Course goals and content:
1) Gain a qualitative understanding of seismic reflection acquisition and processing, both industry and shallow.
2) Learn the seismic expression of major structural styles and stratigraphies.
3) Learn to operate current seismic interpretation software as commonly used in petroleum industry.
4) Experience in writing and presentations.

Grading:
Homeworks, labs, two midterms, and a final project/presentation.
Homeworks and labs will be 40%; midterms 30%; and final project/presentation 30%.
I will expect higher quality work for graduate students, especially on the final.

The course will cover the basics of reflection seismic interpretation with emphasis on petroleum industry requirements. Some simplified seismic processing will be also covered. Emphasis will be on structural interpretation more than stratigraphic interpretation. We will use several computer-aided seismic interpretation programs. We will begin with 2D seismic and then progress to 3D and volume based interpretations and attribute analysis.

Required book
Fundamentals of Geophysical Interpretation by L. R. Lines and R. T. Newrick
($23 but need to join SEG - free for students)

Strongly recommended books
Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping by D. Tearpock and R. E. Bischke, Perhaps a little dated, but thorough

Other books

I do suggest joining AAPG and/or SEG as a student member if you are not already a member.
(job opportunities, resume padding, and maybe a scholarship or travel rebates).

Nominal schedule
- may vary and depends on status of licensed software and room availability
- powerpoints may contain only part of the day's topics
-we may have guest speakers.

Monday, 9:00 CSL 427	Weds., 9:00 CSL 427	powerpoint	Monday Lab 11:00 CSL 427 & GMCS 228
Aug. 31 overview and basics	Sept. 2 overview and basics	lecture 1	Lab 1: Elastic constants / synthetics
Sept. 7 no class	Sept. 9 Acquisition	lecture 2	(L & N, Chap 5, 8, 19)
Sept. 14 CDP & stacking	Sept. 16 Velocities	lecture 3	Lab 2: NMO & CDP's [trace.xls]
Sept. 21 no class	Sept. 23 no class
Sept. 28 Resolution	Sept. 30 Artifacts	lecture 4	Lab 3: B&H paper; 2D interpretation; intro King. Suite
Oct. 5 Test on processing	Oct. 7 presentations		Lab 4: 3D interpretation - faults Stratton info
Oct. 12 3D Interpretation	Oct. 14 Interpretation	lecture 5	Lab 4: 3D interpretation - horizons
Oct. 19 3D Balanced sections	Oct. 21 thrust	lecture 6	Lab 5: Balanced x-sections; diagrams
Oct. 26 extensional	Oct 28 strike-slip	lecture 7	Lab 6: Synthetics and reflections
Nov. 2 salt	Nov. 4 stratigraphy	lecture 8	Lab 7: Timbalier lab - Tim paper, Salt paper
Nov. 9 no class	Nov. 11 no class		Lab 7: continued
Nov. 16 Timbalier presentations	Nov. 18 seismic refraction	lecture 9	Final project
Nov. 23 final project	Nov. 25 stratigraphy		Final project
Nov. 30 stratigraphy	Dec. 2 well logs		Final project
Dec. 7 attributes	Dec. 9 petroleum		Take home final (?)
Finals - TBA			Final presentations and reports