View source for Geophysics Technology: EXPEC Advanced Research Center, Saudi Aramco

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'''Geophysics Technology of Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC ARC (Advanced Research Center)''' 
has made significant contributions to the advances in
land seismic acquisition and processing—in particular, complex nearsurface
characterization, multiple elimination, imaging, and coherency
technology. Researchers at EXPEC ARC are widely published and have
received industry-wide recognition. EXPEC ARC continues to innovate
in areas of emerging technologies such as automation in the seismic value
chain, land geophysical monitoring, i-field and multiphysics inversion.


== Citation for the SEG [[Distinguished Achievement Award]] ==
''Contributed by [[M. Nafi Toksöz]]''

The largest upstream geophysics research group in
the Middle East is one of the key pillars of Saudi Aramco’s
Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center (EXPEC)
Advanced Research Center (ARC). For many years,
EXPEC ARC researchers have made significant contributions
in geophysics, particularly in the area of land and
shallow-water seismic acquisition and processing.
Geophysics Technology is tasked with finding new
ways to acquire and process huge volumes of land seismic
data in a challenging desert environment. Characterizing
the complex near surface is critical for exploration success
in the Arabian Peninsula. EXPEC ARC’s geophysicists
have developed novel algorithms resulting in improved
definition of the complex near surface while reducing the
required cycle time from months to days. Near-surface
technology has moved beyond 3D traveltime tomography
to full waveform inversion, and the use of datadriven,
model-independent imaging methods, such as
common focus point technology. Saudi Aramco plays an
important role in the SEAM Phase II Modeling Consortium
focused on land seismic challenges.

EXPEC ARC is considered a world leader in the
area of land multiple suppression technology. For the past
20 years, Saudi Aramco researchers have consistently published
key papers in this area, and continue their active
collaboration with academic institutions on this challenging
topic. In 2000, Saudi Aramco and Technical University
of Delft published a landmark paper on land surface
multiple attenuation strategies via wave-equation-based
techniques. At SEG’s 2010 Annual Meeting, researchers
at EXPEC ARC, along with the University of Houston,
presented the first practical application of inverse scattering
series technology for land internal multiple suppression.
EXPEC ARC is aggressively pursuing research in
electromagnetic and gravity technologies to complement
seismic for subsalt exploration in the deep waters of the
Red Sea, for near-surface characterization, and for reservoir
monitoring. As part of this effort, new simultaneous
joint inversion algorithms using seismic and nonseismic
data have been developed to lead the effort toward multiphysics
inversion.

EXPEC ARC’s recent initiative on robotics as a key
transformative technology could revolutionize seismic
acquisition in both land and marine applications. The
SPICERACK, a multiyear development program being
produced jointly with CGG, is another example of its
long-term vision to bring automation to the seismic acquisition.

Finally, geophysicists at EXPEC ARC are active
members of SEG and have contributed significantly to
the advancement of our Society. They have organized
numerous workshops in the Middle East, Europe, and
North America. They have been involved in SEG committees,
including the Executive Committee. Also, they
have served the Society in many capacities such as Distinguished
and Honorary Lecturers. EXPEC ARC professionals
have been honored with numerous awards and
recognized for their excellent publications and presentations
including the Geophysics Best Paper Award for
2010.

SEG proudly bestows the 2013 Distinguished
Achievement Award to Saudi Aramco’s EXPEC ARC
Geophysics Technology for its substantial contributions
in geophysics and for its commitment to research and development
and for creating a scientific oasis in the desert

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