How Geophysicists Turn Noise Into a Map

Seismic data is basically ultrasound for the Earth, and once you hear how it works, you can’t unsee it. Colton Dudley from richroc consultants breaks down how sound waves travel underground, bounce off rock layers, and come back with clues about what’s hiding below, oil, gas, faults, and everything in between. From thumper trucks and geophones to how geophysicists turn squiggly lines into real decisions, this conversation keeps things simple, visual, and occasionally funny. It’s a plain-English look at the science beneath our feet and how modern tools (including AI) are changing the way we explore and understand the subsurface.

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Click here to view the episode transcript.

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - What is Seismic Data?
04:21 - 2D vs 3D Seismic Imaging
09:16 - Seismic Data Collection Methods
14:33 - Visualizing Seismic Data
17:49 - Interpreting Seismic Data
20:54 - Processing Seismic Data
24:07 - Applications of Seismic Data
27:46 - Seismic vs Coring Techniques
30:40 - Future of Seismic Technology
33:26 - Offshore Seismic Exploration
36:05 - Seismic Data Under Ocean Floor
37:40 - Depth Capabilities of Seismic Data
39:30 - AI in Seismic Analysis
44:05 - Time-Depth Conversion Explained
45:27 - Fault Interpretation Techniques
47:30 - Velocity Modeling in Geophysics
49:00 - Post-Stack Inversion Process

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