Following the move to our purpose-built premises in Conwy in June 2007, our team has expanded significantly. The team currently (February, 2012) comprises 24 Biostratigraphers, 13 Laboratory Technicians and 3 Administrative Staff, as follows:-
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Micropalaeontology | Nannopalaeontology | Palynology | Laboratory |
| John Gregory Mark Weldon Paul Edwards Paul Tilyard Sameena Khan Sarah-May Vinnell Sarah Searle Mark Phipps |
David Rutledge Simon Cole Petros Hardas Letizia Reggiani Tamsin Lawrence Teodora Blaj Lee Toms |
Paul Cornick Marcus Jakeman Nick Miles Paul Blanks Neil Campion Nick Butler Frédéric de Ville de Goyet Jenny Brittain Claire Murphy | Susan Harley Gary Smith Roger Burgess Andrew Jones Calvin Barr Louise Ford Mark Rogers Joan Owen Liz Dyke Ben Lake Amy-Marie Rogers Stuart Ince Charlotte Miles |
Stratigraphy |
Administration |
||
| Brenda Owen | Jonathan Castle Lisa Garner Liz Pendleton |
Our 26 in-house biostratigraphers have a combined experience base of >250 years in petroleum industry consulting! We provide all three biostratigraphic disciplines (micropalaeontology, nannopalaeontology & palynology) at uniformly high technical standards, giving a fully integrated end product. Geographically, we can legitimately claim practically worldwide experience. Stratigraphically, our experience covers the entire Phanerozoic column (Late Precambrian to Recent). Enough hype, time for some introductions.
Paul Cornick B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Director / Palynologist)
Paul has 22 years petroleum industry experience, including 2 years as UK Biostratigraphy Coordinator for Amoco. He established his reputation in North Sea Tertiary Palynology, primarily working on the Palaeogene stratigraphy of the Central & South Viking Graben areas, and most especially within the Forties Sandstone Member from UKCS Quads 22 and 23. Paul has assisted in the development of over 30 fields that produce from Eocene and Paleocene reservoirs, often conducting wellsite operations in order to pick casing points or monitor reservoir stratigraphy. In addition, Paul has spent a good deal of time assisting with stratigraphic data management and integration of stratigraphic data in oil company offices. While Paul’s main focus remains the North Sea and Norwegian Sea (both Tertiary and Cretaceous), he has also worked on material from the Caspian, the Middle East, the Americas, Trinidad and New Zealand. Paul’s external interests include golf and fishing.
[ back to top ]
David Rutledge B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Director – Nannopalaeontologist)
Dave has 17 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting. He completed a Ph.D. on Lower Cretaceous nannofossils of the North Sea and Barents Sea (London, 1994) and has worked on Cenozoic, Cretaceous and Jurassic sections practically worldwide, with particular experience in the North Sea, North Africa, throughout the West African margin (from Morocco to South Africa), Brazil, Trinidad, the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Pakistan and the South China Sea. He is especially familiar with the post-salt biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the South Atlantic Margins (offshore Brazil, West Africa and eastern Trinidad). Dave has provided wellsite nannopalaeontology services on more than 40 wells (offshore Eastern Trinidad, offshore Mauritania, onshore Oman and within the Danish, Norwegian and UK sectors of the North Sea, Brunei, and Newfoundland. His wellsite assignments have included ‘biosteering’ of horizontal development wells, casing picks (including HP/HT wells), and long duration overseas jobs in structurally complex settings (more than 4 months on a single well in Trinidad). Additionally, Dave has travelled to Angola and Brazil to conduct rapid-turnaround analyses. Dave’s main leisure interest is fishing – he is a very keen angler, specialising in big fish.
[ back to top ]
John Gregory B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D. FGS
(Director – Micropalaeontologist)
John has 20 years experience in petroleum industry consulting. He completed a Ph.D. on Scottish Jurassic foraminifera and radiolaria (Hull, 1992). During his career as an industrial micropalaeontologist/radiolarian specialist John has amassed diverse experience, having worked on Palaeozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic sections globally including the North Sea, West of Shetland, Irish Sea, Canada (Newfoundland, Grand Banks, Arctic Canada), Greenland, Russia (Volga & Sakhalin), circum-Mediterranean, circum-Black Sea, Caspian, Middle East (Oman, Yemen, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq), North Africa (Tunisia, Libya, Egypt), West Africa (Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola), South Africa, Brazil, the South China Seas, the Caribbean (Trinidad, Cuba, Antigua) and Gulf of Mexico. His primary expertise is Jurassic to Cenozoic micropalaeontology, including siliceous microfossils (radiolaria, diatoms & silicoflagellates). John has 19 years wellsite experience world-wide including the North Sea (Danish, Dutch, Norwegian & UK sectors), onshore Italy, offshore Libya, Morocco (onshore & offshore), West Africa (several countries), South China Seas and Trinidad. John’s wellsite assignments (>150) have included ‘biosteering’ of horizontal wells, stratigraphical monitoring, casing & TD picks (including HP/HT & H2S settings) and numerous long duration overseas jobs. John remains active in academic circles, being Publications Secretary of the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society (GSL) and is an Editor of the Journal of Micropalaeontology (ex-Chief editor) and a Series & Books Editor for the GSL. John’s extra-curricular interests include squash, rugby and collecting art and antiquarian books.
[ back to top ]
Mark Weldon B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Director / Micropalaeontologist)
Mark has 21 years experience in petroleum industry consulting, primarily as a stratigrapher/micropalaeontologist, with a 2 year position as a senior geologist in Norway. Mark’s principal expertise is the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Cenozoic micropalaeontology and stratigraphy of N. W. Europe (encompassing the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean and N.W. Atlantic margins), however, he has also conducted analytical and interpretative studies in East Coast Canada, offshore Brazil and West Africa. Mark has extensive experience of wellsite micropalaeontology, having provided wellsite services on over 60 wells within North West Europe (in the Danish, Dutch, Norwegian & UK sectors of the North Sea plus the Atlantic Margin and Norwegian Sea) and offshore Ghana. He is conversant with various methods of digital data interpretation and presentation, including StrataBugs™, ODM™, StratWorks™ and Geoframe™. During his leisure time Mark enjoys mountain biking, sea kayaking, sailing and climbing.
[ back to top ]
Marcus Jakeman B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Senior Stratigrapher – Palynologist / Nannopalaeontologist)
Marcus has 25 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting, primarily as a palynologist (working on Triassic to Neogene sections of diverse regions) and, in latter years, as a nannopalaeontologist. Marcus’ main area of expertise is West Africa – he has worked throughout the West African margin, including dual discipline palynological + nannofossil wellsite work offshore Equatorial Guinea and palynology wellsite offshore Ghana. Having spent 3 years based in Jakarta, Indonesia he is also experienced in the Triassic to Cenozoic palynology of the Far East / Australasia, and has provided wellsite palynology services on more than 40 wells in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Within the North Sea Marcus has conducted many wellsite palynology assignments in the Central Graben area (assisting casing picks and monitoring Palaeogene reservoir stratigraphy) and has significant experience in Cretaceous palynology of the Norwegian sector. Marcus is also experienced in nannopalaeontology within the North Sea, having conducted wellsite biosteering of more than 30 horizontal development wells in various chalk fields within the Danish, Dutch and UK sectors. In addition, Marcus has worked on samples from diverse overseas regions (Middle East, North Africa, South America, Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.). His external interests include hill walking.
[ back to top ]
Nick Miles B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Senior Stratgrapher – Palynologist)
Nick has 29 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting. He is our resident Palaeozoic expert, having extensive experience of the palynology and stratigraphy of the entire Cambrian to Permian succession of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula area. In addition, Nick is experienced in Mesozoic and Palaeogene palynology and has participated in numerous multidisciplinary studies defining sequence stratigraphy in Mesozoic and Palaeogene sections throughout North Africa, West Africa, South America and occasionally closer to home within the North Sea. Nick has unrivalled expertise in the Palaeozoic palynostratigraphy of Algeria (Reggane, Timimoun, Ghadames, Illizi and Berkine Basins), Tunisia (Ghadames Basin) and Libya (Ghadames, Kufrah and Murzuk basins, Cyrenaica Platform). Nick has specialist experience in palynological palaeoenvironmental mapping. He is a keen supporter of Portsmouth Football Club and guilty of playing the banjo.
[ back to top ]
Paul Edwards B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Senior Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Paul has 31 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting. He completed a Ph.D. on Upper Cretaceous, Senonian foraminifera of North West Europe (London, 1978). During his career Paul has worked on Mesozoic and Cenozoic sections practically worldwide, including the North Sea, North West Europe, Canada, South America, West Africa, North Africa, East Africa, South Africa, Middle East, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Brazil. His primary expertise is Mesozoic and Cenozoic micropalaeontology throughout the West African margin; he has co-coordinated hundreds of single well and multi-well studies in this region. Paul is also highly experienced in Mesozoic to Cenozoic micropalaeontology of North Africa (Libya, Egypt), palaeoenvironmental analysis, sequence stratigraphy and review and interpretation of multidisciplinary biostratigraphic data. His leisure activities include photography, art and supporting Wrexham Football Club (well, someone has to).
[ back to top ]
Neil Campion B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Senior Stratigrapher – Palynologist)
Neil has 17 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting, following on from research in Carboniferous palynology. He established his reputation in North Sea Tertiary Palynology, having considerable experience in the Central and Viking Graben areas. In addition he has worked North Sea Jurassic and Cretaceous sections. Neil spent several years managing an international biostratigraphy team, where he helped transfer biosteering skills acquired in the North Sea to the Middle Eastern market. He then spent 2 years working on integrated play fairway and petroleum systems databases for Eastern Indonesia, Australia, West and Northwest Africa. After a period of time in education, teaching science and coaching cricket, Neil returned to biostratigraphy in 2007. His main focus remains the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, where he has developed a high resolution stratigraphic framework for Upper Cretaceous sequences that is now being applied successfully to subdivide major clastic prone intervals. In addition, he continues to work on North Sea Tertiary intervals, as well as Carboniferous shale gas projects from the USA, Cretaceous Tar Sand projects from Canada and Cretaceous sections from West Africa. Neil is available for onshore wellsite palynological assignments and has recently worked at wellsite in Caithness, onshore Scotland. Leisure time involves more cricket coaching (now the playing days are over), a rekindled golf career with dubious handicap, and listening to Prog rock!
[ back to top ]
Nick Butler B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Senior Stratigrapher – Palynologist & Nannopalaeontologist)
Nick has 20 years petroleum industry experience. He completed his Ph.D. on Jurassic palynology of the Brent Province, North Sea in 1992 and went on to gain further Jurassic palynological experience throughout the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, Kazakhstan and Eastern Seaboard of America. Some of this work has been published. Nick has also gained significant experience in nannofossil biostratigraphy from international Tertiary and Cretaceous successions. This has encompassed single and multi-well studies from Northwest Europe, the Middle East, West and South Africa, Brazil and the Scotian Shelf. Over the last 15 years, Nick has undertaken in excess of 50 wellsits in the North Sea, West Africa and Papua New Guinea, and onshore Scotland, utilising both nannofossil and acid/acid-free palynology. His leisure activities include sailing, sea kayaking and playing saxophone.
[ back to top ]
Paul Blanks B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Staff Stratigrapher – Palynologist)
Paul ‘B’ has 14 years experience in the petroleum industry. He acquired a M.Sc. in Palynology at Sheffield (1997) and went on to work as a palynologist, wellsite micropalaeontologist, geologist and wellsite geologist. He has substantial wellsite experience within the North Sea and Middle East. Paul joined PetroStrat in 2006 and has concentrated on Palynology, focusing on North Sea Tertiary palynostratigraphy (involving frequent wellsite assignments and numerous routine studies) and also on North African Palaeozoics. Paul has gained considerable experience working on Palaeozoic sections from Tunisia, Libya and Morocco, usually working alongside Nick Miles.
[ back to top ]
Simon Cole B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Staff Stratigrapher – Nannopalaeontologist)
Simon has 6 year’s experience in petroleum industry consulting. He completed a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology (London, 2004) that involved a long project on Paleocene-Eocene nannoplankton of the northwest Pacific. Simon has significant wellsite experience, having conducted wellsite micropalaeontology and nannopalaeontology on more than 20 Danish wells, and wellsite nannopalaeontology on numerous assignments in the UK and Norwegian sectors, as well as further afield offshore Trinidad, Ghana, Canada, and China. Since joining PetroStrat in 2006 Simon has focused entirely on nannopalaeontology and rapidly built experience in Cenozoic and Cretaceous sections from diverse regions including the North Sea, Greenland, North, South and West Africa (especially Ghana), Middle East, Trinidad, Brazil, South China Sea, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Eastern Europe and onshore USA. Simon is an active sportsman, enjoying mountain-biking, football, climbing and snowboarding.
[ back to top ]
Brenda Owen BA
(Lithostratigrapher)
Brenda has 30 years’ experience in the petroleum industry, primarily specialising in lithostratigraphy. She has significant experience of the West African Margin basins, notably contributing to regional studies of Tertiary-Cretaceous successions of Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Ghana, in addition to several wells from Congo, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria. Brenda has also worked on stratigraphic successions of many other regions, including South America, Middle East, North and East Africa and the North Sea. She has participated in multi-disciplinary studies, including research of proven and potential source rocks of the Circum-Indian Ocean and Circum-Mediterranean regions. Brenda has recently returned to stratigraphy after spending five years in petroleum data management, during which time she worked on a major well document archiving project and a variety of database products, including organic geochemistry, produced oils, checkshot data, and other well information. Brenda’s interests include hill-walking and holidays in France.
[ back to top ]
Claire Murphy M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Palynologist)
Claire joined Petrostrat in August 2010. She attained a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology at Southampton University (1991) and then worked on a research project at Trinity College, Dublin, in which she investigated the organic content of potential Palaeozoic sources rocks from NW Europe. Claire has worked within the petroleum industry for over 10 years in total. Her primary areas of expertise include the tropical Tertiary palynology of West Africa (Niger Delta, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea), South East Asia (Thailand and Vietnam), and the Caribbean (Trinidad). This work has involved the detailed palaeoenvironmental analysis of near-shore, deltaic/ coastal sediments in addition to the biostratigraphy of these successions. Other main areas of interest include the Cretaceous sections of West Africa; she has worked on multi-well and single well studies from Ghana, Gabon, the Ivory Coast and onshore Cameroon. Claire has also worked on several other sections from varying international locations; these include the Cretaceous of the West of Shetlands, Tertiary of Pakistan, and Egypt. Her leisure activities include sailing, wakeboarding, tennis, and skiing.
[ back to top ]
Paul Tilyard B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Paul has 4 years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting. He attained a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology from University College London (2005) which involved a long project on the assemblage and geochemistry of Quaternary foraminifera and ostracoda in an expanded section from a Scottish fjord. He went on to research and develop ostracod geochemistry techniques in various palaeoenvironmental reconstructions at University College London and the Natural History Museum, London. Since his arrival at PetroStrat, Paul has worked on Tertiary, Cretaceous and Jurassic sections from the North Sea (UK, Danish & Norwegian sectors), Ireland, South Africa (Orange Basin), Kazakhstan, Ghana, Syria, China (Qiongdongnan Basin), Trinidad (Gulf of Paria), Egypt, Canada and Brazil (Frade Basin). Paul has significant wellsite experience, having conducted wellsite micropalaeontology on 10 UK, Danish, Norwegian, Chinese and Egyptian Sector wells. Paul’s external interests include classic car restoration and art.
[ back to top ]
Sarah-May Vinnell B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Sarah has two years’ experience in petroleum industry consulting. She joined PetroStrat in August 2007, having completed a B.Sc. in Geology and a M.Sc. in Palaeobiology (Bristol, 2006), followed by a period of volunteer work in the Micropalaeontology Division of the Natural History Museum, London. Sarah served an initial apprenticeship as a Laboratory Technician during which she gained offshore certification and substantial wellsite experience. Sarah began training as a Micropalaeontologist in 2008 and has now gained biostratigraphic experience in the Cenozoic and Cretaceous of Northwest Europe, the Cretaceous of West Africa and the Jurassic of the North Sea, North Africa and Canada. She has conducted wellsite micropalaeontology in the North Sea and North Africa. Sarah is a keen mountain biker and enjoys hiking and climbing.
[ back to top ]
Sarah Searle B.Sc. M.Res.
(Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Sarah joined PetroStrat in 2008, having completed a B.Sc. in Geology and an M.Res. in Micropalaeontology (Plymouth, 2006; long project in Maastrichtian-Danian foraminifera). She served an initial apprenticeship as a Laboratory Technician where she gained offshore certification and substantial wellsite experience in the UK and Danish sectors. Since 2009 Sarah has been a Micropalaeontologist specialising on the micropalaeontology and palaeoenvironmental analysis of Tertiary to Cretaceous West African sections along side Paul Edwards, and has completed wellsite assignments in Ghana. Sarah has also rapidly gained experience in the Tertiary and Cretaceous micropalaeontology of the North Sea including wellsite assignments in Denmark, and Jurassic experience working onshore in Caithness, Northern Scotland and Morocco. Sarah’s external interests include supporting the rugby teams of Wales and the Cardiff Blues, and tennis, swimming and music.
[ back to top ]
Petros Hardas M.Sc. Ph.D
(Stratigrapher – Nannopalaeontologist)
Petros joined the company in January 2009, following completion of a Ph.D. at the Ruhr- University, Bochum (Germany). His Ph.D. focused on Upper-‘Mid’ Cretaceous nannofossils from offshore Suriname (ODP Leg 207, Sites 1258, 1259, 1260 and 1261). Since joining PetroStrat, Petros has worked on Cretaceous and Tertiary well material from the North Sea (UK, Norwegian, Danish sectors), West Africa (Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Cameroon), North Africa (Libya), South America (Brazil) and the South China Sea. He has conducted more than 12 offshore deployments working in the UK, Norwegian, and Danish sectors of the North Sea, as well as the South China Sea and Northern Red Sea. Petros’ external interests include music and travelling.
[ back to top ]
Letizia Reggiani M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Stratigrapher – Nannopalaeontologist)
Letizia joined PetroStrat in 2009 following the completion of a Ph.D. in Perugia (Italy) and Lyon (France) that focused on Lower Jurassic nannofossil biostratigraphy of sections in Italy, France, Portugal and Morocco. After two years with PetroStrat she has gained substantial experience in Upper Jurassic, Lower-Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene nannofossils of various regions including the North Sea, West Africa, South Africa and eastern Canada. She is fully certificated for offshore work and already has significant wellsite experience, having conducted wellsite nannopalaeontology in the Norwegian and Danish Sectors of the North Sea, including ‘biosteering’ long-reach horizontal wells. Letizia has published results from her past and recent research. Her external interests include scuba diving and hiking.
[ back to top ]
Frédéric de Ville de Goyet B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher / Palynologist)
Frédéric de Ville de Goyet joined PetroStrat in July 2009 having completed a M.Sc. in Palaeopalynology at Liège University (Belgium), in 2006. This involved an integrated multidisciplinary study of the palynology, palaeoenvironments, and detailed biostratigraphy of the megaspores of the Givetian (Middle Devonian) outcrops in Belgium, and from a borehole in Libya; some of this work has been published. In his first two years with PetroStrat he has concentrated on West African Cretaceous palynology in Ghana and Sierra Leone and, more recently, has moved on to North Sea Tertiary. Fully certified for offshore work, he has now completed one North Sea wellsite job and a lengthy second job offshore West Africa (Ghana). Away from work, Frédéric has interests in music, hiking, and cycling, and photography.
[ back to top ]
Jenny Brittain B.Sc. Ph.D.
(Stratigrapher – Palynologist)
Jenny joined the company in October 2009 having completed a B.Sc. Earth Science (1st Class, 2004) and a Ph.D. (2009) at University College Cork, Ireland. Her B.Sc. involved a final year geological mapping dissertation that included a palynological study of the Pabay Shale Formation (Lower Jurassic) of SW Raasay, northern Scotland. Her Ph.D. involved an integrated multidisciplinary study of the palynology, ichnology, palaeoenvironments and detailed biostratigraphy of Tournaisian (Mississippian) outcrops in southern Ireland and South Wales. She has published results from both her undergraduate dissertation and her doctorate. Since joining the company Jenny has gained experience in the Upper Cretaceous palynology, stratigraphy and correlation in West Africa (multi-well studies) and the Mid-Upper Cretaceous palynology of South Africa. Her external interests include childcare, alternative rock music, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, cinema and hill walking.
[ back to top ]
Tamsin Lawrence B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Nannopalaeontologist)
Tamsin joined PetroStrat in March 2010 with 2½ years of experience in petroleum industry consulting. She attained a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology from University College London (2007), having completed a long project in Late Eocene nannofossils from the Mississippi coast, USA. Since joining PetroStrat, Tamsin has gained significant experience in West African nannopalaeontology and extended her knowledge of the North Sea stratigraphy. As well as training on Neogene nannopalaeontology, she has also built on her Cenozoic experience globally. Fully certified for offshore work, Tamsin has already conducted wellsite stratigraphy on 3 wells for PetroStrat, having now undertaken a total of 10 wellsite deployments in the Danish, British and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. Tamsin’s external interests include swimming with the local swimming club, hiking, and travelling. Additionally, she is also a keen photographer.
[ back to top ]
Teodora Blaj B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Stratigrapher / Nannopalaeontologist)
Teodora joined PetroStrat in March 2010, having completed a Ph.D. in Marine Geoscience at Stockholm University, Sweden, in 2009. Prior to becoming a nannopalaeontologist, she did a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology (Cluj University and University College London), focusing on the biostratigraphic and paleoecologic aspects of the foraminiferal fauna from the Bosphorus region of the Black Sea and borehole 1A Feleac (Transylvania, Romania). Teodora’s Ph.D. research focused on the Late Eocene through Oligocene calcareous nannofossils from the Pacific Ocean, (ODP Leg 199, Site 1218). The results of her thesis have been published. Having joined the company, she has been working on Cenozoic and Cretaceous material from the North Sea, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Egypt and Cameroon. Fully certified for offshore work, she has already completed 2 wellsite jobs in her first year. Teodora’s external interests include travelling, literature, learning foreign languages, and hiking.
[ back to top ]
Lee Toms B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D.
(Stratigrapher – Nannopalaeontologist)
Lee joined PetroStrat in November 2010 after completing a Ph.D. at University College Dublin. There he examined marine cores recovered from the Porcupine Bank, offshore Ireland and analysed the sedimentology, geochemistry and biostratigraphy (calcareous nannofossils and foraminifera). This led to precise stratigraphic correlations of slope deposits (across ~2500 km2) and the interpretation of palaeoceanographic and palaeoclimatic conditions in the eastern North Atlantic (~400, 000 years BP to present). Prior to this, Lee developed his enthusiasm for the natural world through a B.Sc. in Geology and a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology (UCL 2006). His M.Sc. project examined calcareous nannofossil assemblages and their morphometrics across the Paleocene/Eocene transition. Since joining PetroStrat Lee has focused on the nannopalaeontology of the Cretaceous Period from the North Sea and West Africa and will be working offshore from mid 2011. Outside work Lee is interested in food, wine and travelling, preferably all at the same time!
[ back to top ]
Mark Phipps M.Sci. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Mark joined PetroStrat in December 2010 after completing the research for his Ph.D. in Angers, France; it is about to be submitted. His Ph.D. focuses on the ecology of recent benthic foraminifera from open slope and canyon sites of the Portuguese margin. He is now working on West African sections from the coasts of Ghana and Sierra Leone under the guidance of Paul Edwards and Sarah Searle and will be contributing to palaeoenvironmental interpretations on future projects. Mark is a keen musician, and enjoys hiking, squash and chess.
[ back to top ]
Sameena Khan B.Sc. M.Sc.
(Stratigrapher – Micropalaeontologist)
Sameena joined PetroStrat in May 2011 with 10 years experience in the petroleum industry. In addition to working as a micropalaeontologist, she has experience of integrated exploration and development studies, including evaluation of regional petroleum systems and exploration opportunities. She attained a B.Sc. in Environmental Geology from Leeds University (1998) and a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology from University College London (1999); this involved a long project on Radiolaria and Cenomanian-Turonian environments of Hacho de Montejaque, Penibetic, southern Spain. Sameena has significant wellsite experience, having conducted wellsite micropalaeontology on wells in the North Sea, Danish sector, and Middle East. Since joining PetroStrat, she has been working on Cretaceous sections, offshore Ghana. Sameena is an active horse rider/owner but also enjoys snow-boarding and hill walking in her spare time.
[ back to top ]
Susan Harley
(Laboratory Manager)
Susan has more than 30 years’ experience as a Palynology Technician and Laboratory Manager. She has enormous experience in processing samples for all 3 disciplines (micropalaeontology, nannopalaeontology, and palynology) and has a particular flair for palynology. In addition, Susan has processed samples of geochemistry and sedimentology and trained many technicians, including overseas oil company personnel. Susan is a qualified first-aider with IOSH and COSHH accreditation. Furthermore she is certified to use Hydrofluoric Acid and administer Oxygen Therapy. She has also completed basic training in Palynology at UCL. Susan is available for onshore wellsite assignments and has provided wellsite services onshore Scotland, Norway and Africa. Her leisure interests include gardening, DIY, walking, cycling, and motorcycling.
[ back to top ]
Gary Smith
(Senior Laboratory Technician)
Gary has more than 30 years experience in the petroleum industry as a laboratory technician and laboratory manager, overseeing the collation, storage and archiving of data and samples, and training many overseas oil company personnel. Gary has processed samples for Biostratigraphy, Sedimentology and Geochemistry; however, his personal specialty is Thin Section preparation. Since joining PetroStrat in 2007 Gary has returned to his favoured role working in the laboratory. He regularly works offshore, processing samples for Micropalaeontology and Palynology and his assignments include offshore work in the UK, Norway, Ghana, and Angola, and onshore in Morocco and Malaysia. He is adept at both acid & acid-free palynological preparation techniques. Gary is IOSH accredited and certified to use Hydrofluoric Acid. His external interests include golf, fishing and football.
[ back to top ]
Roger Burgess B.Sc.
(Laboratory Technician)
Roger joined the company in 2007, having completed a degree in Marine Biology. He is experienced in processing samples for palynology, nannofossils and microfossils. Roger is certified to use Hydrofluoric Acid and administer Oxygen Therapy and is fully certificated to work offshore; he has completed eleven wellsite deployments. He has proven a particularly skilled palynological technician, adept at both acid and acid-free preparation techniques. Roger already has substantial wellsite experience, having worked both onshore in Morocco and offshore in the UK, Norway, and Ghana; additionally he completed an extended assignment offshore Greenland during 2008. Roger is a keen musician, playing guitar and bass.
[ back to top ]
Andrew Jones B.Sc.
(Laboratory Technician)
Andrew joined the company in 2008 after completing a degree in Environmental Chemistry at Bangor University. He is experienced in processing samples for both acid and acid-free palynology, nannofossils and microfossils. Andrew is fully certificated to work offshore and, having now completed seven wellsite deployments, has experience in the North Sea (UK sector), onshore Scotland, and offshore Ghana. His leisure interests include playing bass guitar in a local band.
[ back to top ]
Calvin Barr
(Laboratory Technician)
Calvin joined the company in 2008 and has gained experience in processing samples for palynology, nannofossils and microfossils. He is fully certificated for offshore work and has conducted non-acid palynological preparation at wellsite within the North Sea, offshore Ghana and, more extensively, Newfoundland. He has completed ten separate deployments. Calvin is also a certified first aider at work. His external interests include snowboarding – he is qualified instructor, and he is currently one of two technicians studying with the Open University for a degree in Geoscience.
[ back to top ]
Louise Ford B.A., M.Sc.
Laboratory Technician
Louise joined PetroStrat in 2008, having completed a B.A. (Hons) in Egyptian Archaeology and a laboratory-based M.Sc. in Biomedical and Forensic Studies in Egyptology. She has gained experience in processing samples for palynology, nannofossils and microfossils. Louise is fully certified to work offshore and has gained experience from completing five wellsite hitches in the North Sea (UK Sector), on-shore Scotland, and both offshore Canada and Ghana. Louise is also a certified first aider at work and her external interests include squash, fit-ball and playing the alto saxophone.
[ back to top ]
Mark Rogers
(Laboratory Technician)
Mark joined the company in 2008 and has gained field experience in acid-preparation techniques for processing palynology samples, and he processes both nannofossils and microfossils. He is fully certificated for offshore work and has completed nine wellsite deployments, conducting non-acid palynological preparation at several wellsites in the North Sea, offshore Newfoundland, and acid-preparation onshore Scotland. Mark is also a certified first aider at work. Married to Amy, his external interests include karate – he is qualified instructor, and he is currently one of two technicians studying with the Open University for a degree in Geoscience.
[ back to top ]
Joan Owen
(Laboratory Technician)
Joan joined PetroStrat in 2009 and works as a Laboratory Technician in the Micropalaeontological picking team. She has over eight years of previous experience working in a Palynology lab, a further four years picking and, before that, more than five years experience with vitrinite reflectology, total organic carbon preparation, and nannofossil sample preparation. Her external interests include painting in watercolours, the theatre, and swimming.
[ back to top ]
Liz Dyke B.Sc.
(Laboratory Technician)
Liz joined PetroStrat in 2010 as a Micropalaeontological sample picker. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in the petroleum industry and has worked as a lithostratigrapher, on single and multi-well studies. Liz has also worked in a wide range of sample processing laboratories and with a range of processes including palynology, micro processing, thin section, and XRD. Her external interests include mountaineering in the UK and Alps and looking after her large garden.
[ back to top ]
Ben Lake M.Sc.
(Laboratory Technician)
Ben joined PetroStrat in March 2010 after completing a degree in Geology with Palaeobiology at Leicester University. He has gained experience in processing samples for microfossils, nannofossils, and palynology. Ben is now fully certified to work offshore and has gained experience from completing two wellsite deployments in the North Sea (UK Sector) and a further one in Ghana. His leisure interests include karate.
[ back to top ]
Amy-Marie Rogers
(Laboratory Technician)
Amy joined the company in February 2011 as a Laboratory Technician and became a member of the micro-picking team. Married to Mark Rogers, her interests, when not raising their young son, include drama and dance.
[ back to top ]
Stuart Ince
(Laboratory Technician)
Stuart joined the company in June 2011 and has integrated into the team of laboratory technicians. Since then he has become fully certified for offshore work and is trained in the processing and preparation of microfossil and nannofossil samples.
[ back to top ]
Charlotte Miles
(Laboratory Technician)
Charlotte started at PetroStrat in November 2011 after completing a degree in Geology and Archaeology at the University of Birmingham and has taken a short term contract with the company. She hopes to gain a place and be able to return to the University of Birmingham in September 2012 to take a M.Sc. in Micropalaeontology. Charlotte has joined the picking-team that works closely with the Micropalaeontology Department. Away from work her interests include cycling, running and travelling.
[ back to top ]
Jonathan Castle
(Company Administrator)
Jonathan joined the company in May 2007 following 13 years business management in general medical practices and, prior to that, 18 years commissioned service in the Army (he attained the rank of Major and served in England, Ireland, Germany, Cyprus, Canada, and Belize). His wide ranging administrative and management skills make him an invaluable member of our team which he has helped to expand and develop; he is also the Company Secretary. Jonathan is an active outdoorsman, enjoying walking, swimming, cycling, and surfing, not to mention a keen interest in gardening.
[ back to top ]
Lisa Garner
(Administration Assistant)
Lisa joined the company in July 2008, bringing 10 years’ experience in administration and accounting to the post. She provides essential administrative support to the company and her role has expanded steadily to include a number of important areas of responsibility on which she now leads. These include coordinating the travel planning and advice for staff and monitoring essential training requirements for staff. However, one even more significant role relates to PetroStrat’s accreditation to ISO 9001 in which she provides the focus, coordination, and audit review cycle responsibilities for all the documentation and registers, which form the ongoing process of accreditation to that Standard. Away from work Lisa’s interests include a keen interest in the achievements of Arsenal Football Club; she is an ardent fan.
[ back to top ]
Liz Pendleton
(Clerical Assistant)
Liz joined the Administration Team at PetroStrat in March 2011 to share the ever-increasing administrative workloads and to help maintain top quality clerical support to the company. Although new in post, she has found her feet fast and is helping to make a significant contribution to the development of the company. Away from work her interests include walking and swimming.
[ back to top ] . .
