Said Gaci | Geophysics Reservoir Characterization | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Said Gaci | Geophysics Reservoir Characterization | Best Researcher Award

Head of Technical and Scientific Support for R&D at Sonatrach-DC R&D, Algeria

Dr. Said Gaci is an accomplished geophysicist and research leader with extensive expertise in hydrocarbon exploration, signal processing, and petroleum reservoir analysis. Currently serving as the Director of Scientific and Technical Support for R&D at Sonatrach, he has built a distinguished career in Algeria’s energy sector, integrating scientific innovation with operational excellence. Dr. Gaci is renowned for introducing advanced seismic methods and machine learning techniques into geophysical workflows, significantly improving subsurface characterization. His professional footprint includes over two decades of experience, major collaborations with academic and industry partners, and a prolific record of publishing influential books and journal articles in petroleum geoscience.

Profile

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Education

Dr. Gaci holds multiple advanced degrees, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary academic foundation. He received his Engineer diploma in Geophysics in 1997 and a Magister degree in Petroleum Economics and Strategic Management in 2004 from the Algerian Petroleum Institute. Simultaneously, he earned another Magister degree in Geophysics in 2002, followed by a Ph.D. in 2011 from the University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algeria. His doctoral work focused on multifractional analysis of geophysical signals, which became foundational to many of his later innovations in reservoir modeling. He also holds a habilitation to supervise research, granted in 2016.

Experience

Dr. Gaci has accumulated over 20 years of professional experience in geophysics and energy research. From 2004 to 2015, he served in multiple technical roles at Sonatrach’s Exploration Division. He later led R&D departments and training divisions at the Algerian Petroleum Institute from 2015 to 2024. Since October 2024, he has headed the scientific and technical support for Sonatrach’s Central R&D Directorate. His portfolio includes supervising multidisciplinary teams on seismic interpretation, economic feasibility, and reservoir analysis. In parallel, he contributed as a part-time lecturer and regularly collaborates with international institutions on energy-related projects and theses.

Research Interest

Dr. Gaci’s research focuses on advanced geophysical signal processing, reservoir characterization, empirical mode decomposition, and machine learning in seismic data analysis. He has introduced multifractional Brownian motion models for interpreting heterogeneities in borehole data and pioneered methods integrating AI with traditional seismic attributes. His work aims to improve fluid detection and lithological segmentation in complex subsurface environments. He continues to explore applications in geothermal energy and carbon storage, using AI and fractal geometry. He has completed multiple international consulting and industry research projects, applying cutting-edge techniques to real-world petroleum challenges.

Awards

Dr. Gaci has gained recognition for his scientific leadership and technical excellence. He serves on editorial boards of reputed journals such as Arabian Journal of Geosciences and Frontiers in Earth Science. He has chaired and co-convened numerous international conferences, including sessions at the EGU General Assembly and AAPG events. Additionally, he was appointed as a university qualification expert by Algeria’s Ministry of Higher Education. His achievements include several awards for research excellence and invited roles in global geoscience forums.

Publications

Dr. Gaci has published over 40 journal articles and authored seven technical books. Selected recent publications include:

  1. Machine Learning and Seismic Attributes for Petroleum Prospect Generation and Evaluation (2025, Interpretation Journal)

  2. Petrophysical evaluation using CNNs in Berkine Basin (2024, Journal of Engineering Research)

  3. Advanced signal and pattern recognition in geosciences (2023, Frontiers in Earth Science)

  4. A Grey System Approach for Hölderian Regularity Estimation (2021, Fractal and Fractional).

  5. Investigation of lithological heterogeneities using EMD-Hölder (2022, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering)

  6. Seismic attributes for hydrocarbon detection in Australia (2021, Arabian Journal of Geosciences).

  7. Spectral and amplitude decomposition for fluid detection (2020, Journal of Seismic Exploration).

These publications demonstrate his high-impact contributions to petroleum geophysics and applied research.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Said Gaci stands as a leading figure in petroleum geophysics, blending academic rigor with real-world application. His interdisciplinary expertise, from signal theory to economic modeling, has transformed how seismic data are interpreted and utilized for hydrocarbon exploration. With numerous publications, pioneering research, and international collaborations, he continues to push the boundaries of what is technically possible in reservoir characterization.

Chen Hao | Electromagnetic Survey | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Chen Hao | Electromagnetic Survey | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Researcher at Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, China

Chen Hao is an Assistant Researcher at the Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey (Geoscience Innovation Center of Southwest China), specializing in electromagnetic geophysics with a focus on magnetotelluric (MT) data processing. His work addresses the development of high-precision impedance estimation methods, noise suppression strategies, and data quality evaluation frameworks for subsurface conductivity mapping. He has made significant contributions to advancing MT methodology, particularly in refining preprocessing techniques and formulating objective criteria for data quality assessment. His research is widely cited in the field and continues to shape practices in geophysical exploration and electromagnetic data interpretation.

Profile

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Education

Chen Hao holds a doctoral-level education in geophysics, with specialization in magnetotelluric methods and electromagnetic induction theory. His academic training focused on applying physical principles to analyze natural-source electromagnetic field data, enabling the development of innovative processing techniques. His doctoral thesis introduced a new MT data quality assessment framework that integrates phase differences and linearity metrics to categorize data types, forming the foundation of his future research trajectory. This educational background provides the theoretical rigor and analytical depth that underpin his contributions to geophysical signal analysis and inversion.

Experience

Professionally, Chen Hao has extensive experience working on both theoretical and field-based geophysical research. At the China Geological Survey, he has applied advanced MT methodologies to large-scale surveys, focusing on improving the quality and interpretability of electromagnetic data in complex geological environments. His completed project on “Magnetotelluric Data Noise Suppression and Quality Assessment” contributed a novel preprocessing framework that minimizes the need for high-quality datasets by introducing quantitative evaluation metrics. He is currently investigating MT data variability in response to geomagnetic storms, aiming to build real-time monitoring tools for space weather using geophysical measurements. His hands-on experience with time-series analysis, noise diagnostics, and impedance estimation techniques positions him as a methodological innovator in the domain of electromagnetic surveys.

Research Interest

Chen Hao’s primary research interests lie in magnetotelluric signal processing, time-series noise suppression, and the development of quality-driven inversion techniques. His work emphasizes understanding non-stationary noise in MT data and applying statistical and physical diagnostics to improve reliability. He is particularly interested in integrating linearity, phase differences, polarization direction, prediction errors, and hat matrix elements to create a multi-parameter MT data evaluation framework. His current research explores the relationship between MT signal integrity and geomagnetic activity, linking geophysics with space weather monitoring. His innovations continue to enable more consistent and objective MT processing workflows, especially in data-limited or noise-prone environments.

Award

Although he has not yet received formal awards, Chen Hao is a deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award due to his impactful scientific contributions, rigorous methodology, and peer-reviewed publications. His quality assessment framework and its application in MT signal preprocessing have already influenced data processing practices in geophysics. His growing recognition within the scientific community is evidenced by the citation of his work in prominent journals. This nomination reflects his commitment to scientific advancement and his potential as a leader in electromagnetic geophysical research.

Publications

Chen Hao has authored several high-quality, peer-reviewed articles in SCI-indexed journals, each contributing to the development of MT processing techniques:

  1. Chen, H., Mizunaga, H., Tanaka, T. (2022). Influence of geomagnetic storms on the quality of magnetotelluric impedance. Earth Planets Space, 74, 1–17. (Cited by 10 articles)

  2. Chen, H., Zhang, L., Ren, Z., Cao, H., Wang, G. (2023). An Automatic Preselection Strategy for Magnetotelluric Single-Site Data Processing Based on Linearity and the Polarization Direction. Frontiers in Earth Science, 11, 1230071. (Cited by 7 articles)

  3. Chen, H., Zhang, L. (2025). Assessing Magnetotelluric Data Quality Based on Linearity and Phase Differences. Geophysics, 90: E79-E90. (Cited by 3 articles)

These works provide robust methodologies for MT data assessment and preprocessing, combining theoretical modeling with empirical validation, and have been cited in related geophysical literature.

Conclusion

Chen Hao exemplifies excellence in geophysical research through his integration of electromagnetic theory, statistical analysis, and computational methods. His innovations in MT data processing have improved signal reliability, optimized impedance estimation, and set new standards for data quality evaluation. His research has already influenced academic practices and offers substantial potential for future applications in resource exploration and environmental monitoring. With a growing body of influential publications, a clear research focus, and strong methodological contributions, Chen Hao stands out as a promising early-career researcher in geophysics. His nomination for the Best Researcher Award is a recognition of both his current impact and his potential for continued scientific leadership.