David H. Johnston
Dr. David H. Johnston earned a Bachelor of Science degree in earth sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973 and a Ph.D. in geophysics in 1978, also from MIT. After graduation, Dave joined Exxon Production Research Co. (later ExxonMobil Upstream Research) in Houston, Texas, and held assignments in rock physics research, velocity analysis and interpretation, and seismic reservoir characterization and monitoring. He moved to ExxonMobil Exploration Co. in 2002 where he was responsible for the worldwide application of time-lapse seismic technology. In 2008 Dave moved to ExxonMobil Production Co. as Global Geophysics Coordinator, where he provided technical and business stewardship of the company’s worldwide production geophysics activity. In 2015 he returned to ExxonMobil Upstream Research as a Senior Innovation Advisor in the Innovation Center of Excellence and in 2016 he assumed the position of Senior Geophysics Advisor in Full Wavefield Imaging where he worked until his retirement in February 2017. He is currently Managing Director of Differential Seismic, LLC, a geophysics consultancy.
Dave is a member of SEG, SPE, AAPG, EAGE, and AGU. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the SEG in 1990 and has chaired the SEG Development and Production and Interpretation committees. He is editor of three books, Seismic Wave Attenuation (1981), Reservoir Geophysics (1992), and Methods and Applications in Reservoir Geophysics (2010), all published by the SEG. He is also the author of Practical Applications of Time-Lapse Seismic Data (2013).
Dave was awarded Best Presentation by the SEG in 1993, honorable mention for Best Presentation in 2010, and Best Paper in The Leading Edge in 2005. He was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer from 1992 to 1993, the SEG Distinguished Lecturer in 1999, and an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer in 2008. In 2013 Dave served as the SEG Distinguished Short Course Instructor. In 2003 he received Honorary Membership in the Geophysical Society of Houston and in 2004 he was awarded Life Membership in the SEG. Dave was the first recipient of ExxonMobil’s Peter Vail award for distinguished technical achievement in 2007.
Dave is a member of SEG, SPE, AAPG, EAGE, and AGU. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the SEG in 1990 and has chaired the SEG Development and Production and Interpretation committees. He is editor of three books, Seismic Wave Attenuation (1981), Reservoir Geophysics (1992), and Methods and Applications in Reservoir Geophysics (2010), all published by the SEG. He is also the author of Practical Applications of Time-Lapse Seismic Data (2013).
Dave was awarded Best Presentation by the SEG in 1993, honorable mention for Best Presentation in 2010, and Best Paper in The Leading Edge in 2005. He was an SPE Distinguished Lecturer from 1992 to 1993, the SEG Distinguished Lecturer in 1999, and an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer in 2008. In 2013 Dave served as the SEG Distinguished Short Course Instructor. In 2003 he received Honorary Membership in the Geophysical Society of Houston and in 2004 he was awarded Life Membership in the SEG. Dave was the first recipient of ExxonMobil’s Peter Vail award for distinguished technical achievement in 2007.
David H. Johnston
Differential Seismic LLC