[TO BE PREPARED ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD]
February 17, 2016
United States Department Homeland Security
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
Texas Service Center
4141 North St. Augustine Road
Dallas, TX 75227
Dear Sir or Madam:
It is my pleasure to write this letter in support of Dr. Gboyega Ayeni regarding his
employer’s priority worker immigrant petition. Dr. Ayeni is recognized
internationally for his contributions to in the fields of seismic reservoir
characterization, time-lapse seismic imaging, and seismic data acquisition.
My name is Professor Helmut Jakubowicz, currently the PGS Chair in Petroleum
Geophysics at The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.
Prior to joining Imperial College in 2007, I served as Manager of External Research
at Veritas DGC, Crawley; Head of Research at Ensign Geophysics Ltd., Addlestone;
Advanced Technical Specialist at Texaco Ltd., London; Head of Research at GECO
UK, Orpington; and Research Geophysicist at Western Geophysical, London and
Houston, Texas. I received a PhD degree in Theoretical Atomic Physics at University
College London in 1980; an MSc degree in Quantum Theory of Measurement at
Institute of Atomic Physics, Stirling University in 1977; and B.A. and M.A. degrees
in Natural Science at Cambridge University in 1976. I currently serve as a deputy
editor of Geophysical Prospecting, an international peer-reviewed geophysical
journal published by the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
(EAGE). Given my extensive and active experience in the field of geophysical
research, I believe I am in a good position to judge Dr. Ayeni’s ability as an
outstanding researcher.
My first encounter with Dr. Ayeni was as an external examiner at his Masters thesis
defense at Leeds University, UK. His Masters research which was focused on
automated seismic reservoir characterization with stochastic pseudo-wells provides
an automated scheme to predict reservoir properties away from wells. Results from
Dr. Ayeni’s excellent work have been presented at various international conferences.
For example, results from his work were presented in Los Angeles at the annual
technical conference of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist (AAPG) in
Los Angeles. This meeting, organized
Results from this work were also presented at the 2007 Annual Technical
Conference of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers.
The scientific value of Dr. Ayeni is evident from the large number of international
conferences and symposia at which he has presented his original research
contributions to his field. These conferences have been organized by leading
international associations from Europe, Africa and the U.S. The conferences are
attended by the leading figures from academia and industry, who are interested in
learning of Dr. Ayeni’s novel work in the field of time-lapse seismic imaging. That
Dr. Ayeni’s research has been presented at these conferences establishes the
international relevance of the science, but also the strong scientific links Dr. Ayeni
has with major research institutions around the globe. The research results
presented at these conferences have been used and cited by other scientists in
further research published in the peer-review literature, thus demonstrating the
international impact of the science performed by Dr. Ayeni.
For example, results from Dr. Ayeni’s work were also presented at the 72 nd annual
meeting of the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) held in
Barcelona, Spain. The EAGE was established in 1951 and has over 16,000 members
in different countries around the world. That the annual EAGE meeting is attended
by over 5,000 people from almost 100 countries is indicative of the international
significance of this meeting.
In addition, results from Dr. Ayeni’s work were also presented at the 2010 Offshore
Technology Conference (OTC) held in Houston, TX. The OTC, which was established
in 1969, is sponsored by 13 different professional engineering, mining, marine and
geoscience organizations. The conference is attended by over 80,000 energy
professionals and over 2,500 exhibiting companies, with representatives from over
110 countries. Presenting at this conference demonstrates the value placed on his
research contributions and the broad interests in his work by the oil and gas
industry.
Finally, over the years, Dr. Ayeni has presented his outstanding research results at
79th, 80th, 81st and 82nd annual meetings of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists
(SEG) held in Houston, Denver, San Antonio, and Las Vegas respectively.
Furthermore, results from Dr. Ayeni’s research have also been presented in
specialized SEG workshops in Canada and in the US. The SEG, founded in 1930, is
the largest professional society focused on applied geophysics with more than
33,000 members in 138 different countries. Wide interest in the techniques and
research results obtained by Dr. Ayeni in practical problems is demonstrated by
sustained interests in his work by reviewers of his various presented work who are
experts in the field advanced seismic imaging.
For these reasons, I conclude that Dr. Ayeni is internationally recognized for these
outstanding research accomplishments and scientific contributions to the field of
seismic imaging.
Sincerely,
Biondo Biondi
Professor of Geophysics
Stanford University