Gary W. Paukert

Experience

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  University of Calgary

  Aug 1980 - Aug 1982

  M.Sc. Candidate

  My M.Sc. thesis involved collecting surface gravity measurements along three 60km-long transects near Claresholm, in southern Alberta. I used the gravity data I collected in conjunction with seismic reflection data to model the fault structure of the Precambrian basement rocks. I also addressed how the local basement fault structure had affected subsequent Paleozoic and Mesozoic deposition, and how basement structure had resulted in hydrocarbon trapping at oil and gas fields in the area.These findings were presented at the October, 1982 annual convention of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in Dallas, TX, and are available at https://library.seg.org/doi/abs/10.1190/1.1826975. Show less

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  Whitworth College

  Sept 1982 - Dec 1983

  Associate Instructor

  It was, unfortunately, under very sad circumstances, but while finishing my M.Sc. degree at the University of Calgary, I was presented with the invaluable opportunity of serving as a replacement professor at my undergraduate school in Spokane, WA. One of my former professors had passed away unexpectedly. Whitworth University asked if I would come back to Spokane and teach his courses while they conducted a search for his replacement.I taught courses for three terms in the Physics and Geology departments. These included Introductory Geology, Petrology, Mineralogy, Structural Geology, Geophysics, Astronomy and Physics for non-science majors. I also researched, designed and led a 5-week long Field Geology course in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the Bighorn and Absaroka Mountains of Wyoming.The experience of teaching these courses solidified and deepened my grasp of Physics and Geology, and the requirement to lecture for 15 to 20 hours per week developed in me exceptional presentation skills. Show less

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  ExxonMobil (Exxon Co., USA)

  Jan 1984 - Aug 1989

  Geophysicist

  I was remarkably fortunate to have been hired by Exxon, the largest and most technically proficient oil company in the world, during an industry downturn. I benefited greatly from months of classroom training I received at Exxon Production Research Co. (EPRCo) in Houston. Initially, I was assigned to Exxon Co., USA's Denver Basin team, and for 2-1/2 years I interpreted seismic and generated prospects in the Cretaceous 'J' Sandstone member and the Permian Wolfcamp carbonates of northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska. The Wolfcamp play was the hottest play in the US Rockies at the time and as my first well I drilled the Exxon #1 Koenig near Kimball, Nebraska which proved reserves of over 10 million barrels.Because of my success in Denver, when oil prices crashed in 1986 I was transferred to Exxon's high-profile Frontier Project, headquartered in Midland, Texas. This team was Exxon's last attempt to find giant fields onshore in the contiguous 48 United States. Assigned to the Great Basin Team, I acquired some of the first 'swath' seismic ever recorded (Poulter Method) and generated foothills-type overthrust prospects in the extremely complex, undrilled Paleozoic mountain ranges of central Nevada. Show less

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  ExxonMobil (Esso Resources Canada, Ltd.)

  Aug 1989 - Jan 1993

  Sr. Geophysicist

  Transferred by Exxon to Esso Resources Canada Ltd., I was a member of a high-profile joint-venture team (with Canadian Hunter and Bow Valley Exploration) tasked with exploration at all stratigraphic levels in a very large AMI (Area of Mutual Interest) in Northeastern British Columbia's Peace River Arch.Using basement tectonic framework analysis I was able to identify aeolian Triassic depo-centres which led to two significant discoveries of over 10 million barrels each at East Scott and Sunset Prairie fields.Additionally, I helped develop a number of prospects in the Devonian Wabamun carbonates based on seismic fracture analysis (conduits for porosity development through fluid dolomitization).The work included careful attention to seismic processing, including reprocessing for correct deconvolution parameters and phase-matching of a large 2D seismic grid. Show less

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  Norcen Energy Resources Ltd

  Jan 1993 - Jan 1996

  Sr. Geophysicist

  (Frequent travel to Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela)In early 1993, I left Exxon/Esso in order to remain based in Calgary, Canada. Recruited by Noranda's oil and gas arm, Norcen Energy, I helped monetize license round blocks previously obtained, by developing drillable prospects. I tied, interpreted and mapped 2D and 3D seismic in the Neuquen, Salado, Cuyo and Noroeste Basins of Argentina. My primary focus was the Agua Salada and El Santiagueno blocks, where, by reprocessing seismic data, I was able to identify a satellite structure to the La Barda field which proved a discovery. In the Cacheuta area of the Cuyo basin, I oversaw the successful acquisition of high-quality 3D seismic and significantly improved seismic data quality by shooting a parallel refraction survey, which solved severe statics problems created by sand dunes up to 300m thick.The focus of the company changed in 1996 as it was put up for sale. I helped the company re-focus by evaluating license-round blocks in the the Argentine Andean foothills, three onshore basins in coastal Brazil, and large blocks along the Furial trend extention in the Eastern Venezuela Basin. This resulted in a successful bid for the Delta Centro block, just before the company was sold to Union Pacific Railroad. Show less

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  Crestar Energy

  Jan 1996 - Nov 2000

  Sr. Exploration Geophysicist

  (Frequent travel to Ecuador, Chile and Argentina)Initially assigned to Crestar's expanding Central Deep Basin (Canada) team, I interpreted seismic and generated prospects in the Triassic Montney and Devonian Wabamun formations on the south flank of the Peace River Arch. As the company grew, I was asked to help out on other teams and at one point was doing all the seismic interpretation for three different teams. Crestar had garnered the viewing rights to a partner's huge seismic dataset covering the Williston Basin in southeastern Saskatchewan where the Ordovician carbonates were a burgeoning play. I immersed myself in the dataset, looking for faint hints of sideswipe off the Ordovician buildups which were found on small basement fault blocks. I would then delineate these 'reefs' by over-shooting with 3D seismic. One of these was the discovery well for the Kingsford South field.Additionally, I completed a study of the structural framework of the MacKenzie Delta Basin in the Northwest Territories, which was presented as a paper in the Geo2000 Convention in Calgary.As Crestar grew it became imperative that it look overseas for access to larger prospects. I was selected to be the geophysicist for Crestar's attempt to 'go international,' and after assessing over 100 properties across South America, in 1999 our small New Ventures team closed a deal to buy a 17% interest in Block 16 in the Oriente Basin of eastern Ecuador. This acquisition added great value to the company when it was sold shorty afterwards to Gulf Canada Resources Ltd. Show less

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  Gulf Canada Resources Ltd

  Nov 2000 - Jun 2001

  Team Lead/South American New Ventures

  (by takeover of Crestar Energy)After Gulf Canada Resources Ltd. acquired Crestar Energy in November 2000 our small International Exploration team was able to convince Gulf to retain Crestar's property in Ecuador. I was made Team Lead for South American New Ventures and tasked with evaluating and acquiring additional properties in South America in order to create a core area, but after just 6 months Gulf Canada was purchased by Conoco.

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  Conoco Energy Resources Canada

  Jun 2001 - Oct 2001

  Sr. International Geophysicist

  (by takeover of Gulf Canada Resources, Ltd.)At Conoco I continued to work on the Block 16 property in Ecuador, including transfer of the data and work processes to Conoco headquarters in Houston.

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  Talisman Energy

  Oct 2001 - Jan 2011

  Based on my success in South America, I was offered an overseas posting as part of a team evaluating the second largest landholding on the Norwegian continental shelf at the time. I evaluated and generated prospects on 3D seismic in complex salt tectonics areas that resulted in over 15 gross wells costing over 3/4 of a billion dollars. These prospects ranged from rank wildcat deep HPHT wells to field development wells and from Triassic clastic targets to Jurassic pod/interpod and Palaeocene Forties plays. Discoveries or field extensions were made at Blane, Krabbe, Nemo and Mime.As a Petrel expert user and advocate, I constructed 3D depth models for each of the prospects, often involving a variety of depth conversion methods and attention to complex salt tectonics. The 3D depth models had an excellent success rate at predicting depth to target. In addition, I evaluated 3D data sets off the north coast of Norway in the Barents Sea for license rounds. Show less (Frequent travel to Colombia and Perú)Leaving Conoco in order to continue doing international work from Calgary, I joined a multi-disciplinary team exploring the structurally complex Upper Magdalena Basin, Llanos foothills and Putumayo foreland basins of Colombia. Work in the upper Magdalena basin led to the drilling of two complex overthrust wells, in the Acevdo block and the Neiva area. I co-authored a paper on seismic acquisition, processing and interpretation at Acevedo and presented it at the 2003 Simposio Bolivariano in Cartagena, Colombia.Work in the Llanos Thrust Belt was on the Tangara and Mundo Nuevo blocks, (immediately along trend with the giant Cusiana/Cupiagua fields). The team drilled a $100 million test with partners Shell and Hocol which was a sub-commercial discovery, but led to further discoveries and may eventually be produced. Subsequent work in Perú led to the acquisition of Blocks 64 and 101. As the geophysicist on the Perú team, I mapped the Situche extentional complex at the centre of the Marañon Basin, in additional to regional mapping across the northern Marañon heavy oil belt. The Situche prospects I mapped were eventually drilled and confirmed the presence of the tallest hydrocarbon column ever discovered in Perú. Recoverable reserves for this discovery were estimated at 230 million barrels. Show less

  • Team Lead/Latin America Evaluations

    Aug 2010 - Jan 2011

  • Team Lead/Expl. New Ventures

    Aug 2006 - Aug 2010

  • Sr. International Geophysicist

    Jan 2005 - Jul 2006

  • Sr. International Geophysicist

    Oct 2001 - Jan 2005
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  C&C Energia, Ltd.

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2013

  Exploration Manager, South America

  C&C Energia hired me to increase the quality of their geotechnical work, and specifically to improve the quality of their drilled prospects. I provided geophysical, geological and exploration advice to management for the corporation's exploration and development operations in South America. These responsibilities included properties in the Llanos, Putumayo and Magdalena River basins of Colombia.I spent significant time solving the problem of fault shadowing, which allowed more accurate locating of development wells. During my time at C&C Energia, production increased from approx. 6,000 to 12,000bopd, in part due to discoveries such as Greta Oto. Likewise, reserves increased by 40%. At the end of my two years with C&C, the company was able to be successfully sold to Pacific Rubiales, resulting in an excellent return for stockholders. Show less

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  On Sabbatical

  Jan 2013 - Aug 2013

  Sabbatical

  After being part of the successful sale of C&C Energia, Ltd. to Pacific Rubiales at the end of 2012, I moved from Bogotá, Colombia back to Calgary. Prevented from working due to a 6-month non-compete clause in my contract, I instead took a sabbatical in order to travel.

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  Petrominerales

  Aug 2013 - Nov 2013

  Sr. Geophysicist

  I was instrumental in working the heavy oil exploration assets in the Rio Ariari block in the Llanos basin of Colombia. This block was one of the main reasons Pacific Rubiales soon purchased Petrominerales, in order to replace production about to be lost by relinquishing the flagship Rubiales field. I seismically mapped key intervals within the oil-saturated Cretaceous Mirador Formation. This work included developing over 40 deviated and horizontal well locations on the block which led to an aggressive, fast-paced 5-rig drilling program within a few months. During this time I was also responsible for field development and exploration with Petrominerales' Central Llanos team which included the Casimena, Casanare Este, Mapache and Castor blocks. Show less

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  Pacific Rubiales Energy

  Nov 2013 - Jan 2014

  Sr. Geophysicist

  (by takeover of Petrominerales, Ltd.)After just a few months at Petrominerales, it, too, was purchased by Pacific Rubiales, (now Frontera).

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  Petroamerica Oil Corp.

  Feb 2014 - Jul 2015

  New Ventures Geology and Geophysics Manager

  At Petroamerica I had a dual role in which I led a team which evaluated geologic and geophysical aspects of farm-in deals, potential corporate acquisitions and license round properties. In addition I assisted the technical development team in maximizing production of the company's existing properties and calculating reserves. These accomplishments added value to the sale price of Petroamerica, which was sold to Gran Tierra a few months after I left.

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  Bankers Petroleum Ltd.

  Jul 2015 - Jul 2017

  Sr. Geophysicist - International New Ventures

  In 2015, Bankers Petroleum was faced with a difficult situation. As operators of the biggest onshore oil field in Europe, (Patos Marinza, in Albania), all of their 'eggs' were in one fairly politically-risky 'basket.' For safety's sake, they decided to diversify. Bankers hired me as the geophysicist of a geologist-geophysicist pair and tasked us with obtaining oil and gas exploration or development licenses in Europe. The team was focused on the Pannonian basin of Hungary, Romania, Croatia and Serbia. Within a few months we had won a very competitive bid round for eastern Hungary's Puspokladany block, and were pursuing other attractive properties.After the successful acquisition, I undertook a detailed AVO reprocessing and analysis of over 1400km2 of legacy seismic. In conjuction with junior partners, I identified a severe problem with the reliability of the AVO processing stream and demanded a switch to a new processor who was able to deliver accurate data. I also guided the design, acquisition and processing of 230km2 of new-shoot seismic on the block. The combination of reprocessed legacy data and new-shoot resulted in a plethora of attractive drilling targets on the block.Unfortunately, just as we were about to initiate a 3-well drilling program to test the newly-mapped prospects, Bankers Petroleum was purchased by GeoJade, who determined that the Pannonian basin project was non-core and sold it to the junior partners. Show less

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  GeoJade

  Jul 2017 - Feb 2018

  Sr. Geophysicist - Unconventional New Ventures

  (by takeover of Bankers Petroleum)After purchasing Bankers Petroleum, GeoJade expressed interest in acquiring unconventional oil and gas production in western Canada or the USA. Our small new ventures team evaluated companies and properties for sale across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Wyoming. When not evaluating properties, I spent time educating myself on how modern seismic methods and attribute analysis can contribute to the success of unconventional plays such as the Duvernay, Montney, Viking and Shaunavon in western Canada and similar lithologies in the Greater Green River, Powder and Permian basins in the USA. However, eventually GeoJade decided not to pursue a foothold in North America. Show less

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  Canadian International Energy Corp

  Feb 2018 - now

  Founder & Vice President Geosciences

  Canadian International Petroleum Corp (CIEC) is an international engineering and geotechnical oil and gas operating company with over 200 years of experience in all facets of the petroleum sector in challenging international settings. CIEC offers a cost effective approach for small to mid-sized international upstream operators optimizing their O&G assets from inception to commercialization including subsurface mapping, risking, full-cycle commercial evaluation, drilling, production and field management. Show less