Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, a geophysicist from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, in his inauguration ceremony as a permanent professor of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, explained the important role of seismic-based oil and gas exploration through his speech entitled .“Challenges of Seismic Exploration Experts in Searching for Oil and Gas Resources: A New Paradigm in Oil and Gas Exploration”.

“Oil and gas have an important and strategic role in the history of the development of the Indonesian nation, especially as a source of state revenue, meeting domestic fuel needs, a source of industrial raw materials, and creating a chain effect on economic activities.

However, oil and gas production in Indonesia since the 1990s has experienced a continuous downward trend that is not commensurate with the increasing demand. This is due to the lack of exploration and innovation activities as well as the development of new technologies in oil and gas exploration.

Prof. Haris said, “We still have a great opportunity to restore the strength of the oil and gas sector because we still have quite large oil reserves. There are 60 oil and gas basins in Indonesia, of which 22 basins have not been drilled, 13 basins have been drilled but have not made any discoveries, 8 basins have discoveries but are not yet producing, and 16 basins are producing.” To that end, Prof. Haris explained a new paradigm in oil and gas exploration, namely seismic exploration by adopting innovation, advanced seismic analysis and interpretation. (advance seismic interpretation).

This technology, Prof. Haris continued, has become a key and essential part of the exploration phase applied by the oil and gas industry. Furthermore, the development of 2D seismic surveys has been expanded to 3D and even 4D seismic surveys, which can produce much more detailed subsurface images.

“Therefore, oil and gas exploration desperately needs fresh and innovative ideas to maintain and even increase oil and gas production through a new paradigm that not only involves exploration in new fields but also challenges us to explore old, abandoned fields,” concluded the Pemalang-born man.