GCSEPM Gulf Coast Equivalency Project-IBC Minutes

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     Below are minutes from a joint meeting of the GCSEPM Gulf Coast 
     Equivalency Project Committee and the Industry Biostratigraphy 
     Coordinator's Group. These minutes are supplied by Lori Glassgold of 
     Shell.  The meeting was held from 2-5 PM on Sunday November 5.  This 
     meeting is extremely important to industry paleontology, as it is an 
     attempt at standardizing our gulf coast nomenclature, taxonomy and 
     biostratigraphy across the industry (including oil companies as well 
     as consultants).  Stratigraphic paleontology is a science that depends 
     upon having access to large amounts of interpretable, quality-assured 
     stratigraphic occurrence data.  We have always competed (a very 
     necessary element of the business community) at the level of keeping 
     data from one another.  Keeping data from one another took forms such 
     as developing different proprietary taxonomies for the same 
     assemblages, not letting information out of the company we work for, 
     developing secret codes for well data, and much much more.   In the 
     long run, this only hurts the science, given that we also must compete 
     with other technologies in our respective companies for money and 
     support.  Stands to reason that we will produce an inferior product if 
     we have only the data that we have been able to assemble, versus data 
     from all the wells drilled in an area.  It is imperative, if 
     stratigraphic paleontology is to thrive in industry, that we compete 
     at the level of developing superior business applications of the data 
     in a world of universally available and trustworthy information.
     
     
     Rich Lane
     hrlane@amoco.com
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     November 22, 1995
     
     At long last, the notes from the November 5, 1995 open meeting for the 
     GCSSEPM Gulf Coast Equivalency Project.  The meeting was coordinated 
     by Ed Picou, who is heading up the project, and was attended by Brian 
     O'Neill, Mike Styzen and Lori Glassgold of Shell, Rich Lane of Amoco, 
     Rome Lytton of Texaco, John Armentrout of Mobil, Bob Fleisher of 
     Chevron, and Stephen Culver of the Natural History Museum (London).  
     Discussion focused on utilizing the NHM's "PaleoVision," a 
     computerized image capture system.  "PaleoVision" was thought by all 
     in attendance to be an ideal choice for image capture because of the 
     high quality images of specimens (composite imaging technique); the 
     ability to tailor image and data sets to our project's specific needs; 
     and the choice of image format, hardcopy prints, or computer disc for 
     data storage and transfer.
     
     It was proposed by the group in attendance that the GC Equivalency 
     Project should consider the following and proceed:
     
     1.   Species Documentation
        Document key GC species in groupings of 50+ with:
        a.      Image
        b.      Description
        c.      Zonal information
        d.      Relevant sample information
        e.      Range
        f.      Bathymetric limits
     2. Available to participating companies through annual subscription
     
     3. Define project for cost estimate
     Action Items/Timetable
     
     NHM and GCSEPM to do preproject for feasibility and cost:
     
     1. (by November 22) Ed Picou and Garry Jones outline project and 
     general proposal to NHM (S. Culver)
     
     2. (by December 6) Shell (O'Neill), Amoco (Lane), Mobil (Armentrout) 
     to provide to NHM planktonic and benthic (calcareous and agglutinated) 
     specimens, descriptions, paleobathymetry, stratigraphic range, 
     locality and horizon of specimen, literature (and original museum 
     type) (group selected Globoquadrina altispira and Bigenerina humblei 
     as representative GC planktonic and benthic species)
     
     3. (December 5 and 15) Review preliminary project and proposal (by 
     Picou and Jones) at GCSSEPM (12/5, Styzen) and at Industry Biostrat 
     Coord Mtg (12/15, group) and communicate to project Consultants.
     
     4. (by January 15, 1996) Redraft proposal to NHM after input from all 
     (GCSSEPM, TBCG and Consultants).
     
     5. (by February 1, 1996) Specimens returned from NHM with image 
     deliverables and cost estimate for 50+ lots for evaluation by group 
     (E. Picou/G. Jones).
     
     6  (by February, 1996) Flesh out project proposal for review at IBCG 
     Mtg in February.  Send final proposal to NHM.
     
     7. (Spring, 1996) NHM provide final cost breakdown for project and 
     GCSSEPM work out final details of scope for buy-in from subscribers.  
     
     Please provide any additions, oversights or comments to Ed Picou in 
     New Orleans (504-529-5155.  Thanks
     
     Lori Glassgold
     Shell Western E&P, Inc.