Dr. Uzonna Anyiam

Assistant Professor of Geophysics and Environmental Science
616.395.7112anyiam@hope.edu
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Dr. Uzonna Anyiam鈥檚 focus as a geophysicist is in the study of earthquakes triggered by onshore and offshore human activities such as hydraulic fracturing for shale gas development, CO2 sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, dissolution mining of salt, and geothermal resource development using double difference tomography for improved subsurface imaging. His integrated basin analysis research employs well data, core data and 3D reflection seismic data in conducting attribute-assisted seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization and prospect evaluation.

Uzonna鈥檚 courses include How the Earth Works and lab sections of his department鈥檚 introductory geology course, The Planet Earth. Students in his classes learn through research-informed teaching and data-driven analysis that imparts exceptional skill in the use of industry software and knowledge of integrated data analysis, algorithm development and equipment calibration.

He joined the faculty at 快猫短视频 in mid-2022. During his graduate study he taught geology and seismic interpretation classes, including teaching hands-on skills in use of industry software, as he does with students at Hope. He was involved in university-based research sponsored by oil companies that explored oil and gas fields to identify potential drilling sites in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of West Africa, as well as induced seismicity research sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China in Sichuan Basin. His early research as a college graduate in his native country, Nigeria, included a hydrogeophysical project that resulted in clean water supplies for improved sanitation for more than eight communities.

Uzonna is a member of eight professional organizations, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the American Geophysical Union (and its counterparts in Nigeria, China and Europe), the National Association of Black Geoscientists, and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists. He serves as a reviewer for two academic journals in his field.

Areas of Expertise

  • Integrated basin analysis
  • Geophysical and geological characterization of oil and gas reservoirs
  • Subsurface sequestration of CO2
  • Monitoring of induced seismicity caused by shale gas development, salt mining, geothermal resource development and carbon capture and storage (CCS)
  • Advanced seismic processing and imaging
  • Near surface geophysical investigations for smart city development

Education

  • Ph.D., geophysics, University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China), 2022
  • M.S., geology, Oklahoma State University, 2015
  • B.T., geophysics, Federal University of Technology (Owerri, Nigeria), 2008

Honors, Grants & Awards

  • SLB鈥檚 Geophysical Software Grant of 24 Licenses of Petrel, Techlog, PetroMod, and GeoX packages, valued at $73,687,900 (2024)
  • 2024 Jacob E. Nyenhuis Faculty Development Grant award, 快猫短视频, $9,380 (2024)
  • NASA Michigan Space Grant, $5,000 (2023鈥�2024)
  • SLB鈥檚 Geophysical Software Grant of Petrel, Techlog, PetroMod and GeoX packages, valued at $30,675,359 (2023)
  • Recipient, 鈥�2023 Faculty Merit Award for procuring the largest in-kind contribution in college history of $30M for geophysical software licenses in his first year鈥� at 快猫短视频 (2023)
  • The China Geoscience Joint Academic Conference Student Outstanding Thesis Award (2023)
  • SEG EVOLVE Virtual Internship Program鈥檚 Best Map 鈥� Petrel Award (2020)
  • SEG EVOLVE Virtual Internship Program鈥檚 Major Effort Award (2020)
  • SEG Foundation Travel Grant Award for SEG International Exposition and 89th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, USA (2019)
  • SEG Foundation Travel Grant Award for SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium, San Antonio, USA (2019)
  • China Academy of Sciences and The World Academy of Sciences (CAS-TWAS) President鈥檚 Ph.D. Fellowship Award for Four Year Doctoral Geophysics Program (2018-2022)
  • Honorary Mention 5th Best Poster at the 2016 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition: June 19鈥�23, 2016, Calgary, Canada
  • Phi Kappa Phi Master鈥檚 Degree Academic Excellence Honours Award (2015)

Selected Recent Publications and Presentations

Selected Conference Presentations

  • 鈥淐omprehensive seismic evidence for extremely shallow 2019 Changning Ms 6.0 earthquake induced by solution salt mining,鈥� 2024 SEG/AAPG Image conference, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., August 29 2024
  • 鈥淚nvestigation of hydrocarbon potential, trapping mechanism and environment of deposition of unpenetrated reservoirs in the deep offshore Niger Delta Basin: using AVO and attribute-assisted 3D seismic interpretation,鈥� 2024 SEG/AAPG Image conference, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., August 28, 2024
  • 鈥淪tructural characterization and delineation of newly recognized oil-field structure in deep offshore Nigeria from high-resolution 3-D seismic and well data,鈥� 2024 SEG/AAPG Image conference, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., August 28, 2024
  • 鈥淓xploring the structural architecture, reactivation likelihood and seal-ability of faulted subsurface reservoirs in the northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf: Implications for CO2 sequestration,鈥� 2023 NASA/Michigan Space Grant Consortium Fall Conference, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A., October 21, 2023
  • 鈥�3D seismic structural architecture and seal-ability of faulted subsurface reservoirs in the northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf: Implications for CO2 sequestration鈥� 2023 SEG/AAPG Image conference, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., August 29, 2023
  • 鈥淓nhanced 3D velocity structure, seismicity relocation and basement characterization of Changning-Xingwen shale gas and salt mining regions in Sichuan Basin,鈥� 2022 AGU Fall Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., December 14, 2022
  • 鈥淓nhanced 3D velocity structure, seismicity relocation and basement characterization of Changning-Xingwen shale gas and salt mining regions in Sichuan Basin,鈥� 2022 China Geoscience Union (CGU) Joint Academic Annual Conference, Fuzhou, China and virtually, December 7, 2022
  • 鈥淚ntegrated Characterization and Prospect Evaluation of East Cameron Block, offshore Louisiana: Using 3D Seismic and Well Data,鈥� 90th SEG Virtual International Exposition and Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., October 12, 2020
  • 鈥�3-D Seismic attribute-assisted characterization of deep offshore Niger Delta Basin: what鈥檚 new!鈥� 1st Asia-Pacific Geophysics Students Conference, Hefei, Anhui, China, September 7, 2020
  • 鈥淯STC Geophysical Society Activities from 2018 to 2019 and Proposed 2020 China International Students Geoscience Conference!鈥� 89th SEG International Exposition and Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., September 15, 2019
  • 鈥�3-D Seismic Attribute Expressions of Deep Offshore Niger Delta: what鈥檚 new?鈥� NAPE International Conference and Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria, November 16, 2016
  • 鈥�3-D Seismic Attribute Expressions of Deep Offshore Niger Delta,鈥� 2016 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Calgary, Canada, June 20, 2016
  • 鈥�3-D Seismic Interpretation and Reserve Estimation of Ossu Field in OML 124, Onshore Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria,鈥� 80th SEG International Exposition and Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., October 19, 2010

Peer Review Service

  • Reviewer for Geosystems and Geoenvironments Journal since 2024
  • Reviewer for GSA Bulletin since 2024
  • Reviewer for Marine and Petroleum Geology Journal since 2022
  • Reviewer for Energy Geoscience Journal since 2020
  • Reviewer for the Journal of Petroleum and Coal since 2017

Outside the College

Uzonna enjoys playing soccer and tennis, as well as spending quality time with his wife and children. He also loves shopping, cooking and worshiping God with guitar and piano.

Profile photo of Dr. Uzonna Anyiam
Dr. Uzonna Anyiam

Phone Number616.395.7112

A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2061 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Geological and Environmental Science Department
A map showing the location for Dr. Uzonna Anyiam A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2061 35 East 12th Street Holland MI 49423