Steve Larter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steve Larter
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|---|---|
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge Newcastle University |
| Awards | William Smith Medal (1998) Friendship Medal (2000) CSPG Medal of Merit (2012, 2014) Treibs Medal (2014) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geochemistry |
| Institutions | University of Oslo University of Calgary |
Stephen (Steve) R. Larter is a Canadian professor who studies geochemistry. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Calgary. This means he is a retired professor who still keeps his title.
Dr. Larter has helped start many technology companies. One of them was Gushor Inc., which is now part of a bigger company called Schlumberger. He also helps guide new student and faculty businesses at universities. He has worked on new ways to get energy without causing pollution. This includes making hydrogen or electricity directly from oil and gas fields. He also works on capturing and storing carbon dioxide to help the environment.
Dr. Larter has done research in the oil and gas industry. He has also worked at universities in Oslo, Norway, and Newcastle, England. He has won many awards for his work. He is a member of important groups like the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Canada. He is also a foreign member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Arts.
Steve Larter's Early Life and Education
Steve Larter started his university journey at the University of Cambridge. In 1974, he earned his first degree in natural sciences. A year later, in 1975, he got his Master of Science degree. He studied both organic geochemistry and organic petrology at Newcastle University. In 1978, he earned his PhD in petroleum geochemistry from the same university.
From 1979 to 1986, he worked as a Senior Geochemist Researcher at the Unocal Corporation. Then, from 1987 to 1989, he was a visiting professor at the University of Oslo in Norway. From 1989 to 2015, he was a geology professor at Newcastle University. After that, he became an Emeritus Professor there. Since 2004, he has been a Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary.
Discoveries and Research Work
One of Dr. Larter's first articles was in 1980. It was about substances called melanoidins and how they are similar to kerogens. Kerogens are important in forming oil and gas.
In 1989, Dr. Larter studied minerals like calcite and kaolinite. These minerals formed during an ancient time called the late Cimmerian erosion. That same year, he visited the Huldra and Veslefrikk oil fields. He compared what he found at both places. He discovered that adding saltwater at the Huldra field changed the fluids there. This replaced ancient rainwater that was not found at the Veslefrikk field.
In June 1993, Dr. Larter and his team studied oil at the Ula oil field. They collected minerals like quartz, albite, and orthoclase. By studying these minerals, they learned why the oil at Ula's field changes so quickly.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Larter is a fellow of the Royal Society. He is also a fellow of its Canadian branch, the Royal Society of Canada. He has received several important awards for his work:
- William Smith Medal (1998)
- Friendship Medal (2000)
- CSPG Medal of Merit (2012, 2014)
- Treibs Medal (2014)
