About us

A geochemist and basin modeller with encyclopaedic knowledge of steam railways

Andy Carr was born in Wrexham in 1953. He gained his first degree in Geology from Swansea University in 1974 and his PhD in Organic Geochemistry was awarded from Newcastle University. His career began with British Steel in 1979, before moving to British Gas as a Team Leader at their laboratory in Loughborough. Following the government’s decision to restrict British Gas’s activities, Andy formed Advanced Geochemical Systems Ltd. operating a vitrinite reflectance laboratory at the BGS in Keyworth. He became the Director of Geochemistry with Global Exploration Services Ltd. in 1996, working for clients ranging from majors to minnows to provide innovative insights into mature basins and frontier basins.

Basin evolution

Andy’s thirty plus peer-reviewed papers, together with his unpublished studies, are notable for his advancement and application of the role of vitrinite suppression in organic-rich source rocks—and more significantly in his recognition, for many years as a lone voice, of the critical role played by pressure in retarding maturation. Andy’s insight into thermodynamic determination of basinal heat-flow resulting from tectonic activity and the consequent geopressure development, applied using his PresRo® software, was instrumental in progressing the understanding of the thermal evolution of basins throughout the world.

For the UK West of Shetlands, he resolved the conundrum of how Jurassic sources could supply oil to Tertiary sand objectives when prevailing models indicated they should only deliver gas. For offshore NW Africa and East Africa, his application of biomarkers confirmed his modelled prediction that retarded Jurassic sources could supply oil from overpressured basins.

Frighteningly knowledgeable

Andy, who lived with Type 1 diabetes since childhood, was an unparalleled example of how to live as normal a life as possible when medically challenged. His personality was such, despite his intellect, that he unfailingly treated his colleagues with respect and consideration. This ability will have been aided by his religious beliefs as a practising Roman Catholic, but his easy natured behaviour and cheerful demeanour were also factors.

Andy was a lover of real ale and rugby, and was passionate about steam railways, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Great Western Railway in particular. He could argue passionately in a frighteningly knowledgeable way about why the high calorific value of Welsh steam coals made the locomotives of the Great Western superior to those of other railway companies. He was also a keen railway modeller in EM ‘Finescale’ gauge and an enthusiastic member of his local model railway club. It was his knowledge of the thermal evolution of Welsh coals that led to his recognition that pressure could not be ignored in basin modelling.

Andy died in his sleep in September 2021 aged 68. His untimely death leaves an immense gap in the lives of his family, his colleagues and in the sciences of petroleum geochemistry and basin modelling. Andy leaves his wife, Lesley, three sons and his mother.

By Ray Bate with contributions from Robin French, Malcolm Brown, Dave Boote, Nick Cameron, Mike Rego and Iain Scotchmann

ANDREW D CARR (1953 – 2021)

Born in Wrexham, North Wales in 1953, Andy received his first university education at Swansea University where he graduated in Geology in 1974. The following year, Andy moved to the University of Newcastle upon Tyne to undertake research in Organic Geochemistry. A career in geochemistry followed and Andy soon became an internationally respected geochemist. Health problems (Andy was diagnosed as having Type-1 Diabetes at the age of fourteen) were a constant problem, but he was able to surmount these through constant attention to his diet.

British Gas
Andy’s career began with British Steel in 1979. He then moved to British Gas at its London Research Station in 1980, where he worked briefly on coal analyses before moving on to provide geochemical studies for the Exploration department. This work focussed initially on the UK Continental Shelf before British Gas expanded internationally, following privatisation in 1986. Andy became Team Leader in 1990, a role that involved liaising with British Gas offices both within the UK and internationally. Secondment to British Gas offices in Houston, USA and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia followed.

In 1993, Andy moved to live close to the British Gas Research Centre at Loughborough, where British Gas had combined all its research activities and where Andy became Group Leader.

In 1996, the company relocated from Fulham to Loughborough, where they had established their onshore UK development and research offices. At this time, Andy also established his own geochemistry consultancy (Advanced Geochemical Systems Ltd), prior to becoming director of Geochemistry with Global Exploration Services Ltd in 1996 and his establishment of a vitrinite reflectance laboratory at the BGS Keyworth. Andy’s international reputation continued to develop with attendance at such major conferences as the AAPG, PESGB, Geological Society of London, International Meetings on Organic Geochemistry and Afro-Asian Petroleum Geochemistry.

Geochemical and basin modelling
Andy provided geochemical and basin modelling reports for over 54 countries, which led to over 30 peer-reviewed publications that are notable for his advancement and application of the role of vitrinite suppression in organic-rich source rocks—and more significantly in his recognition, for many years as a lone voice, of the critical role played by pressure in retarding maturation. His insight into the thermodynamic determination of basinal heat-flow resulting from tectonic activity and the consequent geo-pressure development, applied using his PresRo® software, was instrumental in progressing the understanding of the thermal evolution of basins throughout the world.

Andy stayed within the Midlands for the rest his life.

Mathematics and modelling
Andy was a likeable boffin with an impressive mathematical brain. Almost invariably his lectures would require the use of detailed mathematics that would stretch the knowledge of his audience. He was a geoscientist, geochemist and world-leading basin modeller; applying 1-D, 2-D and 3-D modelling studies to predict the amount, timing and phase of hydrocarbon generation in basins using specialised software such as BMod, Temis, PetroMod, MPath, together with his own Pres Ro software.

Unlike some basin modellers, Andy always applied the basic principles of Boyles Law and Charles Law as an essential part of his work. This, he would explain, was essential because increasing levels of pressure will retard the effect of increasing temperature and could prevent oil from becoming gas within a reservoir. Several statements to his clients that oil should be expected rather than gas were subsequently confirmed by this approach. His personality was such, despite his intellect, that he unfailingly treated his colleagues with respect and consideration. This ability will have been aided by his religious beliefs as a practising Roman Catholic, but his easy natured behaviour and cheerful demeanour were also factors.

Frighteningly knowledgeable
Andy was a lover of real ale and rugby, and was passionate about steam railways with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Great Western Railway in particular. He could argue passionately in a frighteningly knowledgeable way about why the high calorific value of Welsh steam coals made the locomotives of the Great Western superior to those of other railway companies. He was also a keen railway modeller in EM ‘Finescale’ gauge and an enthusiastic member of his local model railway club. It was his knowledge of the thermal evolution of Welsh coals that led to his recognition that pressure could not be ignored in basin modelling.

Andy died in his sleep in September 2021 aged 68. His untimely death leaves an immense gap in the lives of his family, his colleagues and in the sciences of petroleum geochemistry and basin modelling. Andy is sorely missed by his friends and colleagues and has left his scientific skills in basin modelling the poorer for his absence.
 
Andy leaves his wife, Lesley, three sons and his mother.

By Ray Bate with contributions from Robin French, Malcolm Brown, Dave Boote, Nick Cameron, Mike Rego and Iain Scotchmann