National

Survey Design and Seismic Acquisition for Land, Marine, and In-between in Light of New Technology and Techniques

Registration: SEG DISC registration

ASEG members get the member price of $250US, and registration comes with free copy of the e-book.

Day 1 – August 10th

Start time: 8:00am – 12:00pm PERTH time

Day 2 – August 11th

Start time: 8:00am – 12:00pm PERTH time

Description

Seismic surveys are subject to many different design criteria, but often the parameters are established based on an outdated view of how data can be acquired, and how it will be processed. This course is designed to highlight what is possible using modern methods, and how they impact seismic survey design.

Survey designs are subject to a limited set of operational and geophysical considerations. What frequencies do we require (in the source), and what will or can we detect? What geometry will be utilized, and what record length will be recorded?

However, new techniques and processing methods require that we understand and answer a new and different set of questions:

• Are classic survey geometries outdated? What geometry is optimum given almost limitless availability of channels, and how are these best deployed if they are not constrained to be connected together?
• How do you QC data from a system that doesn’t permit real time views of data?
• How do compressive sensing methodologies fit into classical geometry requirements, and can these significantly impact how data is acquired and processed? Is random “optimum” and is optimum unique?
• Do offset and sampling requirements change if processing will utilize FWI and/or least squares migration?
• Can very low frequencies be generated, detected and used for improved inversion?
• How should simultaneous sources be utilized, and can subsequent data be separated from the continuous records that will be required if this technique is used? If two sources are better than one, are four better than two?
• What should we expect of seismic data five or ten years from now?

This course is designed to cover some of the fundamentals of survey design, but will highlight the changes in technology that we have seen in the past five years, and those that are likely to develop in the next five years with a view to allowing seismic surveys to be designed and acquired to optimize technology efficiencies and interpretation requirements in light of new technology.

Goals

This course will not describe specific survey designs for particular geologic objectives, but after attending this course, the participant should:

• Understand the basic geophysical requirements of a seismic survey, based on geologic objectives
• Have a much-improved knowledge of the differences between classic survey design, and what is required for modern high-end processing techniques including FWI 
• Understand the concepts of simultaneous sources, compressive sensing, node acquisition, and broadband data, and see how these fit into survey design techniques
• Understand that there is a relationship between acquisition parameters and seismic image quality
• Understand how the basic requirements tied to modern acquisition and processing ideas can fundamentally change the data that is presented to an interpreter, and why final data volumes can look significantly different from legacy data

Who should attend?

All those interested in seismic surveys should attend. Geophysicists involved in acquisition may discover new techniques and concepts which with they are unfamiliar. Geophysicists involved in processing seismic data will better understand the shortcomings of the data that they are given to process, and better understand what techniques will, and will not, work for a particular survey. The interpreter may better understand the difference between modern seismic volumes presented for interpretation, and the legacy data that he is accustomed to interpreting. For those directly involved in survey design, the concepts will open up the potential for acquiring better images of the subsurface more efficiently, and at less cost.

The course does not require extensive mathematical knowledge or background. Concepts will be explained in a way that the layman or manager can understand. Students will be able to follow and understand the course from the basics to the level of asking knowledgeable questions of those actually involved in seismic acquisition and processing.

Survey Design and Seismic Acquisition for Land, Marine, and In-between in Light of New Technology and Techniques

Registration: SEG DISC registration

ASEG members get the member price of $250US, and registration comes with free copy of the e-book.

Day 1 – August 10^th

Start time: 8:00am – 12:00pm PERTH time

Day 2 – August 11^th

Start time: 8:00am – 12:00pm PERTH time

Description

Seismic surveys are subject to many different design criteria, but often the parameters are established based on an outdated view of how data can be acquired, and how it will be processed. This course is designed to highlight what is possible using modern methods, and how they impact seismic survey design.

Survey designs are subject to a limited set of operational and geophysical considerations. What frequencies do we require (in the source), and what will or can we detect? What geometry will be utilized, and what record length will be recorded?

However, new techniques and processing methods require that we understand and answer a new and different set of questions:

• Are classic survey geometries outdated? What geometry is optimum given almost limitless availability of channels, and how are these best deployed if they are not constrained to be connected together?
• How do you QC data from a system that doesn’t permit real time views of data?
• How do compressive sensing methodologies fit into classical geometry requirements, and can these significantly impact how data is acquired and processed? Is random “optimum” and is optimum unique?
• Do offset and sampling requirements change if processing will utilize FWI and/or least squares migration?
• Can very low frequencies be generated, detected and used for improved inversion?
• How should simultaneous sources be utilized, and can subsequent data be separated from the continuous records that will be required if this technique is used? If two sources are better than one, are four better than two?
• What should we expect of seismic data five or ten years from now?

This course is designed to cover some of the fundamentals of survey design, but will highlight the changes in technology that we have seen in the past five years, and those that are likely to develop in the next five years with a view to allowing seismic surveys to be designed and acquired to optimize technology efficiencies and interpretation requirements in light of new technology.

Goals

This course will not describe specific survey designs for particular geologic objectives, but after attending this course, the participant should:

• Understand the basic geophysical requirements of a seismic survey, based on geologic objectives
• Have a much-improved knowledge of the differences between classic survey design, and what is required for modern high-end processing techniques including FWI 
• Understand the concepts of simultaneous sources, compressive sensing, node acquisition, and broadband data, and see how these fit into survey design techniques
• Understand that there is a relationship between acquisition parameters and seismic image quality
• Understand how the basic requirements tied to modern acquisition and processing ideas can fundamentally change the data that is presented to an interpreter, and why final data volumes can look significantly different from legacy data

Who should attend?

All those interested in seismic surveys should attend. Geophysicists involved in acquisition may discover new techniques and concepts which with they are unfamiliar. Geophysicists involved in processing seismic data will better understand the shortcomings of the data that they are given to process, and better understand what techniques will, and will not, work for a particular survey. The interpreter may better understand the difference between modern seismic volumes presented for interpretation, and the legacy data that he is accustomed to interpreting. For those directly involved in survey design, the concepts will open up the potential for acquiring better images of the subsurface more efficiently, and at less cost.

The course does not require extensive mathematical knowledge or background. Concepts will be explained in a way that the layman or manager can understand. Students will be able to follow and understand the course from the basics to the level of asking knowledgeable questions of those actually involved in seismic acquisition and processing.

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.
 

Title:    An explanation for the distribution of Broken Hill style mineralization invoking dense rift-related igneous intrusions.

Presenter: Peter Gunn (MSc, PhD)
Day and Date of Event:    Wednesday 17th March 2021
Start and finish times:6:00 pm to 7:00 pm AEST

ABSTRACT
This talk is a revised version of an invited keynote presentation made at a Broken Hill Symposium in 2015.
 
The talk will suggest explanations for:
 
-                      the gravity field of the Broken Hill area
-                      the distribution and origin of the Ag-Pb-Zn mineralisation
-                      the distribution and origin of the Cu mineralisation
-                      the magnetic field of the Broken Hill area
-                      the original structure of the Broken Hill area
-                      the present structure of the Broken Hill area
-                      the topography of the Broken Hill area
-                      and - gives guidelines for exploring for Broken Hill type deposits.
 
Various workers have suggested that the Broken Hill area originated as a rift that was subsequently metamorphosed and intensively deformed. The presenter agrees with this idea and, based on his experiences with many well studied rifts elsewhere in the world, largely in the context of hydrocarbon exploration, identifies subtleties that do not appear to have been appreciated as applying to the Broken Hill rift.

Registration link: https://tas.currinda.com/register/event/2198

NExUS-Professional Development (NExUS-PD) workshops are very proud to to be able to present this highly regarded workshop online for the very first time.

The specially designed two-day online workshop will introduce the fundamentals of geological interpretation of aeromagnetic data.

The workshop will feature lectures, practical activities and case studies all using integrated data sets.

Each day will feature 3 x 2hr sessions with exercises to be completed between the sessions and time allocated for extended discussions. 

The format aims for open, transparent communication, with input from participants highly encouraged to share knowledge and experiences.

Note: This is a level-4 course (honours level) and is designed to be suitable for early career geoscientists, honours students and HDR students. The workshop is not assessed.

Day 1 (Tue, 30th Mar): Methodology of Aeromagnetic Interpretation – Presented by David Isles 

Day 2 (Wed, 31st Mar): Geological Interpretation and Structure – Presented by Leigh Rankin 

Cancellation and Refund T&C: Refunds will be given if notice of non-attendance is received prior to 3 days of the course start date or in the event the course is cancelled.

For further information view the flyer here or contact Richard Lilly: richard.lilly@adelaide.edu.au 

Register here.

We would like to remind members that the ASEG are offering full fee paid scholarships to attend the NExUS Course, Geological Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Data. The ASEG will fund registrations for two full and one student registration. Preference will be given to members earlier in their career. 

To apply for the scholarship, ensure your ASEG membership is current, and send an email to secretary@aseg.org.au outlining in 100 words or less how this would benefit you. Applications close 10 March, successful scholarship recipients will be announced Friday 19 March.

ASEG Fed AGM (Tues 6th April, Prof Graham Heinson, 5:30 pm ACDT). 

Zoom link for: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qcOGtrjIoGt0sZtdmtSvXyAg-S7S6uIjn

More details to come.

Using Airborne Gravimetry Data To Improve The Australian Model Of Zero Heights

Presenter name & affiliations / institution: Dr Jack McCubbine, Geoscience Australia.

Abstract: In 2017, a new Australian quasigeoid model (AGQG2017) was released, with an accompanying map of uncertainty values. The model was determined from the national terrestrial gravity database and satellite altimetry derived gravity anomalies. The coverage and reliability of these data limit the accuracy of the quasigeoid model to 5 - 8 cm. However, users of the model require a reference surface which is accurate to 4 cm, or better. Geoscience Australia has partnered with, The South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, The Surveyor-General Victoria within the Department of Land Water and Planning and The Geological Survey of Victoria within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to capture airborne gravity data over Greater Adelaide, Greater Melbourne and Eastern Victoria Highlands, to improve the quasigeoid model and to advance geophysical modelling.

Bio: In 2016, Jack was awarded a PhD in Geophysics from Victoria University of Wellington for his work on the collection of a national wide airborne gravity dataset, producing a new series of national gravity grids, and a new quasigeoid model for New Zealand. Following this, he came to work at Curtin University, as a post doc, working on the development of a new Australian quasigeoid model with uncertainty estimates. Jack later moved to work at GA in the National Geodesy section, to assist with the geodetic absolute gravity program and to continue to refine the national quasigeoid model.

More information can be found here: https://www.land.vic.gov.au/surveying/geodesy/airborne-gravity-survey

To register, use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gyOaiZS-RwWMQh2DJBD2aQ

Helping explorers find the nuggets in precompetitive

Join us for David Upton from Precompetitive Review speaking on March 16, 2021 at 12:00 PM (AEDT).

Abstract: Australian precompetitive data and research is having a big impact on mineral discovery in Australia, but it could be doing so much more. We can’t blame this on governments —funding support at federal and state levels is strong. And we can’t blame it in our public geoscientists and academics, who keep on delivering innovative, clever and industry-relevant work. The biggest barrier is a failure by more explorers to seize the opportunities in precompetitive data and research. They can’t be blamed for that either because keeping on top of precompetitive data and research is not easy. Precompetitive Review was launched last year to help the public sector share its work and translate precompetitive data and research into ideas industry can act upon.

Biography: David completed a BSc in Geology at Flinders University in 1985, but chose to write about resources rather than look for them. After several years as a business journalist, including a stint at the SMH/Age in Sydney, he veered off into the murky world of public relations, working for banks, accounting firms and management consultants. David came to his senses in 2007 when he started writing again about mineral exploration. A self-published book released in 2010, The Olympic Dam Story, sparked a fascination with big exploration concepts and the unappreciated value of precompetitive data and research. A decade later, David began publishing Precompetitive Review.

To register, please click here.

We have a new webinar on Wednesday 23 March, 4pm AEDT NT is bringing you a talk by Teagan Blaikie and Helen McFarlane of CSIRO on Interpreting high-resolution aeromagnetic data to aid mapping undercover and structural analysis of the Tanami Region and northwest Aileron Province.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q4dRbOExQEuiV8tHkm9CKA

We have another exciting year of ASEG webinars kicking off next week with a new webinar on Thursday 28 January, 1pm AEDT by Professor Eun-Jung Holden from the University of Western Australia on Geological Knowledge Discovery using Machine Augmented Intelligence.

Geological interpretation is a complex task where an interpreter’s bias plays an important role. As a result, interpretation outcomes are variable and uncertain, but nevertheless, these outcomes form the basis of decisions with significant environmental, social and financial implications. With the increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in our daily lives such as for information search, online shopping, and virtual assistant AI, the geoscience domain has also been active in the uptake of machine learning and AI to assist in interpreting geology from data.

This talk presents innovative machine-assisted technologies that improve the efficiency and the robustness of geological interpretation of different types of geodata used in the resource industry. A number of applications of machine learning were developed in collaboration with the mining industry for the analysis and integration of multi-modal drill hole data. These applications integrate the algorithms and workflows to assist human decisions. The approach is to provide end users the control of the algorithmic process as much as possible; and to enable a seamless integration of algorithms in the interpreter’s workflow using interactive visualisation. This talk also presents an on-going AI research that extracts geological insights from documents using machine reading of text. It applies advanced text mining methods and constructs a graph based knowledge base called a knowledge graph to store and access geological information. Case studies on different mineral deposits demonstrate the effectiveness of the methods for rapidly and robustly transforming text data into structured information that faithfully represents the contents of the source reports.

Bio:

Professor Holden received her BSc, MSc and PhD in computer science from the University of Western Australia.  Her postgraduate and postdoctoral research focused on developing visualisation, automated image analysis and machine learning techniques for hand gesture recognition.  Then in 2006, she made a transition to geoscience and currently leads the Geodata Algorithms Team at UWA.  The team effectively spans the boundaries of computational science and geoscience and links academia and industry.  The team’s research resulted in the commercialisation of three software products, namely CET Grid Analysis and CET Porphyry Detection extensions for Oasis Monaj; and televiewer image analysis methods in the Image & Structure Interpretation workspace for ALT’s WellCAD.  These products had significant uptake by the resource industry globally.   Recently, their research also resulted in two industry driven patents on machine assisted drillhole data interpretation methods.  Professor Holden currently leads a major industry funded research engagement named the UWA-Rio Tinto Iron Ore Data Fusion Projects.  Her team won the UWA Vice Chancellor Award in Impact and Innovation in 2015 and she was a winner of the Women in Technology in WA (WiTWA) Tech [+] 20 Awards in 2019.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_f-K3VeVKTfiuHWiXBJf65g