Workshop 18

Improving Subsurface Decision Quality Friday, June 12th|

Convenors

  • Jeff Parke (BP)

Description

  • Learn methods to structure and validate subsurface predictions, reducing cognitive biases.
  • Conduct risk assessments early to identify relevant reference class analogues, enabling more realistic forecasting and robust decisions.
  • Use practical tools such as scenario planning, reference class forecasting, and probabilistic modelling to counter overconfidence and anchoring.

Sub-Topics that will be covered in the workshop:

Role of subsurface teams in decision-making processes.

Understanding Bias in Subsurface Predictions

  • Common cognitive biases: overconfidence, anchoring, and confirmation bias.
  • Impact of bias on volumetric estimates and risk profiles.

De-biasing Techniques

  • Scenario planning and structured uncertainty ranges.
  • Pre-mortem analysis to anticipate failure modes.
  • Reference class forecasting: principles and application.

Risk Assessment and Analogue Identification

  • Building risk matrices for exploration and development projects.
  • Identifying and validating reference class analogues using historical data.
  • Linking analogue insights to probabilistic forecasts.

Practical Exercises

  • Case studies on bias reduction in volumetric estimation.
  • Hands-on analogue benchmarking and scenario modelling.
  • Group discussion: improving input quality for high-stakes decisions.
Pumpjack-Field
Thermal-illustration

Participant Profile

Geoscientists, Reservoir Engineers, and Decision makers involved in exploration and development projects.

Experience Level: Mid-career professionals with 5–15 years of experience in subsurface evaluation, risk analysis, or project planning.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide technical input for investment decisions.
  • Assess uncertainty and risk in subsurface models.
  • Communicate forecasts and recommendations to decision makers.

Motivation: Improve the reliability and clarity of predictions, reduce bias in evaluations, and strengthen decision quality under uncertainty.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with subsurface workflows, basic probabilistic concepts, and project economics.

Workshop Programme

Coming Soon!

TimeActivity
09:30Welcome Remarks
.Session 1: Big picture perspectives
09:35From early experiments to value generation today, a DAS journey: M. Thompson (Equinor)
09:55Exploring DAS seismic for active and passive monitoring: highlights and challenges: A. Calvert (TotalEnergies), E. Rebel (TotalEnergies)
10:15Exploring our DAS technology approval process: E. Raknes (Aker BP)
10:35Experience of the world’s largest 3D DAS-VSP and the world’s first in a carbonate saline aquifer for CO2 plume monitoring: G. Cambois (ADNOC)
10:55Coffee break
11:1011:10 Session 1 panel discussion
.Session 2: How we acquire and handle data
11:30Advancing Geothermal Monitoring with Distributed Acoustic Sensing: Insights from Utah FORGE and UKGEOS: A. Chalari (Luna)
11:45DAS seismic data acquisitions – challenges and optimisations: H. Nakstad (ASN)
12:00DAS in Mineral Exploration Challenges and Innovations in Ecologically Sensitive Environments; C. Cosma (Vibrometrics), V. Lanticq (Febus-Optics)
12:15The implementation of a near-real-time DAS processing pipeline; B.Clapp (Google X)
12:30Handling large data streams from energy using Microsoft cloud: F. Odinson (Microsoft)
12:45Lunch break
13:30Session 2 panel discussion
.Session 3: How we use data and new possibilities
13:50 Lessons learned from the Otway Stage 4 experiment: R. Pevzner (Curtin University)
14:05 Advancing Sensitive Injection Monitoring: The Bureau’s Fiber-Enabled Field Laboratory at Devine and Telecommunication Fiber Sensing Across the Gulf Coast: A. Bakulin (BEG)
14:20 Practical uses of fiber optical sensing applications from the Centre for Geophysical Forecasting: M. Landro (NTNU)
14:35 Coffee break
14:50 Challenges and solutions associated with S-DAS data: R. Bachrach (SLB)
15:05 Highlighting the processing and imaging challenges of DAS data: K. Liao (Viridien)
15:20 Addressing the challenge of DAS data: I. Vasconcelos (Shearwater)
15:35 Session 3 panel discussion
15:55 Wrap-up discussion
16:00 End of workshop