Let's start with these 3 experts: Joe Cartwright (Oxford univ), Lesli Wood (Colorado School of Mines) and Henry Posamentier (ex Chevron)

Hey Sevs, what kind of interpretation do you need, attributes, seismic stratigraphy or conventional seismic interpretation all of them...there are thousands of interpreters, however I recommend you at good geologist with enough knowledge in the basin and a geophysics

Cheers

Juan G

Dear Daniel and Juan, thanks for the quick reply.

A broad experiences in attributing would be important.

Regards,

Sven

Prof. Kurt J. Marfurt. Oklahoma University. He and his team are ones of the best in the world.

I reckon that michael badley is one of the most important experts in the field

I vote for Sergey Fomel team and Peter Flemings team at UT Ausitn.

Dear Juan, Farid and Hamid,

thanks a lot.

To sum it up

Joe Cartwright (Oxford univ)

Lesli Wood (Colorado School of Mines)

Henry Posamentier (ex Chevron)

Sergey Fomel (UT Austin)

Peter Flemings (UT Austin)

Michael badley

Kurt J. Marfurt (Oklahoma University)

Anyone else who should be in the list or comments to these persons?

I think Taban Mukerji from Stanford university deserve to be in this list

Sven,

You certainly got some great recommendations. Note they are all academics, which is appropriate if you want someone you can reach. But schools actually do not lead in the field of seismic interpretation, the best I have met work for oil and gas companies and rarely publish.

To be an expert in something like seismic attributes, in itself, is just theory and interpretation is application. So much geologic knowledge is required that most experts are only so in one basin, one type of structural development or one depositional environment. Maybe two if they have had a long career.

Sven,

I agree with Jim Ballard. I have only been free to publish when associated with a university because when working in industry, both the data and the interpretation were considered proprietary. It is difficult for academics to compete with talented scientists in industry because of the huge differential in available resources: in computer power, in software applications, and most importantly, borehole and seismic data availability. I will offer some words of encouragement for academic seismic interpreters in that industry occasionally will allow the use of their data for academic research and scientific publications, if you can provide convincing proof of your research goals. Other good news is the willingness of software providers to grant licenses to your university so that you can achieve your research goals. I have had positive experiences in acquiring the use of both data and software from industry. Part of the strategy in acquiring what you need for your research effort is to select a topic that will be of interest and potential use to your supplier. In terms of the excellent seismic interpreters working in industry, the ones I personally know work for British Petroleum (BP), ExxonMobil, and Shell Exploration.

Hi Sven

My opinion is slightly biased as I work at Qeye, but our company has a strong background and are leading within seismic quantitative interpretation, both within oil and gas and within geothermal energy. We are commercial, but are also currently involved in several research projects. Take a look at http://www.qeye-labs.com and write me a message if we should investigate a potential collaboration.

Dear Jim, Sharon and Esben,

thank you very much to each of you for sharing your thoughts and opinions on this issue. As you might suspect, I am thinking about a cross -methodological development, connecting my research field with seismic data. As far as I got your points, selecting an appropriate partner for such an idea is, beside other points, very much dependent on what kind of data access and experience in this geological environment is needed to realize my idea. Apparently, I have the agony of choice whom to contact first. :=)

Joe Cartwright (Everything seismic from tectonics, fluid flow, PFS, pipes, MTDs and so on), Henry Posamentier (seismic stratigraphy and deepwater sedimentation/processes), Lesli Wood (deepwater processes), Kurt Marfurt (seismic attributes). I can add Richard Davies (almost everthing), Rob Gawthorpe (Tectonics), Haakon Fossen (Tectonics), Jan Faleide (Tectonics), Sverre Planke (Magmatic processes from seismic, E. Mutti (seismic stratigraphy and deepwater sedimentation/processes), Octavian Catuneanu (seismic stratigraphy), Martin Landrø (4D seismic), Christian Berndt (fluid flow). Great respect for these guys!

In contemporary times, Chris Jackson is hot (Tectonics esp.), Atle Rotevatn (Tectonics), Alves TA(Tectonics and deepwater sedimentation) , Michele Rebesco (Contourites), Vitor Abreu (Seismic stratigraphy and deepwater processes) etc!

Hi, It depends on the available resources: academia or industry....

Hi Sven,

Two more names for your list:-

Brad Macurda of Energist Brad was associated with Exxon in research and research applications in geology and geophysics. He also was a full time professor of geology and geophysics at the University of Michigan.

Alistair R . Brown Consulting Reservoir Geophysicist His specialties are interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data for understanding oil and gas reservoirs, stratigraphic interpretation, the meaning of seismic amplitude, optimum use of interactive workstations, use of color, seismic attributes, and seismic reservoir identification and evaluation. He spends much of his time teaching seismic interpretation methods and advising on interpretation problems worldwide.

I recommend Daniel's answer

Dear Sven and colleagues: In your question, you put emphasis on subsurface characterization.

If you agree with me, Seismic Characterization is an applied discipline in the matures oil and gas fields. It means: wherever you have not only seismic data, but also well-logs control to put emphasis on seismic inversion techniques.

So, if you agree with my introduction, then, you must to thinking about seismic inversión as the best way to get a more realistic subsurface characterization. And, if you all I write is ok, then, you agree with me that you can choose between two main methodologies: poststack and prestack seismic inversión. Also, we need to add another legs: Rock Physics, Elastic Impedance … I think it’s important to learn about rock physics and geology due that is how you connect your seismic traces to the reality of the world we live in. Geology gives you that big picture of how things got to be where they are, and rock physics tells us the micropicture of how to connect the physics of what we actually have in front of us — the rock.

For all my point of view, I suggest for the list of THE world scientific experts in seismic interpretation techniques the following names such as Bill Ostrander, John P. Castagna, Rutherford and Williams, Gerard Schuster, Satinder Chopra, Wang Cheng, Larry Lines …. and me! I just kidding !!!

Best wishes, Mario E. Sigismondi