HOUSTON – Geophysical service company MicroSeismic Inc. (MSI), has promoted Michael Thornton to chief technology officer. Thornton previously served as vice president of analysis. Chief geophysicist, Michael Mueller, will succeed him becoming vice president, analysis, leading delivery of all commercial geophysical services as well as IT infrastructure worldwide. 

Thornton obtained his PhD in geophysics from the University of Houston and his master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in geophysics from Texas A&M University. He has 17 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, having spent six years in management at Veritas DGC as imaging director in charge of multiple processing crews and technology development. Prior to that he worked at ExxonMobil for 11 years where he served as a research geophysicist, processing geophysicist and processing analyst.

Mueller’s experience in geoscience technology research and development, with a focus on multicomponent seismic and seismic anisotropy spans almost 30 years. He delivered the first application of the ocean bottom seismic method at Azeri field in the South Caspian Sea (operated by BP), achieving a step change improvement in Azeri structural imaging and improved field development planning. He co-invented the dipole sonic shear anisotropy logging application which has become the industry standard for characterizing shear anisotropy in the borehole. Additionally, he led a McKinsey and Company study on technology, strategy and governance helping to develop and execute the strategic plan for unconventional gas resource progression and reserves production in North America for BP. He earned a bachelor’s degree in geophysics from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Houston. 

Source:  MicroSeismic Inc.