03/2023 @ 1645

Zoom Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6tN9sU_uQNmzPI0s3EaWow

Abstract: 

The possibility to model the Induced Polarization (IP) effects from the time-domain Airborne Electromagnetic (TD-AEM) data has gained considerable interest in the last two decades from both industry and academia. 

Recently, it has been physically demonstrated that IP effects can distort AEM data that, if not recognized and properly treated, can lead to artefacts in the modelled resistivities.   What it is still unclear though is if these distortions can be robustly recovered and modelled, providing useful information on polarisation effects within the ground.

Results on two aspects of airborne IP (AIP) modelling will be discussed:

(i) if modelled AIP effects can give significant information for exploration, and

(ii) if it is possible to measure and model AIP in AEM fixed-wing systems.

Francesco Dauti is a Ph.D. student in exploration geophysics at University La Statale of Milan. He took a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at University of Pisa, in geological sciences and in exploration and applied geophysics. His current research field is about the integration of galvanic and inductive Induced Polarization techniques for mineral exploration, both in terms of modelling, inversion, and interpretation.

 

Bio:

Francesco Dauti is a Ph.D. student in exploration geophysics at University La Statale of Milan. He took a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at University of Pisa, in geological sciences and in exploration and applied geophysics. His current research field is about the integration of galvanic and inductive Induced Polarization techniques for mineral exploration, both in terms of modelling, inversion, and interpretation.

ASEG WA tech night: Surface and borehole seismic monitoring of CO2 geological storage

Thursday, April 27, 2023
1730
1900

Title: Surface and borehole seismic monitoring of CO2 geological storage

Speaker: Professor Roman Pevzner

Date and time: 27 April 2023, 5:30pm

Location: The Shoe Bar and Cafe 376 - 420 Wellington Street Perth, WA 6050

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aseg-wa-special-tech-night-prof-roman-pevzner-tickets-599937548357

Abstract:

Geological carbon capture and storage (CCS) or sequestration is a critical component of CO2 emission reduction, which aims to alleviate global climate change. Geological carbon storage always requires a subsurface monitoring program to address two main goals: (1) surveillance at the reservoir level to verify compliance of the growing CO2 plume with the original plan and (2) early detection of adverse effects, such as leakage of the injected fluid from the containment zone or significant induced seismicity associated with the injection.

Seismic methods play an important role in achieving both goals. Change in CO2 saturation in the pore space inside of the storage reservoir or in the overburden results in the change of elastic properties detectable through changes in seismic reflectivity or travel times. Induced seismicity generates a direct signal usually associated with the propagation of the pressure front.

The range of seismic methods — which can be deployed — includes surface and borehole active time-lapse seismic surveys with re-deployable or permanently mounted source and receiver arrays and passive monitoring, e.g. using any components of the wave field that originated from the seismic sources beyond our control. Many CO2 geosequestration sites are located near large sources of CO2 emission, such as populated areas with existing infrastructure. As such, the monitoring strategy must accommodate sharing the land (or ocean) with other users and have a minimal environmental impact. Furthermore, geosequestration is a form of waste disposal that must be cost-efficient. All these factors make CCS a leader in innovation, being an early adopter of such disruptive technologies as distributed fibre optic sensing and permanent reservoir monitoring. Small-scale demonstration projects focusing on the testing and development of CCS technologies play a critical role in this innovation.

This lecture is based on Australian CCS projects, such as the CO2CRC Otway Project and CSIRO In-situ Lab Project, which showcase the evolution of the seismic monitoring technology from conventional land 4D seismic to continuous or on-demand monitoring using permanent downhole and near-surface geophone and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) arrays. We discuss how monitoring objectives can be achieved using various acquisition geometries, including land 4D, 4D vertical seismic profiling (VSP), and offset VSP, all of which can be implemented using conventional and permanently mounted seismic sources. Also covered is the automation of data acquisition and analysis, as well as passive data analysis.

Drinks and nibbles will be available from 5:30pm - 6:15pm. The talk will commence promptly at 6:15pm. ASEG would like to thank our sponsors for their continued support.

Bio:

Professor Roman Pevzner joined Curtin University (Perth, Western Australia) in 2008 as an associate professor in the Discipline of Exploration Geophysics, progressing to professor in 2018. Previously he headed the software development department at DECO Geophysical service company from 2002–2008. At the same time, Roman has also conducted research and teaching at the Geological Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Seismometry and Geo-acoustics Department. Roman Pevzner received his PhD in Geophysics (2004), Masters of Science in Geophysics (2001), and Bachelor of Science in Geology (1999) from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

His main areas of interest include subsurface monitoring using active and passive seismic methods, borehole seismic, distributed fibre optic sensing for geophysical applications, and CO2 geosequestration. Roman has co-authored 75 journal papers and more than 170 refereed conference publications.

ASEG WA Tech Night: REBIRTH OF A MATURE OIL FIELD IN EASTERN CARPATHIANS, CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPE: A SYNERGETIC APPROACH.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023
1730
1900

Title: REBIRTH OF A MATURE OIL FIELD IN EASTERN CARPATHIANS, CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPE: A SYNERGETIC APPROACH.

Speaker: Prof Victor Mocanu,

Registration:  ASEG WA Special Tech Night - Prof Victor Victor Mocanu Tickets, Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 5:30 PM | Eventbrite

Location: The Shoe Bar and Cafe 376 - 420 Wellington Street Perth, WA 6050

Date and time: Wed, Mar 22, 2023, 5:30 PM AWST

Details:

We demonstrate the effectiveness of using complementary geophysical and geological methods to better understand the structure and petroleum potential in a mature, late life producing oil field in the internal part of the Romanian Eastern Carpathians, in the so-named Tisza-Dacia block, an area in Central-Eastern Europe.

161 years ago exploration work indicated positive results and several wells were drilled. Crude oil extraction started as early as 1899 and continues until present, with several interruptions. Without serious advanced exploration activities and mainly based on interpretation of poor well cores, the extraction was a temptation despite the not-so-significant production.

Several wells reported basement at shallow depth between two major crustal faults and so the hydrocarbon prospective was considered as limited.

Some 15 y ago the new 2D seismic was of modest quality, so resistivity, gravity and magnetics plus MT data were added over geochemical sampling and geological re-mapping. This is an example of how a historic production could be boosted by integration of geophysical with non-geophysical methods so that the resulting geological model is modernly calibrated. The seismic data reprocessing by better velocity picking, statics and migration was based on a mixture of geodata. But the real original approach is represented by carefully looking into complex methodology with positive results in a mature field of over 100 y of production history.

 

Drink tokens and nibbles will be available from 5:30pm - 6pm. Technical presentation will start shortly after 6pm. ASEG would like to thank our sponsors for their continued support.

ASEG WA Tech Night: Geologically constrained level-set inversion with null-space analysis for evaluation: application in the Western Pyrenees.

Thursday, March 2, 2023
1730
1900

Title: Geologically constrained level-set inversion with null-space analysis for evaluation: application in the Western Pyrenees.

Presenter: Jeremie Giraud

Date: 02/03/2023

Time: 1730-1900

Location: The Shoe Bar and Cafe 376 - 420 Wellington Street Perth, WA 6050

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/aseg-wa-tech-night-jeremie-giraud-ticket...

 

Details:

We present and apply an algorithm integrating automated geological modelling into geometrical gravity inversion. The method we employ is based on a generalized, iterative level-set inversion scheme where geological units are deformed automatically to fit geophysical data. The proposed approach is formulated to account for geological data and principles during geophysical inversion. This is achieved by incorporating an automated geological modelling scheme in the regularization term of the geophysical inverse problem’s cost function. The geological modelling term provides model-dependent geological constraints and encourages geological realism during inversion. After summarizing the method that we employ, we present a field application where we refine a pre-existing 3D geological model which is locally inconsistent with geophysical data. The objective of this application case is to automatically resolve this inconsistency by improving geophysical data fit (i.e., the Bouguer anomaly) in selected areas while maintaining consistency with some geological observations (e.g., contact locations, orientation data) and principles (e.g., are relationships, structural rules). We consider a subduction zone generated during the Iberian and Eurasian intraplate collision with a partial uplift of the upper mantle located in the Western Pyrenees Mountain range across France and Spain. We focus on the structure of the upper crust and investigate the presence of abnormally dense material. We also use our algorithm to explore alternative geological scenarios and assess their consistency with geophysical data using the concept of 'null-space shuttle' to derive geophysically equivalent models.

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