Stanford Exploration Project Library

If you're in the geophysical survey contracting industry, you might want to check out the Stanford Exploration Project Library (SEP). As an academic consortium funded by industry, our mission is to improve the theory and practice of constructing 3-D and 4-D images of the earth from seismic echo soundings. SEP has a wide range of sponsors, including those in the petroleum industry.

At SEP, we focus on overcoming the limitations of geophysical surveying technology. We pioneered innovations in migration imaging, velocity estimation, dip moveout and slant stack. Today, our research is devoted to 3-D seismic applications like velocity estimation, wavefield-continuation prestack migration, and multidimensional image estimation, as well as 4-D (time-lapse) reservoir monitoring.

We take on small 2-D imaging projects utilizing all kinds of geophysical data. The diversity of our applications has allowed us to exercise our judgment and skill at combining fundamentals of statistical signal theory, optimization theory, numerical analysis, and wave propagation theory, which have led us to numerous improvements and breakthroughs.

To facilitate technology transfer, we organize our research using a formal method of makefile rules. This additionally assures that our research results are verified by someone other than the original researcher. Research progress reports dating back four years and PhD theses are all made available to the public through our website.

Our most recent release focuses on numerous bugfixes and code cleanups.

Overall, SEP provides valuable contributions to the geophysical survey contracting industry, and we welcome fellow research endeavors to join forces with us.