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 core 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. 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 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 55 abstracts of oral presentations, and has written or co-authored over 600 consulting reports. In addition, he was the principal author of 16 multi-client reports with distribution in access of 350 copies. He has received many awards for technical publications and presentations, including the inaugural A.D. Baillie Award, and the 2002 R.J. Douglas Medal of the CSPG for outstanding and continued contributions to the sedimentary and petroleum geology of Canada. With co-author Taury Smith in New York, Graham will receive the 2008 Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists for the best paper in the 2006 AAPG Bulletin. This paper has also received the 2007 CSPG Medal of Merit award for the best paper on Canadian petroleum geology for 2006.

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 interest is in structurally-controlled hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs.

In Australia, active in tennis, squash, sailing. Met wife (Maureen) on squash court while managing/coaching at squash centre near University of Western Australia during third year of B.Sc degree. 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 newspaper photographer in newly-discovered cave in southwestern Australia was published in ‘Daily News’ (Perth newspaper). On visit to Perth, WA, in 1992, found that this photograph now is 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).