Paleonet: Gulf Coast Taxonomic Equivalency Project (nannoplankton)

[MStyzen at nobleenergyinc.com]

In 1995 I was asked to coordinate the nanno part of the Gulf Coast 
Taxonomic Equivalency Project.  This project was initiated and sponsored 
by the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM, with the intent of documenting the 
various taxonomic concepts for forams and nannos used in the zonation 
schemes used by various oil companies active in the Gulf Coast (Gulf of 
Mexico) region.  These zonations, which are in many parts of the section 
much higher resolution than standard zonations used worldwide, often 
depend on taxa which have yet to be formally described. The ultimate goal 
of the project was to produce a published illustrated guide. Ed Picou was 
tapped as the overall coordinator of the project. 

The foram workers, who were working with a system that had been active 
since the early part of the 20th century, produced two volumes (1999 and 
2001). 

The Nanno workers held quarterly meetings through the second half of the 
?90s.  Unlike the foram workers, who were working with, for the most part, 
the same taxa  with different names at different companies, the nanno 
workers were often subdividing the same species or group of species using 
entirely different criteria.  Those meetings were a lot of fun, and those 
who participated all came away knowing a whole lot more thn they went in 
with.   Unfortunately this tangle of taxonomic concepts did not lend 
itself to producing a quick publication.  Industry people just don?t have 
a whole lot of time to write and publish species descriptions. 

At a cataclysm was happening in the Gulf coast biostrat community. 
Management, enamored with the shooting fish in a barrel concept of 
drilling amplitudes, just about decided geoscience in general, and 
specifically biostratigraphy, was no longer needed for success.  They were 
wrong, obviously, but they managed to decimate the paleo teams.  Those of 
us that remained in industry after the mass extinction became mostly 
coordinaters.  Those who were laid off either became consultants or found 
something else to do. 

After they ran out of amplitudes to drill, the big subsalt push started. 
Demand for biostrat, particularly wellsite work, took off.  We survivors 
became very busy.

The nanno volume never even came close to being published.
The GCSSEPM never gave up hope that one would eventually be forthcoming.
I also retained an interest.
In 2007 I visited London, and was sitting in the room with Paul Bown and 
Jeremy Young when Jeremy pushed the Enter button to create Nannotax.org. 
Since that web site has been active the GCSSEPM has been a sponsor and 
supporter.

Earlier this spring, Jason Crux, wearing the hat of incoming NAMS 
President asked me to reactivate the effort to get a publication out.  I 
pointed out to him that in my current position I was no longer working the 
GOM, and that I really hadn?t looked down the microscope on a daily basis 
(except offshore) since the mid ?90s.  This did not dissuade him, so I 
agreed to give about a 2 minute kickoff speech at the NAMS session this 
past Tuesday at the AAPG meeting here in Houston. 
I?m going to follow that up with seeing if we can organize a meeting for 
any Gulf Coast nanno workers (and others) who might be interested in 
participating.  I don?t envision this project going back to the fun 
quarterly meetings. We can more efficiently handle our discussions online 
via Nannotax.  Jeremy has told me that he can designate us as a formal 
group, giving us our own space on the site to chat and exchange photos 
etc.

So, if you are still with me after this long post, and you are interested 
in participating, please get back to me as soon as you can.  When I 
organize the meeting, I?ll see you are invited.

I?m going to post this both on The Coccoliths and on the Paleonet list 
servers, so please don?t be too upset if you get it twice.

Mike Styzen
Senior Biostratigraphic Advisor
Noble Energy Inc.
Direct: 281-874-6771



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