Seismic Soundoff

“It’s hard to tell where the limit is in terms of where it can go. You have to see what is possible to want to drive this.”

Andrew Geary speaks with Malc Kent about why distributed acoustic sensing is gaining momentum across carbon storage, geothermal, infrastructure, and reservoir monitoring. The technology can collect enormous amounts of subsurface data, but the bigger challenge is turning that information into decisions industries trust. For geophysicists and students, that gap between technical progress and real-world adoption is where many of the strongest opportunities are emerging.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> DAS can change how the subsurface is monitored: Permanent or existing fiber can support more frequent observations while reducing the need to repeatedly deploy conventional equipment.
> The technology may be moving faster than industry adoption: Large data volumes, installation costs, regulatory acceptance, and confidence in a new way of collecting seismic information still stand between successful trials and routine use.
> The opportunity extends well beyond oil and gas: Carbon storage, geothermal, mining, infrastructure, and security all need better monitoring, creating new roles for geophysicists who can connect sensing, imaging, computing, and decisions.

THIS EPISODE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY VIRIDIEN
As an industry leader in imaging distributed acoustic sensing data, Viridien brings proven expertise across 2D, 3D, and 4D projects by combining advanced algorithms and HPC. Delivering clearer images, faster interpretation, and deeper insight for oil & gas reservoir monitoring and carbon storage projects. Discover more at https://viridiengroup.com/DAS.

LINKS
* SEG/SPE Workshop: Fibre for the Future: AI-Driven Intelligence for Exploration, Production & Development - 21–22 July 2026, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -> https://seg.org/calendar_events/seg-spe-fibre-for-the-future-ai-driven-intelligence/
* SPE Workshop: Subsea Fiber Optic Sensing: From Deployment to Decision Making - 12–13 November 2026, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil -> https://www.spe-events.org/workshop/fiber-optic-sensing

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

"That’s what we’re trying to achieve with this forum: bringing all the people together with different backgrounds and create this community, which I don’t think fully exists right now.”

Jiajia Sun and Nadine Veillette preview SEG’s first Critical Minerals Forum for the mining community in North America. Critical minerals are becoming more important to energy systems, supply chains, and public policy, but finding them still depends on difficult subsurface decisions. The conversation shows why geophysics matters when it is integrated with geology, geochemistry, drilling, and uncertainty. For students and working geophysicists, this is a growing area where technical skill, communication, and practical decision-making all matter.

Learn more about the Critical Minerals Forum at https://seg.org/calendar_events/critical-minerals-forum/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration is now central to critical mineral exploration: Geophysics is most useful when it helps test geological ideas, reduce uncertainty, and guide better decisions about where to collect data or drill.
> Mining creates a different mindset for geophysicists: Compared with oil and gas, mineral exploration often works with sparser drilling, smaller budgets, and more variable geological systems.
> Critical minerals are opening new career paths: The field needs geophysicists who can combine imaging, inversion, AI, geology, communication, and decision-focused workflows.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

"I feel like we are making a change in the way that people now see the volcanoes and see the earthquakes in El Salvador. So in that sense, I think we are making a a big change.”

Adonay Martinez Coto and Susana Delgado discuss their Geoscientists Without Borders project to improve seismic monitoring around Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador. Their work shows how geophysics can move beyond instruments and data to help communities understand hazards, prepare for future activity, and see science as part of daily life. The project also shows why community-centered geophysics matters: instruments in schools and local spaces can turn monitoring into education, awareness, and preparedness. For listeners, it is a clear example of how applied geoscience can serve people before the next disaster happens.

LINKS
* Learn more about GWB and donate today at https://seg.org/programs/geoscientists-without-borders/
* Learn more about Adonay and Susana's work at https://seg.org/gwb_projects/el-salvador/

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Community trust is part of the science: Volcano monitoring becomes more valuable when schools, local businesses, agencies, and residents understand why the instruments are there and how the data can help them.
> Better data can change preparedness: A stronger seismic network near Santa Ana volcano can help scientists distinguish between tectonic and volcanic earthquakes, improving awareness of what may be happening beneath the surface.
> Field geophysics requires more than technical training: The project pushed students to learn instrumentation, networking, communication, and community engagement, showing where future workforce needs are growing.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

“If you're curious about geophysics, there's definitely a place in geophysics for you. The field is so interdisciplinary.”

Johanna Villagomez joins Andrew Geary to share how curiosity, fieldwork, student leadership, and outreach are shaping her path as a PhD student in geophysics at the University of Houston. Her story shows why applied geophysics matters now: the field connects directly to water, energy, climate, critical minerals, and the decisions communities make about the subsurface.

For students, she makes the field feel open and reachable, while also being honest about the skills that matter most, including coding, fundamentals, communication, and collaboration. As AI, larger datasets, and new sensing tools change the profession, the future belongs to geophysicists who can understand the science and explain why it matters.

Explore SEG student programs to find scholarships, mentorship, student chapters, and opportunities to build your path in geophysics at https://seg.org/programs/student-programs/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Fieldwork creates ownership: Collecting seismic data in the field gives students a deeper connection to the full geophysical workflow, from instruments to interpretation.
> AI raises the value of fundamentals: Coding and machine learning matter, but geophysicists still need strong quantitative skills to know when an answer is wrong.
> Communication is a technical skill: Whether speaking to policymakers, students, or other geophysicists, clear explanations help science reach the people who need it.

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.

"Integration, literally, that's why the URTeC is successful.”

Marianne Rauch joins Andrew Geary to explain why URTeC 2026 matters for geophysicists who want their work to shape real field decisions. She argues that the event’s strength is integration: geology, geophysics, drilling, production, land, service companies, and operators in the same place. That matters now because unconventional development is increasingly driven by better data, AI, cost pressure, and the need to connect technical products to practical outcomes. For students and early-career professionals, the message is direct: broader knowledge can create better ideas, better collaboration, and stronger career options.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration drives impact: Geophysical work matters most when engineers, geologists, and production teams understand how to use it in real decisions.
> Application is the opportunity: URTeC gives geophysicists a practical view of how seismic attributes, rock properties, pressure estimates, and other products influence drilling and production
> AI needs physics and judgment: Emerging tools may change how teams choose locations, drill wells, and manage production, but Marianne warns that AI cannot be trusted blindly.

LINKS
* Learn more about URTeC -> https://urtec.org/2026/
* Register for the event (22-24 June 2026, Houston, TX, USA) -> https://platform.tpni.com/GcmMaintenance/aapg/Html_Files/30000107/landing.html

ABOUT SEISMIC SOUNDOFF
Seismic Soundoff showcases conversations addressing the challenges of energy, water, and climate. Produced by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) and hosted by Andrew Geary of 51 features, these episodes celebrate and inspire the geophysicists of today and tomorrow. Three new episodes monthly. See the full archive at https://seg.org/resources/podcast/.