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- Volume 27, Issue 11, 2009
First Break - Volume 27, Issue 11, 2009
Volume 27, Issue 11, 2009
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Why dawn may be breaking for the second half of the age of oil
By C. CampbellAs founder of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO), retired petroleum geologist Dr Colin Campbell has done much to focus world attention on the still disputed concept of Peak Oil. In an article which goes beyond the traditional confines of a geoscience article, he makes the case for Peak Oil projections of a steady decline in available oil resources. We do not expect everyone to agree and make clear that publication of Dr Campbell’s viewpoint does not imply endorsement by First Break or its publisher EAGE. A constructive debate on the issues raised is nonetheless welcome.
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2D and 3D structural modelling in the Swiss-French Jura Mountains
Authors C. Turrini, K. Dups and C. PullanClaudio Turrini, Ken Dups and Chris Pullan detail how a recent structural model in the Jura Mountains based on all available geophysical and geological data resulted in a new interpretation in which thin-thick compression tectonics are found to have deformed both the pre- and post-salt sediments.
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New data and ideas for energy exploration in Australia
By N. StolzNed Stolz, Geoscience Australia, describes a major government initiative to encourage regional exploration for energy resources in Australia involving the acquisition of seismic\MT, airborne electromagnetics, radiometrics and magnetic data focused on petroleum, uranium, thorium, and geothermal energy systems.
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Southeast Asian stress map: implications for petroleum exploration and production
Authors M. Tingay, C. Morley, R. King, R. Hillis and D. CoblentzMark Tingay, Chris Morley, Rosalind King, Richard Hillis and David Coblentz describe the findings of a major project to map the stress field of SE Asia and the implications for oil and gas E&P.
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Research and application of gas detection techniques using full-wave attributes in southwest China
Authors C. Xiyuan, X. Tian-ji, T. Jian-ming, L. Xian-gui, J. Tinnin and J. HallinCai Xiyuan, Xu Tian-ji, Tang Jian-ming, Li Xian-gui, John Tinnin and James Hallin chronicle an application of full-wave interpretation utilizing attributes of full azimuth multi-component seismic which resulted in a significant increase in drilling success at the deep tight sandstone gas reservoirs in the Western Sichuan Depression of southwest China.
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The limestone hills of the Kinta Valley: a part of Malaysia’s geological heritage worth preserving
By B. PiersonProfessor Dr Bernard Pierson, Shell Chair in Petroleum Geosciences at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS since 2007, teaches and carries out research on carbonates. With his research team, he has been studying the Paleozoic limestone hills of the Kinta Valley, located on the Malaysia peninsula in the State of Perak. Here he explains why the hills are worth preserving.
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Petroleum exploration history: discovery pattern versus manpower, technology and the development of exploration principles
Authors A.M. Spencer and K. ChewDiscovery of conventional resources outside North America peaked during 1956–1980, when almost 60% out of the total 3535 Bbbloe of technically recoverable resources discovered through 2007 were found. Most of the 88 super-giant fields were also found during that period. How does this clear pattern of discovery compare with the patterns of development of the organizations, technologies and principles employed in petroleum exploration geoscience? Since 1900 the organizations involved in exploration have become steadily more numerous and diverse, as have the geoscientists employed, but both were affected by the oil price shock in 1985. The technologies for drilling and well geosciences evolved steadily. Similarly, seismic reflection technology, starting in 1920, has progressed relentlessly. Geochemical technologies, to analyse source rocks, their maturation and hydrocarbon generation, developed rapidly from 1970. Three ‘principles’ of petroleum exploration geoscience have been developed: the search for anticlinal traps replaced drilling on seeps in the 1930s; the exploration play was formulated in 1984; and the more general principle of the petroleum system was formulated in 1988. This history shows that the pattern of discovery and the patterns of manpower, technology and the development of principles have followed different paths in the period since 1900.
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Unbiased deterministic seismic inversion: more seismic, less model
By H. ÖzdemirLow frequencies missing from seismic data have to be modelled from log data for inversion to absolute rock properties. This can result in biased inversion results away from the existing wells. The risk of bias increases with higher frequency low-pass cutoffs of seismic data: more bandwidth added from the model (logs) and less from the seismic data. Low frequencies and a broadband spectrum are also required to avoid errors in layer thicknesses after seismic imaging and inversion. Two streamer and two source over/under acquisition and processing technology enables effective source and receiver ghost elimination that results in seismic data rich in low frequencies down to about 3 Hz. This is about a one octave gain over single streamer technology. As a result, over/under field data maps deep targets below basalt and better structural images are obtained. Inversion tests, including wedge modelling and porosity and fluid substitution modelling using extracted wavelets, show that good inversion results can be achieved with the over/under data using background models with a low-pass frequency of only about 3 Hz. Thus the possibility of bias due to addition of a low frequency component from model data during seismic inversion is significantly reduced.
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Volumes & issues
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Volume 42 (2024)
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Volume 41 (2023)
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Volume 40 (2022)
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Volume 39 (2021)
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Volume 38 (2020)
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Volume 37 (2019)
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Volume 36 (2018)
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Volume 35 (2017)
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Volume 34 (2016)
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Volume 33 (2015)
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Volume 32 (2014)
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Volume 31 (2013)
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Volume 30 (2012)
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Volume 29 (2011)
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Volume 28 (2010)
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Volume 27 (2009)
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Volume 26 (2008)
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Volume 25 (2007)
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Volume 24 (2006)
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Volume 23 (2005)
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Volume 22 (2004)
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Volume 21 (2003)
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Volume 20 (2002)
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Volume 19 (2001)
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Volume 18 (2000)
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Volume 17 (1999)
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Volume 16 (1998)
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Volume 15 (1997)
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Volume 14 (1996)
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Volume 13 (1995)
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Volume 12 (1994)
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Volume 11 (1993)
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Volume 10 (1992)
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Volume 9 (1991)
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Volume 8 (1990)
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Volume 7 (1989)
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Volume 6 (1988)
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Volume 5 (1987)
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Volume 4 (1986)
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Volume 3 (1985)
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Volume 2 (1984)
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Volume 1 (1983)