Nigel Anstey
Encyclopedia
Nigel Allister Anstey, British geophysicist, has made major contributions to seismic exploration
, which are the foundations for many of the techniques used in today’s oil and gas exploration. Anstey’s contributions impact every major area of seismic exploration -– from seismic acquisition to seismic processing to interpretation to research. He is the holder of over 50 multinational patent
s. He is best known by many geoscientists for distilling the geophysical
concepts of the seismic method into non-mathematical teachings for seismic interpreters.
Anstey’s work in seismic exploration has spanned 7 decades. Upon graduation from the University of Bristol
in 1948, he joined Seismograph Service Ltd. (SSL) and spent five years in the Middle East and the West Indies as an observer on a seismic crew. In 1953, he returned to the UK as a research geophysicist. He wrote a number of seminal papers while at SSL. In 1968, he established the European offices of Seiscom Delta. In 1975, he left the company to focus on teaching and consulting. He has written many books, monographs, and journal articles, as well as being a Distinguished Lecturer for the SEG. He is still an active contributor to the field of seismic exploration.
(still an active area of research). In 1959, he published the first paper on the earth’s effect on the seismic waveform and its relationship to peg-leg multiples.
In 1961, he co-invented (with W. E. Lerwill) the magnetic correlator, which made practical the Vibroseis method, which today is a standard seismic source for land acquisition.
In 1971, he introduced the use of color overlays of seismic velocity on the seismic section for distinguishing lithologic
differences. The use of attribute overlays is standard practice today. In 1975, he was awarded a patent for the basic VSP (vertical seismic profile).
Since 1975, when Anstey left Seiscom Delta to concentrate on teaching and consulting, he has written a number of books, monographs and papers. Many geophysicists have been introduced to the seismic method and Anstey through his series of educational videos. His contributions have been recognized with many honors.
Reflection seismology
Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
, which are the foundations for many of the techniques used in today’s oil and gas exploration. Anstey’s contributions impact every major area of seismic exploration -– from seismic acquisition to seismic processing to interpretation to research. He is the holder of over 50 multinational patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s. He is best known by many geoscientists for distilling the geophysical
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
concepts of the seismic method into non-mathematical teachings for seismic interpreters.
Anstey’s work in seismic exploration has spanned 7 decades. Upon graduation from the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1948, he joined Seismograph Service Ltd. (SSL) and spent five years in the Middle East and the West Indies as an observer on a seismic crew. In 1953, he returned to the UK as a research geophysicist. He wrote a number of seminal papers while at SSL. In 1968, he established the European offices of Seiscom Delta. In 1975, he left the company to focus on teaching and consulting. He has written many books, monographs, and journal articles, as well as being a Distinguished Lecturer for the SEG. He is still an active contributor to the field of seismic exploration.
Major contributions (selected)
In the 1950s, he began making major contributions to the seismic exploration, which are foundations for the standard techniques used today. He and his colleagues at SSL pioneered the used of cross-correlated seismic sections. His 1957 paper, ‘’Why all this interest in the shape of the pulse?” sparked research on the seismic waveletWavelet
A wavelet is a wave-like oscillation with an amplitude that starts out at zero, increases, and then decreases back to zero. It can typically be visualized as a "brief oscillation" like one might see recorded by a seismograph or heart monitor. Generally, wavelets are purposefully crafted to have...
(still an active area of research). In 1959, he published the first paper on the earth’s effect on the seismic waveform and its relationship to peg-leg multiples.
In 1961, he co-invented (with W. E. Lerwill) the magnetic correlator, which made practical the Vibroseis method, which today is a standard seismic source for land acquisition.
In 1971, he introduced the use of color overlays of seismic velocity on the seismic section for distinguishing lithologic
Lithology
The lithology of a rock unit is a description of its physical characteristics visible at outcrop, in hand or core samples or with low magnification microscopy, such as colour, texture, grain size, or composition. It may be either a detailed description of these characteristics or be a summary of...
differences. The use of attribute overlays is standard practice today. In 1975, he was awarded a patent for the basic VSP (vertical seismic profile).
Since 1975, when Anstey left Seiscom Delta to concentrate on teaching and consulting, he has written a number of books, monographs and papers. Many geophysicists have been introduced to the seismic method and Anstey through his series of educational videos. His contributions have been recognized with many honors.
Honors
- Conrad Schlumberger AwardConrad Schlumberger AwardThe Conrad Schlumberger Award is an award given to one of the members of European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers. The award is given each year to one that has made an outstanding contribution over a period of time to the scientific and technical advancement of the geosciences,...
, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGEEuropean Association of Geoscientists and EngineersThe European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers is a multi-disciplinary professional association for geoscientists and engineers. It was founded in 1951 and has a worldwide membership...
), 1964. - Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEGSociety of Exploration GeophysicistsThe Society of Exploration Geophysicists is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the science of geophysics and the education of exploration geophysicists. The Society fosters the expert and ethical practice of geophysics in the exploration and development of natural resources, in...
), 1972.http://www.seg.org/publications/yearbook/distinguished.shtml#kauffman - Matson Award, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), 1974.
- Maurice EwingMaurice EwingWilliam Maurice "Doc" Ewing was an American geophysicist and oceanographer.Ewing has been described as a pioneering geophysicist who worked on the research of seismic reflection and refraction in ocean basins, ocean bottom photography, submarine sound transmission , deep sea coring of the ocean...
Medal, SEG, 1977.http://www.seg.org/publications/yearbook/distinguished.shtml#ewing
Books
- Introduction to Vibroseis, 1961.
- Seismic Prospecting Instruments, Volume 1
- Seismic Interpretation, The Physical Aspects, Prentice Hall, 1977.
- Seismic Exploration for Sandstone Reservoirs, 1980
- Simple Seismics, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1982.
- Vibroseis, Prentice Hall, 1991.
Journal publications
- Anstey, N., 2005, Attributes in color: the early years: ‘’Recorder’’, 30, no. 3, 12-15.
- Anstey, N.A. and O'Doherty, R.F., 2002, Cycles, layers, and reflections: Part 1: ‘’The Leading Edge’’, 21, no. 1, 44-51.
- Anstey, N.A. and O'Doherty, R.F., 2002, Cycles, layers, and reflections: Part 2: ‘’The Leading Edge’’, 21, no. 2, 152-158.
- Anstey, N. A., 1991, Velocity in thin section: ‘’First Break’’, 09, no. 10, 449-457.
- Anstey, N., 1989, Stack-array discussion continues: ‘’The Leading Edge’’, 08, no. 03, 24-25.
- Anstey, N. A., 1989, Correlation techniques - A review, in Geyer, R. L., Ed., Vibroseis: Soc. of Expl. Geophys., 25-52. (* Reprinted from the Journal of the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 2, 55-82)
- Anstey, N. A. and Lerwill, W. E., 1989, Correlation in real time, in Geyer, R. L., Ed., Vibroseis: Soc. of Expl. Geophys., 53-71. (* Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Royal Society, 290, 430-447)
- Anstey, N. A., 1986, Whatever happened to ground-roll : ‘’The Leading Edge’’, 05, no. 03, 40-46.
- Anstey, N., 1986, Field techniques for high resolution: ‘’he Leading Edge’’, 05, no. 04, 26-34. (* Errata in TLE-05-10-0011)
- Anstey, N. A., 1986, Invited address - Dry holes: ‘’First Break’’, 04, no. 11, 9-12.
- Anstey, N. A., 1983, ‘’Resolution - A review’’, 3rd Geophysical Conference, 14: Austr. Soc. Expl. Geophys., 60-62.
- Anstey, N. A., 1980, Resolution, bandwidth, and money, 50th Ann. Internat. Mtg: Soc. of Expl. Geophys., Session:G.3.
- Anstey, N. A., 1973, Presidential address - How do we know we are right: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 21, 407-411.
- Anstey, N. A. and Allen, S. J., 1973, What directions should we set for hydrocarbon exploration: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 21, 412-423.
- O'Doherty, R. F. and Anstey, N. A., 1971, Reflections on amplitudes: Geophys. ‘’Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 19, 430-458.
- Anstey, N. A. and Newman, P., 1966, The sectional auto-correlogram and the sectional retro-correlogram: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 14, 389-426.
- Anstey, N. A., 1966, Correlation techniques - A review: ‘’J. Can. Soc. Expl. Geophys.’’, 02, no. 01, 55-86.
- Anstey, N. A., 1965, Wiggles: ‘’J. Can. Soc. Expl. Geophys.’’, 01, no. 01, 13-43.
- Anstey, N. A., 1964, Correlation techniques a review: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 12, 355-382.
- Anstey, N. A., 1960, Attacking the problems of the synthetic seismogram: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 08, 242-259.
- Anstey, N. A., 1958, Why all this interest in the shape of the pulse: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 06, 394-403.
- Anstey, N. A., 1958, A note on the seismic pulse recorded from a mine explosion: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 06, 433-437.
- Anstey, N. A., 1957, Modern technique in seismic reflection recording: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 05, 44-68.
- Anstey, N. A., 1956, Instrumental distortion and the seismic record: ‘’Geophys. Prosp.’’, Eur. Assn. Geosci. Eng., 04, 37-55.