3D-GEO Personnel

Dr Nick Hoffman, Geophysics Expert

Nick completed his Ph.D. at Cambridge University and worked in the oil industry for 15 years, including experience in the North Sea with BP and worldwide with BHP Petroleum. Nick has worked extensively on Australian and SE Asian basins and also on the "modern classics" such as the Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. He has substantial experience in frontier and deepwater basins where distinctive structural styles and turbidite reservoirs require specialist interpretation skills. He brings an holistic approach to prospect analysis and risking - identifying weaknesses in play systems and basin histories.

Nick is an expert in 2D and 3D seismic stratigraphic and structural interpretation and basin modelling. He uses unique tools such as GeoMorpher to restore tectonically deformed sequences to show their original internal geometry. In this way, robust sequence stratigraphy can be conducted despite a strong tectonic overprint. Nick also uses ER Mapper and other visualisation software to handle large digital grids and produce stunning maps of topography and structures.

Dr Jeff Keetley, 3D Structural Geophysicist

Jeff has 10+ years of oil industry experience in 2D/3D structural seismic modelling and training of national petroleum companies in structural geology. Jeff's core interest is applied using industry grade 2D/3D seismic software including more specialist software including Lithotect, Geosec2d/Geosec3d and 3Dmove. He has worked extensively on fold belts in PNG, Iran and Pakistan and on rift basins along the margin of Australia into SE Asia. With a significant amount of time consulting overseas he has worked as a structural geophysicist focused on countries within SE Asia and the Middle East. Some of these countries include Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, Vietnam, South Korea and India.

Jeff completed his Ph.D. at the University of Melbourne. His thesis examined '3D Fold and Thrust structures within Papua New Guinea (PNG) Fold Belt and Cape Liptrap, Australia' (a Chevron Joint Venture project). He previously completed a BSc with honors at La Trobe University studying the petroleum potential of West Java, Indonesia (sponsored by British Gas and the Australian Geodynamic CRC).

Keven Asquith, Exploration Specialist

Keven has 20+ years of oil industry experience, ranging from the Tertiary clastics of SE Asia to the Devonian reefs of Western Canada. He has worked extensively on the rift basins along the northern margin of Australia and foldbelts in Irian Jaya/PNG and Pakistan. As senior explorationist for BHP Petroleum’s New Venture team, Keven has evaluated hydrocarbon prospectivity in Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fujarah, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, NZ, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, PNG, Thailand, and Vietnam. Keven was responsible for the BHPP evaluation and acquisition of the Pakistan acreage yielding the Zamzama Gas Field (2Tcf). In addition to New Ventures activities, Keven was BHPP Team Leader for acreage evaluations in the Timor Sea, ZOCA and Northwest Shelf, with 10 out of 11 wells drilled testing hydrocarbons.

Keven has an Honours Degree in Geology and a Diploma in Project Management. He has also spent several years in Government organizations developing technology project methodologies, tools and templates and designing/co-ordinating Board and Steering Committee reporting.

Dianne Muller, Senior Geophsyicist

Dianne is a senior geophysicist, with 14 years experience in oil and gas exploration geology, geophysics and seismic interpretation. Principal areas of responsibility have been in the Timor Sea, North West Shelf, Browse Basin and Otway Basin. She has a well developed business acumen and experience in project management and upholds a strong commitment to quality in all aspects of work. Dianne has a honours degree in Geology.

Rob Kirk, Seismic Sequence Stratigrapher

Rob has over 30 years of seismic and well interpretation experience including over 25 years of seistrat and sequence stratigraphic experience. Rob has worked in over 20 countries in over 30 basins specialising in integrating well and seismic data via seisfacies mapping. Rob has also given courses in Australia, USA, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Pakistan, London, Romania and Algeria. Rob has an honours degree and masters in Science.

Steve Courteney, Petroleum Geologist

Steve has over 28 years international experience working on projects in Argentina, Australia (NW Shelf), Brunei, China, East Timor, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA and Vietnam. This included an initial three years with contractors (Prakla-Seismos GmbH and Fairfield Industrias Argentina SA) followed by eleven years in geoscientific operational, technical and managerial roles with Deminex, Enterprise Oil and Total, prior to commencing independent consulting.

Prof. Mike Hall, Structural Geophysicist

Mike is a senior geoscientist with expert skills and experience in analysis of deformation of sedimentary basins and geological details of complex structural terranes. Mike has extensive working knowledge of both minerals and hydrocarbon exploration and development programmes and can draw on a large knowledge base acquired through his working as an international mentor and specialist for BHP (minerals and petroleum) worldwide and supervising post graduate students in both geological and geophysical projects.

Lorenzo D'Auria, I.T. Manager & Junior Geologist

Lorenzo D’Auria is the resident IT expert and is instrumental in the implementation and development of new geological technologies within 3D-GEO. He is currently undertaking geology orientated study at Melbourne University, and coupled with his advanced knowledge of industry software suites such as GeoSec2D, Lithotect, Petrosys and Kingdom, is well on the path to reaching his goal of becoming a geologist. He supplies well-earned knowledge on a myriad of topics and prides himself as an elite problem solver.