Stratigraphic Palynologist
Welcome to Paul Waton's home page. A detailed curriculum vitae may be viewed here. A more general discussion of Paul's background and experience is shown on this page. Scroll through the page, or shortcut via these section headings:
Introduction
Objective
Palynology
Biographical
Summary
Contact
Details
Paul, an independent stratigraphic palynologist, has 31 years of palynological experience including 24 years in the oil industry. While presently residing in Florida USA, he has worldwide experience, particularly the Far East and South Asia. He has worked on sections ranging in age from the Quaternary to Permian, specializing on the Tertiary and Mesozoic.
The services he offers include:
Paul has had a strategic input as the principal external palynologist for ARCO and British Gas in the exploration of the major Tangguh (>24 TCF) gas discovery in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. He was the sole wellsite palynologist monitoring a series of wells for Conoco (Irian Jaya) and Amoseas (Natuna) in Indonesia and has been involved on location in JOB Pertamina-Irian Jaya Gas and Oil's 2001-2002 exploration program in Irian Jaya. Paul is currently involved with BP Azerbaijan.Routine quantitative palynology, including high resolution studies; Rigsite palynological monitoring of drilling involving recognition of proximity to reservoirs and casing points, and identification of other stratigraphic issues; Depositional modeling utilizing palynofacies and other sources; Interpretation and integration of new and historical palynological data in relation to other biostratigraphical, stratigraphical and geophysical data; Application to sequence stratigraphy; Multiwell correlations; Evaluation of thermal maturation via spore coloration; Source rock assessment through kerogen typing.
Paul has been Lead Stratigrapher/Palynologist using sequence stratigraphy in a series of highly profitable multiclient basin studies from Indonesia, Bangladesh and China.
At the routine biostratigraphy level, Paul has analyzed hundreds of well sections from many countries throughout the world.
This extensive, detailed experience, associated with a large personal collection of journals, books and reprints, enables him to analyze proficiently new sections and areas.
Paul's objective is to generate, interpret and integrate high quality palynological and stratigraphic data in the most cost efficient manner for the client.
Palynology is a widely used technique in a variety of disciplines, including forensic science, environmental archaeology and honey studies, as well as in the oil industry. Typically, the method involves the microscopic analysis of palynomorphs such as pollen, spores and/or microplankton, although many other organic remains may also be examined.
Two examples of dinoflagellate cyst palynomorphs, which are the fossilizable dormant stage of a group of microplankton, are shown below:
Cribroperidinium edwardsii, "mid" Cretaceous
Wanaea clathrata, "earliest" Late Jurassic
Paul practices stratigraphic palynology, utilizing only quantitative methods. The primary objective is to provide age determinations for rock samples typically derived from hydrocarbon exploration and development drilling, as well as from surface outcrops. Secondary objectives may include the interpretation of depositional environment (through palynofacies), source rock recognition and the estimation of the degree of thermal maturation.
Stratigraphic palynology is a part of biostratigraphy, the science which utilizes fossils to interpret stratigraphy. Palynology is often used in conjunction with the analysis of calcareous nannoplankton and foraminifera. The data derived from the palynomorphs, and other microfossils if available, are normally incorporated with other geological and geophysical evidence to assist in the exploration for hydrocarbons and in the more efficient utilization of existing hydrocarbon discoveries.
It should be noted, however, that while palynomorphs are present in a wide variety of sediments, from those of marine to fully freshwater terrestrial origin, it is not always the optimal biostratigraphic technique to use. Cost is a significant factor, since palynology is very labor intensive. Furthermore, better, more precise data, may also be gained from some marine sediments through, for example, the often less expensive analysis of nannofossils and/or foraminifera. Conversely, in certain marine sections, reliable evidence may only be available from palynology. In marginal marine and freshwater settings palynology is often the only analytical option.
It is critically important, therefore, that full discussion is entered into with the client prior to the commencement of any study. This will establish whether palynology will best meet the objectives of the client. If it is clear that other techniques may be preferable, Paul can refer the client to associates with expertise in those disciplines.
The science of palynology is well represented by a variety of professional organizations. For example, the principal North American group which has a worldwide membership, is the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists (AASP), while in the UK, palynology is included within The Micropalaeontological Society (TMS). In continental Europe, the Commission International de Microflore du Paleozoique (CIMP) represents palynologists working on Paleozoic sections. Paul is a member of all three of these organizations, and regularly attends the annual AASP meetings. He is also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB).
Paul was educated in the UK, attaining a BSc (First Class Honours) in 1978 and a PhD in 1982 from Southampton University. His bachelor degree was in geography, specializing in geology, geomorphology, paleoecology and hydrology, while his doctoral research thesis was on the vegetational history of central southern England. He also undertook post-doctoral research at Coventry University on Quaternary sea level changes in Jersey, British Channel Islands. The results of his undergraduate, doctoral and post-doctoral research have been published in a variety of journals, while he is also the co-author of a book summarizing several years of paleoecological research on Jersey.
He entered the oil industry in 1984 where he was trained in industrial palynology with Paleoservices Ltd. Over the ensuing years, he worked for Paleoservices in Singapore, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Egypt and the UK. Paul left Paleoservices in 1989 to return to Indonesia with Robertson in Jakarta. Three years later he joined Core Laboratories, also in Jakarta, and worked for this company until the end of 1998. Paul was trained in sequence stratigraphic techniques by Henry Posamentier and George Allen while with Core Laboratories.
In early 1999, Paul moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, the home of his American wife, Annette. Their voluntary departure from Jakarta was prompted by various factors such as the pollution and congestion of the city, as well as Indonesia's unstable social and economic situation.
From 1999 to early 2001, Paul worked on a number of projects, including well sections from Venezuela, Pakistan, the Abu Dhabi region, the Timor Gap (Australia/Indonesia), the People's Republic of China and the Natuna Sea (Indonesia), as well as performing a major study of outcrop samples from Irian Jaya (Indonesia).
During the latter part of 2001, he spent two months on contract to PT Corelab Indonesia in Jakarta working on several projects. These included rigsite palynology in Irian Jaya for JOB Pertamina-Irian Jaya Gas and Oil (Japex), as well as outcrop samples for Unocal, two wells for Mobil Cepu, two more wells for palynofacies for Brunei Shell and a study of core samples from another two wells for Maxus Malaysia. Paul was invited back to Indonesia by JOB Pertamina-Irian Jaya Gas and Oil to work on their second well in March 2002, although in the event he was not required owing to the timely progress of the drilling.
Paul was involved in an extended project involving multiple wells in Indonesia for a major international oil company throughout the remainder of 2002 and for the first part of 2003. Other projects in 2003 consisted of well sections from Korea, India and Venezuela. Projects in 2004 have included a correlation of wells from offshore Korea, core samples from Sumatra, Indonesia and more work from India.
Paul attended the AAPG Hedberg Conference on Sandstone Deposition in Lacustrine Environments in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 2004. November 2004 saw him working at wellsite in the southern Caspian Sea for BP. Projects in 2005 included a well from the Turkmenistan sector of the Caspian Sea, two studies of outcrop samples, comprising one each from Turkmenistan and eastern Indonesia, and a multiwell project from India. The the India study has continued through 2006, 2007 and now into 2008. Year 2006 also saw the study of several sections from the southern Caspian, and a return to the southern Caspian for more wellsite palynology for BP later that year, and again in 2007.
A full curriculum vitae can be viewed here.
Paul Waton may be contacted at PaulWaton AT tampabay DOT rr DOT com (and thank you to Consumer Reports, September 2004 issue, for this tip on reducing spam).
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This page was last revised on 21 February 2008