April 21, 2003

Tuesday April 17, 2003 convened at 2:00 pm

Attending:

Guy Flanagan - Chairman, John Bain, Rao Yalamanchili, Pat Millegan, Ed Biegert, Manik Talwani, Dave Oxley, Jeff Rowe, Harold Yarger, Brian Anderson, Chuck Campbell, Gerry Hensel, Afif Saad, Mark Weber, Corine Prieto, Kwok Chan

Adoption of minutes from previous meeting (10-8-2002)

Old Business:

Chuck Campbell reported for Alan Reid on the status of data standards. Alan's comments are embedded here:

"GXF is still before the main SEG standards committee, for consideration and adoption as an SEG standard.

Within GXF, we have frozen the version of Coordinate System standard at the EPSG Release 5.3 for the present because adoption of release 6 would break backward compatibility of GXF. We will be reviewing this decision mid-year 2003. The review will decide either: A. Confirm that we will stay with Revision 5.3 of EPSG for the time being because XMML is showing encouraging progress. We aim to support XMML when it is usable.

or

B. Agree that XMML is still a long way off and Rev 6 of EPSG is stable and worth the pain of adopting it.

or

C. Whatever else seems prudent."

Guy Flanagan reported on Meter Reader status for John Peirce. John's comments are embedded here:

"April - Small EM sensors - I.J.Won.

May - Recent advances in airborne survey technology and performance approaching ground based surveys - Bill Doll - lots about UXO surveys.

Papers in the pipeline: Aldana (USB, Caracas) - A review of rock magnetic and mineralogical studies applied to surface characterization of oil reservoirs in Venezuela - a very detailed study of high susceptibilities in core and surface samples.

Won - Another EM article - a few months away.

Goussav et al. - Article on interpreting a meteorite impact from HRAM in NE British Columbia. Not yet submitted to Dean, but should be ready next week. For August issue.

Dean Clark is working on interview with Manik Talwani - intended to be like profiles done several years ago of prominent geophysics. Progress is slow.

I still have several ideas to follow up from last year's SEG, but the article submission rate has been so steady that I have not followed them up yet."

Pat Millegan reported on status of special issue on Geophysics in Space. There are currently 8 papers submitted with a possibility of one more. He noted that all the papers refer back to Earth which was a requirement for submission.

Mark Weber asked how we can get more oil exploration related papers?

Brian Anderson suggested possibility of publishing a summary of the SEG workshop in Leading Edge.

John Bain suggested that one reason less oil company papers are published is the difficulty in getting release of seismic data.

Pat Millegan suggested this may be a greater SEG issue and might be an issue to be brought before the executive committee.

Brian offered to bring the issue before the IAGC of which he is a member.

Corine Prieto inquired if we were stopping publishing because of waiting for seismic data release?

Flanagan reported on Continuing Education course for Michal Ruder. Gravity and magnetics course being offered in Denver in June and during Doodlebugger week in Calgary in the Fall. Offering in conjunction with SEG not looking as successful and efforts should be made to offer In-house in specific cities possibly sponsored by local sections.

Flanagan reported that the updated North American Database is moving forward with NIMA and USGS data but with no additional releases of company data.

Flanagan also reported that Alan Reid has agreed to be editor for a CD volume on gravity and magnetic papers to be published by SEG.

Ed Biegert indicated that he can't locate the Committee page on the SEG website. Chuck Campbell agreed to pursue updating the WEB site to bring it into conformity with SEG standards.

Flanagan requested input of members that might be considered for awards and reported that one individual is currently nominated for Honorary Membership and has received significant support.

Flanagan requested input of items that should be brought before the Executive Committee meeting on May 9th.

2003 Technical Meeting discussion:

Dave Oxley reported that only 13 papers have been submitted for the SEG meeting. He requested assistance in reviewing the papers.

Flanagan reported that John Warme (professor at CSM) has agreed to be luncheon speaker. He will speak on Impact Craters. Funding has been supplied for his transportation and the Technical Committee has agreed to supply a one day floor pass. Additional minor funding is requested to cover his room, meals and miscellaneous expenses.

Harold Yarger reported on the SEG Workshop status. Working title is "Enhanced Seismic Imaging with Gravity and Magnetics".

The workshop will have three components:

1) 3 or 4 oral presentations (preferably from seismic users or processor's) on seismic imaging problems, pitfalls of model driven seismic inversions, velocity vs depth issues etc. that are germane to the problem.

The effort here is directed to increasing the interested audience to include the wider seismic community.

Doug Foster (Senior Researcher at ConocoPhillips) has already agreed to address the issue of pitfalls of model driven seismic inversions.

2) Poster papers on case history examples of G&M used to enhance seismic imaging/processing.

3) Panel discussion.

Significant discussion followed regarding title and objectives of workshop. Concern expressed that the title might attract seismic processors rather than interpreters.

Meeting Adjourned.