Distinguished Member Award
Citation: To Patrick J. Gooding in recognition of his dedicated and exemplary service and leadership to the House of Delegates and his contributions to the American Association of Petroleum Geologists in attaining their goals.
Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Patrick is descended from Scottish, English, and Irish immigrants who came to the Caribbean in the 1730s.He was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago National Track and Field Team and was the national champion and record holder in shot put, discus, and hammer throw. He was awarded the World Sports Commonwealth Plaque for record-setting performances. He came to America in 1971 on a track and field scholarship and became a United States citizen in 1987.
As a young boy, Patrick liked to explore. He led his brother, cousins and friends on expeditions by boat, traveling on rivers and streams, and hiking along mountain trails, looking for gold and diamonds. As he grew older, he spent more time exploring the beaches and coral reefs.His two older brothers both worked for BP and introduced him to the oil fields.
Patrick received a B.A. in physical geography and a B.S. in geology in 1975 from Eastern Kentucky University. He returned to Eastern Kentucky University to complete his M.S. in petroleum geology in 1983. He has continued to work on his Ph.D. in geology at the University of Kentucky.
He began his professional career with the Kentucky Geological Survey at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1977. During his 30-year tenure as a research geologist, Patrick has conducted research and given presentations on a number of varied geologic projects.Some research projects were Reservoir Characterization and Depositional Environments of the Middle– Lower Ordovician and Cambrian; Geochemical Analysis of Well Cuttings; Characterization and Classification of Crude Oils; Investigation of Tar Sands; and Resource Assessment of Devonian Oil Shales. As manager of the KGS Well Sample and Core Library, Patrick has worked diligently and has contributed significantly in making the facility one of the finest in the country. He has been the recipient of the University of Kentucky Outstanding Staff Award and the Kentucky Geological Survey Dedicated Service Award.
Patrick has served as president of the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists and has represented the society as a delegate to the AAPG House of Delegates for the past 5 years. He has been an activemember of AAPGformore than 20 years and is presently completing his fourth term as chair of the Credentials Committee in the House of Delegates. He also serves as the chair of the AAPG Preservation of Geoscience Data Committee, and is a member of the GeoTour Committee.