ACT

Geophysics in Geothermal Energy – Today and Tomorrow

12–14 October 2021 | Virtual Workshop

ASEG is pleased to announce its collaboration with SEG for the highly anticipated Geophysics in Geothermal Energy – Today and Tomorrow workshop is up on our website. Be a part of this highly-anticipated virtual event that will be taking place from 12–14 October. This provides us the opportunity to provide all ASEG Members to ATTEND virtually with an interactive an immersive experience and the ability to connect with like-minded individuals from across the globe.

ASEG members receive a special discounted price of $US320. In order to benefit from the above rates, they should contact Suba Jaganathan on sjaganathan@seg.org.

Our technical committee has created a special workshop that branches out into specific topics that run parallel to each other, thus attendees can curate and choose the session they would like to view. A recording will also be available within 24 hours for attendees to re-watch any session they have missed, thus providing an enriching and wholesome experience throughout the workshop. We encourage anyone involved in geoscience or geothermal resource exploration to join in on this informative conversation: seismic processers, petrophysicists, rock physicists, geologists, geophysicists, geomechanicists and reservoir engineers.

To view the entire technical programme, please visit our website where you can download it, or watch the video for what you can look forward to during the workshop:

REGISTER NOW

Title: Preconditioned Compressive Sensing for Wavefield Reconstruction, Applications to tomography, Helmholtz-Hodge decomposition and Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Presenter: Jack Muir

Date/Time: Sep 2, 2021 1300 (AEST)

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Sr40IBw9SmiEnyMh5dOY4w

Abstract: The proliferation of large seismic arrays have opened many new avenues of geophysical research; however most techniques still fundamentally treat regional and global scale seismic networks as a collection of individual time series rather than as a single unified data product. Wavefield reconstruction allows us to turn a collection of individual records into a single structured form that treats the seismic wavefield as a coherent 3D or 4D entity. We propose a split processing scheme based on a wavelet transform in time and Laplacian preconditioned curvelet based compressive sensing in space to create a sparse representation of the continuous seismic wavefield with smooth second order derivatives. Using this representation, we will illustrate three applications that require accurate access to the full wavefield including spatial gradients - 

Bio: Jack Muir

Jack is a 6th year graduate student in geophysics at the California Institute of Technology Seismological Laboratory (Caltech Seismolab) –- he will take up a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship at the Oxford University Department of Earth Sciences in late 2021 / early 2022, and is currently a visiting researcher at the Australian National University. He is passionate about inverse problems — some of the projects he is working on now are: imaging the Earth from near surface to the core; improving data captured at seismic arrays; and answering difficult questions about historical data sets.

Title: Managing Through (constant) Change And Uncertainty -  The Key Dilemmas Facing Resources Industry Personnel

Presenter: Michelle Henderson

Date: Tuesday  8th June

Time: 16:00 AEST  

Location: Joint Zoom virtual + physical presentation at Geoscience Australia

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yNHpLyXNTOOXe5Qx4FsGSA

Abstract:

The cyclical nature of the resources industry creates very specific challenges across investment through to people management.  Faced with constant ‘instability’, often supply-limited expertise and the uncertainty over discovery, how do we hold on to our people, maintain their enthusiasm and continue to lead success?

As a professional coach across government and scientific agencies, Michelle brings extensive experience to the ‘problem’ and solution.  Her empathetic and pragmatic approach empowers professionals to not only manage change, but to enthusiastically grasp the opportunities it brings. 

Bio:

Michelle Henderson is a professional consultant and coach. She has been consulting to government and scientific agencies for the last six years. Her specialties include executive leadership, change and working with governments.

As a consultant Michelle combines her passion for leadership and innovation. She works with senior leaders to help them manage their teams, and themselves, in constantly changing environments. Her empathetic and pragmatic approach empowers professionals to not only manage change, but to actively seek opportunities to make positive change happen.

Prior to consulting, Michelle worked for 23 years at executive and senior executive levels in the areas of industry, innovation and science policy. Michelle has a deep understanding of Australia’s innovation system and the important role science discovery, research and commercialisation play in knowledge and wealth creation for Australia.

Michelle has postgraduate qualifications in Management (industry strategy) and vocational qualifications in training and development.  She is a level 1 accredited coach.

Date: 30th March 2021

Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm AEDT

Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_J6zK4TXCTbCI1PxCI4uF9g

Richard retired from Geoscience Australia after more than a 30 year career of developing new geological understanding to open up provinces for exploration investment. Applied geophysics played a key component throughout his career, and this seminar will be a personal reflection on the key ‘geophysical-aha’ moments that have changed his understanding of a region’s geology and, through this new knowledge, Australia’s mineral potential.

The 30-year story begins in the field as a young geologist using geophysics to map Cape York, Pilbara and Yilgarn and seismic transects across a number of Proterozoic orogens, through the UNCOVER formulation to the lead designer of the Exploring for the Future programme.
 

On Tuesday 9 December, 3:30pm AEDT the ACT branch is bringing us a talk by Simon van der Wielen on GA’s new geophysical archive and data delivery system: GADDS 2.0

Geoscience Australia’s Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System (GADDS) brings magnetic, radiometric, gravity and digital elevation data from Australian National, State and Territory Government geophysical data archives together into a single location.

As the current platform on which GADDS resides is reaching the end of its life, Geoscience Australia has been preparing to migrate to a new platform. Following a period of testing, the system will be officially released in December 2020. The new platform offers users a simpler and faster experience with greater flexibility over form and size of data delivery. Over time, the platform will also offer access to a broader range of data including multi-variable datasets such as airborne EM and airborne gravity and gradiometry.

The migration of this platform primarily supports Geoscience Australia’s enabling an informed Australia priority area.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7sEBLy1ATmmtZq1ZtcN99A

Dear Member,

You are invited to Celebrate 50 years of the ASEG.

November 5, 5pm @ Lakeside Marquee (next to Snappers) at the Yacht Club Mariner Place, Yarralumla.

Save the Date and RSVP today.

Cost: 

• $15 for members plus 1 non-member accompanying a member (not including drinks)
• $50 for non-members (not including drinks)
• Please email for kids details.

Dinner will be a 3 Course Gold Plated Menu –with alternate service, with consideration to food restrictions. Menu details and payment details on request.

Please indicate your interest in attending by the 27^th October by replying here indicating

•           Number of people
•           Food allergies
•           Food restrictions Vegetation / Vegan etc.

The application of 2.5D AEM inversion to resource exploration with reference to open file survey examples from NSW, QLD and WA

The application of 2.5D AEM inversion to resource exploration.

The 2.5D AEM inversion technology developed by Intrepid produces spatially accurate images of subsurface conductivity in both cross section and in plan that are mostly free from the problems often seen in CDI and 1D inversions – particularly where 1D assumptions are not met.

Through a series of examples and survey configurations, we will demonstrate that 2.5D inversion products can be used confidently by geologists and geophysicists for orebody targeting and for geological and structural mapping in plan as well as in cross section. These products also facilitate the integrated interpretation of AEM, magnetics, gravity and surface geology.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_w83cseQ-RYKQ6K3HoZQamw

Date: Wednesday 15 July

Presenter: Indrajit G. Roy (PhD)

A link to the Zoom webinar will be shared closer to the event date.

Title: Computations methods in Geophysics

Abstract:

Mathematical derivatives, since their birth within calculus in the last quarter of seventeenth century, have been occupying a most important place in almost every sphere of science.  They are fundamental to geophysical modelling and particularly potential field data analysis, from data presentation through to quantitative interpretation. But the challenges of robust and precise estimation of derivatives along with their implementation are many. This presentation will review some of those challenges, how to minimize errors and provide insight into many of their applications.

Abstract:

A portable, broadband TEM system, Loupe, has been developed for the purpose of measuring the distribution of near-surface electrical conductivity.  The system records continuously using a three-component coil receiver mounted on an ergonomic backpack from signals generated from a small (660mm) diameter transmitter loop mounted on a similar backpack.

The Loupe system is designed to measure primarily in the top 25 metres of the ground, previously the charter of frequency-domain EM systems.  Using modern electronics and software we have been able to overcome many of the problems associated with the broad bandwidth needed to define near surface conductivity with a time domain system.  Sampling at around 500,000 samples per second and processed to produce a measurement of secondary field every second, the Loupe system provides very high spatial resolution.  Data can be viewed as the operators walk, allowing survey redesign as necessary.

During 2019, trial surveys have been conducted with Loupe in a number of near-surface applications including mineral exploration on surface and underground, geological / regolith mapping, study of groundwater around tailings storage facilities and the mapping of structural features in open-cut mines.  We see a wide application for Loupe in mapping seepage both from mine tailings and acid mine drainage.

The Loupe system has proved to be extremely versatile working in difficult terrain and areas with high electromagnetic interference such as mine sites and urban sites. Special challenges are presented when working underground due to power reticulation, vehicle movement, infrastructure and particularly steel mesh reinforcing.  We will give examples showing data collected in these challenging circumstances.

During this presentation, we will summarise the Loupe system and show results from several recent surveys.

Greg is the director of Loupe Geophysics based in WA. He has been working with geophysical systems in mining, groundwater and environmental applications for over 40 years

Date: Thursday 28th Nov

Time: 4.30 to 6.00pm

Venue: Scrivener room, Geoscience Australia, Symonston

Title: Earthquake catalogues and 3D earth structure: a coupled problem

Speaker: Babak Hejrani

Abstract:

The majority of the Earth’s seismic activity occurs within the top 30 km of the crust which illustrates the shallow dynamic of the driving plate tectonics of our planet. At the same time large, shallow and tsunamigenic earthquakes are among the most destructive natural disasters which surround Australia in the Pacific ‘ring-of-fire’. The 2004 Great Sumatra earthquake and associated tsunami killed ~230,000 people in 14 countries. Thus, the accurate estimation of the location and mechanism of shallow earthquakes is highly crucial for seismic hazard assessments and a better understanding of the shallow dynamic of the Earth. I have developed and implemented methods to incorporate the 3D heterogeneity of the earth into seismic source parameter estimation. Based on these developments, I have drawn a new earthquake catalogue for Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands using a 3D continental earth model of the Australasian regions. Using high-resolution 3D Earth models, I present a high-frequency simulation of the 2016 Petermann Ranges earthquake in central Australia.

Bio:

I am from Kurdistan (in Iran). I did my bachelor degree in pure mathematics in University of Kurdistan. I moved to Tehran (Iran’s capital) to do a master degree in Geophysics.

I did my PhD studies on 3D Earth imaging in Aarhus University, Denmark. I moved to Australia, 5 years ago, to undertake a post-doctoral research on incorporating 3D earth structure into earthquake monitoring.

My presentation today will bring together various strands of my research and its application to earthquakes within the Australasian portion of the ring-of-fire