“The geophysicists can’t do without the geologists and vice versa. It is critically important to do it on a team basis.”
Tako Koning, winner of the Best Oral Paper Award at IMAGE '24, shares clear lessons from a career working on basement reservoir exploration. He explains why seismic and geophysical data, integrated with geology, lead to better decisions, and how teamwork and open data help both companies and host countries. He also offers practical career advice and points to new opportunities in mature basins and areas such as geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Data and integration: Seismic and geophysical data, combined with geological analysis, are essential for finding and developing basement reservoirs.
> Learned lessons: Tako shares stories from his career that show the need for careful testing, correct depth, and patient development to avoid commercial failure.
> People and future: Teamwork and data sharing improve results for everyone, and broad early career experience transfers well to new areas like geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
GUEST BIO
Tako Koning is Holland-born and Alberta-raised with a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary. After initially working as a mud logger with Continental Labs, he worked for Texaco Canada Ltd. and soon became a team leader looking after northern Alberta. Tako subsequently became the project geologist for the Blue H-28 deep water drilling project, which was drilled in the Orphan Basin, Newfoundland, in 1979. The exploration well established a deepwater and drilling depth record at the time, and remains as one of the greatest technical successes in the Canadian Frontier.
In the last three decades, Tako has been highly involved with professional societies, by way of presenting and publishing papers and volunteering. He is a member of CSPG, CSEG, APEGGA, AAPG, SPE, SEG, Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, Geological Society of London, Houston Geological Society, and an honorary life member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists.
LINKS
* See the complete Best of IMAGE '24 winners - https://www.imageevent.org/best-of-image-2024
* Attend IMAGE '25 - https://www.imageevent.org/
* Learn more about the new podcast series, Inside IMAGE, presented by Seismic Soundoff - https://www.imageevent.org/podcast
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“The geophysicists can’t do without the geologists and vice versa. It is critically important to do it on a team basis.”
Tako Koning, winner of the Best Oral Paper Award at IMAGE '24, shares clear lessons from a career working on basement reservoir exploration. He explains why seismic and geophysical data, integrated with geology, lead to better decisions, and how teamwork and open data help both companies and host countries. He also offers practical career advice and points to new opportunities in mature basins and areas such as geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Data and integration: Seismic and geophysical data, combined with geological analysis, are essential for finding and developing basement reservoirs.
> Learned lessons: Tako shares stories from his career that show the need for careful testing, correct depth, and patient development to avoid commercial failure.
> People and future: Teamwork and data sharing improve results for everyone, and broad early career experience transfers well to new areas like geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
GUEST BIO
Tako Koning is Holland-born and Alberta-raised with a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary. After initially working as a mud logger with Continental Labs, he worked for Texaco Canada Ltd. and soon became a team leader looking after northern Alberta. Tako subsequently became the project geologist for the Blue H-28 deep water drilling project, which was drilled in the Orphan Basin, Newfoundland, in 1979. The exploration well established a deepwater and drilling depth record at the time, and remains as one of the greatest technical successes in the Canadian Frontier.
In the last three decades, Tako has been highly involved with professional societies, by way of presenting and publishing papers and volunteering. He is a member of CSPG, CSEG, APEGGA, AAPG, SPE, SEG, Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, Geological Society of London, Houston Geological Society, and an honorary life member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists.
LINKS
* See the complete Best of IMAGE '24 winners - https://www.imageevent.org/best-of-image-2024
* Attend IMAGE '25 - https://www.imageevent.org/
* Learn more about the new podcast series, Inside IMAGE, presented by Seismic Soundoff - https://www.imageevent.org/podcast
Fieldwork That Changes Lives: Inside the Matagorda Bay Field Trip
Seismic Soundoff
21 minutes 13 seconds
1 month ago
Fieldwork That Changes Lives: Inside the Matagorda Bay Field Trip
“Geoscientists without Borders shows how geophysics isn’t just for oil and gas; it’s for helping people and communities.”
In this episode, Shuhab Khan and David Bartel share how the SEG Foundation and Geoscientists without Borders are helping build resilient coastal communities through the Matagorda Bay Field Trip at IMAGE ‘25. Shuhab explains how students and professionals will get hands-on experience using cutting-edge tools to monitor coastal erosion and habitat stability while learning to apply geophysics for societal impact. David highlights how the SEG Foundation’s support makes these initiatives possible, encouraging listeners to support and join this important mission.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Learn how drone surveys, satellite data, and ground-penetrating radar are used to monitor erosion and protect vulnerable coastal areas.
> Understand why coastal resilience is a humanitarian need and how geophysics can directly support community safety and environmental stability.
> Discover how Geoscientists without Borders and the SEG Foundation enable field opportunities that connect science with real-world solutions for energy, water, and climate challenges.
CALL TO ACTION
Sign up for the Matagorda Bay Field Trip at IMAGE ‘25 at https://www.imageevent.org/short-courses/field-trip-2025/building-resilient-coastal-communities-at-matagorda-bay%E2%80%93a-geoscientists-without-borders to experience hands-on geophysics that helps coastal communities.
LINKS
* Register for IMAGE 2025 at https://www.imageevent.org/
* Visit https://seg.org/podcasts/episode-264-fieldwork-that-changes-lives-inside-the-matagorda-bay-field-camp for the complete show notes.
Seismic Soundoff
“The geophysicists can’t do without the geologists and vice versa. It is critically important to do it on a team basis.”
Tako Koning, winner of the Best Oral Paper Award at IMAGE '24, shares clear lessons from a career working on basement reservoir exploration. He explains why seismic and geophysical data, integrated with geology, lead to better decisions, and how teamwork and open data help both companies and host countries. He also offers practical career advice and points to new opportunities in mature basins and areas such as geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
> Data and integration: Seismic and geophysical data, combined with geological analysis, are essential for finding and developing basement reservoirs.
> Learned lessons: Tako shares stories from his career that show the need for careful testing, correct depth, and patient development to avoid commercial failure.
> People and future: Teamwork and data sharing improve results for everyone, and broad early career experience transfers well to new areas like geothermal, carbon capture, helium, hydrogen, and lithium.
GUEST BIO
Tako Koning is Holland-born and Alberta-raised with a B.Sc. in Geology from the University of Alberta and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Calgary. After initially working as a mud logger with Continental Labs, he worked for Texaco Canada Ltd. and soon became a team leader looking after northern Alberta. Tako subsequently became the project geologist for the Blue H-28 deep water drilling project, which was drilled in the Orphan Basin, Newfoundland, in 1979. The exploration well established a deepwater and drilling depth record at the time, and remains as one of the greatest technical successes in the Canadian Frontier.
In the last three decades, Tako has been highly involved with professional societies, by way of presenting and publishing papers and volunteering. He is a member of CSPG, CSEG, APEGGA, AAPG, SPE, SEG, Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, Geological Society of London, Houston Geological Society, and an honorary life member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists.
LINKS
* See the complete Best of IMAGE '24 winners - https://www.imageevent.org/best-of-image-2024
* Attend IMAGE '25 - https://www.imageevent.org/
* Learn more about the new podcast series, Inside IMAGE, presented by Seismic Soundoff - https://www.imageevent.org/podcast
