Biostratigraphy

The Department of Stratigraphy at GEUS offers research and consultancy in pre-Quaternary biostratigraphy.

Our experienced staff comprises five palynologists, one micro-palaeontologist and one macropalaeontologist, all educated to Ph.D. level.

The department operates a high quality micropalaeontological and palynological laboratory with the capacity to handle and process a large volume of samples. Our safety standards are of a particularly high level.

Biostratigraphic analyses

Biostratigraphic analyses are performed routinely on borehole and outcrop samples. The following fossil groups are covered:

• Microfossils: Foraminifera, diatoms, nannoplankton, dinoflagellate cysts and spores and pollen.
• Macrofossils: Mesozoic ammonites and belemnites.

The Department boasts an advanced image database of our fossil specimens, facilitating identification and documentation of the taxa.
We provide routine biostratigraphic reports on an individual well basis or as multidisciplinary regional studies. Biostratigraphic data are combined with other geological disciplines, e.g. log-correlation, seismic interpretation, sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, isotope stratigraphy and organic and inorganic geochemistry.

Our biostratigraphic data are presented as range charts using the ‘StrataBugs’ program, which is widely used by companies in the oil industry. Our clients include several larger energy- and oil companies.

Recent major projects

• Cretaceous–Palaeogene onshore and offshore West Greenland based on combined palynological, nannofossil and foraminifera analysis and correlation with onshore and offshore Canada (hydrocarbon exploration).
• Cretaceous–Paleocene of East Greenland correlated with wells offshore the Faeroe Islands and offshore mid-Norway (hydrocarbon exploration).
• Upper Cretaceous – Danian nannofossil stratigraphy in chalk (North Sea and onshore Denmark) (hydrocarbon exploration).
• Palaeogene – Lower Neogene of the Danish North Sea (basis for a new lithostratigraphy).
• The Miocene and Pliocene succession in the eastern North Sea Basin (mapping of aquifers for drinking water).
• Jurassic, deep clastic reservoirs in the Central Graben area (Denmark and Norway) (hydrocarbon exploration).
• The Triassic–Jurassic succession of onshore Denmark (CO2-storage and Geothermal energy).
• Lower Cretaceous cephalopod biostratigraphy, biogeography and palaeoceanography, North-East Greenland.

In addition to the above, we also have extensive experience in Upper Palaeozoic pollen and spore analysis.