The Norwegian Petroleum Society is organising its traditional three day geophysical seminar in Kristiansand.  The biennial seminar has, since its start in 1977, become popular and recognized throughout the petroleum industry. The themes of these seminars highlight recent achievements, changes and new developments in geophysical techniques relevant to the petroleum industry.

The world’s oil consumption is becoming increasingly dependent on oil produced from fields that are past their peak production and the oil industry has not succeeded in finding new reserves to balance the increased demand. In the future we will need to explore for more subtle traps, both in mature and frontier areas. For the producing fields we need to increase the recovery rates and increase efficiency by new work processes. The main objective of the 2010 seminar is to highlight how development and applications of geophysical interpretation techniques can help to meet these challenges, specifically for the Norwegian continental shelf. Improvements related to analysis and integration of different geophysical data and geological knowledge, are required in exploration, field development and production.

We have asked for geophysical papers and preferably case studies about best practices and breakthrough technologies within the following areas:

Exploration:

• The use of electromagnetic methods for hydrocarbon exploration has been tested  on numerous prospects worldwide and especially on the Norwegian continental  shelf. Papers addressing how to advance with this method, and especially on interpretation of EM data are welcome.
• Arctic and deep water exploration are crucial topics for “yet to find hydrocarbon resources”, and therefore we want to encourage papers focusing on these two  themes.
• Recent developments in processing of geophysical data have lead to significant revitalisation of our data base. For seismic data, we tend to reprocess data every 5th year, and we encourage papers demonstrating how reprocessing has lead to significant improvements of the interpretation of the data.
• Seismic imaging, enhanced focus on pre-stack algorithms, more correct handling of the velocity field (including anisotropy) and better integration with geological  models are key topics for enhanced interpretation of seismic data. Therefore, we encourage papers focusing on how detailed and even minor improvements in the imaging process can influence the interpretation process.

Production and enhanced oil recovery:

• Time lapse seismic is now a well established tool that is in frequent use at Norwegian hydrocarbon fields. However, the quantitative use and especially handling of the corresponding uncertainties related to the 4D interpretation is still underdeveloped. Papers addressing quantitative 4D methods, and improvements in uncertainty analysis are welcome.
• Papers related to the use of complementary tools for improved reservoir description and monitoring, such as passive seismic, gravity and electromagnetic methods are welcome.
• Integrated operations have been regarded as one of the most promising areas for enhanced hydrocarbon production. Papers demonstrating new ways of integrating techniques and work processes are encouraged. 
• As for exploration, seismic imaging, focus on pre-stack algorithms and more correct handling of the velocity field (including anisotropy) are key topics for enhanced interpretation of seismic data.
• The coupling between reservoir simulation and geomechanical modelling and 4D geophysical data is not fully matured, and papers related to how to couple these three disciplines in an efficient way will certainly be of great interest to the attendees of the seminar.

CO2 handling and gas storage:

• Papers addressing mapping and qualification of suitable subsurface formations for storage of CO2 are welcome.
• Since hydrocarbon reservoirs represent a huge potential for storage of CO2, it is important to focus on CO2-injection as a method for enhanced oil recovery. Papers  discussing monitoring methods to improve this approach are very relevant for this session.

Recruitment
There is no doubt that the geophysical industry in Norway has a huge long-term challenge related to recruitment. Although the number of geoscience students has increased somewhat in the last 5 years, there will probably be a lack of young, skilled geophysicists in the next decade. The industry is well known for its oscillatory behaviour, which is also reflected in the recruitment activity. Are there any actions we can take to dampen these oscillations, and to avoid that highly qualified students seek other businesses and opportunities? The arrangement of a 1 hour panel debate on this topic has been suggested at the seminar. 

Key note speakers will introduce each session:

• Full azimuth imaging at Heidrun, Mark Thompson (StatoilHyrdro)
• Time lapse seismic for optimum reservoir management – deepwater West Africa, 
   David Johnston (ExxonMobil)
• The future of geophysics – where will we be in 10 years?, Brian Hornby (BP)
• Fibre optic sensor technology for permanent seismic monitoring at Ekofisk,   
   Per Gunnar Folstad, ConocoPhillips
• Seismic Inversion: Deterministic or Stochastic?, Olivier Dubrule (Total)

The programme commitee expects to have the final programme ready by end November/beginning of December 2009.
Please also check the NPF web site www.npf.no for latest information.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee,

Martin Landrø
Chairman of the Organising Committee




The members of the Programme Committee are;
Martin Landrø, NTNU (chair)- mlan@ipt.ntnu.no
Anthony Cooke, WesternGeco - acooke4@slb.com
Cees Corsten, A/S Norske Shell - c.corsten@shell.com
Terje Dahl, Statoil ASA - teda@statoil.com
Svein Idar Førsund, NORECO - svein.idar.foersund@noreco.com
Yuriza Noor, TOTAL E&P Norge AS - yuriza.noor@ep.total.no
Ja H. Kommedal, BP Norge AS - kommedjh@bp.com
Ivar Andreas Sandø, Statoil ASA- ivar.andreas.sando@statoil.com
Lars Sønneland, Schlumberger Oilfield Research - lars.sonneland@slb.com
Niels Jørgen Ventzel, ConocoPhillips - niels.j.ventzel@conocophillps.com
Vetle Vinje, CGGVeritas- vetle.vinje@cggveritas.com
Karin B. Haugnæss, Norwegian Petroleum Society (secretary) - karin.haugness@npf.no

For information please contact:
Norwegian Petroleum Society (NPF)
P.O.Box 573 Sentrum
N-0105 OSLO, Norway
Phone no.:  0047-455 15 074
Telefax no.: 0047-22 43 29 01
E-mail:  karin.haugness@npf.no


The Norwegian Geophysical Award

Geophysics has been important contributors ever since the beginning of the oil industry in Norway. Norway was well equipped with geophysical competence from the start, especially due to the Seismological Observatory at the University in Bergen, which was well advanced both in geophysical education and research.

As early as 1984, Kristian Kolbjørnsen took the initiative to establish a Geophysical Award. Geco and Norsk Data were founding sponsors. The first members of the selection committee were Markvard Sellevoll, Egil Bergsager, and Finn Roar Aamodt. Finn Roar is probably the person with the longest seniority in the committee, serving from 1984 until 2006.

Since then, times have changed, and so have the companies and the committee, but the Geophysical Award has endured. Today WesternGeco sponsors the Award which includes a cheque for NOK20,000, an engraved stone, and a diploma, which are awarded during the NPF Geophysical Conference in Kristiansand every second year. The statutes for evaluating candidates are:

S T A T U T E S

WesternGeco will donate NOK 20,000 for an award in geophysics, called the the Norwegian Geophysical Prize.

Purpose:

Selection Committee

General Rules