Our 2025 winner of the Barry Goldstein Medal for Innovation, Collaboration and Communication Dr Bruce Ainsworth will be touring our state branches early in 2026. Read on to find out more about Bruce and the presentation he will be sharing “Honouring the Humble Clinoform: Towards a Reservoir Modelling Best Practice“.
Bruce is currently Head of Geology at Santos Ltd and an Adjunct Professor at Adelaide University. He is a sedimentologist and stratigrapher with a strong background in 3D reservoir modelling. Bruce holds a PhD from the University of Liverpool, UK, an MSc from McMaster University, Canada and a BSc from Imperial College, London. He has 36 years industry and academic experience from 16 different countries, having worked in the past for Shell, Chevron, Todd Energy, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of PESA, and a member of AAPG and SEPM. Bruce has published over 60 peer reviewed papers and has more than 150 conference presentations to his name.
Clinoforms have fascinated Bruce since first pondering their economic significance in Shell Research Laboratories in the early 1990’s. These dipping stratal surfaces are ubiquitous in the stratigraphic record but often ignored with regard to their potential significant influence on fluid flow in the subsurface. Whether you are interested in hydrocarbon or groundwater extraction, carbon sequestration, or sediment hosted uranium, you need to know if you are dealing with clinoforms. Clinoforms can have significant impacts on resource recovery and emplacement. Ignoring them or simply not recognising them can have profound (usually) negative impacts on project value. Key to making clinoforms your best friend are three steps; 1) recognition, 2) uncertainty management, and 3) targetted modelling. This talk will guide the clinoform user through these steps and suggest a reservoir modelling best practice for honouring the humble clinoform.
2026 Tour Dates:
Save the date – bookings for these events will go live shortly.
NSW/ACT: 10 February – Sydney
VIC/TAS: 11 February – Melbourne
WA: 19 February – Perth
SA/NT: 26 February – Adelaide
QLD: 5 March – Brisbane
