GEOSCIENCES

Gene Kliewer, Houston

SEG addresses shortage of scientists

At its 2007 annual meeting in September, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists took steps to draw more students into geoscience careers.

For starters, the SEG Foundation began a campaign to raise $15 million for its Advancing Geophysics Today, Inspiring Geoscientists for Tomorrow initiative. Early commitments to the project total $9.7 million, with fund raising under way. Of that total, $3.4 million is earmarked mostly for scholarships and summer field camps.

An accounting of the SEG Scholarship Committee indicates the society made its largest ever awards total of almost $450,000 to 172 students. The scholarship winners must be studying applied geophysics. Those students have 32 different nationalities and attend school in 18 different countries. The Scholarship Committee also established a Globalization Advisory Subcommittee to increase the reach of the program.

The other leg of the Foundation’s initiative involves speeding knowledge transfer among SEG members. Specific steps include expanded the global Distinguished Lecturer and Distinguished Instructor tours. A new Regional Lecturer program will recognize regional excellence. Schlumberger and Halliburton have added their support to SEG Foundation projects in announcements made at the Society of Exploration Geophysicists annual meeting.

Schlumberger has made a $1 million grant to help establish a Geoscientists Without Borders program. The SEG will award grants to projects that emphasize the humanitarian applications of geosciences such as fresh water location and natural hazard mitigation. One aim is to promote cooperation between academic and industrial organizations that involve geosciences students.

“Geoscientists Without Borders will strengthen university programs, introduce students to the practical and humanitarian benefits of geophysics and geosciences, and make a difference to the quality of life in many of the world’s most disadvantaged communities,” said Gary Servos, SEG Foundation board chairman.

Landmark, in Halliburton’s Drilling and Evaluation Division, has agreed to donate $400,000 to the SEG Foundation to help fund development of a new Website, SEG Online.

SEG has begun a program to develop its Internet presence for its 27,000 members with global access to current applied geophysical information.

“Halliburton and Landmark recognize the value in providing digital online access to comprehensive, leading-edge information,” said Doug Meikle, Landmark vice president, “and we are proud to play a role in this solution that will strengthen the global geophysical community.”

Paradigm has declared its intent to underwrite student memberships in SEG with a $437,500 donation over five years with CGGVeritas as a partner in the project.

“This is not a donation, it is an investment,” said John Gibson, Paradigm CEO, in announcing the program. The return on the investment is expected to be more graduate geophysicists.

Survey action

SeaBird Exploration Ltd. (BVI) has received a letter of award from Oil and National Gas Corporation of India for a 13,500 line km (8,389 mi) long-offset 2D survey outside the west coast of India.

The contract is valued at $20 million and is expected to take 4-5 months to carry out, including mobilization, demobilization, and data processing.

Wavefield Inseis ASA has signed contracts with BP and OMV for separate seismic surveys. The BP work will be off the Shetland Islands and the OMV job is in New Zealand.