Chris Cornford 1948-2017

A retrospective by Dan Cornford & Paul Farrimond

Background & family

Born Kent, 24/10/1948

Taunton1958

Keele1967 Sal 1968 Newcastle 1971

Jülich1975

Ayrshire1978

Devon1983

Dan, Han;1970,72

IGI1983

Grandchildren 2001-

Hallsannery 1984

B.Sc. in Geology/Chemistry (Keele) 1967-1971

Morgan E.D., Cornford C., Pollock D.R.J. & Isaacson P. (1973). The transformation of fatty material buried in soil. Science & Archaeology 10, 9-10.

• A Joint Honours degree in Geology & Chemistry, a combination that was to define Chris’ career

• Final year research project in organic geochemistry applied to archaeology

Modern experiment

Ancient bog butter

M.Sc. in Organic Geochemistry & Organic Petrology 1971-1972 • “An organic geochemical approach to the palaeogeography, environment of

deposition and maturity of the Lower Lias limestone-shale rhythmic sequences of Southern England”

Blue Lias, Lyme Regis, Dorset

M.Sc. in Organic Geochemistry & Organic Petrology 1971-1972 • Very early days of molecular geochemistry • Gas chromatography (not GC-MS) • Used GC data to show maturity differences • Considered role of lithology on composition

Pye Unicam 104 (1969)

Ph.D. (Newcastle upon Tyne) 1972-1977

• “An optical study of the mechanisms of coke formation” • Coke Research Group (Dept. of Physical Chemistry)

Marsh H., Hermon G. & Cornford C. (1974). Carbonisation and liquid-crystal (mesophase) development. 5. Importance of eutectic zones formed from nematic liquid crystals. Fuel 53, 168-171.

Polished sample under reflected light

Research Fellowship, Jülich, Germany 1975-1978

• In 1975 Chris joined Professors Dietrich Welte and Detlev Leythaeuser at the Oil and Organic Geochemistry Institute in Jülich, Germany

• Worked on reflectance microscopy and geochemistry of sediments from Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 47 off West Africa

Dietrich Welte (1981)

Geochemist on the Glomar Challenger (March/April 1976)

C. Cornford, J. Rullkötter & D. Welte (1979). Organic geochemistry of DSDP Leg 47a, Site 397, eastern North Atlantic: Organic Petrography and Extractable Hydrocarbons. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Volume 47 Pt.1, 511-522. and many others from this work

Research Fellowship, Jülich, Germany 1975-1978

Oil from the deep sea? – Investigations on the NW African continental slope

• Combining molecular geochemistry & microscopy to understand maturity & oil potential of deep sea sediments off NW Africa

BNOC/Britoil 1978-1983

• In 1978 Chris joined the British National Oil Corporation (became Britoil in 1982) • Organic geochemist & organic petrographer • Later, Senior Geochemist & Acting Head Stratigrapher (Glasgow)

Much work on North Sea oils & source rocks

Offered a management role in 1983, Chris left to set up an independent

geochemical consultancy

“No thanks!”

Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd. 1983-date

North Sea oils & source rocks 1980’s work at IGI Ltd.

Cornford C. (1984, 1986, 1990). Source rocks and hydrocarbons of the North Sea. In: Introduction to the Petroleum Geology of the North Sea, ed. Glennie, K.W., Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Editions.

Cornford C. (1998). Source rocks and hydrocarbons of the North Sea. In: Petroleum Geology of the North Sea, ed. Glennie, K.W., Blackwell Scientific Publications, 4th Edition, pp. 376-462.

Cornford C., Needham, C.E.J. and de Walque, L. (1986). Geochemical habitat of North Sea oils and gases. In: Habitat of Hydrocarbons on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Norwegian Petroleum Society/Graham & Trotman, pp. 39-54.

North Sea oils & source rocks Chapter 11: “Source rocks and hydrocarbons of the North Sea”

A classic text for students & industry. Chris’ chapter covered theory on geochemistry of oils and source rocks, and application in the North Sea area. Diagrams were drawn by Sally.

North Sea oils & source rocks Chapter 11: “Source rocks and hydrocarbons of the North Sea”

Geochemical truths in large data sets 1990’s work at IGI Ltd.

• Mid 1990’s Chris’ need to interpret large suites of data led to development of specialist geochemical software (p:IGI):

• Software was written in house, for Chris and IGI to use on projects/research • Seen by, and subsequently wanted, by many companies • Commercialized, and now the industry-standard software for interpretation of

petroleum geochemical data (>50 companies worldwide)

Geochemical truths in large data sets 2014 talk to HOGS: the largest attendance for at least the last 10 years!

Training courses & field courses A passion

• Petroleum geochemistry & basin modelling for clients around the world • North Sea oils & source rocks & academic courses (geology/geochemistry) • IGI’s geochemical software training • Field courses/trips for various organizations, usually in SW England

23rd International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry 2007: Torquay, Devon

• Chairman: Chris Cornford • Organised by Sally, Hannah & IGI staff • Riviera International Conference Centre • 567 delegates from over 40 countries • 85 talks & nearly 450 posters

Brought in extensive sponsorship from an impressive array of international companies, ensuring a successful conference:

British Organic Geochemistry Society 1988-date

1st BOGS Conference (Bangor, 13-15 July 1988)

• A strong academic focus, Chris attended meetings from the start • Chris & IGI organized and hosted the 3rd BOGS Meeting in 1990 • IGI have regularly sponsored this conference and presented work

Geology of Southwest England SWRG Geological Society, Devonshire Association & Ussher Society

Devonshire Association: President 2014-2015 Geological Society, London: sometime committee member

Petroleum Group (Geol.Soc.): founding committee member Frequent presenter of talks & attendance at meetings Active in South West Regional Group

Ussher Society: Chairman Conference convenor (Bideford) in 2006, 2011 & 2017

Devonshire Association Geology Section: Committee & Chairman 1992-1994

Frequent field trip leader for various organizations:

Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd. 1983-date Hundreds of projects for oil companies in basins around the world

PETEX conference (Nov.2016)

Mostly proprietary work – unpublished as such

Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd. 1983-date Lots of visits to interesting places around the world...!

Guwahati (2009)

Tehran (2008)

Marrakech (2013)

Assam (2010)

South Africa (2013)

Houston (2010)

Integrated Geochemical Interpretation Ltd. 2017 onwards

Geochemical consultancy Bideford

Software development Birmingham

9 Geochemists/Basin Modellers 3 Database Team 4 Administration & IT Support • Project work & reports • Geochemical databases • Training courses & field trips

10 Software Developers Producing specialist geochemical software packages for: • Corporate geochemical database • Data visualisation/interpretation • Geochemical knowledge source

Chris Cornford 1948-2017

Live for the living, move forward positively, but never forgotten.