SHORT COURSES
28th September 2025
VSP technology - From check shot to advanced distributed acoustic sensing
Instructed by Sebastien Soulas (Avalon Sciences Ltd, UK)
About the instructor
Sebastien Soulas completed his Master’s degree in Geophysics (specialising in Borehole geophysics) from School and Observatory of Earth Sciences (EOST), Strasbourg France, in 1994. He then spent 12 years working in marine seismic data processing, acquisition, and analysis at various European locations before leading global borehole seismic activities for Maersk Oil in Copenhagen. He worked for BP 8 years and acted as senior Borehole Seismic Technical Expert in Upstream Reservoir Development, managing global borehole seismic operations, including the planning and execution of data acquisition, data processing and VSP data integration with surface seismic. At the beginning of 2019, he joined LYTT as Senior Advisor for Borehole Seismic, a BP tech start-up which develop and deploy high-value applications using DAS and DTS to provide real-time 24/7 subsurface analytics including seismic applications. He played an instrumental role in the design, development, installation, and validation in the industry’s first subsea DAS VSP system using distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) for bp in GoM Atlantis field.He joined Avalon Sciences in May 2022 as Global Operations Manager in Somerton and is overseeing field operations, field testing and advise on internal/external technical matters. He also continues to provide support to the R&D team in downhole 3-C optical seismic sensors technology development for active and passive seismic.He has presented numerous technical papers on borehole Geophysics including DAS seismic at EAGE and SEG conferences and workshops promoting data value, technology adoption and integration with surface seismic.
Overview
The course will highlight value of borehole geophysics and practical range of applications in the oil and gas and also in the context of energy transition for CCUS and geothermal energy where more efficient and cost-effective borehole monitoring are required. We will review advancements in sensing technology for the last three decades and also a wide range of case studies where VSPs delivered.This will provide the latest advances of fibre-optic sensing for reservoir management applications, and discusses challenges related to sensing hardware, deployment, processing, integration and analysis. We aim to showcase the DAS seismic application, give a snapshot of the state of the technology, and outline the road ahead.I will also provide an overview of recent applications of borehole geophysics from field exploration to development and where it has improved drilling decisions, structural imaging and impacted surface seismic processing in order to maximize the value of seismic information.This would be an opportunity to share with the industry on the application of sensor technologies. This can help directly the future development of seismic sensors by presenting our learnings, results, and needs.Participants’ profile
The course is designed for Geologists, Geophysicists and geoscientists who would like to get an understanding of VSP principles and various applications.
Pre-requisites
Basic understanding of Geology and geophysics including signal processing and geophysical operations (surface and downhole)
Course Schedule
Time
Topic
Learning Objectives
Assessment Method/Content
Duration
08:00 - 08:15
Course opening
Identify what you will learn during the course
PPT with overarching objectives
15 mins
08:15 - 09:30
VSP basics
General overview, geophysical principles and different VSP geometries
PPT and examples
75 mins
09:30 - 10:10
VSP data acquisition
Surface/downhole equipment and operational considerations
PPT and examples + Q&A
40 mins
10:10 - 10:20
Break
10 mins
10:20 - 11:00
Velocity survey
Data pre-conditioning for first break picking. Identify limits of absolute T-D based on well geometry and geology
PPT and exercise
40 mins
11:00 - 11:45
VSP modelling
Practical pre-survey design and evaluation, Ray tracing modelling
Software demo and spreadsheet exercise
45 mins
11:45 - 12:00
Wrap up day 1 (morning)
Recap key learnings
Q&A
15 mins
13:00 - 13:45
1-C VSP processing
Single component Processing sequence
PPT with overarching objectives
45 mins
13:45 - 14:15
High angle wells
Implications with highly deviated wells and non zero offset VSP
PPT, examples and case histories
30 mins
14:15 - 14:55
Lookahead VSP and SWD
Estimate predict ahead of the bit and use of SWD in drilling applications
PPT, examples and case histories
40 mins
14:55 - 15:05
Break
10 mins
15:05 - 15:45
VSP imaging
How to use VSP for 2D/3D imaging and pros/cons of VSP as an imaging tool
PPT, examples and case histories
40 mins
15:45 - 16:45
Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS)
DAS principles and technology for seismic applications. Technology evolution
PPT, examples and case histories
60 mins
16:45 - 17:00
Wrap up/close out
10 things you should know
15 mins
Participants’ profile
The course is designed for Geologists, Geophysicists and geoscientists who would like to get an understanding of VSP principles and various applications.
Pre-requisites
Basic understanding of Geology and geophysics including signal processing and geophysical operations (surface and downhole)
Course Schedule
Time | Topic | Learning Objectives | Assessment Method/Content | Duration |
08:00 - 08:15 | Course opening | Identify what you will learn during the course | PPT with overarching objectives | 15 mins |
08:15 - 09:30 | VSP basics | General overview, geophysical principles and different VSP geometries | PPT and examples | 75 mins |
09:30 - 10:10 | VSP data acquisition | Surface/downhole equipment and operational considerations | PPT and examples + Q&A | 40 mins |
10:10 - 10:20 | Break |
|
| 10 mins |
10:20 - 11:00 | Velocity survey | Data pre-conditioning for first break picking. Identify limits of absolute T-D based on well geometry and geology | PPT and exercise | 40 mins |
11:00 - 11:45 | VSP modelling | Practical pre-survey design and evaluation, Ray tracing modelling | Software demo and spreadsheet exercise | 45 mins |
11:45 - 12:00 | Wrap up day 1 (morning) | Recap key learnings | Q&A | 15 mins |
13:00 - 13:45 | 1-C VSP processing | Single component Processing sequence | PPT with overarching objectives | 45 mins |
13:45 - 14:15 | High angle wells | Implications with highly deviated wells and non zero offset VSP | PPT, examples and case histories | 30 mins |
14:15 - 14:55 | Lookahead VSP and SWD | Estimate predict ahead of the bit and use of SWD in drilling applications | PPT, examples and case histories | 40 mins |
14:55 - 15:05 | Break |
|
| 10 mins |
15:05 - 15:45 | VSP imaging | How to use VSP for 2D/3D imaging and pros/cons of VSP as an imaging tool | PPT, examples and case histories | 40 mins |
15:45 - 16:45 | Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) | DAS principles and technology for seismic applications. Technology evolution | PPT, examples and case histories | 60 mins |
16:45 - 17:00 | Wrap up/close out | 10 things you should know |
| 15 mins |