Stephen Packer

Dr Stephen Packer
B.Sc. (Hons) M.Sc. Ph.D.

Palaeo⁷ LLP Designated Partner Representative

Steve is a micropalaeontologist with extensive global expertise in the biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of all micropalaeontological groups (Foraminifera, ostracods, radiolaria, algae, calpionellids, charophytes, diatoms and miscellaneous microfossils) from the Quaternary to Palaeozoic. In 1986, he was awarded an M.Sc. in micropalaeontology from the University of Hull (specialising in Middle Jurassic micropalaeontology with Prof. Martin Brasier and Prof. John Neale) and subsequently chose to undertake research on the biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental significance of micropalaeontological assemblages from the Cretaceous succession of Bornholm (Denmark) for his Ph.D. at Plymouth (with Prof. Malcolm Hart).

On completion of his doctorate, Steve joined Paleoservices (Watford) in 1988 working on mostly North Sea projects covering the Quaternary to Palaeozoic interval. In 1990 he moved to Millennia Ltd. (Alton) where he worked on a wide range of post drill projects from northwest Europe, America, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the Middle East, together with wellsite work. He now works as a Director of Millennia SC Ltd. where he routinely works on single and multi-well studies from the Quaternary to Palaeozoic internationally, including northwest Europe and the Middle East.

Steve’s technical experience is based on 30 years’ work in global E & P covering a wide range of areas including: (1) single, multiwell, field sample analysis (micropalaeontology and lithology) of a wide range of stratigraphic intervals at both the regional and reservoir scale; (2) the integration of micropalaeontological, nannofossil and palynological data; palaeoenvironmental modelling and interpretation, utilising all fossil groups; (3) the application of biostratigraphic data to sequence stratigraphic models, through the use of chronostratigraphic data and biofacies interpretations, for integration with seismic data and prospect evaluation; (4) wellsite duties (exploration, development & appraisal wells), in a wide variety of geographic areas including the North-West Europe, Far East and the Middle East - tasks include monitoring of wildcat wells, casing point, TD and coring point decisions; (5) fieldwork comprising detailed outcrop logging and sample collection; Outsourcing and integration of isotope data; Outsourcing and integration of macrofossil data (various groups); (6) development of biozonation schemes in frontier areas, and upgrading of existing schemes; (7) Reservoir scale biostratigraphic studies, integration with sedimentological, lithofacies and seismic data; (8) equity re-determination studies, including data preparation, interpretation, integration with equity teams and representation at equity meetings; (9) secondment to client offices, in the U.K. and overseas for data generation and integration with exploration and asset teams for the development sequence modelling for prospect evaluation; and (9) preparation and delivery of technical courses in client offices; Presentation of data within client offices.

Steve is a past secretary of the foraminifera group of The Micropalaeontology Society and subsequently became treasurer of the society for a number of years.

His current research interests include Cretaceous outcrop stratigraphy in the Middle East in collaboration with various operators as reflected in recent conference contributions (Cretaceous Symposium, GeoArabia) and the taxonomy and stratigraphic distribution of Early Cretaceous charophytes in proximal carbonate facies.

Publications

Bassant, P., Jackson, W., Camp, R., Preece, R., Chaube, A., Al-Ansari, Y., Packer, S. and Jacovides, J., 2000. The Stratigraphic Evolution of the Lower Cretaceous Sulaiy-Yamama Platform (Berriasian-Valanginian) of Bahrain. GeoArabia, 5(1): 52.

Hart, M.B., Bromley, R.G. and Packer, S.R., 2012. Anatomy of the stratigraphical boundary between the Arnager Greensand and Arnager Limestone (Upper Cretaceous) on Bornholm, Denmark. Proceedings of the Geologists Association, 123 (2012): 471–478.

Packer, S.R., and Hart, M.B., 1994. Evidence for sea level change from the Cretaceous of Bornholm, Denmark. GFF, 116(3): 167–173.

Packer, S.R. and Hart, M.B., 2005. Coniacian–Santonian Radiolaria from the Upper Cretaceous of Bornholm, Denmark: A preliminary investigation. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 52: 141–157. Copenhagen.

Packer, S.R., Hart, M.B., Tocher, B.A., and Braley, S., 1989. Upper Cretaceous microbiostratigraphy of Bornholm, Denmark. In: Northwest European Micropalaeontology and Palynology. British Micropalaeontological Society Series, Ellis Horwood, pp. 236–247.