CGGVeritas’ Research Manager Receives SEG Medal (France)

Yu Zhang, Deputy Global Research Manager, Processing, Imaging & Reservoir, CGGVeritas, has been distinguished with the Society of Exploration Geophysicists’ (SEG) Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal in recognition of his recent innovative research in true amplitude wave equation migration.

The Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal is awarded to a person who, in the unanimous opinion of the SEG Honors and Awards Committee and the Executive Committee, has recently made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the science of geophysical exploration.

According to the Medal citation, “Yu exemplifies for all of us an outstanding drive and ability to apply powerful and innovative mathematics to the real-world complications of actual seismic data.” Yu is recognized for a multitude of recent contributions to seismic migration and inversion in addition to true amplitude wave equation migration, including turning-wave one-way equation migration, improved reverse-time migration and full waveform inversion. True amplitude wave equation migration in particular provides a solid theoretical solution for different types of migration and builds a bridge between imaging and inversion. The concept and method have been applied to the development of high-end imaging techniques, including stable TTI and orthorhombic RTM, RTM 3D gather output and broadband migrations.

Yu is a previous winner of the SEG’s J. Clarence Karcher Award and Best Paper in Geophysics as well as the EAGE’s Bonarelli Award. He has been intensely involved in imaging technology development at CGGVeritas since he joined the company in 1999. His contribution has been recognized by several CGGVeritas technology innovation awards and his appointment as a Distinguished Expert in the company’s Technical Community.

Colin Murdoch, Executive Vice President, Processing, Imaging & Reservoir, CGGVeritas, said: “By winning the SEG’s most prestigious technical award, Yu is being honored as one of the most distinguished geophysical innovators. Yu’s award recognizes both the importance of seismic imaging in our industry and Yu’s role in advancing the technology. Several of Yu’s innovations have been crucial in the development of seismic imaging to its present state, which features anisotropic reverse-time migration applied to enormous marine projects. These innovations have helped keep CGGVeritas at the forefront of the industry in seismic processing, and Yu’s award will enhance our reputation in the industry for years to come.”

CGGVeritas is a leading international pure-play geophysical company delivering a wide range of technologies, services and equipment through Sercel, to its broad base of customers mainly throughout the global oil and gas industry.

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Subsea World News Staff , July 19, 2012;  Image: CGGVeritas