40 – www.energy-future.com 3.2 — Technology: upstream Biggest games console in the world Seismic and other geophysical imaging techniques are the only way of assessing what the reservoir might contain without drilling into it. As such they are an invaluable part of the exploration and production process Seismic imaging has done for oil what medical imaging has done for the health industry. Twenty years ago, doctors had to rely on exploratory surgery as a diagnostic tool. Now, scans often make risky physical intervention unnecessary. It’s the same in oil; without seismic, explorers would have to perform a great deal of expensive exploratory surgery in the form of dry or non-optimal wells in order to strike it lucky. Picture of the subsurface Seismic is an imaging technique that allows geophysicists to form a detailed picture of what the layers of rock are like — and, therefore, to choose the optimal location for a well. It works by causing explosions or mechanical vibrations on the earth’s surface — usually generated by a vibrating pad under a truck, on land, or by specially equipped boats. Sound waves go into the ground and are reflected off layer after layer of subterranean rock. Microphones on the surface measure the rebounding signal. Computers then analyse the data to build a sophisticated picture of the subsurface. It’s like bouncing a ball: the quality of the surface dictates the quality of the bounce. Only, of course, it’s more complicated than bouncing a ball. Obtaining a clear signal in the first place is extremely difficult. Background noise severely degrades the quality of the signal; the seismic echo may constitute as little as 10% of the total energy picked up by the sensors. “The rest is noise,” says Robin Walker, a geophysicist in Schlumberger’s WesternGeco unit. The art of seismic, he adds, involves teasing out reflected seismic energy from unwanted background noise. “It occupies some of the best mathematical brains in the world.” Offshore, seismic benefits from the fact that sound travels well through water. But some onshore environments, such as the deserts of the oil-rich Middle East, are problematic. The sand deadens the signal before it has gone very far under the ground. And the undulation of a desert dune means microphones laid out “I’ve been in seismic for the best part of 25 years and I’m still excited technically by what we do” — Robin Walker, geophysicist, WesternGeco The Ramform Victory 3-D seismic vessel towing 16 streamers in the North Sea in 2002. The 16 tail buoys, visible to the left of the image, mark the start of the streamers. Photo courtesy Petroleum Geo-services

41 – How the energy industry works Profile — Julie Dacanay Name: Julie Dacanay Company: Schlumberger Present job: Wireline training, development and staffing manager for junior field engineers and field specialists for Europe and Africa Age: 31 Nationality: American Degree: Geology, University of Texas & Austin, US (graduated 1999) After my degree, I worked as a geologist for a small operator in the US. I liked what I was doing, but training was limited and the job was a bit static; I knew I would have to do similar work for five years. I wanted something more dynamic and I wanted to travel. I was interested in services companies in general and wireline logging in particular. I started at Schlumberger in 2000 as a wireline engineer on the exploration side in Texas. Tasks included maintaining and calibrating tools, understanding a logging programme and working with clients to define their expectations and set myself objectives. In between, I had to fit in my studies. The job met all my expectations: I had wanted something hands-on and not just a desk job. I liked the amount of responsibility and accountability I was given. And I was attracted by the fixed-step progression and clearly defined training programme. Over a three-year time frame, I knew what I needed to achieve and that’s what I liked. I spent two years in the US then transferred to Bergen, Norway, to work on North Sea projects. I switched to the production side — instead of defining hydrocarbons zones, as in exploration, you’re monitoring flow rates and the make-up of water, oil and gas, for example. After a year in Bergen, my initial three years was up and I had various options for career development. But I had enjoyed working as a field engineer, so I stayed for another two and a half years. Yes, it’s a male-dominated environment and it’s a bit rougher than working in an office — so it’s not the easiest place for a woman. But if you’re good at what you do, you build your technical knowledge and skills and you also build good relationships with the crew and your clients. Those relationships are another great aspect of the job: because the working environment is intense, there’s great team spirit and you tend to make strong friendships — with people from many different countries and cultures. After that, I became a recruiter for all business segments of Schlumberger — covering Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK. I was travelling a lot to universities and careers fairs. Although my educational background isn’t in human resources, I’d worked as a field engineer, so I knew what to look for in recruits. I now live in Paris, working in the firm’s Europe and Africa headquarters. I monitor the training and development of junior engineers and field specialists. I help them develop their career and motivate them, trying to get to know them individually to ensure their expectations are aligned with ours — I mediate between them and operations. Among the things I would say to students considering a career in energy would be that although it may sound glamorous, it is a lot of hard work and the lifestyle is not always easy, but you are rewarded accordingly and your career is in your hands. Schlumberger gives you the tools and resources to grow. It’s what you do with them that counts. ..