DINOFLAGELLATES APPLIED TO E&P STRATIGRAPHY

Deciphering through a North Sea case study, the stratigraphic value of dinocysts structure and morphologies.

Course Type
Classroom Course
Duration
2-3 days
Thematic
Geosciences
Location
ANYWHERE
Country
Satisfaction rate

Highlights:

Dinoflagellate cysts are marine microfossils that, with their terrestrial counterparts, spores and pollen, form one of the pillars of palynology.
This 2 to 3-day course addresses their morphology and stratigraphy, choosing the Cenozoic Wetzeliella-complex as a case study.
The course will focus on the Cenozoic of the northern hemisphere and is particularly adapted to the North Sea oil province, but the global distribution, regional singularities and endemism will also be dealt with.

Follow-up, catering to specific needs

Following the 2-3 day course, subsequent training on client’s proprietary material can be arranged with hands-on workshops, either directly after the course or at a later date.
Similar courses can be organized, addressing other Cenozoic dinocyst groups and/or particular areas of specific interest to clients.

Course outline:

This course is based on the fundamental understanding that:

“There is no good biostratigraphy without good taxonomy, and no good taxonomy without accurate morphological interpretation.”

Introduction to dinoflagellate cyst: life cycle, morphology
The Wetzeliella-complex
- Morphology, with special focus on the archeopyle
- generic classification and its historic evolution
Stratigraphy
- Earliest members of the Wetzeliella-complex
- Eocene rise and fall
- Latest Oligocene records
Global distribution and provincialism
The course will alternatively be organized with theoretical presentations and practical observations.

HSE requirements:

No specific requirement for this course that can take place in any meeting room.

Prerequisites

The course is adressed to :

Palynologists from all walks of life, from Academia, Research Institutes, Geological Surveys, Oil Industry.
Micropalaeontologists with an interest in other fossil groups.
Spores-pollen palynologists whishing to get an introduction to marine palynomorphs.
Experienced dinocyst specialists will get an update on the state of the art/latest developments in the systematics of the group, key morphological criteria for species-level taxonomy and generic/suprageneric classification.

Lecturers

Dr. MICHOUX D.

Daniel, born 1955, embarked on a life-long journey into the world of dinocyst morphology and stratigraphy during his PhD at Pierre et Marie Curie University, Paris, France, awarded in 1981. He then applied his skills to industrial projects, as a summer internship with the exploration team of EXXON's European team. In 1984, he moved to Canada, providing palynological support to an oil exploration partnership involved in offshore Newfoundland plays. In 1986 he crossed the Atlantic back to Europe and moved to British Petroleum, where he was responsible for Tertiary palynology of the Central North Sea. In these early stages of his career, he was fortunate to meet two of the pioneers of dinoflagellate studies, Lewis (Lou) Stover, from ExxonMobil and William (Bill) Evitt from Stanford University and have profitable exchanges with them about dinocyst morphology. He attended Evitt's unique 2 weeks dinocyst course, entirely focused on morphology, regardless of stratigraphy. This reinforced Daniel in his belief that there can be no good biostratigraphy, be it based on dinocyst or other microfossil groups, without an accurate morphological interpretation. He joined Total (now TotalEnergies) in 1989 for an extended career of 32 years, during which he applied this approach to new horizons, broadening his expertise both stratigraphically (in the Cretaceous and Jurassic) and geographically, with a focus on western Africa, Angola, Ivory Coast, and more recently South Africa). Recently retired, he is now keen to share the experience accumulated during four decades of first-hand, eyes down the microscope experience of what represent arguably the most exciting of all microfossil group, Dinoflagellate Cysts of the Mesozoic and - best of all - the Cenozoic.