Special Session: Recent Advances and the Road Ahead Leading SEG members share the future with a packed house Mick Swiney, SEG Staff  | | Total's Henri Houllevigue discusses the future of the industry with regard to the growing prevalence of wireless technology. | There was standing room only in Ballroom A of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center as a veritable "Who's Who" of former and current SEG officers, Honorary Lecturers, and other notable members gathered to present some of the new and innovative directions in the geophysics field. At times it seemed as if the full attendance of the SEG 2012 Annual Meeting would pass through this session at one point or another: sessions were packed literally to overflowing, with many participants making use of overflow rooms set up with a direct feed from the presentations so that all could attend. Others lay in wait outside the door for upcoming sessions pertinent to their work or interests, ready to swarm into the room to occupy the seats of those departing the previous session. For their part, the presenters delved into their topics with good humor and passion, eloquently framing new developments within the greater context of the industry. Under the thoughtful questions and guidance of session chairs Cengiz Esmersoy, Wafik Beydoun, and Rick Gibson, the presenters even managed to stick to their tight 20-30 minute timeframes with surgical precision, often reserving time to field questions from the audience and the panel before yielding the floor. In the end, this four-hour special session - arguably one of the most important of the Annual Meeting - passed with incredible speed as all eight lecturers gave their listeners a glimpse at the future of the industry, and SEG itself. A brief summary of topics is as follows:
Simultaneous Sources: The inaugural full-field, marine seismic case history from Australia Former SEG President and Distinguished Lecturer Craig Beasley shared the work of Apache and WesternGeco on using simultaneous sources to improve sampling. View expanded abstract
First field data examples of inverse scattering series direct depth imaging without the velocity model Former SEG Distinguished Lecturer and District Representative Professor Arthur Weglein shared the work of M-OSRP on the viability of ISS direct depth imaging without the velocity model. View expanded abstract
Experience from using 3D CSEM in the Mexican deepwater exploration program PEMEX Exploration Vice President José Antonio Escalera-Alcocer shared his team's work on the impact of using 3D CSEM on the uncertainty of geological models. View expanded abstract
Microseismic: Where's the value? Former SEG President and Distinguished Lecturer Peter Duncan discussed the role of microseismic techniques and technology within the context of new advances in oil and gas exploration.
Cableless seismic or just less cable? Total VP of Geophysics and SEAM Board Member Henri Houllevigue shared his team's work and predictions regarding cableless recording in geophysics.
Theta data: Introduction to rotational seismology and its potential uses Geokinetics consultant and inventor Robert Brune explained the principles and applications of measuring and analyzing rotational motion at geophones in addition to linear motion.
Seismic diffraction: Where's the value? OPERA Applied Geophysical Research Group Director Evgeny Landa presented the work of his organization on using diffraction imaging methods to identify difficult-to-detect formations across a range of indices. View expanded abstract
Developments in seismic interferometry: Time-lapse monitoring and autofocusing of internal multiples Geoscientists Without Borders Chair and Professor Roel Snieder expands on advances in his work with his co-authors on inserting incident waves to reduce overburden.
View selected expanded abstracts for the entire 2012 technical program | 
