Geology and Engineering:
Two Cultures Separated by a Gulf of Mutual Incomprehensibility
by
Martin Kennedy, Enterprise Oil
Wednesday December 4th 1996
The idea of Two Cultures was originally put forward by C. P. Snow to describe what he saw as an undesirable partitioning of society into Scientists (especially physicists) and Artists (especially writers). The Oil Industry of course, is totally dependent on geologists and engineers to locate and extract hydrocarbons. C. P. Snow would have lumped all these together as "scientists" who should no doubt work together harmoniously in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding, for the good of society, or at least the company. The reality is somewhat less idyllic and it is fair to say that we have our own two cultures based on Geology on the one hand and Engineering, including the Physical Sciences, on the other.
Are Geology and Engineering really irreconcilable and if they are does it really matter? This light hearted review will look at Geologists, Engineers and how they see each other. It will conclude that, of course, only Petrophysics can bridge the gap.