Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.

Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.

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Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.

Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.Getting lost in direction is the direction of my life.

Find your true calling and pursue it with all your heart.

Learn More

About Swapan Sahoo

Background

Research and Career

Background

  

I am a geologist who likes to work on earth's system sciences over geologic time scale. In that journey (last 25 years), I have been lucky to be an exploration geoscientist with petroleum systems roles in the energy industry and found hydrocarbon, but importantly, ran into several brilliant minds across the world and had the opportunity

  

I am a geologist who likes to work on earth's system sciences over geologic time scale. In that journey (last 25 years), I have been lucky to be an exploration geoscientist with petroleum systems roles in the energy industry and found hydrocarbon, but importantly, ran into several brilliant minds across the world and had the opportunity to learn from them as well as study rocks from 3.5 billion years to present day. My motivation is underpinned by a desire to continue to develop my technical and business skills to make the right decisions. In the world where ‘net zero’ and ‘energy transition’ are important issues, I plan to continue to leverage my background in multi-disciplinary integrated geology and expand my experience by working on these questions to further our understanding towards a safer and sustainable future. 

Education

Research and Career

Background

  • University: University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

Dates: January, 2009 ‐ May, 2014 

Degree Category: Doctorate 

Degree Title: Ediacaran Ocean Redox Evolution

· Stable Isotopes and Trace Metal geochemistry; Ocean Redox and Paleogeographic reconstruction. 

· Sequence stratigraphic modelling and stratigraphic correlations (acquisition, analysis and in

  • University: University of Nevada, Las Vegas 

Dates: January, 2009 ‐ May, 2014 

Degree Category: Doctorate 

Degree Title: Ediacaran Ocean Redox Evolution

· Stable Isotopes and Trace Metal geochemistry; Ocean Redox and Paleogeographic reconstruction. 

· Sequence stratigraphic modelling and stratigraphic correlations (acquisition, analysis and interpretation). 

· Extensive field work experience, structural and geological mapping of carbonates and siliciclastic. 


  • University: Tulane University 

Dates: August, 2004 ‐ May, 2006 

Degree Category: Masters in Tectonics and Sedimentation


  • University: University of Calcutta 

Dates: September, 2001 ‐ August, 2003 

Degree Category: Structural Geology; Masters. 

· Structural Geology, Tectonics and Micro-structural Analysis of Archean shear zones (India). 

Dates: September, 1998 ‐ August, 2001 

Degree Category: Structural Geology; Bachelors. 

Research and Career

Research and Career

Research and Career

Lithium Exp | Metals | Hydrocarbon Exp | Climate Change | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | Source Rocks | Bio-Geochemistry 


  • Company: Equinor US: Principal Geologist, October, 2017 ‐ Present 
  • New Business Investments (NBI), (November, 2021—present). 
  • · Subsurface Lead to Lithium and other mineral exploration. Understanding the source to sink—

Lithium Exp | Metals | Hydrocarbon Exp | Climate Change | Sedimentology and Stratigraphy | Source Rocks | Bio-Geochemistry 


  • Company: Equinor US: Principal Geologist, October, 2017 ‐ Present 
  • New Business Investments (NBI), (November, 2021—present). 
  • · Subsurface Lead to Lithium and other mineral exploration. Understanding the source to sink—full value chain. Re-evaluating assets and also work closely with partners in the realm of energy transition. 
  • · Geochemist Lead for Smackover Lithium (JV between Equinor and Standard Lithium). 
  • Secondment at KoBold Metals (June, 2020—November, 2021).  
  • · Sediment Hosted Copper Deposits in Zambia and other global basins. The focus is to find new deposits of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni), metals used in electric car batteries—by collecting and analysing multiple streams of data. As an exploration geologist my main goal is to gain expertise in using artificial intelligence and machine learning to hunt for oil and gas and critical metals— business strategy, data engineering, enterprise usage, and many more. 
  • Petroleum Systems Analyst, Exploration Excellence (October, 2017—2022)
  • · Provide technical leadership in the Exploration Function for petroleum systems 
  • · Support business decisions through assurance of sound technical descriptions. 
  • Company: BP America INC, Geologist, Petroleum Systems Analyst, July, 2014 ‐ October, 2017
  • · Provide technical products in the Exploration, Appraisal & OBO Function for petroleum systems 
  • · Support business decisions through assurance of sound technical descriptions 

Publications

Journals

  1.   Sahoo, S. K. *, Gilleaudeau, G. J., Wilson, K., Hart, B., Faison, T., Davis, B., Bowman, A., Larsen, T., Kaufman, A. J., 2023, Basin-scale reconstruction of euxinia and Late Devonian mass extinctions, Nature615, p. 640–645. 
  2. Zheng, W., Zhou, A., Sahoo, S. K. *, Nolan, M. R., Ostrander, C. M., Sun, R., Anbar, A. D., Xiao, S., Chen, J., 2023, Recurrent photic zone euxinia limited ocean oxygenation and animal evolution during the Ediacaran, Nature Communications, 14, 3920. 
  3. Gomez, K. J., Sahoo, S. K.*, Panteli, E., Moscardelli, L., Anthonissen, E., Larson, T. E., Howie, A., Rush, W. D., 2023, Partial paleobathymetric restriction from the local North Sea Dome in the Viking Corridor during the Early-Middle Jurassic, Global Planetary Changes, v. 230, 104255. 
  4. Zheng, W., Gilleaudeau, G. J., Algeo, T. J., Zhao, Y., Song, Y., Zhang, Y., Sahoo, S. K., Anbar, A. D., Carmichael, S. K., Xie, S., Liu, C-Q., Chen, J., 2023, Mercury isotope evidence for recurrent photic-zone euxinia triggered by enhanced terrestrial nutrient inputs during the Late Devonian mass extinction, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 613, 118175.
  5. Vimpere, L., Spangenberg, J. E., Roige, M., Adatte, T., Kaenel, E. D., Fildani, A., Clark, J., Sahoo, S. K., Bowman, A., Sternai, P., Castelltort, S., 2023. Carbon isotope and biostratigraphic evidence for an expanded Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum sedimentary record in the deep Gulf of Mexico, Geology, v. 51 (4), 334-339. 
  6. Xu, D., Wang, X., Zhu, J-M., Jiang, G., Shi, X., Wang, X., Sahoo, S. K., 2022, Chromium isotope evidence for oxygenation events in the Ediacaran ocean, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 323, p. 258-275. 
  7. Ferrell et al., 2021, The Sedimentary Geochemistry and Paleoenvironments Project, Geobiology, p. 1-12
  8. Paez-Reyes, M., Carvajal-Ortiz, H., Sahoo, S. K., Varol, O., Miller, B. V., Hughes, G. W., Gaona-Narvaez, T., German, D. P., Curtis, J. H., Lerma, I., Copeland, P., 2021, Assessing the contribution of the La Luna Sea to the global sink of organic carbon during the Cenomanian-Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2): Global and Planetary Change, v. 199, 103424. 
  9. Ostrander, C. M., Owens, J. D., Nielsen, S. G., Lyons, T. W., Shu, Y., Chen, X., Sperling, E. A., Jiang, G., Johnston, D.T., Sahoo, S. K., Anbar A. D., 2020, Thallium isotope ratios in shales from South China and northwestern Canada suggest widespread O2 accumulation in marine bottom waters was an uncommon occurrence during the Ediacaran Period: Chemical Geology, v. 557, 119856. 
  10. Gilleaudeau, G. J., Sahoo, S. K. *, Ostrander, C. M., Owens, J. D., Poulton, S. W., Lyons, T. W., Anbar, A. D., 2020, Molybdenum isotope and trace metal signals in an iron-rich Mesoproterozoic ocean: a snapshot from the Vindhyan Basin, India: Precambrian Research, v. 343, 105718. 
  11. Ostrander, C. M., Sahoo, S. K., Kendall, B., Jiang, G., Planavsky, N. J., Lyons, T. W., Nielsen, S.G., Owens, J. D., Gordon, G. W., Romaniello, S.J., and Anbar, A. D., 2019, Multiple negative molybdenum isotope excursions in the Doushantuo Formation (South China) fingerprint complex redox-related processes in the Ediacaran Nanhua Basin: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 261, p. 191-209. 
  12. Gilleaudeau, G.J., Sahoo, S. K.*, Kah, L.C., Henderson, M.A., and Kaufman, A.J., 2018, Proterozoic carbonates of the Vindhyan Basin, India: Chemostratigraphy and diagenesis: Gondwana Research, v. 57, p. 10-25. 
  13. Sahoo, S. K.*, Dzou, L., Hospedales, A., Afifi, A., Becker, L., Lapinski, T., Dailey, D., Steinhoff, D., Jia, T., Ritter, G., 2016, Plumbing a Giant Filed: Great White Filed–An integrated approach to better understand the Paleogene charge access: Subsurface, BP INC. 
  14. Becker, L., Afifi, A., Dailey, D., Hospedales, A., Sahoo, S. K., Steuer, M., Moreno-Vega, M., O’Leary, J., Krueger, S., 2016, Finding the next giant field and avoiding the next dry hole through deeper sub-regional understanding of the Perdido Fold Belt: Subsurface, BP INC.
  15. Sahoo, S. K., Planavsky, N. J., Jiang, G., Kendall, B., Owens, J. D., Wang, X., Shi, X., Anbar, A. D., and Lyons, T. W., 2016, Oceanic oxygenation events in the anoxic Ediacaran ocean: Geobiology, v. 14, p. 457-468. 
  16. Sahoo, S. K., Planavsky, N. J., Kendall, B., Wang, X., Shi, X., Scott, C., Anbar, A. D., Lyons, T. W., and Jiang, G., 2012, Ocean oxygenation in the wake of the Marinoan glaciation: Nature, v. 489, p. 546-549.

Conferences

  1.   *Sahoo, S. K., Mehra, A., 2024, Invited speaker, Testing geochemical proxy development from fundamental sedimentology 101, Goldschmidt Conference
  2. *Sahoo, S. K., 2024, Bridging the gap between academia and industry for the next set of challenges in energy transition, Goldschmidt Conference
  3. K. J. Gomez., S. K., 2024, Bridging Silos: The Power of Collaborative Partnerships in Geoscience Research, Goldschmidt Conference
  4. Mehra, A., Sahoo, S. K., 2024, A joint academic and industry effort to produce paleoenvironmental insights, Goldschmidt Conference
  5. *Sahoo, S. K., 2024, The Role of Black Shales in the Energy Transition, EAGE Annual
  6. K. J. Gomez., S. K., 2024, Early-Middle Jurassic: an Eventful Period that could Shape the Next Exploration Strategies in the North Sea, EAGE Annual
  7. Zumberge, A., Spence, G., Sahoo, S. K., 2024, The history and future of critical metals: Knowledge integration and future business direction, GEOGULF
  8. Aragon, A., Gilleaudeau, G. J., Sahoo, S. K., Kaufman, A. J., 2023, A New Carbon Isotope Record Through the Lower Mississippian K/O Event or TICE Event from the Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA, AGU Fall Meeting
  9. *Sahoo, S. K., 2023, Invited Keynote, Williston Basin: Bridging the gap between academia and industry, for the next set of challenges in energy transition, AAPG RMS Annual Meeting. 
  10. Henderson, K. M., Williams-Jones, A. E., Sahoo, S. K., 2023, A possible role for detrital silicates in generating Li-enriched oilfield brines: a case study from the Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, North Dakota, AAPG RMS Annual Meeting. 
  11. Mishra, P., Sahoo, S. K., 2023, High productivity prior to the Great Oxidation Event: Insights from Archean and Paleoproterozoic Banded Iron Formations of India, Goldschmidt Conference
  12. *Sahoo, S. K., Gilleaudeau, G. J., Kaufman, A. J., 2023, Eustacy, euxinia and extinction during the Devonian-Carboniferous transition, Goldschmidt Conference
  13. Ghosh, P., Ghosh, R., Sahoo, S. K., Gilleaudeau, G. J., 2022, New constraints on Late Mesoproterozoic Sea surface temperatures from Clumped Isotope Thermometry of the Lakheri Limestone, Vindhyan Basin, India, Goldschmidt Conference
  14. Randolph, R., Geoffrey, G. J., Mariano, M., Sahoo, S. K., Algeo, T. J., 2022, Redox Gradients recorded in lower Mississippian black shales of the Appalachian and Williston basins, north America: a test case for uranium isotope behaviour, GSA North-Central South-eastern section meeting. 
  15. *Sahoo, S. K., 2022, History and Future of Metals in Shales: A Knowledge Integration and Inspiration towards the next Generation of Geologist, FORCE Conference, Stavanger. 
  16. Henderson, K. M., Williams-Jones, A. E., Li, S., Sahoo, S. K., 2021, Lithium-enrichment in oilfield brines, GEOGULF, Austin, TX, USA. 
  17. Gomez, K. J., Sahoo, S. K., Panteli, E., Moscardelli, L., Howie, A., Larson, T. E., Kerans, C., 2021, Assessing the Impact of Local Versus Global Volcanic Events on Redox Conditions Within the Viking Corridor, North Sea Basin During Early to Middle Jurassic, AGU Fall Meeting
  18. *Sahoo, S. K., Gilleaudeau, G. J., Kaufman, A. J., 2021, Eustasy, euxinia, and extinction: Global reorganization across the Devonian-Carboniferous transition, GSA Annual Meeting.
  19. Gomez, K. J., Sahoo, S. K., Panteli, E., Moscardelli, L., Howie, A., Larson, T. E., Kerans, C., 2021, Early to Middle Jurassic redox evolution across the Norwegian Continental Shelf: a case study in the Viking Corridor, North Sea Basin, Goldschmidt Conference
  20. Gomez, K. J., Sahoo, S. K., Panteli, E., Moscardelli, L., Howie, A., Larson, T. E., Kerans, C., 2021, Evolution of early to middle Jurassic redox conditions within the Viking corridor, North Sea Basin, GSA Annual Meeting. 
  21. Zhou, A., Nolan, M., Sahoo, S. K., Ostrander, C. M., Anbar, A. D., Jones, D., Xiao, S., Chen, J., Zheng, W., 2021, Recurrent photic zone euxinia in Ediacaran South China Basin revealed by mercury enrichment and isotope compositions, Goldschmidt Conference. 
  22. Gilleaudeau, G. J., Sahoo, S. K., Ostrander, C. M., Owens, J. D., Poulton, S. W., Lyons, T. W., Anbar, A. D., 2019, Molybdenum isotope and trace metal signals in an iron-rich Mesoproterozoic ocean: a snapshot from the Vindhyan Basin, India, GSA Annual Meeting
  23. Ostrander, C.M., Sahoo, S.K., Kendall, B., Jiang, G., Planavsky, N.J., Lyons, T.W., Nielsen, S.G., Owens, J.D., Romaniello, S.J., Anbar, A.D., 2019, Multiple negative molybdenum isotope excursions in the Doushantuo Formation (South China) fingerprint complex redox-related processes in the Ediacaran Nanhua Basin, GSA Annual Meeting. 
  24. Paez-Reyes, M., Owens, J. D., Carvajal, H., Gaona, T., Lerma, I., Brandon, A., Sahoo, S. K., & Copelandard, P., 2019, Why was there no mass extinction during the Cenomanian-Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event 2? Goldschmidt Conference. 
  25. *Sahoo, S.K., Hlava, K., Hart., B., 2019, Trace Metal Variability in the Lower Bakken Formation — Implications for Late Devonian Global Ocean Redox, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition.
  26. Jingqian Kang, J., Heyn, T., Evenick, J., Sahoo, S.K., Pfau, G., Ritter, G., Schupack, B., 2018, Observations and Interpretation of the Salt Keel Features in U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Keathley Canyon Protraction Area and 2-D Restoration of a Cross-Section, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition. 
  27. Slotnick, B.S., Chetel, L., Sahoo, S. K., Veale, C., Francis, L., Volk, H., Paulson, S., and Doebbert, A., 2018, Relating Chemical Speciation of Pore Fluids to Initial Seawater Chemistry and to Diagenetic Reaction Pathways: SrRSA Data Compilation, Gulf of Mexico, USA, AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition.
  28. *Sahoo, S. K., Dzou, L., Hospedales, A., Jin, H., Afifi, A., Becker, L., Lapinski, T., Dailey, D., Steinhoff, D., Jia, T., Ritter, G., Pfau, G., 2017, Unravelling Complex Petroleum Filling History of Great White Field by 4D Integrated Petroleum Systems Approach: AAPG Annual Convention & Exhibition. 
  29. *Sahoo, S. K., Jin, H., 2017, How Reducing was the Late Devonian Ocean? The Role of Extensive Expansion of Anoxia in Marine Biogeochemical Cycles of Redox Sensitive Metals, AGU Fall Meeting, Abstract #PP41B-1308. 
  30. Ostrander, C. M., Nielsen, S., Owens, J. D., Jiang, G., Planavsky, N.J, Sahoo, S. K., Zhang, F., Lyons, T. W., and Anbar, A. D., 2017, Thallium isotopes track fluctuations in global manganese oxide burial during the Ediacaran Period, AGU Fall Meeting, Abstracts #PP41B-1305. 
  31. Gilleaudeau, G. J., Kaufman, A. J., Luo, G.; Romaniello, S. J., Zhang, F., Kah, L. C., Azmy, K., Bartley, J. K., Sahoo, S. K., Knoll, A. H., and Anbar, A. D., 2017, Constraining the redox landscape of the mid-Proterozoic oceans: new insights from the carbonate uranium isotope record, AGU Fall Meeting, Abstract #PP43E-07. 
  32. *Sahoo, S. K., Gilleaudeau, G., Owens, J., Poulton, S., and Lyons, T., 2017, Iron-Rich Conditions and Molybdenum Enrichment in a Mesoproterozoic Shelf Setting: A Snapshot from the VindhyanBasin, India, Goldschmidt Conference. 
  33. Gilleaudeau, G., Frei, R., Kaufman, A., Luo, G., Romaniello, S., Zhang, F., Klaebe, R., Sahoo, S. K., Kah, L., Azmy, K., Bartley, J., Chernyavskiy, P., Knoll, A., & Anbar, A., 2017, Deciphering the Carbonate Record of Mesoproterozoic Biospheric Oxygenation: Insights from Chromium and Uranium Isotopes, Goldschmidt Conference. 
  34. Maharjan, D. K., Jiang, G., Peng, Y., Sahoo, S. K., Henry, R. A., 2014, Coupling Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope with Carbonate Carbon Isotope Excursion Across the Early Mississippian Kinderhookian-Osagean Boundary in Great Basin, Western USA: AGU Fall Meeting, Abstract #PP41A-1337. 
  35. Gilleaudeau, G. J., Sahoo, S. K., Kah, L. C., Henderson, M. A., Frei, R., Kaufman, A. J., 2014, Integrated chemostratigraphy of upper Vindhyan sequence carbonates, central India: implications for depositional age and global correlations: GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. 
  36. *Sahoo, S. K., Jiang, G., Planavsky, N. J., Kendall, B., Owens, J. D., Anbar, A. D., Lyons, T. W., 2013, Turbulent times for early animals?: GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 45, No. 7, p. 754.
  37. Ventralli, A. M., Sahoo, S. K., Jiang, G., 2013, Coupling of the global carbon cycle and sea-level change during the early Mississippian: GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 45, No. 7, p. 243.
  38. Lyons, T., Anbar, A., Chu, X., Gordan, G., Jiang, G., Kendall, B., Planavsky, N., Reinhard, C., Sahoo, S. K., Scott, C., 2012, New geochemical perspectives on oxygenation of the Late Proterozoic ocean. In The Neoproterozoic Era: Evolution, Glaciation, Oxygenation, page 13. Geological Society of London.
  39. *Sahoo, S. K., Planavsky, N. J., Kendall, B., Wang, X., Shi, X., Anbar, A. D., Lyons, T. W., Jiang, G., 2012, Ocean redox changes in the wake of the Marinoan glaciation, Goldschmidt Conference.
  40. *Sahoo, S. K., Jiang, G., Kendall, B., Planavsky, N. J., Wang, X., Shi, X., Anbar, A. D., and Lyons, T. W., 2011, An oxygen window for early Ediacaran animal life, Goldschmidt Conference.
  41. *Sahoo, S. K., 2010, Geospatial integration of hazards, infrastructure and resources in an assessment of potential disasters and effects of climate change in Clark County, Nevada, USGS Mohave Climate Change Meeting, Las Vegas.
  42. *Sahoo, S. K., 2007, Tectonic Horst: Field evidence from the South Purulia Shear Zone, India, GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, p. 231. 

Symposium Abstracts and Presentations

  1. Exploring for Sweet Oil: Revisiting trace metals in organic rich source rocks, 2020, GeoSeminar Equinor. 
  2. Collaboration within Equinor: Exploring new ideas to improve our understanding of unconventional resources, 2019, North America Summit, Equinor. 
  3. Metals, Nutrients, Life and the Evolution of Ediacaran Oxygen Cycle, 2013, GeoSymposium, UNLV. 
  4. Deconstruction of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Basin, 2012, Geobiology Conference, Riverside, California. 
  5. Phosphorite Deposits at the Dawn of Animal Life, 2010, GeoSymposium, UNLV, Las Vegas, Nevada. 
  6. Is The 1.8 Ga Kajrahat Limestone in the Vindhyan Basin of central India recording a glacial event during the Paleoproterozoic super-greenhouse time-period? 2009, GeoSymposium, UNLV. 

Invited Presentation

  1.   Black Shales – Oils, Metals, and O2over Earth’s history, 2020, Jackson School of Geo. UT Austin. 
  2. ·Metal History through Earth’s History, 2013, Geological Society of Nevada
  3. Extreme Climate Change Linked to Early Animal Evolution, 2012, Delhi University, New Delhi, India. 
  4. Ocean Redox Changes in the Wake of the Marinoan Glaciation, 2012, GPSA Brown Bag Series, UNLV

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Swapan Sahoo

Fulshear, Texas, United States

+1 713 231 6172 swas@equinor.com

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