Industry Paleontology

From
Date
     I agree with Bill Clopine comments.  When I speak of Sequence 
     Stratigraphy, I am speaking of the old product, one in which 
     biostratigraphy was used only to check the sequence stratigrapher's 
     results,and not intended to be an integral part of the process.  
     Unfortunately, this paraphase above--paleontology should be used to 
     check sequence stratigraphic results--comes from the father of 
     sequence stratigraphy himself and the ideas around it did led to the 
     letting go of numerous paleontologists in several major oil companies. 
     As Bill says, we must maintain that distinction between 
     Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy-working with, not for.  
     Conoco is the shining example of how it should be done.  Bill and 
     associated staff have followed through on showing where biostrat/paleo 
     has made important contributions to Conoco's success and not just 
     handed off their results to be integrated and summarize by other 
     geoscientists.  In the right relation with sequence stratigraphy, it 
     works and paleo staff may be maintained or added, but in others it has 
     caused staff to be let go.   We at Amoco have a good working relation 
     with our sequence stratigraphers and we as a Paleo group are surviving 
     very well.  However, it is in an atmosphere of mutual respect and 
     where credit is given where credit is due, and credit is claimed where 
     credit is due.
     
     In any case, we need new tools coming out of research to keep our 
     heads above water in industry.  In my opinion a couple of these blue 
     skyers are:
     
     1.  How can we identify paleontological horizons/ages ahead of or at 
     the same time as drilling?
     
     2.  How can we have all the data in an area computerized and made 
     available to use through the Net?
     
     3.  How can we more quickly and efficiently process paleo samples so 
     that results are timely.  (Timely data generation (fossil processing) 
     is a huge Achiles Heel for paleo.)
     
     I call on other industry biostratigraphers to state what they think 
     paleontology's needs are in industry. What are the things that would 
     further Paleontology's image in industry and could lead to a turn 
     around in the hiring situation.  
     
     Common oil patch paleos, let's tell them what our needs are in 
     industry to survive and thrive.  Individually, if you could just 
     contribute one, we would have a long list in the end.             
     
     Rich Lane
     hrlane@amoco.com