David H. Johnston chosen as the SEG 2013 Distinguished Instructor Short Course Lecturer

Tulsa, OK - 01 February 2013 – David H. Johnston of ExxonMobil will tour in 2013 as the SEG Distinguished Instructor Short Course (DISC) lecturer. The title of his lecture is Making a Difference with 4D: Practical Applications of Time-lapse Seismic Data.

Currently in its 15th year, the DISC is an eight-hour, one-day short course on a topic of current and wide-spread interest. Selection as the DISC instructor is viewed as a major honor and recognition of excellence by the SEG. The chosen instructor is a prominent geophysicist whose work and presentation appeal to a wide audience ranging from students to professionals.

The course, Making a Difference with 4D: Practical Applications of Time-lapse Seismic Data, addresses how 4D seismic interpretation is inherently integrative, drawing upon geophysical, geological, and reservoir engineering data and concepts. This new DISC course will provide a practical guide to the planning, acquisition, and processing of 4D surveys. The primary focus of the course will be on how to add value to the field through data interpretation and integration.

"It has been eight years since the DISC program last addressed 4D seismic technology, "states Dr. Johnston. "Since then, there have been advances in 4D acquisition and processing. However, more important, time-lapse seismic methods are now routinely applied to reservoir management over a wider span of geographic areas, geologic settings, and production scenarios. Interpretation methods range from qualitative evaluation of sweep to quantitative estimates of saturation and pressure change that can be used to history-match reservoir simulation models."

David H. Johnston is geophysics coordinator for ExxonMobil Production Company in Houston, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in earth sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 and a PhD in geophysics in 1978, also from MIT. After graduation, Johnston joined Exxon Production Research Co. (later ExxonMobil Upstream Research) and held assignments in rock physics research, velocity analysis and interpretation, and seismic reservoir characterization and monitoring. He moved to ExxonMobil Exploration Co. in 2002 where he was responsible for the worldwide application of time-lapse seismic technology. In 2008 Johnston began his current assignment where he provides technical and business stewardship of ExxonMobil's global production geophysics activity, including 4D seismic.

The SEG 2013 Distinguished Instructor Short Course Lecture Tour will begin this April in Medellin, Colombia. With over 35 dates around the world, the lecture tour will conclude in January 2014. Dr. Johnston's 2013 DISC travel costs will be underwritten by ExxonMobil.

The full DISC tour schedule will be available soon. Visit www.seg.org/disc for more information about the DISC.

 

About SEG
The Society of Exploration Geophysicists (www.seg.org), the international society of applied geophysics, is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the science of geophysics and the education of applied geophysicists. SEG fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in characterizing the near surface, and in mitigating Earth hazards. The Society, which has more than 32,000 members in 138 countries, fulfills its mission through its publications, conferences, forums, Web site, and educational opportunities. 

SEG Media Relations
Whitney Emerick
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