Seismic Soundoff

"I wish people understood that the pace of change across this region is not gradual anymore. It's moving very quickly and in many cases faster than traditional global markets expect."

Conflicts and disrupted energy flows have put energy security back at the center of the conversation, and Yogaani Bhatia is seeing what that means for geophysics across the Middle East and beyond. Exploration is gaining renewed attention, Saudi Arabia is building out a major mining sector, and countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are investing in geological knowledge and new resource development. Behind all of it is the same need: understand the subsurface well enough to make better decisions. And as investment accelerates, the challenge is not simply having better technology. It is having the people who know how to use it.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Energy security is making subsurface knowledge strategic again: Pressure on energy flows is reinforcing the need for secure, diversified resources. Exploration is increasingly viewed not only as a commercial activity, but as a strategic capability tied to long-term energy and resource security.
> Some of the fastest change is happening across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and Asia Pacific: Saudi Arabia is expanding mining, Central Asia is investing in geological knowledge, Africa is seeing renewed frontier exploration, and Asia Pacific is advancing offshore energy, CCS, and geothermal.
> Energy and minerals draw on many of the same geophysics skills: Imaging, interpretation, data integration, and other subsurface expertise developed in oil and gas are increasingly crossing into mining, critical minerals, geothermal, and carbon storage.
> Better technology still depends on people who know how to use it: The AI and digital conversation is shifting from whether the tools have value to how they improve workflows and decisions, while organizations also face a growing need to develop talent and transfer knowledge.

THIS EPISODE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY HART ENERGY
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LINKS
* Find upcoming events at https://seg.org/events.
* Read about GEOMIN 2025: A Global Debut in Mining Innovation and Collaboration at https://seg.org/news/geomin-2025-a-global-debut-in-mining-innovation-and-collaboration/.
* Learn more about IMAGE '26 and register today at https://www.imageevent.org/.

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/.

"We have to absorb and analyze more data than ever in shorter amounts of time. Spending a day thinking about these workflows can bring you insights into practical ways to integrate the model and data across disciplines."

Subsurface teams have more data than ever, but that does not guarantee better decisions. Maisha Amaru explains why geology and geophysics need to connect early, before uncertainty leads to weak models or repeated work. Her DISC course, Using All Your Data: Integration of Geology and Geophysics, offers a full day on August 16 to step back and think through these workflows before IMAGE ’26 begins. The course and accompanying book provide practical ways to improve integration, use new tools carefully, and make better use of the information already available.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> More data does not automatically produce better answers: Teams need time to test what the data support, where uncertainty remains, and what matters for the decision.
> Integration works best when it begins early: Connecting geology and geophysics before models are finalized can reduce rework and reveal problems sooner.
> A day away from routine work can create long-term value: The August 16 DISC course gives attendees space to learn, make connections, and begin IMAGE ’26 with integration already in focus.

LINKS
* Register for the August 16 session of Using All Your Data: Integration of Geology and Geophysics at https://www.imageevent.org/short-course/using-all-your-data-integration-of-geology-and-geophysics
* Learn more about Maisha's course and see the full schedule at https://seg.org/education/courses/maisha-amaru-disc/
* Learn more about IMAGE '26 and register today at https://www.imageevent.org/.

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/.

“We’re moving from isolated geoscience disciplines to integrated subsurface solutions. You’re seeing AI becoming an enabling technology rather than the story itself.”

Adam R. Goss and Bunmi Elebiju explain why IMAGE ’26 is designed to reward people who look beyond their usual discipline. AI, uncertainty, regional geology, and emerging energy applications are woven through the program because the real value comes from seeing how different parts of geoscience connect to better decisions. This conversation helps attendees understand what to look for, how to navigate the program, and why the session you did not plan to attend may be the one that changes how you approach your work.

Learn more about IMAGE '26 and register today at https://www.imageevent.org/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration was a deliberate program decision: The committee avoided separate SEG, AAPG, and narrowly defined technology silos because today’s geoscientists must connect geology, geophysics, digital tools, uncertainty, finance, and business decisions.
> AI has moved from demonstration to accountability: The important question at IMAGE ’26 is no longer whether AI can interpret seismic data, accelerate FWI, or pick wells, but where it improves decision quality, where poor data limits it, and where human expertise remains essential.
> Attendees should organize IMAGE around a problem, not a job title: Following one technical objective across regions, disciplines, oral sessions, and posters can reveal ideas that would remain hidden inside a geology, geophysics, basin, or technology track.

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.

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/.

"It helps to see the bigger picture, to get out of your own sphere of interest. So it can be a good way to see different angles of your own industry.”

Applied geoscience is becoming more connected as carbon management, geothermal, digital technology, near surface work, and traditional energy increasingly share the same tools, ideas, and challenges. Molly Turko and Edith Miller explain how IMAGE ’26 is adapting to that shift while trying to serve both specialists and attendees exploring beyond their usual areas. They discuss how the event’s hubs, pavilions, technical sessions, and shared spaces can help people find useful ideas without becoming overwhelmed by the size of the program.

Learn more about IMAGE '26 and register today at https://www.imageevent.org/.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Integration is no longer the new idea. It is the expectation: Digital technology, carbon management, geothermal, oil and gas, and other disciplines are increasingly presented as parts of the same geoscience landscape rather than separate conversations.
> A larger program is only useful if people can find their way through it: IMAGE ’26 aims to give specialists enough content in areas such as geothermal, oil and gas, and emerging energy without leaving first time attendees overwhelmed by the number of choices.
> The value extends beyond technical knowledge: Edith draws a distinction between the career case and the business case for attending. People can build relationships and discover new career directions while also bringing back ideas, technologies, and perspectives that improve their company’s work.

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.

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/.

“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/.