BECKER, RICHARD C., Mobil Exploration and Producing Technical Center, Dallas, TX

ABSTRACT: The Impact of Computers on Biostratigraphy: Data Integration A Key Element in Emphasizing the Importance of Paleontology

Advances in personal computers have provided the power to perform complex analytical procedures cost effectively. Two newly developed PC-based MS DOS- compatible software systems provide biostratigraphers with the computing flexibility to meet the ever changing needs of today's business environment.

PALEX is a proprietary paleoecologic expert system that employs rules to produce both raw and summarized paleoecologic interpretations based on species codes. These codes contain information such as fossil type, geologic age, geographic area, paleoecologic rule, and confidence level. Annotated modifications to the PALEX interpretation are permitted, providing a complete audit trail for both geoscientists and other biostratigraphers. PALEX, designed to bring consistency to paleoecologic interpretation, also contains a module that can be used to interpret palynofacies.

RAGWARE is a complete data capture and composite log plotting system.

Using the RAGCAP Data Capture module, data can be entered directly into the RAGWARE system using a species template on a digitizing pad. Consultant data can also be imported from a variety of sources including BUGIN, CHECKLIST II and Robertson Research. The RAGCON species conversion program modifies the codes and species names to conform to in-house standards. In addition to standard occurrence charts, plots can be produced integrating abundance, diversity curves and paleoecology with electric logs, synthetic seismogram, dipmeter data, geochemistry data, well bore tests, petrographic analysis, rose diagrams or other data. Multi-well cross sections can be constructed or the results can be converted from depth to two-way time and plotted on film to overlay a seismic section.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90987©1993 AAPG Annual Convention, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25-28, 1993.