531 Etna Road • Ithaca, NY 14850 • (607)351-3476 • pn21@cornell.edu
I have achieved partial fulfillment of a PhD in geological sciences at Cornell University, mapping subsurface, nonmarine depositional sequences in the context of an active tectonic setting. Worked previously with two major petroleum companies as a production/exploration geologist. Strengths include reservoir modeling, seismic interpretation and attribute analysis, and depositional facies analysis. I have worked in passive margins of the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Nigeria, the forearc basin of northern Chile, the extensional Termit Basin of Central Africa, and the transpressional environment of offshore, deepwater Trinidad.
Cornell University Aug 2003 - Present
Researcher/PhD Student
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Mapping sequence boundaries using industry seismic and well log data in a nonmarine forearc basin in northern Chile to differentiate the relative role of climate and tectonics in nonmarine sedimentary sequence generation.
Chevron Corporation May 2005 - Aug. 2005
Geologist (Professional Intern), Energy Technology Company
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Constructed a static reservoir model of delta front sand, offshore Nigeria. Interpreted paleoenvironmental facies using more than 70 wells field-wide, and identified future infill drilling opportunities within Chevron Corporation’s 4 th largest asset, Okan Field.
Paleontological Research Institution Feb. 2000 - Aug. 2003
Educational Technology Manager
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Designed and constructed a petroleum geology website for use by students and educators.
Mastodon Research Project Coordinator
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Managed multi-disciplinary research effort to interpret late Ice-Age surface processes.
Exxon (ExxonMobil) Exploration Co. 1998 - 2000
Geologist, Latin American Ventures, Trinidad Deepwater Nov. 1999 – Feb. 2000
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Assessed fluid migration and hydrocarbon charge of shallow sand bodies by mapping deep faults using volume visualization software. Integrated nearshore and deepwater seismic datasets to understand regional structure and depositional setting in a complex transtentional environment.
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Geologist, New Orleans Production Organization Feb. 1999 – Nov. 1999
Integrated well and seismic data for a parasequence in the Gulf of Mexico. Seismic attribute analysis and calculation of net to gross sand lead to a field-wide depositional model explaining presence of sand. These models suggested a different direction of transport, isolating the sand body from nearby drawn-down reservoirs. Prospect brought forward to management for approval.
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Geologist (Internship), Exxon Exploration Co., Chad/Niger May 1998 – Sep. 1998
Characterized a deep Cretaceous siliciclastic play in the Termit Basin, Niger. Responsible for mapping and determination of reservoir quality for a potential reservoir, integrating well log and seismic data. These leads were eventually used as part of a farm-out package.

PETER NESTER Page Two
PhD , Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, expected late 2007
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President/Vice-President, CU Student Chapter of the American Association of Petroleum
Geologists, 2004-present
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Vice-president, Society for Exploration Geophysicists, CU Student Chapter, 2005-present
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Degree GPA: 3.4 Concentration GPA: 3.5
MS , Geological Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 1999
BS , Geological Sciences, State University of New York, Cortland, NY, 1995
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2006 Geological Society of America Harold T. Stearn Fellowship Award for student research on aspects of the Pacific Islands and the circum-Pacific region
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2006 Cornell University Geological Sciences Meyer Bender ’29 Memorial Scholarship
Award for
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1997 University of Tennessee Geological Sciences Lab Instructor of the Year
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1996 Geological Society of America Penrose Grant-in-Aid of Research
Nester, P.L., Brown, L.D., and Miller, N.G. (accepted). “Stratigraphy and basin profile of the
Hyde Park Mastodon site based on field observations and ground penetrating radar.” in Allmon,
W., Nester, P.L., and Chiment, J.C., Mastodon Paleobiology, Taphonomy and Paleoenvironemnt in the Pleistocene of New York State. Palaeontographica Americana , 62: XX-XX.
Nester, P.L., Jordan, T.E., Blanco, N., Hoke, G.D., and Tomlinson, A.J. (2006). “Evidence for late Miocene uplift by long-wavelength rotation of western flank of Altiplano segment of central
Andes 20º30’ – 21º30’S, Chile.” Geological Society of America, Backbone of the America:
Patagonia to Alaska, Abstracts with Programs
Nester, P.L. and Jordan, T.E. (2005). “Structural, topographic and climatic control on sedimentation and facies distribution in a hyper-arid, nonmarine forearc basin, Atacama Desert, northern Chile.” AAPG Annual Meeting Abstracts 16: A99.
Delcourt, P.A., Nester, P.L., Delcourt, H.R., Mora, C.I., Orvis, K.H. (2002). “Holocene mesoscale climate and lake effect precipitation across the Great Lakes Region.” Quaternary
Research 57: 225-233.
American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)
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Member of AAPG’s “History of Petroleum Geology” Committee 
Geological Society of America (GSA)
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Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG)
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Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM)
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Houston Geological Society (HGS)
September, 2006