22 Ashley Dupont (MS Candidate) I suppose my motivation to pursue a career in geology could be summed up in two short words: integrated science. Even within the discipline of geology there are many different branches that can be studied and incorporated together in order to solve a geologic problem or satiate a curiosity. For me, I lean towards oceanography, carbonates, sequence stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization, playing on both my biological interests and those geared towards appreciating earth history and the geologic record. As a member of Dr. Michael Grammer’s Integrated Reservoir Characterization Lab here at Oklahoma State, I am learning how to delineate reservoir units by incorporating sequence stratigraphy into multiple datasets including core, thin sections, wireline logs, SEM data, isotope geochemistry, and even 3D photogrammetry from drones. One of the reasons I chose to come to OSU was because of opportunities like these that are specifically geared towards carbonate reservoir characterization. I very much enjoy how we, as a group, observe the geologic record, and can quantify massive amounts of time and space into discernable packages directly related to Milankovitch sea level cyclicity. This idea of relating earth’s environments to geologic time on the orders of millions of years is one that will always fuel my curiosity, especially when considering how short a human lifespan is. Our focus on carbonates allows me to make ties back to oceanography and biological processes which really puts into perspective the dynamic nature of the Earth through time. My Master’s thesis is one of the first to apply high-resolution chemostratigraphy to “Mississippian Limestone” core. The goal of this research has both academic and industry related implications. From an academic standpoint, we anticipate our carbon and oxygen data will allow us to chronostratigraphically constrain our dataset and provide insight into secular changes in the carbon cycle during the Mississippian. From an industry standpoint, we anticipate that this high-resolution chemostratigraphic framework will increase predictability of reservoirs in the subsurface and aid in their correlation across the Mid-Continent. I enjoy having a multifaceted project especially since has implications for two different scientific fields. When I reflect on my research and all of the life experiences I’ve had since moving here from Georgia, I feel almost fortunate to have found geology. As an undergraduate, geology allowed me to escape the burden of medical school, my original undergraduate plan, and cut my class sizes in half. I was able to have hands-on opportunities in the field that are some of the best memories of my undergrad experience. I got to go to field school, see “real” mountains for the first time, and experience part of the country I hadn’t been able to appreciate or understand before. I truly believe that experiences like these are the ones that make you motivated towards a certain career path and are the ones that eventually shape what kind of person you turn out to be. I like being motivated by genuine curiosity, and I’m happy that my graduate experiences have continued along a similar path. My plans after graduation are to start my job as a Geologist I at EOG Resources in San Antonio, Texas. I’m very proud to be a Master’s candidate here at OSU and I hope my research can help us tease out reservoir complexities and shine new light on the Mississippi Lime Play. Doug Ashe (BS Candidate) Doug Ashe is a strong-willed, determined undergraduate student at the Boone Pickens School of Geology. He is currently completing his senior year with an institutional GPA of 3.936 and an overall GPA of 3.599. He laid down his Oklahoma roots at age 21 after growing up back east and attending one year at the college of New Jersey. Doug began a 16-year career with Wal-Mart, Inc. in 1998 while attending Rhema Bible College in Broken Arrow, OK. It was during that time that he met and married Gina, his wife of 15 years. They are raising four beautiful children. During the 16 years that Doug worked for Wal-Mart, he took on continuous leadership and management roles. As an Assistant Store Manager he developed his career, travelling to Claremore, OK and Durango, CO. Doug trained and managed large groups of individuals in all areas of store operations. He developed skill sets such as group deadline management, efficient group planning techniques, employee motivation, and customer service. During the last several years of his career, Doug continued working full time while attending Tulsa Community College full time. He earned Associate degrees in Geology and Physics. In the fall semester of 2014, Doug was accepted as an undergraduate student at Oklahoma State University. He was excited to have had the opportunity to complete one semester of geochemical research under the supervision of Dr. Jay M. Gregg, during which he developed an interest in carbonate systems. He is currently working under the direction Dr. Natascha Riedinger on an exhilarating project in the Mississippian limestone. He has collected samples from an outcrop in Jane, MO and is processing them in the lab using methods of extracting carbonate associated sulfates. These experiences have solidified Doug’s resolve to pursue his interest in geochemistry and its application in the petroleum industry.
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