2024: Erikfiord AS, Stavanger, Norway, managing director
2018: Eriksfiord AS, Stavanger Norway, sedimentologist, and carbonate specialist
2017: South East Asia Carbonate Research laboratory (SEACaRL), Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Malaysia. Analysis and modelling of Miocene carbonate build-ups of Central Luconia, South China Sea. Outcrop analogue studies on mainland Malaysia, Borneo (Sarawak), and Indonesia.
2016: Ph.D. thesis: “Geology of the Dhruma to Top Jurassic Formations in Outcrops and Subsurface, Sultanate of Oman”, Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen, Germany.
2013: Master thesis (M.Sc.) “Facies, depositional environment & reservoir geometries of the Lower Jurassic Mafraq Formation, Sultanate of Oman”, Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen, Germany.
Markus is a geologist with extensive experience in siliciclastic and carbonate geology. After several months-long field seasons working on industry-bound research projects in Jurassic sediments in the Oman Mountains (M.Sc and Ph.D. in cooperation with Petroleum Development Oman) and in outcrops of Borneo, Malayisa (PostDoc in cooperation with Shell and Petronas), he joined Eriksfiord AS in Stavanger Norway in 2018. Initially hired as a sedimentologist and carbonate specialist, he is now managing the Stavanger office of the Eriksfiord Group, coordinates sales and marketing, and enjoys working on geological interpretations.
Bernd contributed to most of the geological applications modules of Recall® (Halliburton/Landmark) during his time at Z&S: Speed correction, interactive spherical statistics, geomechanical interpretation. As leader of the “numerical” team, he was ensuring a consistent high quality of commercial image processing. At PGS and Landmark, he built the interface between the Petrobank (Oracle) database and Recall, and worked as Dev-Lead on R&D projects such as the Java DecisionSpace® platform. Bernd is now developing the business of the Eriksfiord group in the Americas, and building specialized software to support our geology and geomechanics interpretation staff.
“Spherical statistics for paleocurrent and structural analysis, matrix algebra and quadratic forms in geomechanics. There are infinitely many interpretation methods waiting to be implemented by mathematicians who have the latest software development tools available. It gives me a thrill to make mathematics useful to my curious team-mates and demanding clients.”
– Bernd Ruehlicke
Mullins O. C., (SLB), Ruehlicke B, Veselovsky Z & Vahle C (Eriksfiord), Schlicht P, Laronga J. R. & Betancourt S. S. (SLB), Thibodeaux B & Hakim B (Talos) (2024): Combination of Borehole Image Logs and Downhole Fluid Analysis Logs to Assess Reservoir Connectivity. SPWLA 65nd Annual Logging Symposium; 18-22.5.2024, SPWLA-2024-038.
Taming the Thunder Horse with Axes and Vectors. SPWLA 62nd Annual Logging Symposium; 17-20.5.2021, SPWLA-2021-008
The directional statistics used in rock magnetism are similar to those we use in the analysis of subsurface structures, be they of deformational or depositional origin. At Eriksfiord, I work with deformation of rocks, a) in the form of visibly accomplished geological structures and b) as structural geology waiting to happen, also known as geomechanics.
For the Central Europe representation of Eriksfiord, I have chosen a location close to Heidelberg, for good contact to the world of academic geoscience, and to Frankfurt, for efficient communication to oilcompany and wellsite locations around the world.
Subsurface geologists never get to see the rocks we work on, and are every day forced to accept multiple possible explanations of our observations, ever more complex as data acquisition technology develops. Quoting Douglas Adams: “There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.”
Mullins O. C., (SLB), Ruehlicke B, Veselovsky Z & Vahle C (Eriksfiord), Schlicht P, Laronga J. R. & Betancourt S. S. (SLB), Thibodeaux B & Hakim B (Talos) (2024): Combination of Borehole Image Logs and Downhole Fluid Analysis Logs to Assess Reservoir Connectivity. SPWLA 65nd Annual Logging Symposium; 18-22.5.2024, SPWLA-2024-038.
Petrik A, Vahle C, Gianotten IP, Trøan LI, Rojo L and Galbraith K (2023) Quantitative characterisation of fracture connectivity from high-resolution borehole image logs. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 155, 106405.
2022: Eriksfiord Aps, Denmark, managing director.
2020-2022: Consulting geologist, Johanne Paludan Geoscience.
2000-2020: Baker Hughes Geoscience, various international postings.
1997-2000: Z&S Geologi, Stavanger, Norway.
1995: Ph.D. thesis “Structural evolution of the Bjerkreim-Sokndal layered intrusion, SW Norway: Micro to macro scale studies”. University of Aarhus, Denmark.
Johanne started her professional career with the Z&S consultancy in Norway, where she first developed her passion for borehole images. She carried this with her, as Z&S was incorporated into the Baker Hughes organization, in which she has held a number of positions, centered on development and application of imaging technology. The natural link between structural geology and geomechanics also led to a strong interest in the latter and an active involvement in the practical application of geomechanics in reservoir development. Returning to her roots, she now manages the Danish branch of the Eriksfiord Group from her hometown in North Denmark, where she focusses on structural analysis, fracture characterization and geomechanics for clients world-wide.
“Having been part of the world of borehole imaging for more than 25 years, I am amazed how the technology continues to evolve and push the boundaries for resolution. However, the fundamental principle of image analysis remains the same: An understanding of the processes that affect the deposition and modification of the reservoir and an eye for that extra piece of the puzzle, which the image log provides to make the picture complete.”
Zbynek was liked by clients and employees for his scientific competence, tremendous energy, personal charm and humor. His strong sense of responsability had solid foundations, as his father was director of the Prague Zoo, and his mother of the Šámal family, instrumental in building the Czechoslovak nation together with president Masaryk.
Zbynek’s contributions to the scientific literature are listed on our website.
Zbynek passed away on March 13th 2025 after long illness, only 52 years old. He leaves behind his wife Naomi, a young daughter and a young son. Naomi takes over as chair of the Eriksfiord group, and Markus Schlaich continues as head of Norwegian operations, but the loss of Zbynek will be felt by all of us for a long time to come. We lost not only an excellent geologist and a great colleague, we miss a friend.
