Currently heading a research group of 20 scientists focusing on mathematical modeling of the subsurface, seismic inversion, cost and risk estimation, and decision support for exploration and production of hydrocarbons.

Has worked on developing new methods and software for the petroleum industry since 1988. The main focus has been on developing efficient techniques for describing geological properties by integrating geophysical data and prior geological knowledge. Methods from Bayesian statistics and geostatistics have been the main tools.

I have developed new methods for modeling of sedimentary deposits using 3D stochastic models for rock types (facies) and petrophysical properties (porosity permeability,…). I have developed software and new methods for seismic depth conversion and surface modeling using geostatistical techniques such as kriging and conditional simulation.

Specialties: Geostatistics, spatial statistics, seismic depth conversion, stochastic simulation

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Reidar works at the University of Stavanger where he is teaching and supervising graduate students doing research in decision analysis, project valuation, portfolio analysis, real-option valuation and behavioral challenges in decision-making.

Prior to academia, he spent 15 years in the industry in various technical and management roles including as Vice President in Landmark Graphics Corporation in Houston, Managing Director of Smedvig Technology Software Solutions (later Roxar), Senior Scientist with IBM, and Reservoir Engineer with Statoil. He spent his early working years as a roughneck and roustabout on various drilling rigs and production platforms in the North Sea.

Reidar has published a large number of papers on topics such as investment modelling, decision-making, stochastic reservoir modelling, fuzzy logic and reservoir management. He is a co-author of the SPE book Making Good Decisions.

He has three times served as an SPE Distinguished Lecturer. He is the 2017 recipient of the SPE Management & Information Award and the 2015 recipient of the North Sea Region SPE Management & Information award and has been both executive and associate editor for the SPE Economics & Management journal. He is a Fellow in the Society of Decision Professionals and the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences.

Reidar holds a PhD in petroleum engineering and an MSc in mathematics, both from Stanford University and has business and management science education from INSEAD and Stanford University.

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Bertrand has over 25 years of international industry experience in seismic data processing and has been based in London, Aberdeen, Mumbai, Moscow, and Cairo. He currently holds the position of Chief Geophysicist for PGS Imaging based in Weybridge, UK. He works closely with R&D teams on key processing and imaging developments and has published various papers on subjects including signal processing, deblending, demultiple, imaging and image optimization.

Bertrand has recently been involved into the processing and imaging of 3D Ultra High Resolution seismic data acquired for Offshore Wind.

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A long time ago, in a place far, far away…., Erik Finnstrom was educated as a Geophysicist at the University of California, earning his Master’s degree in 1981. University was followed by an international career in the oil industry working in Chevron, Norsk Hydro, Statoil/Equinor and TGS as an explorationist, researcher, manager, and executive.  Exploration work was mainly in West Africa, South America and the Gulf of Mexico areas.

Erik’s most recent industry positions as SVP for Exploration Excellence in Equinor and then SVP New Ventures in TGS have led to an interest in how to achieve improvements to both the efficiency and effectiveness of exploration for hydrocarbons, as well as team work and the exploration process in general.

Erik is currently spending some time as an advisor, mentor, and minor owner of a start-up, Cognitive GeoInterpretation Inc., which is developing AI tools for analysing and interpreting seismic data.

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Bill Shea is the CEO and Co-Founder at Sharp Reflections. He began his career as a research geoscientist for ExxonMobil and Statoil. In 2003 he co-founded Envision AS, where he helped build one of Norway’s largest teams of independent subsurface consultants.

Driven by an innovative mindset and a sharp appreciation for technological advancements, Bill recognized the immense potential and benefits that high-performance computing (HPC) could bring to seismic visualization and interpretation. Together with partners from Fraunhofer ITWM, they embarked on a mission to harness and deliver these advantages to geophysicists working in the energy sector. PreStack Pro (now Sharp Reflections software) was launched commercially in 2010. Today widely recognized as the industry’s premier Big Data software platform for seismic analysis.

As an entrepreneur, Bill continually pushes the boundaries, exploring novel ways to leverage the power of technology to accelerate insight and improve decisions.

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