• Dr Antonio Ravaglia - Structural Geologist

With a PhD from Pavia University (Italy) Antonio has a particular interest in analogue modeling experiments of compressional and strike-slip tectonic regimes. He has analysed the partitioning of strain in fault transfer zones, the role of mechanical stratigraphy and thrust ramp morphology in determining fault geometry. He also has experience in seismic interpretation and well log correlations. He has also participated in Midland Valley's software testing, client support and client training. Antonio has done projects in Italy, India and Algeria, dealing with different tectonic regimes. He has experience in Italian geology, in particular the Apenninic thrust belts. Before joining Midland Valley, Antonio had several years of teaching experience and research commitments at Pavia University.

• Dr Armelle Kloppenburg - Senior Structural Geologist

Armelle joined Midland Valley in May 2001 as a consultant structural geologist based in Glasgow. Since then she has worked on Oil and Gas related projects around the world, across the full range of tectonic settings, with project in both early exploration and enhanced recovering stages.  Recently, Armelle has been involved in applying structural geology to optimise exploration strategy in the mining industry, with projects in Uzbekistan and the Tien Shan, China. With this experience and with her ‘hard rock’ research background and interests she is now involved in diversifying Midland Valley activities to serve the non-petroleum extractive industry.

Before Armelle joined MV she was part of the Structural Geology & Tectonics group at Utrecht University where she studied the structural development and geochronology of the 3.5 billion year old Pilbara Craton in Western Australia. This largely field based research ranged in scale from satellite imagery interpretation to electron microscope geochronology. Armelle is now based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, but when in Scotland, Armelle is into scrambling the Highlands and drinking Whisky. Her favourite addiction is chocolate-covered coffee beans.

• Dr Cecile Allanic - - Structural Geologist

Cecile joined Midland Valley in February 2008 after completing her PhD with the Institute of geology of Neuchatel University (Switzerland). The goal was to understand the geometry and chronology of the latest brittle structures of the Lepontine gneissic dome (Central Alps) where she combined the analysis of Landsat and Spot imagery, structural fieldwork associated to paleostress inversions. Before her PhD, she worked on the kinematic and associated geomorphology of fault-related fold in the Southern Tunisian Atlas, and lectured to under graduates.

• Dr Clare Bond - Structural Geologist

 Clare completed a doctorate at Edinburgh University on deformation and fluid flow in blueschists and has worked on structural projects in Pakistan and Utah. After working as a geologist for Scottish Natural Heritage, she spent 5 years in policy development and implementation. In November 2005 she joined the Midland Valley team and Glasgow University as a Research Geologist on the Odin project. The Odin Project investigated conceptual uncertainty and constraints in the interpretation of geological data. The project developed new methods to enable assessment of risk from the bias introduced by interpreters from their prior knowledge and training. Clare joined the Midland Valley full time in July 2007 and has developed uncertainty training and worked on structural restoration projects in the North Sea. Clare continues her links with the University of Glasgow where she holds an honorary Research Fellowship and collaborates on uncertainty research. Click here for further information on the Odin Project.

• Dr Dave Hutchison - Structural Geologist

After completing the applied geology HND program at the Camborne School of Mines in Cornwall, Dave enrolled on the geology degree program at Cardiff University. Rather than opting for the more popular environmental biased courses, he instead followed the more traditional structural and hard-rock based courses supplemented by petroleum and minerals exploration. After pursuing a doctorate in mantle processes (melt/rock interactions and the formation of sulphide and platinum-group element mineralisation), he went on to apply some of his platinum experience on the Bushveld Complex in South Africa.  His current position with MVE is a natural step to pick up on some of his structural background and combine it with his exploration interests.

• Dr Dominique Similox-Tohon - Structural Geologist

Dominique joined Midland Valley in December 2006. He completed his PhD at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium) where he specialized in active tectonics, archaeoseismology and earthquake geology. The aim of his PhD was to evaluate historical seismic activity around the ancient city of Sagalassos (SW Turkey). Based on a multidisciplinary study (archaeoseismology, remote sensing, structural geology, geophysics and palaeoseismology) he was able to identify a seismically active normal fault which passes through the ancient city itself. Before joining Midland Valley, Dominuque was a Structural Prize winner in 2004.  Since joining he has worked on various projects and has given several software trainings to clients held at both Midland Valley’s headquarters and client offices. Dominique is also trained on Fault Seal Analysis using TrapTester from our alliance partner Badleys Geosciences.

When he is not doing geological work, you can find him hanging on some piece of rock or ice defying gravity.

• Dr Francesco Borraccini - Structural Geologist

After completing a Doctorate on 3D structural modeling/analysis techniques, Francesco spent four years working as a contract researcher and lecturer at the University of Urbino (Italy). His academic research activity has been mainly focused on the 2D/3D reconstruction, validation and balancing of structural geometries in the Apennines using field data and geophysical datasets. He is also author of planetary geology studies aimed to understand the Martian tectonic evolution through structural analysis.          

Since he joined Midland Valley in March 2007, he has worked on structural modeling/validation and fault seal analysis projects in the Arabic peninsula and in the western Indian continental margin.

• Dr Gianluca Grando - Structural Geologist

Before joining Midland Valley, Gianluca was part of the Fault Dynamics Research Group at the Royal Holloway University of London, where he did his MSc in Basin Evolution and Dymanics and completed his PhD in structural geology. He is also interested in fault related growth folds in deep water compressional fold and thrust belts in salt and shale tectonic provinces.

• Dr John Grocott - Principal Structural Geologist

John joined MVE in January 2006 from Kingston University, London bringing research and commercial project experience of structural and tectonic styles world-wide particularly in the Andes, Greenland, the North Atlantic shelf and adjacent shield areas, and the Alpine fold belts of Europe and North Africa. His interests cover deformation and process in basement rocks through to upper crustal deformation and fluid systems.

As well as applying his experience in structural analysis and restoration to reduce risk in the exploration for oil and gas, John has wide experience of mineral deposit geology - particularly Cordilleran Fe-oxide Cu Au and Cu-porphyry deposits. In Midland Valley he is developing workflows and applications for mineral exploration, mineral deposit evaluation and geotechnical aspects of mining using structural validation and kinematic analysis to improve predictions of mine scale structures and fracture distributions.

Moving to Glasgow from the UK "deep south" means that John will also be seeking wider horizons in the literal sense with the Highlands on the doorstep for trekking - once it stops raining!

• Louise Munro - Support Geologist

Having graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Degree in Earth Science in June 2007, Louise has joined Midland Valley's Help Desk and is part of our expansion plans for our help and support services. She is looking forward to developing her geological career with us.

Louise's main interests are structural and metamorphic geology, and in her spare time likes to be walking up hills and reading.

• Steven Clelland MSc - Support Geologist

Steven joins Midland Valley's help-desk with an undergraduate degree in Geology and Physical Geography and a masters degree in GIS, both obtained at the University of Edinburgh.  During his undergraduate degree Steven was particularly interested in geomorphology, while in his masters he gained experience with GIS packages, databases and remote sensing.

In his spare time Steven can be found running in the hills or forests.

• Xi Guifen - Senior Structural Geologist

Xi Guifen joined Midland Valley in October 2006 with over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry including previous structural geologist and geophysicist positions, as well as being involved in software development and project consulting.

Her experiences involve field seismic acquisition, seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, reservoir prediction, validation of geophysical interpretations, definition of small and large-scale structural evolution using 2D and 3D restoration techniques, and fracture prediction in carbonate and clastic sediments. 

Xi likes traveling and reading.

• Dr Zsolt Schleder - Structural Geologist

Zsolt joined Midland Valley in 2006 after completing his PhD at he RTWH Aachen University, Germany. Zsolt's PhD research was focussed on deformation, recrystallisation mechanism and rhelogy of naturally deformed rock salt from different tectonic settings. Since joining MVE, he has been involved in software testing, client support and training. He has completed projects in Germany, Azerbaijan, UK, Borneo and enjoyed discussions on geology with the other MVE team mates on many other expoloration areas around the world.

He enjoys outdoor activities as climbing and hiking.