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COVER LETTER: Dear Sir/Madam: I draw upon a diverse background having earned an undergraduate degree in Geology and a graduate degree in Geophysics. My first career was spent practicing soil science as an Engineering Geologist in California and Texas A second career spans 16 years as a geophysicist specializing in Quantitative Interpretation (QI) to define reservoir properties from seismic as well as amplitude compliant seismic processing. An essential combination as many dry holes are drilled on false anomalies due to residual noise or improperly processed seismic data. Being an expert who understands the character of and can correctly remove seismic noise is foremost in reducing oil and gas drilling risk. These skills are current, with hands-on amplitude and phase correct processing experience. This provides the capability to correctly parameterize to remove residual seismic noise or direct the vendor in the correct method/workflow (s). During my first career, I was formally trained at forensic investigations for causation (expert testimony - landslides, slope instabilities, engineering failures) as well as technical writing. I have written 300+ soil engineering reports under the supervision of a licensed engineer. These skill sets are transferrable and have proved valuable in my desire to become world-class in my passion to find oil and gas. Mining from expertise that includes working knowledge of depositional systems, geologic mapping, Quantitative Interpretation, amplitude compliant seismic processing, well-log analysis and rock physics, provides many tools to de-risk oil and gas prospects. Geologic education helps with the art in understanding the depositional system including its inherent heterogeneities while simultaneously translating what the seismic digits are saying. See examples in a paper posted on my LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/duane-pankhurst-7574815/). These examples show mastery of seismic data and related analysis including defining the oil-water-contact in the gather domain. Furthermore, these examples are in a complex geologic regime (stratigraphic trap) as well as being in complex AVO regime (2n). At the well location in the examples, the stratigraphic trap is filled to spill point. The spill point is related to local compression faulting - another layer of complexity. One of the outputs of this work is a pay/no-pay map that is purely deterministic based upon drawing a polygon in cross-plot space. I am an expert a probabilistic modeling, but probabilistic work is not presented there. These techniques/workflows are cutting edge and common-place in the majors but not so common outside. I pioneered the first incarnation of this workflow in 2005. This is the minimum level of work before considering any drilling location but even more effective in development i.e. more data to constrain and understand heterogeneities. These techniques reduce drilling risk and reservoir uncertainty as well as reduce development costs through optimizing drilling locations. It is my hope that these examples show technical ingenuity and an ability to find creative solutions to complex problems. Further, I hope to show the ability to achieve in different technical arenas as I am confident to continue success regardless of endeavor. Sincerely, Duane A. Pankhurst To whom it may concern The purpose of this letter is to offer my highest recommendation for Duane Pankhurst. I have known Duane for about 7 years, two of which I served as his Master's Thesis advisor. So I can confidently state that I am intimately familiar with his abilities and attributes. It is not often that I can so enthusiastically recommend one of my students. Of the many dozens of M.S. students I have supervised over the past 16 years as a professor, Duane's thesis was by far the best - it is the most comprehensive AVO case study that I have seen conducted for a thesis. This was accomplished under extreme work and personal pressures, and under what I consider unreasonable arbitrary and changing requirements imposed by the University administration. In all honesty, in my view there are not many people who would have prevailed under those circumstances. Duane is obviously not only technically very talented but showed the bulldog spirit required to perform exceptionally well under extreme pressure and time constraint. In such letters, I also try to describe the candidate's weaknesses, so that I am presenting a complete and balanced view. In Duane's case I would say his greatest weakness is also a strength under the right circumstances - I find Duane to be somewhat of a perfectionist, which, as it turns out, in my view is exactly what is needed to be excellent at seismic analysis. In my experience, in this particular field paying very close attention to "minor" details often makes all the difference between success and failure. The converse of this is his greatest strength - he takes extreme pride in his work and in his accomplishments, a trait that I value very highly. In my technical interactions with Duane, he has shown the ability to work completely independently and find creative solutions to solve problems with the tools at hand. His technical knowledge is broad, and I would classify him as performing at the expert level in seismic analysis in general, not to mention the highest level of expertise in AVO analysis. As well as being a professor, I own a small contracting company with 35 employees specializing in seismic analysis. Needless to say, I would hire Duane in an instant were he available. I can confidently state that if you are fortunate enough to have Duane join your staff, you will absolutely have no regrets, and you will have gained a very hard - working, dedicated, talented, and creative individual with many years of experience and the highest level of expertise. John Castagna Sheriff Chair in Geophysics University of Houston jpcastagna@uh.edu
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