Mike Smith

About Mike Smith

Rocks hold the answers. My job is to learn how to pose rocks questions, understand the answers, and apply that knowledge. We produce and inject fluids from and into the deep subsurface. Oil, gas, water, Helium, steam, CO2, etc.Full understanding of these fluids and rocks is vital. I pioneered and invented technology for cuttings and core volatiles analyses for 40 years. I invented Fluid Inclusion Stratigraphy (FIS) at AMOCO Research in 1985. At AMOCO, for one job, I analyzed FIS cuttings samples from 100 wells on the Norwegian Continental Shelf for the Norwegian 13th licensing round. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate wrote in appreciation to AMOCO stating it was the most important work ever done on their samples. At AMOCO I received the prestigious, and secret, President’s award for my inventions and their world wide applications. I resigned AMOCO in 1994 and started AHS. After 5 years of world wide work using our new Fluid Inclusion Volatiles technology, mostly for Shell, Phillips, and Exxon, I sold AHS’s equipment and IP to Exxon in More than 20 years later that lab is still running and analyzing cuttings data at ExxonMobil.I re-started AHS upon expiration of my non-compete with ExxonMobil in 2009. New patented technology I invented, Rock Volatiles Analyses, evaluates present day oil, gas, formation water, Helium, CO2, etc in the subsurface as well as reservoir properties. From mostly cuttings, but also core, we map fluid types, quality, abundance, reservoir properties, migration conduits, and seals, etc. using our unique patented gentle Volatiles extraction and analyses system. The patented system I built is based on gentle volatile extraction at multiple pressures and analyses with a unique cryogenic mass spectrometer system.Analyzed volatile extracts from multiple pressures provide detailed insights as to oil, gas, and water contents, but also on permeability and producibility. Mechanical strength from cuttings, and core, is also determined. Migration pathways and the reservoirs available for charging are mapped. Seals are evaluated to evaluate reservoir viability of oil, gas, or CO2 storage in the subsurface. Old and new cuttings or Core. OBM or WBM. Sealed at well and/or loaded in the lab. In 2015 my technology won the Devon Epic Technology Competition.In 2018 we became strategic partner with Baker Hughes. We work all over the world on new and old cuttings and core, OBM and WBM, sealed-at-well and/or lab-loaded. Our turn around time is quick. Our consulting with clients is extensive.

Experience

1. Strategic Partnership Ahs & Baker Hughes

   Baker Hughes

   Nov 2018 — Present

Education

• Rutgers University–New Brunswick

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Geology/Earth Science, General

  1973 — 1977

• University of Hawaii at Manoa

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Geology, Geochemistry, and Petrology

  1978 — 1981