"Generative modeling is a game-changer. We can now capture high-dimensional statistics that we could never have captured in the past."

Felix Herrmann explains how digital twins and generative AI are reshaping subsurface geophysics. He highlights the importance of open-source tools, multimodal data, and uncertainty-aware models for better decision-making in energy and storage projects. By combining physics with AI, his work shows how geophysics can move beyond silos and create more reliable and efficient solutions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Digital twins informed by multimodal data can reduce uncertainty and improve reservoir management.
> Open-source tools and agreed benchmarks are essential for accelerating innovation in geophysics.
> Combining physics-based models with generative AI creates robust, practical solutions for complex subsurface challenges.

Read Felix's article in The Leading Edge, "President's Page: Digital twins in the era of generative AI," at https://doi.org/10.1190/tle42110730.1. 

GUEST BIO
Felix J. Herrmann earned his Ph.D. in engineering physics from Delft University of Technology in 1997, followed by research appointments at Stanford and MIT. He later joined the University of British Columbia faculty in 2002 and moved to the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2017, where he is the Georgia Research Alliance Scholar Chair in Energy with cross-appointments across multiple schools. 

Dr. Herrmann leads a cross-disciplinary research program in computational imaging, spanning seismic and medical applications, and is recognized for innovations in machine learning, optimization, and high-performance computing that have reduced costs in seismic data acquisition and imaging. A past SEG Distinguished Lecturer and recipient of the SEG Reginald Fessenden Award, he directs the Seismic Laboratory for Imaging and Modeling and co-founded the Center for Machine Learning for Seismic (ML4Seismic) to advance AI-assisted seismic imaging and reservoir monitoring through industry collaboration.

Digital Twins and Generative AI in Subsurface Geophysics

Dr. Chris Liner discusses his new book Elements of 3D Seismology, third edition. The book is a thorough introduction to the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of 3D seismic data. All sections have been reviewed and updated for the new edition. Visit http://seg.org/newbooks to purchase today.

Visit http://seg.org/podcast for full show notes.

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#13: Chris Liner - Elements of 3D Seismology

Sven Treitel discusses his signal processing course, the historical transition from analog to digital, and his decades-long collaboration with Enders Robinson.

Sven Treitel, along with Enders Robinson, was instrumental in the transition of exploration geophysics from analog to digital recording and data processing. Sven has published over 40 papers and has received numerous Society awards, including SEG's Reginald Fessenden award and Honorary Membership. 

Sven also co-authored two books with Enders Robinson, the most recent - Digital Imaging and Deconvolution - that serves as the basis for the May 23-26 virtual course, Geophysical Signal Processing 101, sponsored by the Geophysical Society of Houston and the SEG. 

Register for his course and read the show notes at https://seg.org/podcast. If you enjoy the show, review us on iTunes – your review helps others find the show.

Sponsor
The SEG Wiki is home to hundreds of biographies of key geoscientists, geophysical tutorials, and core content from the science of applied geophysics. Visit wiki.seg.org to learn how you can grow the world’s first online, geophysics encyclopedia.

Register for course

#16: Sven Treitel - Geophysical Signal Processing

Jeff Johnson joins Andrew Geary, Seismic Soundoff host, to discuss how SEG's Competency Management System (CMS) can benefit SEG members and improve their skills and expertise. CMS is a SEG web-based interactive tool used for self-assessment by individual geoscientists. SEG members use CMS to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and to efficiently plan practical training actions. 

Jeff is an Exploration and Production Geophysical & Training Consultant who worked for 15 years with NExT/Schlumberger, teaching over 120 geology and geophysics training classes and workshops worldwide. Prior to joining Schlumberger, Jeff worked for Amoco E&P Company for 24 years and was General Manager of Amoco's Geoscience Research and Technical Services Organizations for most of the nineties. 

Begin your free, member assessment at http://seg.org/cms.

If you enjoy the show, review us on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. Full show notes at http://seg.org/podcast. 

Sponsor
The SEG Wiki is home to hundreds of biographies of key geoscientists, geophysical tutorials, and core content from the science of applied geophysics. Visit wiki.seg.org to learn how you can grow the world’s first online, geophysics encyclopedia.

#18: Jeff Johnson - SEG's Competency Management System

During this episode, Dr. Gerard (Jerry) Schuster discusses his new book, Seismic Inversion. Schuster's book describes the theory and practice of inverting seismic data for the subsurface rock properties of the Earth. The book will benefit scientists and advanced students in engineering, earth sciences, and physics. Visit http://seg.org/newbooks to purchase today.

Jerry is a Professor of Earth Science and Engineering at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). He is also the co-director and founder of the Center for Fluid Modeling and Seismic Imaging at KAUST. He was the founder and director of the Utah Tomography and Modeling/Migration consortium from 1987 to 2009 and received the SEG Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal Award in 2010. 

If you enjoy the show, review us on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. Full show notes at http://seg.org/podcast. 

Sponsor
The SEG Wiki is home to hundreds of biographies of key geoscientists, geophysical tutorials, and core content from the science of applied geophysics. Visit http://wiki.seg.org to learn how you can grow the world’s first online, geophysics encyclopedia.

#19: Gerard Schuster - Seismic Inversion

Andrew Geary speaks with Johannes Douma, vice-chair of the Emerging Professionals International Committee (EPIC). Johannes provides the committee's background, current focus, and how emerging professionals can get involved. 

EPIC is SEG’s resource for emerging professionals, those with less than 8 years in the industry.  It's a global group sharing a common interest in sponsoring gatherings of emerging geoscientists to discuss and gain further understanding of their respective disciplines.  

Johannes is an exploration geophysicist at Cimarex Energy and vice-chair of EPIC. At Cimarex, he currently works on the Anadarko Exploration Team focusing on further developing formations in Oklahoma.  He completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in geophysics at Colorado School of Mines. 

If you enjoy the show, review us on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. Full show notes at http://seg.org/podcast. 

Sponsor
The SEG Wiki is home to hundreds of biographies of key geoscientists, geophysical tutorials, and core content from the science of applied geophysics. Visit http://wiki.seg.org to learn how you can grow the world’s first online, geophysics encyclopedia.

#20: SEG's Emerging Professionals - Johannes Douma

Andrew Geary speaks with Bill Abriel, SEG president, on Hurricane Harvey and how the SEG community can help now and with future natural hazards.

Full show notes at http://seg.org/podcast. 

Statement on Hurricane Harvey (29 August 2017)
Our hearts are in Houston today, and SEG is actively evaluating how the Society can be of assistance in the coming days, weeks, and months to our friends and colleagues affected by Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent tropical storm. 

Whether assisting with skills, science, knowledge, clean up, financial aid, or a combination thereof, we will do everything we can to help alleviate the devastating effects of this natural disaster. 

In the meantime, we ask that you consider a financial gift to one of the organizations providing disaster relief to the people of Houston and the surrounding areas. Visit http://abc13.com/.../how-to-help-the-victims-of-hurr.../2348094/ at to find out how you can help. 

If you are planning to attend SEG’s International Exposition and 87th Annual Meeting in Houston 24-29 September 2017, we are monitoring the situation closely and will update you on how this could affect our plans in the next couple of days.

Our thoughts continue to be with Houston and the surrounding areas in the days to come.

#21: SEG President Bill Abriel in Conversation

2018 marks the ten-year anniversary of the SEG Foundation’s Geoscientists Without Borders® program. The program uses the specialized knowledge and technical skills of geoscientists to mitigate natural hazards by connecting universities and industries with local communities. 

In this episode, we highlight the commitment of Professor Ron Harris, Brigham Young University, and his student, Torri Duncan, to tsunami preparedness in Java, Indonesia. Ron and Torri's Geoscientists Without Borders® project "Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Building Resiliency to Tsunami Hazards by training Indonesian Geoscientists and Local Communities" was first funded in 2016 and is currently in progress. 

Donate to Geoscientists Without Borders®
Ron and Torri’s work is important. GWB projects pay it forward and save lives. Support proactive, life-changing, and long-term geoscience projects today. Your gift can be the difference between SEG funding two additional projects in 2018. Through the generosity of several Foundation donors, SEG has a $50,000 GWB Matching Fund this year. Double your impact now with a donation at https://donate.seg.org.

Sponsor
Schlumberger strives to be a unifying force for social and environmental stewardship, and engages in philanthropic activities that reflect the company’s values. As the founding sponsor of Geoscientists Without Borders®, Schlumberger believes in the science of geophysics to affect positive changes in communities facing environmental hardship and natural hazards.

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first.

Full show notes at https://seg.org/podcast.

Audio credits
Interviews: Ron Harris, Torri Duncan, Daniel Horns

* Daisy by Les Hayden
* Storm Passing by Podington Bear
* Frisco Traffic (ID 762) by Lobo Loco
* Alba by Cambo
* 432 by Cambo
* Ambient Blues Joe (ID 773) by Lobo Loco
* Herbie Munster Party (ID 731) by Lobo Loco
* Jingles for films & podcasts by Lobo Loco

Special thanks to Dr. Maya Tolstoy, Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization for providing the recording of the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

This show was produced by Isaac Farley and hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary.

#28: Bridge Over Troubled Waters

From 22 to 24 September 2017, fifty students from fifty student chapters around the world, representing twenty-seven countries, connected in Houston for the 2017 SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium (SLS). In this episode, Magdalena Mita, a 2017 SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium participant, from the University of Silesia, Poland; Kathryn Elkins, SEG Student and Early Career Advisor; and other SLS students tell their stories.

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. Full show notes at https://seg.org/podcast.  

Sponsor
Chevron is proud to sponsor the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium to help current student leaders build their skills and become our next generation of leaders in geophysics. If you are a student chapter leader, please go online to https://seg.org/SLS to see how you can apply to attend the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium in Anaheim.

#29: Student Leadership Symposium (SLS)

This episode's audio recordings were captured by Magdalena Mita during the 2017 SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium. SEG provided Magdalena a recorder to document her SLS experience as an audio diary.

Student Leadership Symposium (SLS) - Uncut audio

In this episode, host Andrew Geary speaks with Mirko van der Baan, guest editor of the February 2018 issue of The Leading Edge, on induced seismicity. 

Induced seismicity, or human-induced earthquakes, is an important discussion that impacts local communities from Oklahoma to Alberta to the Netherlands. We highlight a few of the papers from the special section, including a quick primer on induced seismicity. 

Dr. van der Baan is a professor at the University of Alberta and director of the Microseismic Industry Consortium, a collaborative venture with the University of Calgary, dedicated to research in microseismicity. He also recently completed an SEG Honorary Lecture tour of the United States and Canada on the subject of human-induced seismicity. 

Subscribers can read the full articles in the SEG Digital Library at https://library.seg.org/. Abstracts are always free. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. 

Show notes, links, and bonus content at https://seg.org/podcast. 

Sponsor
The SEG Wiki is home to hundreds of biographies of key geoscientists, geophysical tutorials, and core content from the science of applied geophysics. Visit the SEG Wiki at https://wiki.seg.org to learn how you can grow the world’s first online, geophysics encyclopedia.

Credits
Interview: Mirko van der Baan

Thank you to Steve Brown, Managing Editor of TLE, for his assistance.
 
This show was produced by Isaac Farley and hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Geary.

#31: Induced seismicity: investigations into human-induced earthquakes

Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly.

Digital Twins and Generative AI in Subsurface Geophysics

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