Principal Investigator: Chester J. Weiss (505-284-6347)

Sponsor: Natural Gas and Oil Technology Partnership (NGOTP)

Duration: (FY)2002-2003

Description: Electromagnetic methods for sub-seabed imaging of hydrocarbon reserves and their associated geologic structures have increased in popularity in recent years, largely due to the confluence of nascent 3D modeling capabilities and commercially fieldable seabed sensor packages - each of which developed through close collaboration among industry, academic and national lab partners. Initially conceived as a 3-year effort to develop new tools for forward modeling based on edge elements in a gauged, mixed-potential formulation, the project was rescoped after the initial year to leverage existing expertise in 3D finite difference and 2D unstructured finite element modeling. Partnering with the Marine Electromagnetic Laboratory at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a new set of computational tools has been developed (3D controlled-source and magnetotelluric, 2D adaptive-mesh magnetotelluric) with the understanding (and support of the industry colleagues!) that the software would be made available via an OpenSource license agreement to all interested parties. Present work in this area is carried out through Sandia's LDRD program and maintains the same commitment to OpenSource distribution of these software products.

Papers, reports and the latest hot results: Stay tuned!