Our Company

Sterling's Littleton office provides comprehensive seismic data processing solutions, using advanced capabilities and expert staff to deliver precise imaging. Our enhanced interpretation and reservoir analysis helps our clients gain deeper insights into their exploration opportunities.

Proven Track Record

Delivering excellence in seismic data processing since 1996, consistently meeting the industry's highest standards.

Reprocessing Expertise

We've revitalized hundreds of datasets for clients over the past five years, significantly enhancing data utility and providing deeper insights.​

Seasoned Geophysicists

Our senior staff, led by industry veterans since 2005, have continuously led the way in seismic processing innovation.

Long-Term Client Relationships

For 25+ year legacy of client success stories highlights our contribution to successful projects and long-term partnerships.

Your Partner in
Seismic Processing

Philosophy & Approach

Experience & Expertise

Commitment to Excellence
Our commitment to excellence focuses on helping clients gain the highest resolution image of the subsurface with our integrated geophysical processing solutions. Our strategy emphasizes a high quality result, and we dedicate the resources it takes to achieve fast project turnaround when critical reservoir development and drilling decisions depend on the delivery of your seismic data.
Technological Innovation
Sterling offers a major advantage with expert in-house development staff who can respond swiftly with fast-tracked technology to address all data challenges. We believe that continued innovation is critical for managing risk for clients. We routinely investigate new technologies and new approaches to push the limits of advanced processing and reservoir-focused imaging to help ensure our clients’ success. Our commitment to innovation includes careful selection of best-in-class partners as well as development of powerful new proprietary technologies to augment our processing capabilities to offer the best value to our clients.
Client-Centered Communication
Collaboration is a key element of our success strategy working with clients to gain a better understanding of the geology and their objectives. Whether a client has a small 2D dataset or a very large 3D project, we emphasize responsible, personalized collaboration to achieve results.
Highly Experienced Geophysicists
Our team of highly experienced geophysicists includes specialists in near-surface modeling, complex statics, anisotropy, depth imaging and VSP/Borehole seismic to help clients meet their data objectives. Since the company was founded in 1992, Sterling has become a highly respected provider of geophysical processing solutions, with over 300 referrals from oil and gas companies who enlist Sterling to help meet their exploration objectives.
Comprehensive Industry Expertise
We’re ahead of the curve in helping our clients utilize seismic data to help geosteer, tie well logs, and locate conventional reservoirs. Companies also rely on the proven accuracy of Sterling processing to help them stay in the zone with high resolution data. An accurate image helps operators reduce their drilling risk with geohazards. Advanced techniques help enhance reservoir resolution and better define rock properties to determine areas of brittleness to optimize hydraulic stimulation strategies.
Proven Solutions for Challenging Environments
Sterling has decades of experience working in diverse and challenging areas to deliver quality data processing results. Companies recognize Sterling’s ability to work through challenges and create innovation solutions to leverage the value of their seismic data to help find new reserves and develop existing resources. Sterling’s land processing experience includes extensive work in all the Conventional and Emerging Unconventional plays and in complex imaging regions around the world, providing leading solutions for geo-steering long laterals, thin-bed reservoirs, and challenging imaging environments. Client loyalty is among the highest in the business. Sterling works with large majors, leading unconventional players, and small companies working conventional reservoirs.

Our Experts

Our Geophysicists have a combined 250 years of experience, and together they cover every basin and technique.

Marc Sterling

CEO
Marc has over 40 years of experience on a wide array of processing platforms in exploration, production and engineering applications. He has been actively involved in 3D processing and development for over twenty years.
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At Western Geophysical, he was the Group Leader of the “Research and Special Projects Group.” Following his years at Western, Marc moved on to work with Aspen Geophysical, Bolt Technology, Production Geophysical Services and Geosignal. In all cases, Marc has enjoyed senior technical positions as well as management. Aside from production processing projects Marc has been instrumental in shear wave research and software development.

As CEO of Sterling, Marc’s technical support and involvement in all aspects of company operations are a result of his dedication to the customer and adherence to his own high standards of quality assurance. His shear wave and engineering experience has consistently lead to unsolicited work.

He is a proven explorationist in both structurally complex and stratigraphic exploration provinces. He has consistently shown the ability to develop innovative processing sequences to better delineate exploration objectives.​​​​​
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Nick Grenfell

President  |  COO
Nick joined Sterling in 2005 and has been a vital part of the team since day one. He started his career at Sterling in the geometry and refraction group under the guidance of Steve Powell. Learning the oil business from the ground up, Nick spent three years building geometries and near-surface models from scratch, developing a full understanding of surface seismic.

In 2008, he began working with Senior Processors Tim Michel and Lee Hakim in production processing. Here, Nick learned the principles and fundamentals of seismic data processing, focusing on producing high-quality data results. Over the next seven years, he worked on data from across the US and the globe.

In 2015, Nick transitioned into Business Development following Bill Schorger's retirement. His passion for people and problem-solving made this role a perfect fit, proving to be an excellent move for Sterling during the industry downturn. For the past eight years, Nick has cultivated relationships across every basin in the United States.

With Jeff Omvig’s retirement in November 2023, Nick stepped into the role of President/COO. He values his journey with the Sterling team, whom he considers family.

Nick holds a degree in Geology and Statistics from the University of Montana. Initially aiming to be a Hydro-Geologist, his plans changed after moving to Colorado with his girlfriend (now wife, Amanda). Settling in Colorado, Sterling became their home. Nick and Amanda now have twin boys who keep them busy with fun activities. Nick is also an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys fly fishing and can often be found on a fairway somewhere.
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Richard Van Dok

Chief Geophysicist
Rich received his B.Sc. in Geophysical Engineering 1984 from the Colorado School of Mines. He joined Western Geophysical in Houston in June of 1984 and worked for them in various positions for just over twenty two years, ultimately attaining the position of Senior Area Geophysicist. Throughout his career he has been involved in all phases of surface seismic data processing including land, marine, OBC and multicomponent applications. In 1988 he transferred to Western’s Denver office. In 1996 he began working on azimuthal anisotropy issues related to both P-waves and converted waves primarily for fracture detection and reservoir characterization. In 2006, he left WesternGeco and became a partner in HiPoint Reservoir Imaging and Apex HiPoint (later to become Sigma3) to focus on all aspects of borehole seismic acquisition and processing – including active VSP imaging and passive hydraulic fracture monitoring. With Sigma3, Rich was the principal processor of borehole seismic datasets from zero-offset, 3D and 4D and converted wave VSPs.  Rich joined Sterling Seismic in January 2019 and continues his work with advanced VSP and surface seismic processing and imaging.

Rich has co-authored numerous papers and articles on these subjects for the SEG, EAGE, CSEG, AAPG and various other local geophysical societies. In 2007, Rich and his co-authors, were presented with the SEG Best Paper Presentation Award at the SEG Annual Meeting. He and his co-authors were also presented with the Best Paper in The Leading Edge Award for 2011.
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Brian Fuller

VP Reservoir Geosciences
Brian has 38 years’ experience applying and developing seismic technology. His current interest is in determining geomechanical properties of reservoirs via processing of time-lapse DAS seismic data recorded in horizontal wells.

Brian started in the oil industry in 1980 with Amoco/Denver as an exploration geophysicist. He then did a stint in graduate school at the University of Wyoming earning Masters and Doctoral degrees in Geophysics. Later industry work kept him in borehole seismic processing and software development and in 2008 he co-founded HiPoint Reservoir Imaging with Marc Sterling and others. HiPoint Reservoir Imaging was sold to Sigma Cubed in 2013 where Brian worked until March, 2018.

Brian said “I am very excited to be working again with the talented staff at Sterling Seismic & Reservoir Services. Our goal is to build a world-class seismic and geomechanics reservoir team that provides engineers with information they need to maximize production at the lowest possible cost.”​​​​​​​​
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Tim Michel

Senior Geophysicist
Tim has over 35 years of worldwide 2D/3D data processing experience. After graduating from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Geophysical Engineering, he went to work at Vector Seismic Data Processing where he worked for 15 years. Before joining Sterling Seismic Services he was a processing geophysicist with GMG/AXIS in Denver. He has processed domestic 3D datasets from around the Rocky Mountin region, Texas, Mid Continent, California and Michigan. His international experience includes datasets from Venezuela, Portugal, Yemen, Russia and Indonesia.

Tim has extensive experience solving complex structural problems and statics issues. He spent his time at GMG/AXIS working with velocity anisotropy in fractured basins including the Barnett shale play in Texas. At Sterling in 2005, Tim processed an 1100 square mile nine 3D merge for Chevron in the Permian Basin through PSTM. He has extensive experience merging multiple 3D datasets including another 1300 sq/mile 12 survey merge in Pennsylvania.
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Lee Hakim

Senior Geophysicist
Lee has over 34 years of worldwide 2D/3D data processing experience. After graduating from the University of Colorado with a degree in Physics, he went to work at Vector Seismic Data Processing where he worked for 13 years, four of which were spent in their Houston offices. Before joining Sterling Seismic Services he was a processing geophysicist with GMG/AXIS (GX Technology) in Denver. He has processed domestic 2D and 3D datasets from the Rocky Mountain region, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Colorado, and Utah. His international experience includes data from Canada, Yemen, Offshore Ghana, Colombia, New Zealand, and Poland.

Lee has extensive experience solving complex structural problems and statics issues. Additionally, he spent the last 18 years working with velocity anisotropy to visualize fractures in the Powder, Wind River, Green River, and Big Horn Basins in Wyoming.
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Kenneth Zerbst

Senior Geophysicist
Ken has 30+ years of experience in the oil industry. Ken started seismic data processing as an analyst in an overthrust group for CGG Denver in the early 1980’s. Here he began developing the skills needed to properly image complex structural data, working primarily in the rocky mountain overthrust belt and the basin and range region of Nevada. This early training and interest in complex structural imaging has continued to develop through years of seismic data processing and project management, including working for several years as a senior processing geophysicist Western and Echo Geophysical.

From 2004-2018, Ken was the seismic data processing manager for Vector Seismic Data Processing in Denver where he worked closely with clients in the structural and stratigraphic development of geophysical oil and gas prospects, with an emphasis on amplitude preservation and high frequency enhancement in basins throughout the United States and many regions of the world.

As seismic data processing manager, he was responsible for implementing and supervising the technical development of seismic data processing strategies and workflows to meet client’s prospecting requirements and timelines, from field acquisition through establishing the processing work and QC flows as well as providing direction and training to staff members.

Ken chose to join Sterling in 2018 to work with top flite data processing professionals, many that he had worked with in the past. He enjoys introducing clients to the benefits of high frequency data processing and recovery using Sterling’s advanced SFE (Signal Frequency Enhancement) processing techniques.
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Jeff Omvig

Senior Advisor
Jeff has over 40 years of experience in the geophysical services industry with several industry-leading service providers. Prior to joining Sterling Jeff was the Manager of Land Program Development for ION’s (formerly I/O) Integrated Seismic Solutions (ISS) division, where his focus was on developing global onshore multi-client projects utilizing ION’s latest technology innovations. Previous to ION, Jeff spent the majority of his career with WesternGeco (Western Geophysical), where he served in various technical and management capacities including positions as geophysical analyst, project leader, processing supervisor, technical coordinator, center manager, regional DP manager, and manager of North America (NAM) DP.

As manager of NAM DP his responsibilities included P&L for WesternGeco’s largest business unit; operations management for processing operations in Houston, Denver, New Orleans, Calgary, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Bakersfield, Midland and Poza Rica, Mexico; DP training and technical support for the North America (NAM), Mexico/Central America (MCA), and South America (SAM) business units; and strategic management of input to the R&D cycle for NAM DP operations.

Jeff’s processing experience and expertise includes 2D and 3D land and marine processing, and projects from most U.S. onshore basins, Alaska, GOM, Africa, the Middle East and South America. Jeff’s focus at Sterling is on new business development, strategic growth, and the development of new service offerings to add additional value to the Sterling client experience.
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Alex Sterling

Geophysicist
Alex graduated from the University of Colorado - Boulder with a degree in Geophysics and has been a key member of the Sterling team since 2016. Prior to joining full-time, he gained valuable experience through internships with Sterling while in college.

During his time at Sterling, Alex worked with the frontend group, mastering Near Surface modeling and Refraction statics. His expertise in these areas laid a strong foundation for his transition into a more technical processing role.

In 2022, Alex transitioned into Processing, working under the guidance of Lee and Tim. His focus now is on processing 2D and 3D seismic data across several U.S. states, including Kansas, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and California. Throughout his career, Alex has demonstrated a commitment to precision and quality in every project, whether in frontend data loading or complex data processing tasks.

Alex is passionate about math, physics, science, and technology and how the combination can be leveraged to solve complex problems. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing and golfing, taking full advantage of Colorado’s renowned outdoor lifestyle.
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Steve Powell

Frontend Lead
Steve has 40+ years of experience in the seismic processing industry. Steve began with Kim Tech/PGS/Bolt Technologies/First Seismic in computer operations and was introduced to 2D seismic processing utilizing the MegaSeis Processing Software. This was followed by a short period of time at Geosignal-Denver as a 2D processor using in-house Disco Software Suite. Steve then moved to Echo Geophysical where he worked with Green Mountain Geophysical Millennium software to generate 2D refraction statics, and any needed geometry corrections that he found.

Steve has worked for Sterling Seismic Services for the last 27 years. At Sterling, he is Lead of the frontend group, responsible for receiving Client Seismic data and performing data loading and geometry building, utilizing the ProMAX Seismic Software suite. This group is also responsible for development of both 2D and 3D near surface analysis for the purpose of finding and correcting any geometry errors, as well as generating Refraction Statics solutions using both the Delay Time Method and/or the Refraction Tomography Method, as dictated by the data involved.
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Craig Matsunaga

Sr. Refraction Geophysicist
Craig graduated with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.  He spent 11 years as a processing Geophysicist at Pulsonix, Inc. before joining Sterling Seismic Services in February 2007.  He has processed data worldwide with extensive experience of on-shore data as well as marine data.

Craig is currently part of the frontend processing group at Sterling, responsible for initial data loading, geometry and refractions statics.
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