The Principal

Graham reviewing structural framework of Western Canada Sedimentary Basin on dolomite field Trip.

The principal (President) of GDGC is Graham R. Davies, Ph.D., P.Geol.

Graham was born in Perth, Western Australia. After completion of his Ph.D. on modern carbonates of Shark Bay, W.A., at the University of Western Australia, he moved to Houston, Texas, as a post-doctoral associate at Rice University for two years. It was during this time that the AAPG decided to publish his Ph.D. thesis as the main contribution of AAPG Memoir 13 (published 1970). In late 1969, Graham accepted an NRC Fellowship at the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) in Calgary, Alberta. Soon after, the GSC offered him a permanent research geologist position.

During his tenure at the GSC, Graham was exposed to the spectacular geology and scenery of the Arctic Islands (see Homepage photo), eventually publishing nearly 30 papers on that region, in conjunction with Dr. Walter Nassichuk. While at the GSC, he considered offers of university teaching positions at Windsor, Connecticut and San Diego, and head of geological research at the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences at Townsville on the Great Barrier Reef – but turned them all down to stay in Calgary!

In early 1977, Graham left the GSC to co-found and to eventually become principal owner of AGAT (Applied Geoscience And Technologies) Consultants (later, AGAT Laboratories). He left that company in 1983, and set up GDGC Ltd., through which he operates to the present time. Through his career, Graham has published 77 technical papers and 57 abstracts of oral presentations, and has written or co-authored over 650 consulting reports. In addition, he was the principal author of 16 multi-client reports with distribution in access of 370 copies. He has received many awards for technical publications and presentations, including the inaugural A.D. Baillie Award of the CSPG, the 2002 R.J. Douglas Medal of the CSPG for outstanding and continued contributions to sedimentary and petroleum geology of Canada, the 2007 CSPG Medal of Merit award for the best paper on Canadian petroleum geology in 2006, the 2008 Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists for the best paper in the 2006 AAPG Bulletin, and the A.I. Levorsen Award of the AAPG for the best presentation at an AAPG Section Meeting.

Graham’s principal specialty is carbonates (limestone and dolomite reservoirs), although over half of his consulting reports have been on sandstones, with emphasis on reservoir quality and petrography. His current main interests are in the Bakken and Montney formations, but with ongoing interest in structurally-controlled dolomite reservoirs.

In Australia, active in tennis, squash, sailing, including competitive racing in Teal-class dinghies out of South of Perth Yacht Club. Met wife (Maureen) on squash court while managing/coaching at squash centre near University of Western Australia during third year of B.Sc degree. Maureen and Graham learnt to sail together in a Rainbow-class yacht, Graham's first sailboat. For period of time, co-owner of heavy-weight catamaran at Royal Perth Yacht Club, host club for first winning challenge (and later loss) of America’s Cup yacht race.

During early university student time, was co-founder and inaugural treasurer of Western Australian Speleological Group (WASG). A Photograph taken by a newspaper photographer in a newly-discovered cave in southwestern Australia was published in the ‘Daily News’ (Perth newspaper). On visit to Perth, WA, in 1992, Graham found that this photograph now is the logo of greatly-expanded WASG, on T-shirts, and bumper stickers! Experiences as cave explorer has had bearing years later on dolomite research and origin of brecciated carbonates.

Resume and Credentials:

Graham Davies' resume is available to view in both an on-line version and a printable PDF format (209 kb).