Much has been written pertaining to the geologist and the computer. Most research divisions in oil companies, universities, and governmental agencies are working on methods and techniques which will make it practical for the geologist to use the computer. The fact still remains, however, that only a very small percentage of subsurface geologists are using computers as a means of retrieval of data.

Management and geologic departments probably are equally at fault for the slow development in the use of the computer by geologists. The geologist, because of his lack of knowledge of how the computer will be of direct value to the exploration department, hesitates to approach management for the personnel and equipment that would be required. Management, because it is not being pressured, is willing to let the geology department function without the computer. Management should be providing trained computer personnel to the exploration departments.

Sufficient experimental, as well as practical, work has now been carried out so that there is no longer any doubt that the computer is a necessity in nearly all exploration departments. Companies which do not become computer-oriented will find it more difficult to compete, especially with the new techniques being adopted and the ever-increasing volume of data.

Methods of data acquisition and storage vary and can become complicated, depending on the volume of data stored. The geologist will not have to concern himself with how the data are stored, but will need to have a complete knowledge as to what data are stored. The programming to retrieve data also can become highly technical; however, the geologist should concern himself more with how he will use the data than how he will retrieve it.

The geologist relies on a variety of sources for his basic information. Probably the most fundamental and important source is from the stratigraphic section. Time needed for preparing and digesting large quantities of stratigraphic data always has been a major problem for the exploration departments. A service has been in operation in Canada since January, 1964, which provides the industry with detailed processed stratigraphic data on punch cards. An outline is presented on the type of data processed, method of processing, and some of the practical applications.

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