Geosc 558

Fall 2005

Lecture and Lab Schedule:
Lecture - Monday and Wednesday 10:10 - 11:25 AM in 25 Deike
Lab - Tuesday and Thursday 3:45 - 5:45 PM n 337 Deike

Syllabus:
Syllabus (coming soon)

Text and Readings:
Required Text: None (handouts and notes)
Reserved Text: RE Sheriff and LP Geldart, 1995, Exploration Seismology, 2nd Ed, Cambridge Univ Press, Cambridge, ISBN 0-521-46826-4

ANGEL
Click here for a link to the ANGEL, Penn State's course management system

Course Description:
Multichannel seismic data interpretation is the standard tool for imaging the earth's interior with applications in oil and natural-gas exploration, gas hydrates, environmental imaging, sedimentary basin research, and crustal structure for tectonophysics research. The audience for this course includes those interested in exploration, those looking to more fully understand multichannel data analysis (e.g., radar, cross-well tomography, large-array earthquake datasets, etc.), as well as those interested in the detection and characterization of fluids in the subsurface.

This course will cover the basics of seismic energy propagation in the earth; modern multichannel land- and marine seismic data acquisition terminology and field-methods; data processing including deconvolution, filtering, stacking, and time- and depth-migration; interpretation of the shot-records, the stacked sections, and the migrated sections. The interpretation component will include an introduction to mapping and visualization along with the resolution of seismic data; structural (extensional, salt-dome, etc) and stratigraphic interpretation.

This class will take a problem-based approach by requiring the students to process data as part of the associated lab. We will go from raw field data to an interpreted section over the course of the semester. The sequence of ``data acquisition'' through ``interpretation'' will be taught with emphasis on standard exploration-industry techniques. Many academic programs use exploration-industry contractors and techniques for their research goals so these techniques are widely applicable. Example datasets will be provided and each student (or group of students) must process and interpret the ``prospect'' as a final project.

A key part of the class is the strong integration of the associated lab (Applied Geophysics Instructional Facility) where the data will be processed and interpreted using Landmark software (Promax and Seisworks) and free Colorado-Mines software.

Outline:
Aquisition overview
Physics of seismic energy propogation
Mathematics - time, freq, sampling, convolution
Aquisition geometries, noise cancellation
Processing - preprocess, filtering - velocity analysis, stacking - migration
Rock Impedance Relationships - lithology, fluids, and porosity
Well Logs and Seismics
Stratigraphic Interpretation - 2D - mapping sequences and depositional systems
Structural and Stratigraphic Interpretation - 3D data examples

Field Trip:
Click here for information on the seismic shoot field trip taken Thursday 10/2/2003

Helpful Information:
"New Geoscience Class Prepares Students for Oil Industry Careers"
Instructions on using a remote host with ProMAX
Information on 2D Processing
Instructions on printing and creating a .cgm file
Creating a file using .cgm to .ps
Fixing the zps color problem

This site was last updated on January 8, 2007
web problems may be directed to hnelson@geosc.psu.edu