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Dr. Robert J. Ferguson
Associate Professor of Geophysics
Department of Geoscience,
University of Calgary
 
 

 

E-mail: rjfergusucalgaryca
Phone: 1-403-220-7375

 

Other Faculty (alphabetical order):


Bancroft Eaton Ferguson Innanen Lamoureux Lawton Lines Margrave Russell Stewart Yedlin

Dr. Robert J. Ferguson, P. Geoph
Associate Professor
CREWES
Department of Geoscience
University of Calgary
2500 University Drive N.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4
+ 403 220 7375

Research Interests

My research specialization is in reflection seismology applications of seismic imaging and modelling. Reflection seismology is important in that much of the natural resources of the world, hydrocarbons in particular, are discovered through seismic imaging and modelling of reflected seismic data. Below, I group my work in imaging and modelling into four main areas.

  • Regularization and datuming of seismic data: Acquisition of seismic data occurs in a natural setting, so data are often acquired with irregular spacing between measurements, and strong terrain variations introduce strong variations in the recorded data. Both effects cause spurious seismic events that mask events of interest. My solution solves both problems simultaneously by a numerical inversion. My approach is groundbreaking in that I replaced an expensive matrix-matrix multiplication by a new, truncated series expansion.
  • Seismic imaging in heterogeneous media: In this work, I have generalized mathematically a large class of conventional imaging methods for seismic data to enable the hybridization of seismic imaging. The resulting hybrid plans the execution of imaging so that the best aspects of the numerous methods are combined. This method combines high accuracy with high efficiency.
  • Estimating the elastic parameters of anisotropic media by joint P- and S-wave inversion: Seismic analysis space exists simultaneously in time and depth, rather than independently-in-depth or independently-in-time as is assumed conventionally. I use this multi-dimensional space to combine P- and S-wave recordings in a joint inversion scheme by which anisotropy parameters plus layer thicknesses are resolved.
  • Prestack depth migration in anisotropic media: Wherever shales are present, anisotropy exists in the subsurface, and this causes image distortions that can be severe. In my work in anisotropic imaging, I have successfully developed ray-based approaches and phase-shift approaches that combine high accuracy with high-efficiency. A seismic imaging algorithm based on a traveltime (ray) approach is now in production at a seismic contractor.

Geophysics and SEG Expanded Abstracts author redistribution permission
355 schedule

Journal articles (peer reviewed, student authors underlined)

Journal articles in preparation

  • Burnett, W., and Ferguson, R. J., Reversible NMO: for Geophysical Prospecting, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers.
  • Burnett, W., and Ferguson, R. J., Reversible Stolt migration: for Geophysics, Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Margrave, G. F., and Hall, K. W., Gabor domain analysis of frequency dependent attenuation in the nearsurface: Near Surface Geophysics, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Geophone rotation analysis by polarity inversion: Geophysics, Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Space variable depth migration operators derived from VSP: Geophysics, Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

Articles in refereed conference proceedings (4 page expanded abstracts)

  • Gulati, A., Ferguson, R. J., 2011, Accurate declipping hybrid algorithm: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Lespinasse, D. J., Ferguson, R. J., 2011, Brine-methane substitution: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Margrave, G. F., Ferguson, R. J., and Hogan, C. M., 2011, Full waveform inversion using one-way migration: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Sharma, R. K., Ferguson, R. J., 2011, Plane wave reflection and transmission coefficients: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Vracar, V., Ferguson, R. J., 2011, Conventional and non-conventional seismic differencing: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Wilson, M. R., Ferguson, R. J., 2011, Implicit preconditioning for least-squares: Expanded Abstracts, 2011 CSPG, CSEG, and CWLS Convention, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Sharma, R. K., Ferguson, R. J., 2010, 9C seismic modelling for VTI media: Expanded Abstracts, Society of Exploration Geophysicists Denver 201 Annual Meeting, 3066-3071.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Margrave, G. F., and Hall, K. W., 2010, Gabor domain analysis of Q in the nearsurface: Expanded Abstracts, 72nd Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Gulati, A., Ferguson, R. J., 2010, NFFT: Algorithm for irregular sampling: Expanded Abstracts, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Milichevic, V., Ferguson, R. J., 2010, Numerical fluid flow modelling and its seismic response in time-lapse: Expanded Abstracts, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Sharma, R. K., Ferguson, R. J., 2010, Reflection and Transmission coefficients for SH wave in Plane Wave Domain: Expanded Abstracts, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Wilson, M. R., Ferguson, R. J., 2010, Trace interpolation and elevation statics by conjugate gradients: Expanded Abstracts, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Smith, D., Sen, M. K., and Ferguson, R. J., 2009, Regularization and redatuming using least squares and conjugate gradients: Expanded Abstracts, 71st Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Bonham, K., and Ferguson, R. J., 2009, Seismic data modelling in Parallel distributed Matlab: Expanded Abstracts, 79th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 2009, 3D anisotropic phaseshift operators: Expanded Abstracts, Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  • Ferguson, R. J., 2008, Fast trace interpolation and statics application by least squares inversion: Expanded Abstracts, 70th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Burnett, W., and Ferguson, R. J., 2007,Reversible transforms for one-dimensional data processing: Expanded Abstracts, 69th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Kumar, C., Sen, M. K., and Ferguson, R. J., 2006, Migration velocity analysis in transversely isotropic media: A common focus point (CFP) approach: Expanded Abstracts, 76th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
  • Kumar, K. M., and Ferguson, R. J., 2006, Pore pressure prediction using an Eaton's approach for PS-waves: Expanded Abstracts, 76th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1550-1554.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Fomel, S. B., 2005, Data regularization and redatuming using Newton's method: Expanded Abstracts, 75th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1699-1672.
  • Kumar, C., Sen, M. K., and Ferguson, R. J., 2005, Reflection traveltime sensitivity analysis for VTI media: Expanded Abstracts, 75th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 198-201.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Sen, M. K., 2004, Joint inversion of P- and SV-wave traveltime error to estimate anisotropy: a CFP approach: Expanded Abstracts, 74th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 885-888.
  • Ferguson, R. J., 2004a, Lateral positioning error and the explicit one-way operators of wavefield extrapolation: Expanded Abstracts, 74th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 985-988.
  • Ferguson, R. J., 2004b, Seismic anisotropy and vertical fractures in the Edwards aquifer: Expanded Abstracts, 74th Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1397-1400.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Fomel, S. B., and Sen, M. K., 2003, Wave propagation in heterogeneous media by a least squares one way operator: Expanded Abstracts, 65th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, P141-P144.
  • Kumar, D., Sen, M., K., and Ferguson, R. J., 2003, Traveltime calculation and prestack depth migration in tilted transversely isotropic media: Expanded Abstracts, 73rd Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 941-944.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Mosher, C. M., 2003, Fourier integral operators, phase-screens, and their relationship to statics correction: An example from offshore Norway: Expanded Abstracts, 73rd Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1881-1884
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 2003, A comparison of two wavefield extrapolators: PSPI plus correction verses an efficient Fourier operator: Expanded Abstracts, 73rd Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1001-1004.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Sen, M. K., 2002, tau - p domain estimation of elastic parameters in VTI media: Expanded Abstracts, 72nd Annual International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 169-172
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 2002, Generalized-screen operators with a spatially variable background velocity: Expanded Abstracts, 64th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, P241, 1-4.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Mosher, C. M., Barret, M. J., and Ebert, L, 2002, Improving the image offshore Norway by wave-equation datuming: 2002 Offshore Technology Conference, Offshore Technology Conference.
  • Margrave, G., F., and Ferguson, R. J., 2000, Taylor series derivation of nonstationary wavefield extrapolators: Expanded Abstracts, 70th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 834-837.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 1999a, A practical implementation of depth migration by nonstationary phase shift: Expanded Abstracts, 69th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1370-1373.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 1999b, Migration of source gathers by nonstationary phase shift - TI examples: Expanded Abstracts, 61st Mtg., Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, S1051, 1-4.
  • Margrave, G. F., and Ferguson, R. J., 1999, An explicit, symmetric wavefield extrapolator for depth migration: Expanded Abstracts, 69th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1461-1464.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 1998, Depth migration in TI media by nonstationary phase shift: Expanded Abstracts, 68th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1831-1834.
  • Margrave, G. F., and Ferguson, R. J., 1997, Wavefield extrapolation by nonstationary phase shift: Expanded Abstracts, 67th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1599-1602.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Margrave, G. F., 1997, Frequency domain inversion of P-S seismic data: Expanded Abstracts, 59th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, B051, 1-4.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Stewart, R. R., 1996a, Lithologic differentiation of a sand channel reservoir using Vp/Vs values: Expanded Abstracts, 58th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, M048, 1-4.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Stewart, R. R., 1996b, Reservoir indication using Vp/Vs values derived from broad-band 3-C seismic data: Expanded Abstracts, 66th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 766-769.
  • Ferguson, R. J., Stewart, R. R., and Bland, H. C., 1995, Estimating shear-wave velocity logs using P-S seismic inversion: Expanded Abstracts, 57th Conference and Technical Exhibition, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, E035, 1-4.
  • Ferguson, R. J., and Stewart, R. R., 1995, Estimating shear-wave velocity from P-S seismic data: Expanded Abstracts, 65th International Meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1036-1039.
Geophysics and SEG Expanded Abstracts author redistribution permission
Geophysics and SEG Expanded Abstracts author redistribution permission