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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NE/E002803/2
Title	The Virtual Seismic Atlas Project
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas) 100%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 20%; Other (Energy technology information dissemination) 80%;
Principal Investigator	Professor R (Rob ) Butler No email address given School of Geosciences University of Aberdeen
Award Type	1
Funding Source	NERC
Start Date	01 September 2008
End Date	31 March 2010
Duration	19 months
Total Grant Value	£146,145
Industrial Sectors	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Region	Scotland
Programme
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor R (Rob ) Butler , School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen (99.998%)
	Other Investigator	Prof W (Bill ) McCaffrey , School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds (0.001%) Prof G (Graham ) Stuart , School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds (0.001%)
Web Site
Objectives	The over-arching aim of the Virtual Seismic Atlas (VSA) Project is to enhance collaboration between the UK's research base and key parts of the hydrocarbons industry (major oil and gas companies, the Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises that provide services to them, seismic acquisition companies) together with public organisations (DTI, BGS). It will: 1. Enhance the use and interpretation of seismic data through UK geoscience; 2. Promote UK research in seismic data and its interpretation; 3. Facilitate the transfer of ideas and knowledge between user communities and the research base; 4.Broaden the participation of the UK science base in use of these key industry data; 5. Create new opportunities for collaboration between universities and industry. In order to achieve these aims, the project will create: A new, openly accessible collection of seismic data and images derivedfrom these data within a framework useful for geoscience training and research. In collaboration with Veritas DGC and BGS, using seismic from their data libraries, together with the Geological Society, using selections of their copyright material, the VSA Project will: 1. Build seismic data products in various file formats (pdf, jpeg, mpeg movies); 2. Include interpretations of the data in various formats (as above); 3. Create demonstration collections of 2D and 3D seismic data volumes. These resources will establish the style and quality of the data components of the VSA. These files will be metatagged, not only for survey, geophysical, processing and geographical attributes but also by the imaged geology. These data will be built into a new database accessed through a bespoke website based on BHP-Billiton's "getknowledge" system (in conjunction with Blue Fish Development Group and partners). Navigation to the individual files within the database will be achieved through a process of menu and text-driven searches. Consequently, the project will: 1. Create the website portal structures and search taxonomies for the VSA; 2. Build and populate a database of seismic data and images; 3. Connect the portal to the database of seismic products; and 4. Add access to bhpViewer to allow all VSA users to manipulate seismic data. To ensure that the VSA achieves an appropriate balance of data types and case studies, the project will have 1. a Management Committee,drawn from the key user communities, that will meet twice-yearly. 2. David G. Roberts and Richard Hardman as patrons. 3. Liaison with the Petroleum Society of Great Britain. As the project develops, we will: Create an upload portal for the community at large to add interpretations, casestudies and data to the VSA. This will be overseen by the Management Committee that has the additional role of promoting further acquisitions to the VSA. Consequently we aim to: Create a lasting legacy that captures the geological interpretation of seismic data. NERC's Knowledge Transfer scheme has specific objectives that are met by this project. 1. It is an entirely new collaboration between UK industry and universities. 2. The project is truly community-wide, with representation of key user-groups. 3. The PDRA will act as a KT facilitator liaising with the seismic company Veritas DGC, BGS, members of the Management Committee and the Geological Society. 4. Further exchange is delivered by BHP-B's Sam Clayton's short-term visits and his consultative role in web site design. 5. The PIs will be involved directly in data selection with Veritas DGC. 6. The VSA website and its Management Committee constitute regular forum for the community of seismic users. 7. There are no continuing costs so that the web-based VSA will have a long-term sustainable future. 8. Original research on uncertainty in interpreting fault zone architecture and stratal relationships in deepwater fold-thrust belts will be executed.
Abstract	The Virtual Seismic Atlas (VSA) Project will generate an independent, free-to-use, community-based internet resource, which will capture and share the geological interpretation of seismic reflection data in picture and workbook format. Seismic data are expensive to acquire and process, yet give key insights into geological structure and processes. They have revolutionized understanding of Earth surface processes, structural geology, submarine hazards, and shallow crustal processes such as basin fluid migration. They can be used to track hydrocarbons during production and CO2 during subsurface sequestration. Seismic data are a core geoscience resource. Their interpretation, however, needs substantial experience. The skills and knowledge gained in the interpretation of seismic data and the advances in data processing that permit modern studies are dispersed through industry, universities, and government organisations (e.g. British Geological Survey). The aim of this project is to draw these communities together, capturing examples of the geological use of seismic data, and creating a comprehensive common heritage from which to launch future developments in research and training. VSA data, including seismic data and their derivatives, will be searchable and downloadable. Users will be able to search for seismic images, interpretations, data samples and related documents using various geological, geophysical, geographical and technical criteria. The VSA will therefore provide a platform for the community to find seismic examples and analogues, and to compare interpretation strategies and experience. It will generate new research opportunities and will provide an image library for public understanding of science activities. The VSA will be built on the industry-leading getknowledge data management/ knowledge transfer software, developed by BHP-Billiton and Blue Fish Development. Capacity will exceed 10 million documents and will allow 500 synchronous users. The preliminary content of the VSA is being developed with Veritas DGC and BGS who will provide sample 3D and 2D data from diverse settings (including UKCS). In addition, the project will incorporate relevant copyright material from the Geological Society of London. These initial collections are designed to promote other data/interpretation owners to add their material to the site as itgrows. Community support is further indicated by the guiding involvement of our patrons, the senior petroleum geologists David G. Roberts and Richard Hardman, and of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain. Our project partners (Veritas DGC and BHP-Billiton with Blue Fish) are providing in-kind resources worth several million pounds. We request that NERC support the additional development costs of the VSA, namely: 1) a PDRA to engage in geological/interpretation of seismic data, building content and leading new research into geological uncertainty in seismic interpretation,and; 2) travel/subsistence costs for visits to data providers (Veritas, BGS) and 3) computer hardware plus VSA web server installation and support in Leeds. Beyond the VSA website, Knowledge Transfer objectives will be met in several ways: the PDRA will act as act as KT facilitator; personnel will be exchanged for short periods (BHP-B staff will come to Leeds to work on web design and Leeds staff will work with industry geophysicists in seismic data libraries); representatives of the different communities of academic, public sector and industry geoscientists will meet through the project management structure. The legacy will be a self-maintaining digital resource to serve a broad range of user communities in the oil industry, the associated science base and beyond.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	22/03/11