The School of Geosciences hosts two geophysics labs: the Computational Geophysics Laboratory and the Field Geophysics Laboratory. 

Computational Geophysics Laboratory

The Computational Geophysics Laboratory includes several labs assigned to individual research teams and the Wick Cary Geoscience Processing & Imaging Center (GPIC).   

Their mission is to provide critical computational infrastructure for research activities in near-surface geophysics, exploration geophysics, basin- to crustal scale imaging, earthquake seismology, and microseismic monitoring. The labs are equipped with Linux, Mac and Windows workstations, Linux servers, and data storage servers. The labs also have access to dedicated computing resources at the OU’s supercomputer center (http://www.oscer.ou.edu), which includes 7 dual 12-core nodes, 250TB storage nodes, and 390 LTO-6 tapes (~975 TB) for data archive.  

The Geoscience and Processing Imaging Center (GPIC) 

GPIC provides computer hardware, software, data, and user-support to students and researchers of the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy for both teaching and research activities. GPIC is the primary high-end interpretation and computational facility of the School of Geosciences. Through the generosity of exploration companies, national oil companies, and data  brokers, GPIC enables access to high-quality 3D seismic (including multicomponent), electric log, image log, microseismic, and production data for both interdisciplinary research and education.  

GPIC provides students education using state-of-the-art geophysical exploration and development applications via hands-on approaches. It provides the framework for laboratory exercises in reservoir characterization, seismic modeling and migration, 3D seismic processing, exploration geophysics, 3D seismic interpretation, and quantitative seismic interpretation. GPIC also serves as the computational platform for research in seismic processing and imaging, seismic geomorphology, computer-assisted structure and fracture analysis, reservoir characterization, and potential field imaging of the earth’s crust.  

GPIC is housed in room 1010 Sarkeys Energy Center and includes 23 dual-monitor Windows 10 Dell Precision Tower Workstations (12-16 cores, 32 GB RAM). A Linux-based server cluster provides over 150 Terabytes of disk space and a total number of 132 dual cores. In addition, GPIC has access to dedicated processing power housed within OU’s supercomputer center (http://www.oscer.ou.edu), where very large jobs can also be run using a batch queuing system. 

Software

Through the generosity of software vendors, the School of Geosciences has access to a suite of commercial and academic software packages which our faculty and students use for research and teaching. 

  • Seismic Processing and Acquisition Design: SLB Vista; SLB OMNI; Haliburton Landmark; ProMAX; SeisSpace; Madagascar 
  • Seismic Modelling: Tesseral; ANRAY 3D Ray Tracing 
  • Seismic Interpretation: CPSGG AASPI; SLB Petrel; Geophysical Insights Paradise; Ikon Geosciences RokDok; CGG Hampson-Russell Geoview; IHS Kingdom; OpendTect; Haliburton Landmark Decision Space 
  • Passive Seismic Data Management and Processing: Antelope; Seismon  
  • Near-Surface Geophysical Imaging: ReflexW (GPR, Near-surface seismic); AGI EarthImager 2D (Electrical Resistivity Tomography)   
  • Magnetic and Gravimetric Data Processing: Geosoft OASIS Montaj; GMSYS 2D/3D  
  • Miscellaneous: MatLAB; ArcGIS; PlatteRiver; BasinMod; NHWave 

 Field Geophysics Laboratory

The mission of the field geophysics lab is to provide equipment for research and field-based teaching activities by students and faculty in the School of Geosciences. The lab includes a wide range of equipment for near-surface studies, basin- to crustal-scale geophysical imaging and monitoring, rapid aftershock responses, infrastructural monitoring, and field-based classes. The equipment includes:  

Passive seismic stations 

  • 132 Fairfield (now Magseis) ZLAND Gen2 3C 5Hz nodes (incl. 2 16-piece charging racks, 2 data servers, 4 HHT).  
  • 15 short period stations (Seismic Source). Each station has a 3C-4Hz geophone sensor, a solar panel and a quick-deployment box.   
  • 3 broadband Nanometrics Meridian stations. Each station has a 3C-20s broadband sensor, a solar panel and a quick deployment box.   

Active Seismic  

  • 3 Geode seismic recording units with a total of 72 channels and 4.5-Hz/28-Hz geophones.  
  • Truck-mounted seismic source PEG-40 (‘thumper’)  
  • Betsy seismic shotgun and Sledgehammer 

Electrical Resistivity Imaging

  • ARES II 88-Channel ERT system 

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 

  • Sensors and Software PulseEkko GPR + 100 MHz / 1000 MHz antennas 

Gravimetry 

  • Scintrex CG5 relative gravimeter   

Magnetics 

  • 2 Geometrics Proton Precession Magnetometers 

GPS + LiDAR  

  • 8 complete GPS stations, with telemetry, batteries, and solar panels (PolaRx5 receivers + Septentrio PoalNT antennas) 
  • 5 NetRS receivers + 5 Trimble Zephyr antennas  
  • Trimble Base/Rover field GPS (5 stations) 
  • Riegl VZ-400 LiDar