i houston geological society"development geology - advances in the eighties, prospects for the...

October, 1989

BULLETIN

/olurne 32

Uurnber 2

I HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

HGS OCTOBER CALENDAR OCTOBER 2, 1989 H G S Golf Tournament

Kingwood C o u n t r y Club. 9 3 0 a . m .

OCTOBER 9. 1989 (Dinner Meeting) "High-Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy Using Well Logs and Cores" John Van Wagoner, Exxon Product~on Research Westin O a k s Hotel, 501 1 Westheimer Sociul Period 5:30pni., Dinner- and Meetlng 6:30 p . m . Reservations made by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made or cancelled by noon Friday, October 6.

OCTOBER 1 I . 19fi9 (Dinner Meetins) H G S ENVIRONMENTALENGINEERING GEOLOGISTS "Media Hype vs The Real Issues of Environmental Cleanup" Norma J Goidman Goidrndn and C o r n p n y Charlie's Hamburger Joint , 2222 Ella Blvd D~nner and Meet~ng 6 00 p m

OCTOBER 13, 1989 H G S Shrimp Peel Kn~ghts of Columbus Hall, 607 East Wh~tney. 5 30 p In

OCTOBER 20, 1989 H G S Shor t Course Downd~p Yegua I rend'

Exxon Audi tor~um, SO0 Bell j t T I ~ L I ~ 7 30 a m

OCTOBER 18, 1989 (Dinner Meeting) H G S INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS "Cabinda Onshore: A Brief Outline of Geology and Petroleum Potential" P. G~orglo Scorcel!etti. Consuitdnt Westin O a k s Hotel, 5011 Westheimer Soclul Period 5:30p.n., D~rlncr and Meetirly 6.30p.m. Reservations by advdnce t~cket purrhc3w only (see page 14) Purchdse tickets by Tuesday, October 13, 1989.

OCTOBER 24, 1989 (Dinner Meeting) H G S E N V I R O N M E N T A L / E N G I N E E R l N G GEOLOGISTS "Hydrodynamics of Knickpoint Erosion" Christopher Ma~hewson. Texas A&M IJnibersity Wyatt's Cafeteria - Sharpstown Mall D ~ n n r r and Meciing 6:00 p . m . . (resrrcat~ons not r~ecessary)

OCTOBER 25, 1989 (Luncheon Meeting) "Development Geology - Advances in The Eighties, Prospects for The Ninties" LV. J Ebanks, Jr . , A R C 0 Houston Club, 811 Rwsk S o c ~ a i Period 11:30 o.rm L~rncli und M w t l n g 12.00 Noon Reservat~ons made by name only, telephone 785-6402. Must be made or cancelled by noon Friday, October 20.

FORMATION AND DRILLING INFORMATION

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Singapore Telephone: 861 -7077 Fax : 862-0 1 65

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

BULLETIN Vol. 32, No. 2

BULLETIN COMMl lTEE EDITOR: George Kronman, 556-4452

Amoco Production Co. ASSISTANT Jo Ann Locklin, 954-6000 EDITOR: Texaco ASSOC. EDITORS:

Layout Sue van Gelder*, 466-3348 Consulting Geologist

Kelly Blakley, 961-5660 X277 Petroleum lnformatlon

Features Kes Barcas*, 552-3833 Standard Oil Prod. Co.

Joe Keeling, 391~8553 Riblana, Inc

Editorial Mary Jo Klosterman*, 973-3112 Exxon Internat~onal

Ned Samueis, 556-3572 Amoco Production Co.

Committee B11l Elsenhardt*, 774-6669 News Consult~ng Geologst

Technical William H. Roberts*, 465.3899 Articles Hydrexco Company

Claude M Quigley, 856-4220 Consultant

Nelson C. Steenland, 666-0266 Geophysicist

Exploration Bill E~senhardt*, 774-6669 Review Consulting Geolog~st

Events Dav~d C. Callaway*, 584-3445 Arco 011 & Gas

Donna Davls, 961~0141, x374 P.I. Erpl. Systems

Computerization John E B~shop, 951-9006 J E. Bishop, Inc.

John Hefner*, 468 9495 Consultmg Geolog~st

Micky McGhee, 896-7605 Pennzoil

Computer Mark W. Hodson. 629-6600 Marathon

International Hugh Hay~Roe', 358-5871 Consultant

*Subcommittee chalrmen

Manuscr~pts, mqumes, or suggestions should be directed to Editor, c/o HGS Bulletin, 7171 Harwin, Suite 314, Houston, TX 77036. Deadhe for copy issix weeks prlor to publicat~on. All copy must be typewritten and double-spaced on standard white paper. Line drawings and other ~llustrations must be photo-ready. If prepared on a word processor, please send a copy of the computer disc, preferably in AGCII format.

ADVERTISING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: W Don Nevllle, 655-9666

Gulfstar Petroleum Co.

- ~

October, 1989

CONTENTS REGULAR FEATURES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President's Comments 5 Editor's Comments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Society Meetings

High-Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy Using . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Well Logs and Cores, John Van Wagoner. 7

Development Geology - Advances in the Eighties, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Prospects for the Nineties, W. J . Ebanks, Jr. 7

Cabinda Onshore: A Brief Outline of Geology and . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Petroleum Potential, P. Giorgio Scorcelletti. 13

Media Hype vs. the Real Issues of Environmental Cleanup, Norma J . Goldman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Hydrodynamics of Knickpoint Erosion Christopher Mathewson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

International Explorationists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EnvironmentallEngineering Geologists 15

CommitteeNews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Geo-Events and Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exploration Summary, edited by Bill Eisenhardt 44

COLUMNS/ARTICLES Digital Digest

Workstations - A Special Breed of Computer Mark W. Hodson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Perspectives and Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . National Energy Strategy, Michel T. Halbouty 37

A Historical Perspective of The Railroad Commission of Texas, Kent Hance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Consultants and the Houston Geological Society Richard Scattolini. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Technical Articles Environmental Review, Heads and Gradients RalphC.Heath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Exploring Geophysical Exploration, Carl H. Savit . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Regional Mapping Using Economic Units Curtis McKallip, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

On The Lighter Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Night Periplaneta Died, E. A. Shinn 30

MISCELLANY NewMembers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

OUR COVER PHOTO T h e tropical chmate within the Sierra d e

Guatemala Mountains ( n e a r G o m e z Farias), in sou the rn Tomaulipas, Mexico, providesopt imum c o n d i t i o n s for K a r s t d e v e l o p m e n t o n t h e Cretaceous-aged "El Doc to r Limestone Forma- tion". Carol Car lson, President of t h e "Greater Hous ton Grot to" pauses t o enjoy s o m e of t he Tower Karst Pediments while en rou te t o o n e of several beautiful caves that occu r in t he 12,000' thick formation. (Photo: Kenny McGee) .

PRICE SCHEDULE- OCTOBER MEETINGS (Non-members: add $2.00 to the meal price)

Westin O a k s Hotel, Oc tobe r 9 Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS Westin O a k s Hotel, Oc tobe r 18

Dinne r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00

Houston Club, Oc tobe r 2 5 Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.00

- -

RESERVATIONS POLICY Reservations are made by calhng the HGS office

(785-6402). At the meeting, names are checked against the reservation list. Those with reservations will be sold tickets ~mmediately. Those without reservations will be asked to wait for available seats, and a $2 surcharge will be added to the price of the ticket. All who d o not honor their reservations will be billed for the price of the meal. If a reservation cannot be kept, please cancel or send someone in your place.

I The Houston Geological Soaety office IS

located at 7171 Harwin, Suite 314, Houston, Texas 77036. The telephone number is (713) 785-6402.

1 Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 7171 Harwin. Suite 314 Houston. Texas 77036

(71 3) 785-6402

. EXECUTIVE BOARD . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Richard S (Dick) Bishop. Exxon Prod Research 973-3064

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President-Elect Ronald W . (Ron) Harlan. BHP Petroleum (Americas) Inc . 780-5032 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President Cyrus (Cy) Strong. Shell Western E&P Inc . 870-21 29

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary .Paul F . Hoffman. Ladd Petroleum 622-691 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer Larry D . Bartell. Bartell Exploration 227-8355 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committeeman ('90) David C . (Dave) Callaway. Arco Oil & Gas 584-3445 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committeeman ('90) F . Kenneth (Ken) Aitken. Pennzoil 546-8759 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committeeman ('91) Richard R . (Dick) McLeod. Independent 222-7617 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Executive Committeeman ('91) Joseph S . (Scott) Laurent. Preston Oil 467-4841

- COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Academic Liaison John Chronic. Consultant 933-0371

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising W. Don Neville. Gulfstar Petroleum Co . 655-9666 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Awards Barbara Bentley. Amoco 556-445 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ballot Lisa Crawford. Marathon 629-6600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boy Scouts Dan Helton. Midcon Services 963-3537

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bulletin George Kronman. Amoco 556-4452 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Computer Applications Kari K . Rekoske. Elf Acquitaine 739-2312

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continuing Education John M . Biancardi. Consultant 937-8457 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Entertainment .Robert Ahlborn. Diversified Energy Mgmt . 376-0505

Environmental and Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert B . (Bob) Rieser. Groundwater Technology 680-1 51 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exhibits .Gerald A . (Jerry) Cooley. PetCons & Assoc . 665-8432

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field Trips Martin J . Oldani. Sandefer Oil & Gas 651 -1 551 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finance David A . Fontaine. Consultant 975-0202

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Historical Gary Snyder. GECO Geophysical 596-1 871 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International Explorationists .Denise M . Stone. Amoco 556-4207

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Library Evelyn Moody. Consultant 654-0072 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership Bruce Falkenstein. Arnoco 556-2038

. New Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard S (Dick) Bishop. Exxon Prod . Research 973-3064 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nominations Dietmar (Deet) Schumacher. Pennzoil Int ' l . 546-4028

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Personnel Placement Steven Brachman. BP Exploration 552-3850 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Publications Sales .Cheryl Miller. Consultant 466-7996

Public Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald D . (Gerry) Prager. Energy Development Corp . 757-081 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rememberances Renee Elosequi. Petroleum Information 961 -5660

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Research Kathy McDonald. Exxon Co . USA 591 -5307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technical Program Cyrus (Cy) Strong. Shell Western E&P Inc . 870-2129

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation Gregory (Greg) Burns. Coastal Oil & Gas 877-7807

- SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advisor. Museum of Natural Science Morgan J . Davis. Jr.. Consulting Geologist 461 -1 817

GCAGS Representative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard S . (Dick) Bishop. Exxon Prod . Research 973-3064 GCAGS Alternate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ronald W . (Ron) Harlan. BHP Petroleum (Americas) Inc . 780-5032

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AAPG Delegate Foreman Synthia Smith. Exxon USA 775-6278 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AAPG-DPA Representative A l Allong. Consultant 495-201 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AAPG Group Insurance Barbara & John D . Bremsteller 751 -0259 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Memorial Scholarship Board Dan L . Smith. Texoil Co . 228-0500

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HGS Foundation Merrill Haas. Consultant 468-1 906

- HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL AUXILIARY - .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Mrs . Charles E . (Myrtis) Trowbridge 468-31 61

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President-Elect Mrs . Ray (Jean) Guillory 444-0792 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Vice President (Social) Mrs . Robert C . (Geri) Pace 855-7655

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Vice President (Membership) Mrs . James C (Theresa) Barker 782-2754 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Third Vice President (HGS Rep.). Mrs . Gerald A . (Jeanne) Cooley 665-8432

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary Mrs . William B . (Joree) Hi l l 474-7045

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer Mrs . Charles E . (Linnie) Edwards 785-71 15

The Houston Geological Society Bulletin IS published monthly September through June by the Houston Geolog~cal Soclety . 7171 Harwln . Suite 314 . Houston . Texas 77036 Subscr~pt~on to the Bullel in 1s Included In membership dues($? 5 00 annually) . Subscription price for non-members w ~ t h i n the contlguous U S 1s 5 15 OOper year and S3000per year for those outs~de the contlguous U S . Single copy p rxe is $2.50 Subscr~ptions recelved after March 1 w!ll beapplied tothe rema~nder of thef~scal year(endmg wlth the June Issue) and also to the following year

The Houston Geologlcal Soclety wasfounded In 1923 and incorporated In 1975 The Society's objectives are to stimulate interest and promote the advancement of geology In thsarea . todlsseminate andfacilltatediscussion of geological ~nformatlon. and to enhance professlonal i n te r re la t !onsh tpsaog g e o l o g s The Society Includes nearly4.500 members locally and publishes special scientific publicat~ons in addltion to a monthly Bullelm The HGS also provtdes student scholarsh~ps and contlnulng education programs for professlonal geologists .

Houston Geological Soclety Bulletm . October 1989 2

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Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989


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Houston Geological Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989 4

PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS

By now you have had an opportunity to enjoy a poster session held inconjunction with our evening meetings. Pat Gordon has been working nights toorganize several such evenings and has another fine group of posters tocomplement John Van Wagner's talk tying outcrop, well logs, and seismic datainto a coherent package showing the sequence stratigraphy.

October is a particularly busy month for the Gulf Coast geologist. Most ofus enjoy the outdoors and my wife certainly likes to see me spruce up the yarda bit. In addition, the HGS offers both the annual golf tournament (October 2)and the always popular Shrimp Peel (October 13). The Golf Tournament is onlya few years old but has grown to become one of the most popular events of theyear with over 500 participants (using 3 courses). Plans are to expand to twocountry clubs in the near future if interest continues to grow. Congratulationsto Dave Wolford, who has chaired this committee for the past couple years,and to Chris Bechtel, who has served as the assistant chairman.

John Gorman is once again guiding another fine Shrimp Peel. Don't forgetthat this is a joint affair with the Geophysical Society so you may want to makeup a party.

Soon after the Shrimp Peel you'll hopefully find yourself headed to CorpusChristi for another rewarding meeting of the GCAGS (October 25 to 27).These regional meetings are particularly effective, not only because theyemphasize local geology but they also somehow manage to publish the papersas well. I don't know how GCAGS does it but can you imagine how much moreeffective all meetings might be if the speakers prepared text for at least some ofthe papers? ******

October is also the month to drop unpaid members from the rolls. So, ifyou hear someone complain they received a September but not an OctoberBulletin, suggest they call Margaret to check their status.******

Recently Joe Sullivan, immediate past chairman of the RemembrancesCommittee, was transferred to Oklahoma City. Most of you probably haven'tthought much about this committee (except, perhaps hoping to avoid beingmentioned) and, quite frankly, before I read Joe's letter, neither had I. But I wasquite struck by his reference to the implied, not logistical, responsibilities oftheCommittee and, indeed, our Society:

"Paying tribute to our former colleagues and extending sympathy andassistance to their families reflects upon the essential qualities of a Societyproud of its membership."

I don't know who started the committee, but this long standing effortobviously has provided a quiet, rich service to our brethren and made us all thebetter for it.

******

On a personal note, our family (1 wife, 2 boys ages 10 and 12) took adriving/camping vacation to an idyllic valley near Silverton, Colorado thissummer. One night the eldest and I camped near a tarn lake and hiked aroundthe area. This is one of the most spectacular areas in the country and we foundboth small and large thrust faults, folds, and small deltas in the lake. Upon ourreturn to camp, I was in deep reverie about all that we had seen when Ryaninformed me that of the two identical air mattresses, mine had gone flat. Hello,Earth.

In spite of the scientific observations, the trip also provided opportunitiesfor personal growth and vocabulary development. Once, while fishing, the windrose quickly and the anchor didn't hold. Soon the boat was hitting the rocksand try as we might, the engine wouldn't start. The Captain needed to actquickly!

Tim said he learned 4 new words that day.

5 Houston Geological Society Bulletin. October 19B9

~.

From the driving experience I can confirm that cars do indeed require gasoline only immediately after both children riding in them have fallen asleep. Which reminds me ... why is it that we hear a resounding chorus of conspiracy! whenever gasoline prices rise ... but never a whisper when they fall?

See you at the meetings and please don't forget to bring an associate ... they'll appreciate it.

DICK BISHOP

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Editor's Comments The Bulletin Committee would like to welcome all HGS

members back for the 1989-1990 year. With almost 5,000 members, the Society represents a wide cross-section of geoscientists in the Houston area. It is the job of the Bulletin to meet the needs of this diverse community.

Last year's Bulletin Committee did an outstanding job in establishing and maintaining a high-quality publication. John Sauri, Marilyn Gruebel, Sue van Gelder, Kelly Blakley, Kes Barcas, Bill Eisenhardt, Mary J o Klosterman, David C. Callaway, Paul Martinez, Foy Otts, Arlin Howles, and Donna Davis deserve much credit for their efforts. John Sauri deserves special mention for all of his countless hours and efforts in making the Bulletin a success. Fortunately, a number of these individuals have signed on for another year with the Bulletin Staff. On behalf of the Society, I would like to thank these people very much. The new 1989-1990 Bulletin staff is shown in the left-hand column on page 1 together with the new officers and chairmen on page 2.

The 1989-1990 Bulletin Committee is divided into 11 subcommittees. Each subcommittee is responsible for one phase of the publication of the Bulletin. For example, the technical articles subcommittee (William H. Roberts, Claude M. Quigley, and Nelson C. Steenland) is responsible for soliciting technical articles for the Bulletin. The Layout Committee (Sue van Gelder and Kelly Blakley) works on the design and general layout of the Bulletin each month.

Because the Bulletin has grown in size, it has become necessary to create the position of assistant editor. Corinne Danielli has admirably filled this position for the September and October issues, but unfortunately, Corinne has been transferred to Midland. We wish her much success. J o Ann Locklin has volunteered to f i l l in for Corinne. Welcome aboard, Jo Ann!

Goals for the 1989-1990 Bulletin include maintaining a high-quality magazine and attempting to publish more technical and/or feature articles relating to the geosciences. The quality of the HGS Bulletin depends mostly upon the Bulletin Staff. To publish more technical and feature articles, however, the Bulletin Committee is dependent upon the HGS membership. We are interested in receiving articles, letters, commentaries, opinions, and photographs from the general membership. I hope that articles on topics related to the geosciences, such as economics, legal issues (petroleum, environmental, etc.), management, politics, and community affairs will also be submitted. The Bulletin Staff is especially interested in soliciting technical articles that are broad in nature and would be of general interest to the Bulletin readership, although all articles will certainly be considered for publication. The Bulletin staff will make every effort to publish submitted papers in a timely fashion. However, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL AUTHORS T O SUBMIT WELL WRITTEN PAPERS READY FOR PUBLICATION! The Bulletin Staff does not have the time or resources to review, edit and rewrite poor papers. Please also remember that articles and/or papers should not serve as advertisement for a company or product.

Again, the Bulletin Staff welcomes everyone back for another year. May this year be our best one ever!

GEORGE KRONMAN

Houston Geologtcal Soclely Bullettn. October 1989 t

MEETINGSHGS DINNER MEETING-OCTOBER 9, 1989JOHN VAN WAGONER-Biographical Sketch

John Van Wagoner re-ceived his Bachelor of Artsdegree from WoosterCollege in Wooster, Ohio,in 1972, and his Master ofScience and Doctoral de-grees from Rice University,Houston, Texas between1973 and 1976.

Dr. Van Wagoner isemployed by Exxon Pro-duction Research Com-pany where he conductsresearc h in siliciclasticfacies and sequence stra-tigraphy.

HIGH-RESOLUTION SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHYUSING WELL LOGS AND CORES

Sequence stratigraphy is the study of sedimentaryrocks within a framework of genetically related faciesbounded by chronostratigraphically significant surfaces.Using the concepts of sequence stratigraphy, it is possibleto construct a high-resolution chronostratigraphic frame-work from well logs, cores, and outcrops for the analysis ofreservoir, source, and sealing rocks at a reservoir toregional scale.

The sequence is the fundamental stratal unit for asequence stratigraphic analysis. Sequence boundaries areareally continuous surfaces within a basin, interpreted toform as a result of a eustatic fall (Vail et ai, 1977). Thesequence boundary is overlain and underlain by rocks ofdifferent ages; but all of the rocks above the boundary areyounger than all the rocks below the boundary, so theboundary has time-stratigraphic significance.

There is a distinct break in deposition and a basinwardshift in facies across the unc.onformable portion of a type-1sequence boundary, making it a natural surface for separat-ing facies above and below. Recognition of sequenceboundaries on well-logcross sections is essential for accur-ate lateral and vertical facies analysis leading to reservoirmapping and distribution prediction.

Parasequences are the building blocks of the sequence.Aggradational, progradational, and retrogradationalstacking patterns of parasequences are used to subdividethe sequence into systems tracts. Parasequence boundariesare locally continuous surfaces interpreted to form as aresult of a relative rise in sea-level, and are ultra high-resolution chronostratigraphic surfaces used to correlatetime and facies from well logs within a sequence framework.

Integration of sequence and parasequence correlationconcepts provides techniques to look at basins in fresh waysresulting in: 1) definition of new play types, opening upheavily drilled basins for new exploration, 2) improvedability to define and locate subtle, but potentially profitablestratigraphic traps, and 3) a more integrated stratigraphicframework for risking new plays.

L.

HGS LUNCHEON MEETING-OCTOBER 25, 1989W. J. EBANKS, JR.-Biographical Sketch

W. J. Ebanks, Jr. re-ceived his Bachelor of Arts,Master of Science andDoctoral degrees fromRice University in Houston,Texas in 1958, 1965, and1967 respectively.

Dr. Ebanks has a longand distinguished career inthe oil industry in the GulfCoast and Midwest. He hasworked for Kerr-McGee,Exxon Production Re-search Company, UnionCarbide Petroleum Corpo-ration, Ashland Explora-

tion Company, and Cities Service Company. From 1972to1981, Dr. Ebanks was the Chief of the Subsurface GeologySection of the Kansas Geological Survey.

From 1983 to the present, Dr. Ebanks has beenDirector of the Reservoir Geology Group of ARCO Oil andGas Company, Piano, Texas.

Dr. Ebanks is the author of numerous articles onsedimentology, petroleum geology, reservoir geology, andresource assessment. He received the 1975 A. I. Levorsen

. Memorial Award for Best Paper, Mid-Continent Section,AAPG, 6th Biennial Meeting, and he is the AAPGFoundation's Haas-Pratt Distinguished Lecturer.

DEVELOPMENT GEOLOGY -ADVANCES IN THE EIGHTIES,

PROSPECTS FOR THE NINETIES

Development geology is crucial to maximize the ulti-mate economic recovery and value of hydrocarbonresources. Important economic decisions about a field canbest be made if reservoir engineering models used toforecast production behavior are designed with a thoroughunderstanding of the field's physical properties. Accurate,detailed description of a field is the key to successfulreservoir management from discovery to abandonment,and important advances have been made recently informulating and using these descriptions.

All reservoirs are heterogeneous. Geological com-plexity can have a profound influence on the paths fluidstake in interwell volumes. Increasing experience withenhanced oil recovery projects and infilldrilling programshas emphasized the importance of antisotropic permeabilityand of barriers to fluid flow as major causes of incompleterecovery of hydrocarbons. Good progress has been madein understanding the geologic causes of reservoir hetero-geneity, but progress in expressing these insights quanti-tatively has been slow. Greater computing power andinnovative graphic displays enable petroleum engineers touse more geologic detail in models of reservoir behavior.This ability to use more detail has increased the demand forquantitative expression of geologic information. To meetthis demand, stochastic modeling techniques are being

..

7 Houston Geological Society Bulletin. October 1989

applied to estimate spatial variability of reservoir quality and evaluate uncertainty in development drilling.

Detailed description of reservoirs has increased awareness of the need for more deterministic information about them. Geophysical techniques, especially improved surface three-dimensional and crosswell reflection surveys, are being used more frequently. Engineering methods, including pressure transient analyses and tracer injection surveys, are being applied to the estimation of effective, large-scale properties of reservoirs. Geological understanding is essential to correctly interpret both geophysics and engineering measurements. Similarly, historical production data can be used to refine geologic interpretations in some cases.

Research on the microscopic controls on distribution and flow of fluids in reservoirs has led t o a better understanding of absolute and relative permeability and of capillarity. As a result, pore geometry that focuses on that geometry's effects on fluids rather than on the geometry's origin has gained renewed acceptance. This concept is especiany useful in communicating information from the petrographer to the petrophysicist and the engineer. This has led to more representative sampling of reservoir rocks for petrophysical measurementsand fluid flow experiments, and, consequently, better estimates of ultimate productivity.

During the 1990's, the prospects are good for further improving the accuracy and usefulness of reservoir descriptions. The demand for greater quantitification will lead to more detailed studies of outcrops, with emphasis on variations in petrophysical properties and bedding geometry. Armed with these new insights, geologists will be able to design conditioned stochastic models, which will increasingly be used to make equiprobable estimates of the distribution of reservoir properties in the subsurface. Geophysical methods for detecting reservoir lithology and variations in porosity will continue to improve, as will the capability to monitor the subsurface movement of fluids. Further integration of well-log analysis with petrographic and petrophysical information will enhance the recognition of lithological variations in reservoirs, especially by application of formation microscanning and geochemical logging techniques.

As the emphasis in industry shifts from exploration to development, one of the most important changes will be much greater integration of geology and engineering at a working level. Multidisciplinary teams of professionals working on reservoir-management problems will overcome traditional barriers to communication, resolve conflicting priorities, and develop a more holistic view of the reservoir than has commonly been done. This trend, which has already begun, will require broader training, better mutual understanding, and sharing of information and ideas among team members. Geologists will continue to play an important role in reservoir analysis, and challenging opportunities for this type of work will increase.

POSTER SESSION "Stratigraphy of the Gulf of Mexico Basin"

We will have another Poster Session this month at our Monday evening Society meeting on October 9,1989. Our theme will be "Stratigraphy of the Gulf of Mexico Basin." We plan on having some excellent posters and "speakers" including the following:

Bruce Bowen & Jory Pacht: Seismic Stratigraphy of the Plio-Pleistocene Sediments of Western Louisi- ana Shelf.

Barbara Radovich & Bob Mitchum: A Diversity of System Tracts in Offshore Louisiana, Central Shelf Area.

Deet Schumacher: Origin of Gulf of Mexico Oils and Gases.

Walter Wornardt, John Armentrout, J. F. Clement: Seismic Sequence Stratigraphy in High Island, Galveston and Eastbreaks Area.

Your input is still needed for both topic ideas and for volunteers to present posters on their favorite theories. Possible "themes" suggested are: "Regional Tectonic Features", "Architectural Styles", "Development Geology", and "Computer Applications".

Please send your ideas to Pat Gordon, 654-5919.

FORT WORTH GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM November 18,1989

The Fort Worth Geological Society and Texas Christian University will co-host a one-day symposium dealing with exploration for oil in Mississippian rocks of north central Texas on Saturday, November 18,1989. The meeting will be at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Speakers will include geologists actively exploring in the area, and faculty members from Texas A&M, The University of Texas at Austin, The Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, and Texas Christian University.

Persons in attendance will receive a book entitled "The Mississippian Geology of North Central Texas", which is comprised of eleven papers written for the symposium, and one reprinted article. Included are papers that describe the regional and local geology of the Mississippian rocks in Texas and adjoining areas, studies of typical Mississippian fields, and geological and geophysical exploration techniques used in the area. Emphasis is on exploration in the Hardeman Basin, Eastern Shelf and Bend Arch.

Cost for the book and the symposium will be $40 if paid by October 15th, and $50 thereafter. College students will pay $20.00.

PLEASE DETACH AND RETURN WITH PAYMENT

SYMPOSIUM November 18,1989

Name:

Address:

Phone Number:

Amount Enclosed: Make checks payable to Fort Worth Geological Society and mail to:

C. E. Mear, Editor Fort Worth Geological Society Suite 2000,810 Houston Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

Houston Geological Society Bulletin, October 1989

"Support those who support our Society. "

Advantages of Satellite Gravity: Satellite Gravity is converted from geopotential data derived from satellite radar measurements (contour values in mGal). More sensitive to deeply buried and/or horizontally distributed density contrasts than is shipborne or

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FIRST OCCURRENCE. PRESENCE AND ABSENCE AND ABUNDANCECHARTS

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Houston Geolog~cal Soclety Bullet~n. October 1989

Call For Papers Houston Geotech '90

Integration Into The 90's

The Houston Geotech Association is roud to announce the fifth Houston Geotech Convention, February 25th-27th, 1990, in the Westin Galleria Rotel, Houston,Texas. The convention is intended for geoscientists with all levels of computer experience who want to know what computer tools are available now, and what developments to expect in the comin decade. This year, our focus will be on two main themes: Horizontal Well A plications and ~ e o ~ h y s i c a t ~ e o l o ical integrated Workstations at all levels. Technical Papers are solicited R w ~ c h present the state-of-the-art an d a forecast of trends into the '90's. Suggested topics are as follows:

Horizontal Well Applications:

When is Horizontal Drilling Advisable? Drilling and Guidance Techniques.

Techniques and Problems of Formation Evaluation and Reservoir Description.

Horizontal Well Completions.

Horizontal Well Production Profiling.

Horizontal Well Stimulation.

Case Histories. -

Geophysical/Geological Integrated Workstations:

Database Management Systems and Data Handling. GIs - Current Status and Future Development. Hardware Developments.

Non-expert User Introductory Subjects.

Networking And Communication.

Interpretation Techniques and Software Evaluation.

Data Standards For Software and Hardware.

lntegration Of Applications, Software and Hardware.

Case Histories. Pa en , alongwith an abstract should besubmitted t ,double-spaced, or on electronic media in Wordperfect, Ml Word, or ASCII format. A brief biograph- blicati=ional

number are rquested. p"

Submittals should be made to: Houston Geotech Association Norman R. Carlson (Hor. Wells) Carl Hwohl (Geoph./Geol. Integ.) Attn: Judy Schulenberg Technical Program Associate Technical Program Associate Technical Sessions Chair Atlas Wireline Services Ex loiTech, Inc. 7171 Harwin, Suite 314 P.O. Box 1407 AC-21 3781 ~ i r b , Suite 1086 Houston, Texas 77036 Houston, Texas 77251 h oust on, {exas 77098

Pz(713) 972-4728 Fax 972-4862 P: (713) 630-4199 F a 630-4469

Vendor Technical Program and Poster Session: ndor capabilities. All hardware and software vendors

ded to vendors wishing to demonstrate a plications. A Intenrted~rtiesshould contact Lee ~tRet ton at (713)

Houston Geotech Association is sponsored by: GSH, HGS, SPWLA, and SPE.

Houston Geological Soc~ety Bulletin. October 1989

Houston Geotech '90

Integration Into The 90's

February 25th=27th, 1990, Westin Galleria Hotel

Houston, Texas (Short Courses Feb. 28th & Mar. 1,1990)

T ti eHouston Geotech Association is proud to announce the fifth Houston Geotech Convention, featuring technical papers, panel discussions, an exhibit hall, and short courses. 'The convention is intended for geoscientists with all levels of computer expe-

riencc who want t o know what computer tools are available now, and what developments to expect in the coining decade. This year, our focus will be on two main themes:

Horizontal Well Applications and

Geophysical/Geological Integrated Workstations At All Levels

R egistration: Pre-Registration for all three days of the convention is just $65.00. On-site registration is $80.00. One day registration will be available on-site for $40.00. Conven- tion registration is not required to enroll in a short course. Short course descriptions

will follow at a I;iter date. For further information, please contact Jeannie Fisher at (713) 739-3455, during business hours.

A ccommodations: A block of guest rooms at the Westin Galleria Hotel is reserved for Houston Geotech '90 attendees. Prices are $120 per night for single or double occu- pancy. Please contact the Westin Galleria Hotel at (713) 960-8100 for reservations.

E xhibit Hall: Booth space in the exhibit hall is open to all hardware and software vendors on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ten by ten foot (10' x 10') booth spaces are available at $475.00. For information on booth rental, please contact Exhibits Chairman

at (713) 961-3300, during business hours.

S ponsorship: The Houston Geotech Association is sponsored by: The Geophysical Soci- ety of Houston, The Houston Geological Society, The Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, and The Society of Petroleum Engineers.

IIouston Geotech Association 7171 IIarwin, Suite 314, Houston, Texas 77036 Phone: (713) 785-6402

11 Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1 9 8 9

TRADERS COLUMN WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE - one set of back

issues of Oil & Gas Investor magazine (Hart Publications). Call Rob Lease (713) 376-8718.

ON THE MOVE Suhas C. Talukdar has joined DGSI in The Wood-

lands, Texas, as a geochemist. He was previously with Intevep, S.A. in Caracas, Venezuela.

James E. Scott, 111, Senior Vice President of Explo- ration with Kriti Exploration, Inc., of Houston, Texas, has been transferred to Cairo, Egypt. He will be responsible for activities in Egypt as General Manager of Kriti Oil and Gas S.A. - Egypt Branch.

Dave Agarwal and Les Denham have established a completely independent Interactive Interpretation & Train- ing Services and Sierra Technology Center in Houston. The Center will make available next-generation integrated geological and geophysical mapping, modelling, depth- conversion, depth migration, well-log, and velocity analysis, in addition to interactive interpretation and training services. Their offices are located at 7015 West Tidwell, Suite 103G, Houston, Texas 77092, telephone (713) 462-7712.

GECO Geophysical Company, Inc., the Houston- based affiliate of the GECO/Schlumberger worldwide group, recently announced the appointment of Mr. Colin T. Hulme as Region Marketing Manager. This position

Attention:

GEOLOGISTS GEOPHYSICISTS

PILGRIM WANTS TO BUY QUALITY PROSPECTS

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Ed Jackson Sam Puryear Pilgrim Exploration Corp.

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includes responsibility for management of all GECO technical and non-technical marketing activities in the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America, as well as establishing future marketing direction for GECO products and services.

NAME CHANGE FOR SEPM

The Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralo- gists changed its name to SEPM as a result of a bylaws change approved by the membership at its Annual Business Meeting in San Antonio on April 25, 1989. The change reflects twenty years of intermittent questioning as to the appropriateness of the name of the Society. Reservations have ranged from the unwieldy length of the original name, to assertions that it did not accurately reflect the interests and pursuits of the majority of the members of the organization (although it may have been an accurate depiction 63 years ago when the Society was founded).

Legal requirements necessitated a more explicit name, so the parenthetic addition (Society for Sedimentary Geology) was appended. Future references to the Society will use the designation SEPM; those that involve the organization as a legal entity will carry the parenthetic entry as well. This proposal was approved without dissent at the Business Meeting.

SEPM HONORS OUTSTANDING GEOSCIENTISTS

The SEPM recognized a number of outstanding geoscientists at an awards dinner at its recent Annual Meeting in San Antonio. K. 0 . Emery (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) received the Twenhofel Medal, the highest award of the Society, for sustained excellence in outstanding contributions to sedimentary geology. Donald J. P. Swift (Old Dominion University, Department of Oceanography) was awarded the Francis P. Shepard Medal for outstanding research contributions to marine geology. Derek V. Ager (University College Swansea, U.K.) received the Raymond C. Moore Medal for a significant record of outstanding contributions in paleontology.

Honorary Membership in SEPM was awarded to German Mueller (Heidelberg University Institute for Sedi- mentology) and M. Dane Picard (University of Utah) for excellent professional achievements and extraordinary service to the Society.

Outstanding Paper in the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, Vol. 57, was awarded to Thomas M. Bown, (U.S.G.S., Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy) and Mary J. Kraus (University of Colorado at Boulder). Honorable mention was made of Gary A. Smith (University of New Mexico). Outstanding Paper in PALAIOS, Vol. 2, was awarded to Robert V. Burne (Baas Becking Geobiologi- cal Laboratory, Canberra, Australia) and Linda S . Moore (Department of Microbiology, University of Western Australia).

Awards for Excellence of Presentation at the 1988 Annual Meeting were given in two categories. Eric Barron (Pennsylvania State University) received the award for Oral Presentation. Ron Boyd and Shirley A. McLaren (Dalhousie University) received the award for Poster Presentation.

Houston Geological Society Bulletm, October 1989

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS

Chairman's Column

Houston Geological Society's International Explo-rationists Group aims to share the exploration experiencefrom basins around the world through talks by industrypersonnel and academia during its evening meetings. Manypeople from both industry and academia have volunteeredto present examples of their international geological workthis year. If the turnout at our meetings reflects the amountof interest we stir in the Houston area, this has indeed beenan excellent season. I would like to thank all the speakers forexcellent talks.

Last year's program started in September with a talk byJim D. Hedberg of Exxon Company, International on"Major New Foreign Exploration Plays During 1980-1987".October's talk was on the "Rift Offsets Of Gulf Of Suez,Egypt" by Ron Nelson and Tom Patton of Amoco Inter-national. In November, Dave G. Roberts of Standard OilProduction Co. presented "Basin Inversion In And AroundThe British Isles".

We started 1989with a talk on Yemen. Ian Maycock ofHunt Oil presented a talk entitled "Exploration In Yemen".In February, the speaker was Bruce Levell of Shell WesternOil Co., who spoke on "Exploration in Oman: Oil-BearingSediments of Gondwana Glaciation in Oman". We con-tinued to study the Arabian peninsula with a talk by BillBishop, a consultant in Houston. His topic was "PetroleumGeology Of Iraq". In April, we moved to South America.John L. Weiner of Gustavson Associates presented a talkentitled "Offshore Brazil: Geology and HydrocarbonPotential". The final talk for the year was by Bruce Cline ofPecten International. .He discussed the "Thayyem FieldDiscovery In Syria".

This fall we opened our program with a talk by SteveSchamel of the University of South Carolina Earth Sciencesand Resources Institute. $teve discussed "HydrocarbonHabitats of the Upper and Middle Magdelena Valleys ofColombia." This month's speaker is Giorgio Scorcelletti ofAnglo-Suisse Company who willdiscuss "Cabinda Onshore:A Brief Outline of Geology and Petroleum Potential". TheNovember talk willtake us to the Mediterranean when TedBartling of Bartling Oil willdiscuss "Petroleum Explorationand Geology of the Aegean".

We are planning more varied topics for the spring.Some of these include the Petroleum Geology of RiftBasinsin Niger, Chad and the Central African Republic; the PearlRiver Mouth Basin, South China Sea; the Amazon RiverDiscoveries; and the Ghadames Basin, Algeria. I will keepyou informed as these talks are firmed up. Iencourage thosewho are interested in giving talks to get in touch with me atExxon Production Research Company, P.O. Box 2189,Houston, Texas 77252-2189. Phone: 966-6033.

PINAR O. YILMAZTechnical Program Coordinator

L,

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTSDINNER MEETING-OCTOBER 18, 1989P. G. SCORCELLETTI-Biographical Sketch

Giorgio Scorcelletti isa consulting geologist withan international explora-tion background. Afterreceiving a Doctorate inthe Geological Sciencesfrom the University of Pisain 1954, he joined Gulf OilCompany for 31 years andlater worked for Amocofor one year. Gulf postedhim in Sicily for 3 years andin Africa for 20 years. Inthat period he contributedto the discovery of oil andgas in Cabinda, Gabon,

Libya, Mozambique and Zaire. His geological assignment inCabinda in 1964 and 1965 developed into a residence inLuanda from 1970 to 1973.

He has served as a supervisor in Angola, chief geologistin Gabon and acted as manager in Libya and Ethiopia. In1977 Giorgio was transferred to Gulf Oil - Houston head-quarters overseeing exploration operations in Africa(Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Cabinda, Zaire), North Seaand Indonesia. In 1983 he represented Gulf in the inter-company meetings sponsored by the Angolan Governmentin Luanda to establish the official nomenclature for thestratigraphy of Angola. While in Houston he founded theCentral-Southern Africa Scout Group.

After joining Amoco in 1985, Giorgio made importantcontributions to the evaluation of the Cretaceous in theMadagascar Morondava Basin and proposed the drilling ofthe West Manambolo, the first discovery in the area.

His consulting job has taken him to Paris, Geneva, andNew York. He successfully negotiated a Sudan concessionacquisition in Khartoum and established professionalrelations with government officials in Sana'a, North Yemen.

Giorgio is an active member of Houston GeologicalSociety, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists,and the Ordine Nazionale dei Geologi; he is also an ex-member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Libya. Hehas authored numerous exploration papers and presented ageological talk on Mozambique to the HGS in November1983.

CABINDA ONSHOREA BRIEF OUTLINE OF

GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM POTENTIALThe onshore Cabinda Area, due to peculiar circum-

stances, has remained unexplored since 1972,and thereforehas a great, untapped potential.

13 Houston Geological Society Bulletin. October 19B9

Its role as a prime petroleum province has been proven by its production record of almost one billion barrels of oil, almost exclusively from the currently active offshore area.

A review of the exploration data and results obtained by the operator (Cabinda Gulf) before 1972 indicates an onshore petroleum potential similar to the surrounding areas, offshore, as well onshore to the north (Congo) and south (Zaire), which include approximately 30 producing fields.

In comparison with the offshore shallow shelf, the Cabinda onshore potential appears to be greater than its northern and southern neighbors. This is due to the occurrence onshore of well developed and prospective Lower Cretaceous to Jurassic lacustrine sediments (presalt), including thick reservoir rocks and very thick source and cap rocks. Moreover, a thick and competent salt layer is overlain by prospective upper Cretaceous to Paleogene marine sediments, especially along the coast.

The possibility exists for some onshore prospective belts to become as prolific as the Malongo-Limba, the Numbi-Kungulo and the Kambala offshore trends to which they are parallel or on trend, providing attractive stratigraphic and structural trap plays.

The few, modest pre-1972 discoveries from basement, the Vovo and Chela sands, should be regarded as attempts of a preliminary exploration phase relying on archaic seismic and a sketchy exploration philosophy.

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS GROUP COMMITTEE Chairman & Finances:

Denise Stone, Amoco International . . . . . . 556-4207 Technical Program:

Pinar Yilmaz, Exxon Prod. Res. Co. . . . . . .966-6033 Ticket Reservations:

Chris Nicholson, Marathon Intl. . . . . . . . . . 629-6600 X-3817

Membership: Kumar Bhattacharjee,

Sita Oil Exploration House, Inc.. . . . . . . 999-6957 Audio-visual/Meeting Arrangements:

John Sauri, Consultant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552-4196

INTERNATIONAL EXPLORATIONISTS MEETING INFORMATION Westin Oaks Hotel, October 18

Dinner (530 p.m.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00

Admission to all International meetings is by advance ticket purchase only. Tickets may be purchased from representatives in the International departments of most companies or by sending a check for $20.00 and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

Houston Geological Society 7171 Harwin, Suite 314 Houston, Texas 77036

Ticket distribution and receipts are handled by Chris Nicholson (629-6600, ~3817). All inquiries should be directed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m..

Houston Geological Society Bulletin. October 1989 14

CALL FOR EXOTIC ROCKS What morsels of international geology are you keeping

in your garage or office?? The International Explorationists Group is looking for donations of exotic rocks collected by its globetrotting members to use for speaker's awards over the coming year. If you have a rock (or mineral) that would look presentable to mount on a 5x7 walnut base, consider submitting it. Rocks should have a short summary identifying them by country of origin, locality, formation name, and significance to exploration, if any. Please submit samples to Denise M. Stone or Pinar Yilmaz at any International Explorationists dinner meeting.

L

RESERVOIRS

+ + GEOLOGY + +

+ * CORE ANALYSIS * * Special / Routine

We helped fill 50 jobs in the first half of 1989

We're the Personnel Placement Committee of the Houston Geological Society. Helping fill vacant geology positions is a free service we provide to the energy industry and to our members.

HGS members file their resumes ~ ~ 4 t h us zt co charge.

When an employer has a job vacancy, he or she specifies the qualifications required and we send resumes of qualified geology professionals.. .also at no charge.

Both the numbers of resumes on file and of jobs we're helping fill are increasing fast.

Can we help fill one for you, too?

Contact: Steven Brachman BP Exploration 9401 S.W. Freeeway, Suite 1200 Houston, TX 77074 (71 3) 552-3850

r

GEOLOGISTS Notes From The Chair

This is probably one of the most difficult columns to write. I am required, because of the Bulletin's publication lead time, to present news and activity generated as a result of a meeting which hasn't occurred yet.

As you may recall, last month's column presented the goals for the Environmental and Engineering Geology Committee. Briefly outlined, they are (1) Help ex-oil geologistslengineers make the transition to the environmental industry. (2) Communicate with other professional organizations on a regular basis. (3) Expand beyond the professional sphere of influence and make our presence known at the high school level. (4) Make available to the general public the wealth of information the Committee has available (field trips, lectures, seminars, special events, etc.). By the time this column is published, activity will have begun on most, if not all, of the four goals listed.

A subcommittee will have been formed to study the ways we can help the petroleum geologists/engineers make the transition. More immediately, a new column has been introduced to the Bulletin. The column, to be called "ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW". will include orisinal or - reprinted articles that discuss elementary concepts of hydrogeology and engineering geology. This will accomplish two things. First, it will help fill an information gap for the aspiring geologistlengineer. Secondly, it will allow the Environmental Update column to concentrate on more technical articles.

Associated with this new column (but as yet only in the conceptual stage) will be periodic announcements for mini field seminars, hands-on experience for the uninitiated. Some topics to be covered will be water sampling techniques, common drilling methods, and well completion methods. If you have any specific topics you want covered, drop me a letter at my o,ffice or home. My address is in the HGS directory. NO phone calls, please.

The Committee will be making a concerted effort to communicate with other professional organizations. Which organizations we will "join" is yet to be decided. As mentioned in last months column, I suggested the Associa- tion of Engineering Geologists, the Texas Hazardous Waste Management Society, the Engineering Council of Houston, and the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Our involvement with high schools is under discussion. There are several options available. We intend to work with the Engineering Council of Houston with their promotion and organization of the Science Fair. Our emphasis, of course, will be environmental projects. Other possibilities include developing slide presentations which could be presented by anyone to a general audience, and enhancing and republishing existing field trip guide books with the marketing emphasis on high school teacherslstudents (as well as other markets).

To increase our presence in the community, a Publicity Chair will be created. This person will develop contacts with the newspapers and local neighborhoods concerning announcements of field trips, dinners, and etc. which would be of interest to the general public.

This months calendar activities include:

Oct. 11 - Norma J . Goldman, President and CEO of Goldman and Company, will be talking to the Committee about "Media Hype vs. The Real Issues of Environmental Cleanup." This will take place just prior to our regular monthly business meeting. The talk will begin at 6:00 at Charlie's Hamburger Joint located at 2222 Ella Blvd., about 112 mile south of the North Loop 610.

Oct. 24 - Dr. ~ h r i s t o ~ h e r Mathewson, Professor of Geology and Director of the Center for Engineering Geo- sciences at Texas A&M University, will be speaking on the "Hydrodynamics of Knickpoint Erosion." See the Bulletin for time and place.

See you there. ROBERT B. RIESER The Chair

HGS ENVIRONMENTAL/ENGINEERlNG COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETING- OCTOBER 11,1989 NORMA J. GOLDMAN-Biographical Sketch

Norma J . Goldman holds a B.A. degree from the University of Houston, and is currently President of Goldman and Company, Inc. a public relations firm. Her technical specialties include mass media communications, design and implementation of issues management programs and public opinion surveys, and providing industry-oriented training programs for dealing with media in crisis/hostile situations. She also provides analysis and critique of internal and external company communications, as well as product introduction and corporate imaging services.

Ms. Goldman's prior work experience includes the American Productivity Center, where she developed and implemented s five year plan to introduce the concept of productivity to the community at large through media, symposiums and conferences, focus groups with industry and labor, and the exchange of techniques with other productivity centers internationally.

Ms. Goldman has designed and implemented the initial community relations plans for EPA approval for several sites. She has consulted with major industrial clients on organizing internal public relations staff for Superfund community relations. She has also developed and implemented corporate imaging campaigns including the redesign of company logos, the introduction of new products, and development of all marketing and advertising materials.

MEDIA HYPE VS. THE REAL ISSUES O F ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP

Information and education about environmental issues continues to be "event driven," and this process has actually impeded progress on several fronts. The emotionalism and outrage that accompany "events" creates an atmosphere that is not conducive to the learningifact-finding process. Real issues, such as sound wastemanagement practices, chemical exposure risk, and the establishment of safe operating standards, are frequently lost in the wake of such events. Attendant media coverage only perpetuates and exacerbates these conditions.

15 Houston Geolog~cal Soctety Bulletin. October 1989

ALASI<A DRILLING CONTROVERSYINTENSIFIED BY OIL SPILL,ENVIRONMENTALIST SAYS

The Woodlands, Texas, August 15, 1989- In the wakeof the Exxon Valdez spill, environmentalists and the oilindustry cannot even agreeon "the shape of the table" in thedebate over drilling in Alaska's Arctic National WildlifeRefuge (ANWR), according to Tim Mahoney, chairman ofthe Sierra Club's Alaska Coalition.

In the current issue of The Woodlands Forum,Mahoney says, "The oil industry believes a suitable com-promise would be to permit some development (of ANWR)under various restrictions. But once you've done that, thewilderness is lost."

However, in the same issue of Forum, oil companyexecutive James H. Ross asks, "Does this country neednew oil resources, such as the Arctic National WildlifeRefuge, or is the United States quite happy to import oilfrom somewhere else? We need to examine the economic,political and security risks involved in that decision."

"Assuming commercial oil reserves are there,development is very much inAmerica's long-term interest,"says Ross, who is president and chief executive officer of BPAmerica, Inc., the nation's largest domestic producer ofcrude oil and natural gas liquids. "The Sierra Club is takingan extreme position on the ANWR issue. They say, 'Nodevelopment.' I say that is totally unrealistic."

"We must keep the costs of environmentally sounddevelopment in mind," he adds. "If we can't afford thatdevelopment, then we'll go elsewhere and ANWR willremain untouched. However, don't forget that environ-mental argument 10 years from now when you're waiting ina gasoline line."

Mahoney disagrees, callingany potential oil productionfrom ANWR a "short-term benefit," that would haveAmericans "rob our children by destroying the wildernessto get, say, 200 days of oil supplies. The value of thewilderness can't be adequately assessed on a dollars-and-cents basis." ,

The Sierra Club official adds, "Corporations havelearned that if they appear to be environmentally sensitive,they willbe permitted more flexibilityin their operations.

"But appearances often don't translate into reality.Corporations are still the principal foot-draggers within the

U.S. political spectrum. I'm not sure there is a way to get ahandle on the mentality of companies that are so large andprofitable that an Exxon Valdez disaster doesn't cripplethem economically," says Mahoney.

The Woodlands Forum is published quarterly by theCenter for Growth Studies, the policy research arm of theHouston Area Research Center (HARC), a research con-sortium linking science and technology to the marketplace.For free copies, contact Debbie Siegfried, 713/363-5658.

(This was sent to us by The Woodlands Forum.)

E NVI RON M E NT ALl E N GIN E E R IN GGEOLOGY DINNER MEETING-OCTOBER 24, 1989CHRISTOPHER C. MATHEWSON-Biographical Sketch

Christopher C. Math-ewson is Professor ofGeology, specializing inengineering geology, anddirector of the Center forEngineering Geosciencesat Texas A&M University.Dr. Mathewson received aBachelor of Science degreein Civil Engineering fromCase Institute of Tech-nology in Cleveland, Ohio,in 1963, and his Master ofScience and Doctoral de-grees in Geological Engine-ering from the University

of Arizona in 1965 and 1971 respectively. He served as acommissioned officer in the National Ocean Survey from1965 to 1970, working on ocean charting and marinegeophysical surveys in the Pacific and coastal hazards inHawaii. Dr. Mathewson joined the faculty at Texas A&M in1971.At Texas A&M, he has conducted research on coastaland river processes, expansive soils mechanisms, urbanplanning, natural hazard analyses and mitigation, archaeo-logical site preservation and the engineering geology ofsurface lignite mines. Dr. Mathewson has presented over175 papers, published over 55 technical papers and is theauthor of a textbook in Engineering Geology.

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Houston Geological Society Bulletin, October 1989 16

Dr. Mathewson is currently the president of the Association of Engineering Geologists. He has served as editor of the Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists, and student member coordinator of the Association of Engineering Geologists. He is also chairman of the Engineering Geology Division of the Geological Society of America. Dr. Mathewson received the Claire P. Holdredge Award from the Association of Engineering Geologists in 1981 and the Faculty Distinguished Achieve- ment Award in Teaching from the Former Students Associa- tion of Texas A&M in 1986.

HYDRODYNAMICS OF KNICKPOINT EROSION Headward erosion of knickpoints in stream channels

and spillways represents a risk to the safety of dams and other riverine structures. Knickpoint erosion is often initiat- ed at a geometric anomaly in the channel profile, be it man-made or natural. Rock strength properties, stratigraphic relationships and structure are all controlling geological factors in the phenomena of knickpoint erosion. Hydrodynamic factors are controlled by the relationship between the depth of water and height of fall and whether the flow system is vented or not. At high flow volumes compared to the height of the fall, the knickpoint acts as a minor irregularity on the channel floor and retreat is minimized. However, at low flows, unvented conditions can develop over the knickpoint and significant amounts of erosion and headward cutting are possible. A knowledge of the phenomena of knickpoint erosion is critical to the safe design and operation of riverine structures.

NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE AUGUST 1-8,1989

Local geologists Charles Bukowski (Mobil), Paul Koeller (Amoco), and Jeff Lelek (Amoco) worked as coun- selors at the AAPG sponsored Geology Merit Badge Booth at the 1989 National Roy Scout Jamboree August 1-8 held at Ft. A. P. Hill, Virginia. A total of 126 merit badges were completed with another 307 scouts earning a partial completion. Approximately 27,000 scouts and 5,000 staff par- ticipated in the week long event at the 4200 acre site.

The Geology Merit Badge exhibit consisted of displays of rocks and minerals, maps, geologic cross sections, short films on various aspects of geology and most importantly, one-on-one opportunities to discuss concepts of geology and geology as a profession with professional geologists. Those scouts that completed the badge requirements were given a collection of 16 minerals and rocks prepared by student organizations at Texas A&M, University of Texas and University of New Orleans. The HGS sponsored and financially supported the collections prepared by the Texas A&M AAPG-Student Chapter. The exhibit afforded a unique opportunity to expose Scouts of pre-college age to the fun and excitement that we enjoy as geologists.

The geologists who made up the Jamboree staff are exploring the possibility of presenting a poster session at the 1990AAPG Convention to make others aware how they too can work with young people and encourage their interestsin science and geology in particular.

ANNOUNCING Texas Hazardous Waste Management Society

Conference "Corporate and Personal Environmental Liability

and Its Effect On Industry" November 10,1989

Registration: 7:30 a.m., November 10, 1989 Day long conference begins at 8:30 a.m.

Location: Nassau Bay Hilton (on NASA Road #1) Clear Lake, Texas

Call Jean Jackson (713) 981-7140 to obtain more information. Also, see the HGS Bulletin's November issue for more details.

ANNOUNCING ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TRIP

Coastal Environmental Problems: Colorado Delta to San Luis Pass, Texas

Date & Location:

Topics & Stops:

Speakers:

cost:

November 11, 1989; see next month's issue of the Bulletin for details as to where to meet.

Coastal erosion associated with beaches and deltas, Holocene faulting, tour of chemical plant, oil reserves, Sargent's Beach, Brazos Delta, Colorado Delta, chemical plant, Bryan Dome oil reserves.

Saul Aronow, Lamar University; Carl Norman, University of Houston; Richard Howe, Texas A&M University; and others.

$30.00 HGS members, $40.00 non-members lunch and softdrinks will be provided.

.................................--.....-...----.-..................................................

REGISTRATION FORM

NAME:

ADDRESS:

PHONE: (home)

(work)

Enclose check payable to: HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Return with this form to: Houston Geological Society

7171 Harwin, Suite 314 Houston, Texas 77036

Houston Geolog~cal Society Bulletm. October 1989

Environmental Review

HEADS A N D

EDITOR'S NOTE: This column, a new feature in the Bulletin, will present original or reprinted articles that discuss elementary concepts of hydrogeology and engineering geology. This month's article "Heads and Gradients" is reprinted from "Basic Ground-water Hydrology: USGS Water-Supply Paper 2220" by Ralph C. Heath.

The depth to the water table has an important effect on use of the land surface and on the development of water supplies from unconfined aquifers (1). Where the water table is at a shallow depth, the land may become "water- logged" during wet weather and unsuitable for residential and many other uses. Where the water table is at great depth, the cost of constructing wells and pumping water for domestic needs may be prohibitively expensive.

The direction of the slope of the water table is also important because it indicates the direction of ground-water movement (1). The position and the slope of the water table (or of the potentiometric surface of a confined aquifer) is determined by measuring the position of the water level in wells from a fixed point (a measuring point) (1). To utilize these measurements to determine the slope of the water table, the position of the water table at each well must be determined reiative to a datum niane that is common to all the wells. The datum plane most wide!y used is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (also commonly referred to as "sea level7') (1).

If the depth to water in a nonflowing well is subtracted from the altitude of the measuring point, the result is the total head at the well. Total head, as defined in fluid mechanics, is composed of elevation head, pressure head, and velocity head. Because ground water moves relatively slowly, velocity head can be ignored. Therefore, the total head at an observation well involves only two components: elevation head and pressure head (1). Ground water moves in the direction of decreasing total head, which may or may not be in the direction of decreasing pressure head.

The equation for total head (ht) is

ht=z+h, where z is elevation head and is the distance from the datum plane to the point where the pressure head h, is determined.

All other factors being constant, the rate of ground- water movement depends on the hydraulic gradient. The hydraulic gradient is the change in head per unit of distance in a given direction. If the direction is not specified, it is understood to be in the direction in which the maximum rate of decrease in head occurs.

If the movement of ground water is assumed to be in the plane of figure 1 - in other words, if it moves from well 1 to well 2 - the hydraulic gradient can be calculated from the information given on the drawing. The hydraulic gradient is hL/L, where hL is the head loss between wells 1 and 2 and L is the horizontal distance between them, or

When the hydraulic gradient is expressed in consistent

GRADIENTS Measuring po ln t I t o p o f Cos lng

Water table )

UNCONFINED A Q U I F E R

U - Well screen movement

0 C

fig. 1 units, as it is in the above example in which both the numerator and the denominator are in meters, any other consistent units of length can be substituted without changing the value of the gradient. Thus, a gradient of 5 ft/780 ft is the same as a gradient of 5 m/780 m. It is also relatively common to express hydraulic gradients in incon- sistent units suchas meters per kilometer or feet per mile. A gradient of 5 m/780 m can be converted to meters per kilometer as follows:

Both the direction of ground-water movement and the hydraulic gradient can be determined if the following data are available for three wells located in any triangular arrangement such as that shown on figure 2:

1. The relative geographic position of the wells. 2. The distance between the wells. 3. The total head at each well.

w e l l 2 h e o d , 2 6 20 m

W e l l I ( h e o d , 26.26m)

0 25 50 100 M E T E R S

fig. 2

Houston Geological Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989 18

NEW ACTIVE MEMBERS

fig. 3

Steps in the solution are outlined below and illustrated in figure 3:

a. Identify the well that has the intermediate water level ( that is, neither the highest head nor the lowest head).

b. Calculate the position between the well having the highest head and the well having the lowest head at which the head is the same as that in the intermediate well.

c . Draw a straight line between the intermediate well and the point ~dentified in s tep b as being between the well having the highest head and that having the lowest head. This line representsa segment of the water-level contour along which the total head is the same a s that in the intermediate well.

d. Draw a line perpendicular to the water-level contour and through either the well with the highest head o r the well with the lowest head. This line ~a ra l l e l s the direction of ground-water movement.

e. Divide the difference between the head of the well and that of the contour by the distance between the well and the contour. The answer is the hydraulic gradient.

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Houston Geolog~cal Soclety Bulletin. October 1989 2 0

WORKSTATIONS - A SPECIAL BREED OF COMPUTER

by MARK W. HODSON

One of the hottest trends in geoscience computing is the workstation. These small, powerful computers, tuned to the needs of scientific computing, represent a divergence from the general trend toward ever-larger, general-purpose computers, following the opposing trend toward smaller, single-user machines and ever-faster hardware for mathematical calculations.

For many years most major computer manufacturers concentrated on building and selling increasingly bigger and faster "general purpose" computers, so-called because they are designed to be able to run virtually any sort of application. This philosophy has worked out pretty well for the manufacturers, but it does have its shortcomings. For one, many people don't buy a computer for general purposes---they usually have a specific application or set of appl-ications in mind. And, especially for the geoscience community, these applications tend to run better on hardware a iittie different from that found on most general- purpose computer systems. Also, the shared environment (many people using one computer simultaneously), so important for many interactive accounting, bookkeeping, and business applications, can be troublesome to the scientific user. All those other people on the machine, generating printed reports and interacting with databases, continually tie up machine resources that the scientific user would like to dedicate to computation-intensive tasks like graphics, numeric modeling, and numeric processing. And these scientific-type tasks, while the scientific user may not perform them as frequently as the other users do theirs, can make sudden great demands on the computer, significantly slowing the pace of computing for all users in a shared environment. Scientific users can become extremely unpopular in the user community of a general-purpose computer.

Fortunately for the geoscience community and others with similar computing needs, the development of general- purpose computers has not been the only trend in the design and manufacturing of computers. Small computers designed for one or a few users represent a different trend. Another is the development of scientific computers which specialize in making large numbers of mathematical calculations rapidly. Together these two trends have led to the development of the modern workstation.

A scientific computer is one which is designed to optimize mathematical calculations. The things a computer does can be classified as performing calculations, moving data to and from storage (e.g. disk drives), extracting and manipulating data in various combinations to produce a

variety of reports, and for multi-user machines, communicating at a reasonable pace with a potentially large number of simultaneous users. The speed at which a computer performs these tasks is controlled by the design of the logic circuitry at the heart of the computer. Designs can favor one class, but the speed of the others will suffer, sometimes disproportionately. In a general-purpose computer, these speeds are "tuned" to a general mix of these classifications. If the designer thinks the computer will be transferring data to and from disks more than manipulating text data, he or she will speed up the data transfer-related circuitry at the expense of the character-manipulation circuitry. The net result will be that users will spend less time waiting their turn

"Workstations reflect the trend toward personal computing. With workstations, users don't have to worry about slowing down other users, or having their own applications slowed down."

whenever someone reads from or writes to a disk than they spend waiting whenever someone arranges address data for a mailing label. Overall, waiting time will be minimized, and the users as a group will get the maximum amount of work done. In a scientific computer the circuitry is "tuned" to favor calculations and, to a lesser extent, data transfer.

Scientific computers often contain hardware that can perform calculations much faster than is possible with conventionally "tuned" logic circuitry. Some such devices, notably array processors and vector processors, do several calculations simultaneously. Many scientific modeling and processing applications involve large numbers of calculations that don't necessarily have to be done sequentially, so they can run much faster on machines equipped with this hardware.

Graphic display is an example of an application that can often benefit from simultaneous calculations. For example, rotating a screen display of a three-dimensional object to view it from a different angle involves applying the same calculations with the same parameters to a large amount of data. Vector processors are well suited to such tasks, and can both speed up screen displays and use screens efficiently, with greater resolution. Consequently, scientific computers have become a staple tool for applications ranging from flight simulation to motion picture special effects.

Workstations reflect the trend toward personal com-

2 1 Houston Geological S o c m y Bullet~n October 1989

puting. With workstations, users don't have to worry about slowing down other users, or having their own applications slowed down. Many scientific applications are run in- frequently or on an irregular basis, making it hard to justify the expense of both a supercomputer and a general- purpose machine, the extra expense of scientific software licenses (which cost more if they are to be run on larger machines), or the inefficiencies of trying to run all software on a machine that favors scientific calculations. With a workstation, scientific applications run reasonably quickly and effeciently, and at a cost much less than that of a full-sized mainframe computer. The rest of the user community doesn't get slowed down either by running on an inappropriate type of computer or by scientific applications which sporadically attempt to "hog" all the computer's resources.

The applications that a workstation run may be narrowly defined or broad in scope. Single-purpose workstations are available that are optimized for and perform only a single application that is usually the domain of an expert or other highly-trained individual. Examples of such applications are remote sensing image analysis, 2D and/or 3D seismic interpretation, seismic modeling, petrophysical analysis, and CADD (Computer-Aided Design and Draft- ing). Other workstations address a broader scope of applications, such as an exploration workstation that might include mapping, petrophysical analysis, geologic displays (such as cross sections and fence diagrams), production analysis, seismic interpretation, maturation and geohistory modeling, economics, and virtually any other aspect of generating and evaluating a prospect.

Workstations may be as simple and inexpensive as a slightly souped-up personal computer, costing as little as $5,000, or as complex and powerful as a high-end geophysical interpretation workstation whichcan cost a quarter of a million dollars. Like all computers, workstations must be supplied with accurate digital data and, like all applications, must be run by people who understand what they are doing. Given these caveats, workstations can be very useful for geoscience computing.

The term "workstation" may properly apply to either just the hardware or to both the hardware and software. So, if you decide to get one, you may be able to buy a complete system or else obtain the hardware and software separately, more or less customizing the system to your needs. Workstations of either definition are not hard to find.

They're also hard workers with proven track records. For your next technical temporary or permanent

placement need, call us at 861-2108.

They're advertised in technical and professional society publications, such as the American Association of Petro- leum Geologists (AAPG) Explorer and Geobyte. Work- stations may be advertised by the hardware manufacturer or by the vendor of the applications software that runs on the workstation-the two may or may not be the same. To see a workstation in action, contact the vendors; many offer demonstrations. They also tend to exhibit workstations at shows like AAPG and SEG conventions, meetings of the National Computer Graphics Association (NCGA), and the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).

TAURUS EXPLORATION, INC. 1 2101 SIXTH AVENUE NORTH BIRMINGHAM. ALABAMA 35203 (205) 326-2710

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bulletin. October 1989 2 2

OPERATING IN THE BLACK WARRIOR BASIN

INVESTlNG IN THE GULF COAST AND ROCKlES AN ENERGEN COMPANY

COMMITTEE NEWS

AAPG DELEGATE CORNER

The House of Delegates is the legislative body of AAPG and meets annually at the national convention . The Houston area. with 60 delegates. has the largest delegation to AAPG . Duties of the delegate include personal review of AAPG membership applications. review of Certified Petroleum Geologist applications if the delegate is certified. making recommendations to the Executive Committee in Tulsa. and to propose and vote on legislative matters at the national meeting . Delegates are elected by the local members for three year terms. one third of the delegates elected every year .

This years foreman of the Houston House of Delegates is Synthia Smith of Exxon . The Houston House of Delegates meets once a month. eleven months of the year to review AAPG membership applications and other business . If you have any concerns or ideas regarding AAPG. check the following list of Delegates. or the list in the AAPG Membership Directory. for someone you know and give him or her a call . The delegates are your elected voice to AAPG . Future articles will review actions taken at last springs annual meeting. review of procedures. and updates on AAPG Activities .

JEFF ALDRICH Delegate '91

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey B . (Jeff) Aldrich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 546-4584 Carol M Lucas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 550-7555

. . . . . . . Robert J . (Bob) Ardell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 872-6089 Jeffrey W (Jeff) Lund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . 878-3700

. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lyle F . (Bud) Baie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 780-5371 Hugh M Macmillan. Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 757-0812

. . . . . . . . . . . . , Larry D . Bartell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 227-8355 David L McGee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 775-2447

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . James L . (Jim) Becnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 353-0359 W N (Mac) McKinney. Jr . . . . . . . . . . . 92 850-3950

. . . . . . . Teri P . Birdsall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 853-5954 Andrew S Mirkin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 870-2403 . . . . . . . . . . Martha Lou Broussard . . . Delegate at Large 527-6068 Evelyn W Moody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 789-5999

. . . . . . . John H . Byrne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 359-5744 Dwight M (Clint) Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 875-0858

. . . . . . Davtd C . (Dave) Callaway . . . . . . . . . . . 91 584-3445 Susan J . C . Morris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 495-6071

. . . . . . William L . (Bill) Champion . . . . . . . . . . . 90 652-4941 Harry W . Mueller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 965-4161

. . . . . . Julius B . Chimene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 667-5847 Chris A . Nicholson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 629-6600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald A . (<Jerry) Cooley . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 665-8432 Charles R (Chuck) Noll. Jr . . . . . . . . . . 92 621-9558

. . . . . . . Susan M . Cunningham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 556-2415 Phillip W Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 668-6752

. . . . . . Doris M . Curtis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 661-7245 Claude M . Quigley. Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . 4091856.4220

. . . . . . Bill R . Dupre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 749-3710 James A . Ragsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 688-6281

. . . . . . . Samuel R . (Sam) Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 468-7309 Kari K Rekoske . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 739-2312 . . . . . . Jeannie A . Fisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . 739-3455 Peggy J . Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

. . . . . . . . Patrick T . (Pat) Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . 654-5919 Bill Roberts . . . . . . . . Delegate at Large . . . . . . Dean Grafton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 497-5983 Dietmar (Deet) Schumacher . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 546-4028 . . . . . . . Michael E . (Mike) Guest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 775-2217 Jerry M Sides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 465-0394 . . . . . . Cecil V . Hagen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 669-8801 Roger W . Simmons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 785-6551 . . . . . . B . Victor (Vic) Hansen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 664-1401 Daniel L . (Dan) Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 228-0050 . . . . . . .. William G . (Billy) Hargett . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 974-4600 Marvin L (Marv) Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . 658-8333 . . . . . . . John Hefner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 468-9495 Richard J (Dick) Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 951-5650 . . . . . . George W . Hinds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 827-8812 Synthia E . Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 775-6278 . . . . . . Paul F . Hoifnicln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . 6 2 2.6911 P Berkley Souders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 999-3791

William F . (Bill) Howell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 . . . . . . 6 2 7.2660 Dudley P . South. Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 654-0700 . . . . . . Stephanie V . Hrabar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 683-0638 Gretchen B . Sparks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 591-5515

Jimmy J . Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 651-8652 Denise M . Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 . . . . . . 556-4207 . . . . . . Susan M . Latidon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 556-2640 Susan Van Gelder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 466-3348 . . . . . . Duane 0 . LeRoy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 591-5127 Anita P . Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 . . . . . . 840-4483

WANTED: A FEW GOOD M E N A N D WOMEN

The H G S and the AAPG need you! The Houston Geological Society has 60 members in the AAPG House of Delegates . Each year you are asked to elect approximately one-third of this group . This year, why not have your name on the ballot?

A delegate has one of the most important jobs in all of AAPG . to check the geological experience and professional ethics of the amlicants to AAPG from the Houston . . area . Delegates also are the link between the national and

local societies . They tell our national officers about our local needs. desires. and opinions . Delegates are expected to attend the annual AAPG meetings during their three-year tenure . It is at these annual meetings of the House of Delegates where important legislative decisions are made which affect the AAPG and its members .

If you would like to play a more active role in the AAPG and your local society. please call Deet Schumacher (546- 4028) or Martha Lou Broussard (665.4428) .

2 3 Houston Geo logca l Society B i i l l r t n Octobpr 1989

FIELD TRIP COMMITTEE: With a new fiscal year once again in progress, it is time

to look forward to the opportunities afforded to you as members of the largest local geological society in the world and get involved. The field trip committee is only one of a number of groups within the society volunteering their time for you, the membership. Our goal is to provide a variety of affordable, applicable and unique field trips during the year that will attract the interest and support of members of the society.

This has proven to be quite a Catch-22 proposition over the last few years, with all of the corporate belt tightening throughout the industry. A disturbing trend has developed whereby geologists seem to have lost interest in seeing rocks in the field, if their respective companies decline to pick up the tab. The fact that most of us became geologists because we fell in love with this great science during our collegiate experiences in the field should make this a mutually exclusive problem. It would seem that a goodly number of geologists out of the several thousand members of the Houston Geological Society would still have the enthusiasm for geology that would enable them to find a way to participate in the field trip opportunities that the society offers. Granted, Houston is not quite a s convenient to classic geologic exposures a s some of our alma maters were, but we with the field trip committee strive to make logistics a s comfortable and as affordable a s possible. Unlike the AAPG Education Department and other such educational operations, Houston Geological Society trips are designed with a break-even budget, not a profit margin.

Therefore, the field trip committee would like to issue the membership of the society a challenge. Break out those old rusted rock hammers and join u s for a refreshing geologic experience in the field sometime this year. Working at a desk year after year can cause even the best of u s to loose some perspective. We think of a ten foot thick sand on an E-log a s awfully thin. But d o youremember how thin a ten foot thick sand bed actually looks when you stand next to one in outcrop? There is no need to wait. An excellent field trip is scheduled November 10th through 12th to study the Paleozoic rocks exposed along the northern flanks of the Llano Uplift and the southern Fort Worth Basin. Regardless that most of us work the Cenozoic section of the Gulf Coast , this is a very exciting and extremely affordable

opportunity to apply some ancient concepts to what we d o daily in, shall we say, "the more recent".

S e e you on the outcrop, MARTIN J . OLDANI Field Trip Committee Chairman

THE ACADEMIC LIAISON COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU!!

This committee of your society helps to broaden knowledge about geology and associated subjects to all educational institutions in the Houston area. At present, we inform all local school districts at the beginning of each school year that we are willing and able to lecture, demonstrate or otherwise present geological materials to the classes of any teacher who indicates a need or interest. These range from kindergarten to 12th grade at present, with many requests from elementary schools.

I believe we could also assist some local college or university faculties in presenting geology or related subjects to post-high school students, and I will attempt to make some effort in this direction during the coming year.

In connection with our work in the schools, we have also been called upon to judge at science fairs, especially in those which have earth science or related entries.

We have a number of slides, videotapes, minerals, rocks, fossils, and some instruments that can be used in our presentations. We could use more of anv of the above items which would enhance our presentations, a s donations or permanent loans.

The Academic Liaison Committee could use your help in the coming year. If you feel you would be able or willing to talk to any school about the subject you know best, please call or write me. and vou will become a member of this committee; I will call on you when the occasion arises. At present we have 32 active participants in the program. Last year we made more than 100 presentations, judged about 20 times in science fairs, and made a number of other appea rances at in-service programs a n d academic decathlon preparations.

John Chronic, 12402 Copperfield, Houston, TX 77031 Tel: 933-0371

or call the H G S office and leave a message. J O H N CHRONIC

505 North Belt-Suite 150

Houston, Texas 77060

Telephone:713/999-7200

I SEEKING QUALITY PROSPECTS AND PRODUCING PROPERTIES I I R. J. Berteau Burt E. Hamric Bryan Richards I Houston G e a l o g ~ c a l Society B u l l e t ~ n . October 1989 24

EXPLORER POST 2004CANOES THE COLORADO

Once a year, Post 2004 plans a "super" activity tohighlight the end of the school year and to reap the rewardsof the scouts' fund-raising efforts. On the weekend of July 7,8 and 9, the scouts canoed the Colorado River betweenBastrop and Smithville, viewing sandstone cliffs and bar-hopping along the way. Post 2004 meets at the Amoco PaleoLab on West Little York in Northwest Houston.

We are in the process of forming a new post in theSouthwest Houston area. Anyone interested in gettinginvolved as an Explorer Post Advisor in this area shouldcontact Dan Helton at 963-3537 or Kenneth Mohn at 951-0853. Please refer any students between the ages of 14 and19who have an interest in the geosciences, enjoy camping inthe outdoors, and live in the Southwest area to the abovereferenced numbers.

DAN HELTON

Near Bastrop

Along the Colorado

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS:

Carboniferous Geology of the Northern Margin ofThe Llano Uplift, Southern Fort Worth Basin,and Concho Platform. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. Nov. 10-12

Coastal Environmental Processes(Environmental Committee) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 11

Routine and Special Core Analysis Facility,Core Lab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jan. 27

~

Boling Salt Dome(Environmental Committee) . . . . . . . . . . . Winter 1990

Schlumberger Well Services, Downhole Sensors. Facility Feb. 24

Recent Sediments of Southeast Texas. . . . . . . . . . . Mar. 3Environmental Geology of Northern Harris

County and Montgomery County(Environmental Committee) . . . . . . . . . " Spring 1990

Ancient Clastic Sedimentary Facies of theArkoma Basin

(wiCorpus Christi Geol. Soc.) . . . . . .Late Mar.l Apr. 1990Seismic Acquisition

(w/Geophysical Society of Houston). ""'" May 19Upper Jurassic -Lower Cretaceous of

Northeastern Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . Spring or Fall 1990

HGS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPFUND ACKNOWLEDGES CONTRIBUTORS

The HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund is gratefulto acknowledge the many generous donations received inconjunction with the dues statement this year. Thanks somuch to all of you for these gifts which will enable us toaward scholarships to outstanding local geology majors.

Floyd Adcock Donpaul HendersonRichard B. Banks Ross Hinton

Robert Berg R. L. HuntGeorge R. Bole J. R. JacksonRichard Brewer Walker Josselyn

BillBurkman Maynard LittleTiney Webb Carroll Morad Malek-Aslani

J. B. Coffman C. E. McCarterDoris Curtis Susan Meenaghan

Michael Danahy Walter Pusey, IIIMatthew Daura Raymond Reynolds

M. L. "Newt" Feldman Don SchererDavid Fontaine R. K. Strahan

Gary M. Guerrieri Hall TrichelJ. B. Goldman Wade TurnbullClyde Harrison J. C. Walter, III

(in memory of B. C. Phillips) David L. WorkE. S. Hastings Hiroshi Yamamoto

HGS WARREN CALVERT MEMORIALScholarship Fund

The Board of the W. L. Calvert Memorial ScholarshipFund expresses its appreciation to those who have maderecent gifts to the Fund as follows:

COMPANY PATRONMobil Oil Corp.

INDIVIDUAL PATRONSJim W. Roach Jeff N. Rubin

INDIVIDUAL DONORSMerida Jones Wade W. Turnbull

Chuck R. Noll, Jr. Harry A. WestINDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. N. S. Neidell Hiroshi YamamotoE. S. Hastings Richard B. BanksJohn L. Read Maynard Little

Dietmar Schumacher Tomislav M. Gracanin

25 Houston Geological Society Bulletin, October 1989

WEHTWORTH EHERGY ,IHC, 11931 WICKCHESTER SUITE 205

HOUSTON, TEXRS 77043

TAKIHG PROSPECT IDEAS MODERRTE RISK & COST

GULF CORST TEXRS - LOUISIRNR ERST TEXRS & MISSISSIPPI

ONTRCT-BILL BURKMR 713-589-9090

These contributions are greatly appreciated and will help worthy, needy graduate students dedicated to obtain- ing Master's or Doctorate degrees in petroleum, mining, geophysical, or other branches of economic geology. This year the fund has awarded four $2000 scholarships.

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT BY BUILDING STONES COMMITTEE

The Building Stones of Houston Committee is looking for volunteers to help assemble a field guide on the building stones of downtown Houston. The committee needs volunteers to author articles, take photographs, layout the field guide and other jobs. If you would like to help please contact Kathy McDonald at 591-5307.

KATHY McDONALD

1989 HGS SKEET SHOOT

The Seventh Annual HGS Skeet Shoot was held June 3,1989, at the Greater Houston Gun Club. Participants enjoyed a day of shooting fun as well as a great barbecue lunch.

Shoot-offs were the order of the day. No less than 27 gunners vied for honors and another 26 went head-to-head for the Browning Citori, donated by Hanson Minerals. Kirk Lazarine came out on top after going six rounds against some tough competition.

The class results were as follows:

HOA Champion - Greg Karp HOA Runner-up - Nate Pippin

Class AA Class A Class B Champion .......... .John Schofield Champion ............. Bob Sample Champion .......... Chuck Vrostek Runner-up ......... Libert O'Sullivan Runner-up ............ .D. Thornton Runner-up ............. Kelly Hazlip

Class C Class D . Class E Champion ......... .= . .John Sontag Champion ........... Randy Arnold Champion ............. Dean Myers Runner-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jay King Runner-up ......... Bill Hollingshead Runner-up ............ .Scott Brown

In addition, donations awarded as door prizes were: a compound bow donated by Petrocore, a bird hunt at the Spanish Dagger donated by Stratagraph, and a Remington 870 donated by The Mudlogging Co.

Special thanks to ~ e l e c b for providing tables and chairs, as well as the beer and soft drinks.

The 1989 HGS Skeet Shoot should not have been possible without the support of our sponsors who contributed so generously. They were:

Alliance Geophysical Co. American Exploration Company Anadrill Johnny Cantu Continental Laboratories Core Lab Core Service Inc. David K. Davies and Associates E. H. Stork Jr. and Associates Elf Aquitaine Petroleum Entre' Computers Exlog USA First Seismic Corp. Geophysical Pursuit Greater Houston Gun Club Halliburton Logging Service

Jaecon Corporation Live Oak Oil and Gas/John Walker Gary W. Martens The Mudlogging Company North Central Oil Corp. OF1 Testing Omni Petroleum Services Pacific Enterprises Oil Co. (USA) Paleo Data, Inc. Petcons and Associates Petrocore Service Petroleum Information Precision Well Logging Roger A. Soape, Inc. Sante Fe Energy Co.

Schlumberger Coastal West Division Schlumberger Gulf Coast Unit Schlumberger West Texas Division Seismic Data Search Southern Minerals Corporation Spectrum Geophysical Services USA Sperry Sun Drilling Services Stratagraph, Inc. Teleco Oilfield Services Titletech/John F. Sontag, Jr. Tobin Research Watt, White, and Craig Weems Geophysical Western Geophysical West Loop Reprographics

i It Houston Geological Society Bulletin. October 1989 26

HGS SHRIMP PEEL IDAY, OCTOBER 13,1989

A Knights of Columbus Hall w& 607 East Whitnev

5:30 p.m. until

$120° (Advance - per person) TICKETS

$ 2 O o 0 ( ~ t door- per person)

DEADLINE FOR ADVANCE TICKET PURCHASE by mail Friday, October 6 in person Wednesday, October 1 1

PURCHASE BY MAIL OR IN PERSON AT

HGS OFFICE 71 71 Harwin, Ste. 314 Houston, Texas 77036

785-6402

WEST SIDE DOWNTOWN Jane Mitchell Clyde Harrison

GECO One Allen Center 1325 S. Dairy Ashford Suite 780

Suite 200 658-81 15 596-1 554

Make checks payable to HGS ENTERTAINMENT FUND. Enclose a self addressed, stamped envelope for orders by mail.

REFRESHMENTS

c/7iTusic - Dancing 27 Houston Geolog~cal Society Bullet~n. October 1989

HGS FIELD TRIP CARBONIFEROUS GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN MARGIN OF THE LLANO

UPLIFT, SOUTHERN FORT WORTH BASIN AND CONCH0 PLATFORM

DATE & LOCATION: November 10-12, 1989 (Friday thru Sunday) Killeen to Brownwood (and back), Central Texas

SCOPE OF COURSE: Two day excursion will examine facies and facies relationships, and structural history of Carboniferous strata exposed along the northern margin of the Llano Uplift and in the Colorado River drainage basin. The trip provides an excellent overview of North Central and west Central Texas Geology.

INSTRUCTORS: Robert C. Grayson, Jr. , Department of Geology, Baylor University, Waco, Texas; and Glen K. Merrill, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas

COST: $145.00, includes guidebook, overview lecture Friday evening, lodging at Killeen and Brownwood, bus transportation from Killeen, breakfasts and lunches, and refreshments in the field.

HGS SHORT COURSE CARBONATES APPLIED TO HYDROCARBON EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION

DATE & LOCATION: Saturday, November 18, 1989; 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Exxon Auditorium, Exxon Building, 800 Bell, Houston, Texas.

SCOPE OF COURSE: The course will cover: 1. Carbonate Basics: limestone components, classification schemes, diagenesis, porosity

evolution, and dolomitization 2. Facies attributes and models for both steeply-dipping platforms and ramps 3. Depositional sequences and cyclicity: guidelines for play prediction and reservoir zonation 4. Play types and case studies

The seminar is designed for geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, log analysts or managers who desire an updated and concise overview of carbonates as applied to exploration and exploitatior~, or who wish to broaden their exposure to carbonates, or who simply seek new approaches and techniques for their work. Notes keyed to the lecture will be provided.

INSTRUCTOR: Jeffrey J. Dravis is a technical consultant and instructor in carbonate geology with over 15 years of worldwide industry and field experience, including 8 years with Exxon where he taught basic carbonate schools and advanced field seminars.

Since 1986, Dr. Dravis has given private and public in-house and field carbonate seminarsfor industry. His recent consulting projects include: studies of a Permian reservoir in West Texas, regional play evaluation in the Western Gulf of Mexico, and analyses of Devonian dolomitized reservoirs in Western Canada. Dr. Dravis is also an adjunct professor at Rice University where he continues active research on Bahamian platforms and on the evolution of porosity in deeply- buried carbonate reservoirs.

COST: Pre-Registration by Nov. 10, 1989 At Door Members $45.00 $55.00 Non-members $50.00 $60.00 Students $30.00 $45.00

REGISTRATION FORM

NAME: I am registering for (please check):

ADDRESS: FIELD TRIP:

0 Carboniferous Geology

SHORT COURSE: PHONE (home) Carbonates: Exploration/Exploitation

(work) Enclose check payable to HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Return with this form to: Houston Geological Society, 7171 Harwin, Suite 314, Houston, Texas 77036

Houston Geolog~cal Sac~ety Bu l le t~n, October 1989 2 8

OCT. CALENDAR of EVENTS

SUNDAY MONDAY

2

THURSDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

H G S GOLF TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY

11

UH Genl Alurnnl Assol Luncheon

SPWLA Westde Luncheon

18 H G S INTL EXPL

DINNER MEETING Westm Gallena

SATURDAY

H G S DINNER MEETING

SPE Luncheon HGS I

SHRIMP PEEL SPWLA Greenspomt

Luncheon

John Van Wagoner Westin Oaks

16

GSH Lunchem H G S

SHORT COURSE Ann Marlin. e t al Expanded Yegua

SlPES Lt~ncheon Petroleum Cluh

I SPWLA Cased Hale

HGs 1 HGSLUNCHEON ENVIRONMENTAL Jim Ebanks DINNER MEETING Houslon Club I Wyatt's Cafeleria I

3 0

-

MEETINGS GEO-EVENTS

SPWLA Pel Club Lunt heon

3 1

SEG Annual Meetmg Dallas

SPWLA Luncheon, Petroleum Club, 11:15 a.m., Oct. 24.

HGS Environmental Dinner Meeting, Dr. Christo- pher Mathewson, "Hydrodynamics of Knickpoint Erosion", Wyatt's Cafeteria - Sharpstown, 6:00 p.m., Oct. 24.

HGS Luncheon, Jim Ebanks, "Development Geology - Advances in 80's, Prospects for 90'sn, Houston Club, 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 24.

AROUND THE COUNTRY AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Albu-

querque, New Mexico, Oct. 1-4. SPE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition,

San Antonio, Oct. 8-11. AAPGISEPM Gulf Coast Section Meeting, Corpus

Christi, Texas, Oct. 25-27. SEG Annual Meeting, Dallas, Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

SCHOOLS AND FIELD TRIPS SEPM Short Course, Donald L. Gautier, Yousif K.

Kharaka and Ronald C. Surdam, "Relationship of Organic Matter and Mineral Diagenesis", Hyatt Regency West, Oct. 16-17.

HGS Short Course, Ann Martin and others, "The Downdip Yegua Trend", Exxon Auditorium, Exxon Bldg., 800 Bell at Travis, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Oct. 20. OTHER EVENTS

HGS Golf Tournament and Bar B-Q dinner, Kingwood Country Club, 11:45 a.m., Oct. 2.

HGS Shrimp Peel, Knights of Columbus Hall, 607 East Whitney, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 13.

I AAF'G SEPM GCAGS Meetmy

+--------- Corpus Chnsth

+

IN HOUSTON

Oil &Gas SIG, M.D. Anderson Hall, University of S t . Thomas, 7 p.m., Oct. 4.

HGS Dinner Meeting, John Van Wagoner, "High- Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy Using Well Logs and Cores", and Poster Session, Westin Oaks, 5:30p.m., Oct. 9.

SPWLA Westside Luncheon, Holiday !nn Houston West (1-10 at Hwy. 6), 11:lO a.m., Oct. 11.

UH Geological Alumni Association Luncheon, Petroleum Club, 11:45 a.m., Oct. 11.

HGS Environmental Committee Meeting, Norma J. Goldman, "Media Hype vs. the Real Issues of Environ- mental Clean-up", Charlie's Hamburger Joint, 2222 Ella Blvd., 6 p.m., Oct. 11.

SPE Luncheon, Whitehall Hotel, 11:30 a.m., Oct. 12. SPWLA Greenspoint Luncheon, Baroid Industries

Cafeteria, 12 Noon, Oct. 12. GSH Noon Luncheon, Marriott Brookhollow, 12:00

Noon, Oct. 16. SPWLA Cased Hole Luncheon, Marriott Galleria,

11:30 a.m.. Oct. 18. HGS International Dinner Meeting, Georgio

Scorcelletti, "Cabinda Block, Angola, West Africa", Westin Oaks Hotel, 5:30 p.m., Oct. 18.

SIPES Luncheon, Ken Ancell, "Enhanced Recovery from Water Drive G a s Reservoirs", Petroleum Club, 11:30 a.m., Oct. 19

29 Houston Geological Society Bul let in October 1989

" "

On The Lighter Side ... THE NIGHT PERIPLANETA DIED

by EUGENE A SHlNN EDITOR'S NOTE: This article by Gene Shinn is

included to cast a more cheerful light on current events. It is intended strictly a s entertainment, all characters, companies and events being entirely ficticious.

Eugene A. Shinn entered the University of Miami with a music scholarship, but left with a zoology degree. He joined Shell Development in Miami, where he became a geologist. Gene and his associates made great contributions to our understanding of shallow-water, carbonate sedimentation. After working for Royal Dutch Shell in the Hague and Shell Oil in New Orleans, Gene became Project Chief with the U.S. Geological Survey at their Fisher Island Station in Miami Beach. In 1989 he was transferred to the U S . Geological Survey Center for Coastal Geology in St. Petersburg, Florida.

* * * * * * Brian Smith knew something was wrong when he

flicked on the light in his kitchen, one night in 1999; no Palmetto bugs (the south Floridean name for roaches)! Brian, like most south Florida residents, was used to the sight of roaches rushing for cover when kitchen lights go on at night, and only by chance did he look under the sink. There they were, about ten of them, lying dead on their backs around a long-forgotten bottle of BUGGOFF.

SHALE Chemical had put BUGGOFF on the market just a year earlier, only to find that the insecticide underwent a chemical hysterectomy in the bottle. After two months, it wouldn't even kill a mosquito. It became their biggest financial bust in years. Heads rolied at SHALE'S Houston office, and their stock plummeted as sales fell. Over 500 employees, including many of their top chemists, were laid off. When Brian wrote to SHALE, he was passed off as a kook, until they heard from six other customers in different parts of the country. Following the letters, SHALE chemists put a drop of old BUGGOFF in a container of roaches, and they died within seconds! Management was called in, and were so impressed they called in the company lawyers. Testing by the few remaining chemists showed that old BUGGOFF became almost identical to cockroach pheromone (those natural chemicals given off by female insects to attract males). This pheromone was a million times stronger than the natural stuff. The critters experienced a cockroach heart attack if they got within several hundred feet of it; the human equivalent of Chanel #5 with cyanide.

Despite efforts, word leaked out. Soon, the "Smith Effect" was being noted and reported all across the world! Anyone with an old bott!e could charge an outrageous price for a single drop, all it took to rid a city block of roaches. Prices soon rose to $100 a drop. Neighbors pooled their money and freed their entire areas of roaches for a few dollars each.

By spring, New York City was roach-free; within weeks, even south Florida was rid of roaches. Some groups became worried. A noted scientist calculated that "without roaches to help consume waste, we might soon be up to our

e

ears in garbage." Entomologists and exterminating companies organized workshops to study the problem. Friends of the Earth, Audubon and Sierra Club members quickly formed a coalition: "What will the world be like with no roaches? Roaches are a vital link in the food chain. Write your Congressman," they advised. "What if other preparations become chemically altered? Why, they might wipe out mankind!" A noted biochemist called it "the systematic extinction of one of the oldest creatures on Earth." The roach had survived every natural calamity since the Pennsylvanian Period some 400 million years ago. In those ancient times, when coal swamps were forming, some roaches were a foot long. "Locked in the DNA molecules of roach genes lies the secret of longevity," noted an eminent scientist. "If only we had a supply of specimens for study, we might eventually solve the problem of aging." Something must be done.

But what? No one had seen a live roach in weeks. Even old tramp steamers arriving from far-off places failed to reveal any roaches. Not surprisingly, roaches became popular. The Smithsonian was overrun with tourists clamor- ing to see fossil roaches; collections normally not available to the public were put on display. Plastic roaches, especially wind-up models, outsold E.T. dolls; manufacturers were especially pleased because there were no copyrights to infringe and no royalties to be paid. "CAUTION, I BRAKE FOR ROACHES" read pro-roach bumper stickers. "THE WORLD IS BETTER WITHOUT ROACHES" read anti- roach stickers. Citizens of the world were completely polarized. You were either fir 'em or agin 'em.

Then, in midsummer, a demolition team discovered a breeding colony of about 300 Periplaneta americaha (the scientists' name for roaches) in an old apartment house on South Miami Beach. The EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service moved with unusual speed, taking their best entomologists off fruit fly and mosquito research and forming special study teams. These teams independently found that the prevailing southeast breeze had prevented the creatures from detecting the siren-like odor of the BUGGOFF used upwind on the mainland. Roadblocks, or roachblocks, as they became known, were quickly established. Police, the Drug Enforce- ment Agency, even the FBI and CIA were brought in to enforce roachblocks. Coast Guard ships patrolled offshore waters lest some anti-roach group smuggle in BUGGOFF. For the sake of all mankind, roaches had to be saved, no matter the cost! Waves of illegal drugs flooded the U.S. while all available enforcement agencies concentrated on South Beach.

Several leading environmental groups called for establishment of a sanctuary. Extremistswanted all humans relocated from Miami Beach. The "Save Art Deco" coalition, although divided on the roach issue, soon saw the situation as a "Godsend." After all, the colony was in a vintage 1930's apartment building that could easily pass as Art Deco. They lobbied hard to save it, even if designation as a sanctuary would prevent citizens from seeing the buildings.

Houston Geolog~cal Society Bulletin, October 1989 30

The National Park Service assumed that they would operate the sanctuary. However, the supreme commander of the NPS insisted on special glass-enclosed viewing areas for the public. "Roaches should be seen in their natural habitat," he stated. The EPA, on the other hand, decided humans should be excluded and that a 10-mile buffer zone be established to insure n o unknown roach diseases were introduced. Worse, someone might smuggle in a drop o f BUGGOFF, although dogs trained to sniff it out were on guard at every roachblock. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, by many dubbed the National Organization for the Advancement of Attorneys) insisted that they operate the sanctuary. NOAA was quick to point out that they had vast experience with marine preserves, and that the area was surrounded by water. According to the Marine Sanctuaries Act, their Coastal Zone Management Office had the legal and moral right to establish the sanctuary.

Bureaucratic battles raged in Washington a s agencies fought to preserve their turf. Meanwhile, the Fish and Wildlife Service quickly established the roach a s a n endangered species. They were in conflict with the Agri- culture Department, which had for years tried to extermi- nate such creatures a s fire ants with chemicals considered unsafe by other agencies. The head of the F W S lobbied Congress, pointing out that FWS controlled the Endangered Species Act; because the roach was now a n endangered species, "they alone should manage the well-being of this important creature. Congress passed the buck, establishing those fine examples of group therapy known a s "public hearings." The hearings developed into pitched battles

between pro-roach and anti-roach groups. The nation was divided a s it had not been since the Civil War or the snail darter issue. Eventually, it was agreed that the deciding hearings should be held in south Florida, since the sanctuary would be located there and local citizen support was crucial.

The hearing was scheduled for September 30, a night never to be forgotten. A verbal battle was in full pitch in the new Miami Convention Center when someone noticed a n eerie red glow in the eastern sky. Pro-roach advocates feared the worst, while anti-roach groups prayed it was true. Soon it was confirmed; a team of investigators radioed a report that the roach building had burned to the ground before firemen, held up by roachblocks, could reach the scene.

Next morning, headlines heralded the news; every newspaper in the nation carried an editorial. Candle- carrying environmentalists wearing black arm-bands held night vigils and sang John Lennon songs round the ashes. The city's Division of Historical Monuments appropriated funds to mark the site. A piece of public art , to be called Periplaneta, was commissioned; a n eternal flame was a n integral part. Sculptors from across the nation vied for the honor of creating "Periplaneta. " Congress made September 30 a holiday, "Periplaneta Day".

Few seemed to care that food could be left on kitchen counters o r that it was no longer necessary to store cereals in refrigerators. Refrigerator sales dropped and electric consumption dwindled. In the aftermath, few noticed the article announcing HEXON's new pheromone-like insecticide, almost 100% effective against mosquitoes. Would the world ever be the same?

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3 1 Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bulletin October 1989

EXPLORING GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION By Carl H. Savit

The following article is reprinted from the October, 1981, issue of World Oil with permission. The author has added some comments and conclusions a t the end of the article.

"How effective is geophysical exploration?" is a question often asked by management. Unfortunately there is no single answer. Although present-day exploration is excellent and highly effective, a substantial fraction can best be described as adequate, and some is useless, if not actually misleading.

When properly planned, a seismic reflection survey carried out by a competent crew, equipped with modern instruments, and processed with the appropriate techniques, is worth far more than its cost in the saving of drilling costs and bonus money. The critical factor, however, is the geolcgic interpretation of the survey results. Many an excellent geophysical survey has been wasted through misinterpretation of its geologic significance. The history of improvement in geophysical techniques can largely be characterized as the continual effort to incorporate more interpretative activities into geophysical data processing.

Estimating success ratios for wells drilled on the basis of geophysical maps is a useless exercise because success ratios are far more dependent on the economic and management goals and philosophies of the operator than upon the technical data. We are all aware that year after year, some exploration companies consistently maintain success ratios much greater than do others even though the exploration technology available to each is substantially the same. The difference lies in how that technology is used.

Historically, many of the striking successes in geophysical exploration have come with the advent of new and innovative techniques. The first explorationists to recognize the merits of a new technique and to incorporate it in their drilling decisions inevitably pick off the best discoveries accessible to the new method. Those who wait until the new ideas have proved to be successful must be content with the leavings.

Too many explorationists are averse to risk. They only feel safe when basing their selection of drill sites on tried and true methods. As a result, their employers find themselves paying larger leasing costs for lesser prospects.

Innovative techniques confer advantages on their users for a surprisingly long time. It was more than a decade after the fielding of the first seismic-reflection crew in 1927 that the majority of wildcat locations came to be based at least in part on seismic maps.

The bright spot method was first demonstrated in 1960, first used about 1967, and gradually came into general use in appropriate areas in the mid to late '70s. In these cases, as in several others, the early users picked up promising acreage that was overlooked by their more conservative competitiors. It is no coincidence that the most successful exploration companies, both among the majors and the independents, are the ones that pioneer the use of new techniques as a basis for acquisition and drilling.

NEW TECHNOLOGY Because innovative techniques in exploration (as in

nearly all fields) are written about and discussed years before they are first tried out, it is not hard to predict future technology provided we don't predict the length of time needed to bring those techniques to fruition.

At any given time, and today is no exception, the great bulk of R & D work is being expended in making yesterday's innovations more effective, applicable in more places, easier to use, cheaper, and in imbuing them with a private or proprietary feature. Only a small fraction of R & D money is going into the study of really new methods, the methods that will become standard in a decade or more.

In marine seismic exploration today two "new" techniques are in the stage of being aggressively exploited by some operators, used occasionally by others, and not at all by many. The first of these methods, the so-called acoustic velocity transform, is the next logical step after bright spot. In effect, this process uses the information contained in the amplitude of seismic reflections in combination with other data to derive an estimate of the velocity of seismic signals in the various geologic strata.

Velocities are usually presented in the form of color- keyed values on a seismic cross section. The seismic velocities in a given layer are lowered by porosity and by the presence of gas, particularly gas under pressure. A low velocity anomaly on a higher velocity horizon is highly prospective. The timid explorer will seek the velocity informati0n.a.s an indicator of hydrocarbons in a structural trap; he wants backup for his structural play. The venture- some explorer will acquire land and drill a larger, purely stratigraphic play defined by a low-velocity indication in a structurally featureless zone.

Because the acoustic-velocity transform method is based on a very simple earth model and requires high- quality seismic reflection data as input, the technique is not applicable in some areas and lacks resolution at greater depths.

Improving resolution. Much of the R & D going on in the research centers of oil companies and geophysical contractors is directed to improving the resolution and the signal-to-noise ratios of seismographic data. Improved resolution will make it possible to see finer details, thinner beds, and sharper interfaces. When the velocity transform is applied to higher resolution data, the result can be a highly detailed cross section of geologic significance. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio will provide better structural sections and will allow the production of acoustic transform sections where poor data have inhibited reliable velocity computation.

THE NEW STEP AHEAD If we consider that the acoustic-velocity transform is

the logical successor to the bright spot, we may try to identify the next step, the successor to the velocity transform. Physical theory and a number of papers at annual meetings tell us that even more information about the subsurface is contained in the seismic signal. All we have to do is further improve our signal quality and devise a practical method for extracting that information and we will

Houston Geolog~cal Soclety Bulletin. October 1989 3 2

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Take a "state of the trend" look at the downdip Yegua. You'll like what you see. From south Texas to western Louisiana, its geology unfolds before you. Defined are five distinctive exploration fairways. Within this regional context, seven county settings and ten analogous fields are explained by area specialists. Also covered are exploration tools: specialized seismic, conventional core analysis, and logging techniques. You will retain all that you learn with the aid of an exploration atlas. It alone is worth the price of this course. There's more. Ladd Petroleum will make available a conventional core from the El Campo field for a "hands on" inspection. Rare is the chance to glean so much for so little. Enroll now.

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Houston Geologtcal Soctety Bulletin October 1989

be able to identify the lithology of a n entire section without drilling a hole. I would not recommend holding back on any action while waiting for these developments to ripen. Not the least of the problems facing the practical application of these advances is the need for computers thousands of times faster than the ones we have now.

3-D SURVEYING Among the more widely advertised seismic exploration

methods is 3-D surveying, the second of the innovative techniques now in the course of being adopted. A 3-D survey differs from a conventional 2-D survey in that data a re collected over a surface area rather than along a single surface line.

Marine 3-D surveying is innovative only in the sense that cable positioning, navigation a n d computer tech- nologies have advanced to the point that three-dimensional surveying in the marine environment has become practical. The basic mathematics for 3-D data reduction had been known for a long time.

In areas of complex geology, a 3-D survey over a drilling prospect may well cost more than a million dollars, but it can easily prevent the drilling of one or more much more costly dry holes.

At present 3-D surveys are used primarily to furnish the precise subsurface data needed for development drilling and when unitization questions must be settled. The 3-D method is rarely used in today's exploration programs, but limited use for clarifying local complexity or ambiguity found in 2-D surveys is becoming more common.

FUTURE SEISMIC TECHNIQUES In the more distant future we can expect that in many

areas, techniques for extracting detailed rock property information from seismic data will be combined with 3-D surveying to define exactly what the drill will find. There will, however, remain many areas in which seismic signals d o not penetrate the subsurface sufficiently strongly or clearly to allow the use of such sophisticated techniques. In those areas special methods will be devised to improve the quality and quantity of information available and their exploration successes will continue to depend on inspired interpreters.

During the past few years, we have seen an explosive increase in worldwide seismic exploration to which the marine surveyors have contributed a relatively minor fraction. For example in 1980, miles surveyed in marine areas represented 63 percent of the worldwide total of marine and land surveys, a substantial reduction from the peak year of 1974 when the marine share of miles surveyed attained its all time peak share of 69 percent.

In 1981, for the first time, both marine and land seismic surveying have surpassed their previous all-time peaks of activity. Indications are that marine activity has, withm the last month o r two, begun to surpass land surveying in rate of growth.

STRONG MARINE MARKET Because activity in U.S. waters represents about half of

worldwide activity, any substantial change in U.S. conditions will strongly affect the level of worldwide exploration. Strong indications that the present administration will succeed in lifting some of the severe constraints on exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf have proved to be a powerful incentive to an expanded level of offshore seismic work. Elsewhere in the world, a variety of factors have

combined to expand the availability of offshore prospects and have provided a strong market for seismic crews.

Within the past few weeks there has beena softeningof demand for seismic crews in one or two land areas of the U.S. As far as can be determined, the cause is not a slackening of overall exploration activity but can be traced to a shift of interest to the offshore.

If , as is likely, government imposed limitations on capital available to the petroleum industry for exploration continue to prevail, at least part of the offshore growth will be at the expense of land operations.

If governments were to relent and abandon or substantially reduce discriminatory taxation of hydrocarbon production, expansion of both land and marine exploration would continue solely under control of market forces and our energy "shortage" problems might well be postponed to the next century. In the interim, time and market forces could act to bring forth abundant alternative energy sources for our descendants. - KE

In the eight years since thisarticle was written, changes in detail and overall business climate have taken place but the message remains valid. For example, the use of 3-D surveys in exploration programs has greatly expanded. In 1988 the proportion of marine line miles to total surveys increased to 74 percent (down from 75% in 1987) surpassing both the 1980 figure of 63 percent and the previous peak of 69 percent in 1974.

I was tragically overoptimistic in suggesting that restrictions on exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf might be lifting. Unfortunately, they are now more severe than they have ever been.

Finally, today's constraints on exploration activity are no longer dominated by discriminatory taxation but are the product of market and political forces. If no wars, revolu- tions, or political or economic catastrophies intervene, it can be expected that present day production surpluses could be soaked up in the next four or five years and a new cycle of expansion in exploration can begin.

- Carl Savit, August 1989

Carl H. Savit retired in 1986 as Senior Vice President of Western Geophysical Company. He is now a consultant and Adjunct Professor of Geology and Geophysics at Rice University. He has served as Chairman of the National Ocean Industries Association and President of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the International Associa- tion of Geophysical Contractors. He has also served on or chaired many governmental and National Research Council committees and panels. Savit is the holder of numerous patents, has published extensively on environmental and technical subjects, and is the author of the fourth edition of the definitive textbook Introduction to Geoohusical Pros- . . pecting published by McGraw Hill.

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REGIONAL MAPPING USING ECONOMIC UNITS By CURTIS McKALLIP, JR. Consulting Geologist, Midland, Texas

One can make a regional contour map using cumulative production data and producing depths illustrating the high payoff areas in a developed basin.

Many probably have made or seen iso-cumulative maps which show the areas of best production in established fields. The example shown is the regional equivalent of these iso-cumulative maps. When correlated with geologic features both maps tell a great deal about how geology controls production, although on different scales.

Within a field, each formation typically lies close to a certain depth. The small depth differences rarely result in major changes in drilling costs. On a regional scale, though, formations may lie twice as deep in some areas as in others. This has a major impact on drilling costs and profits. Therefore, to get a true picture of where the real "fairways" are, depth must be taken into account.

To do this, map in terms of economic units (EU). The number of EU's for a field is eaual to the cumulative production of the field divided by the product of the depth and the number of wells. One EU is defined as 1 bbl of oil or equivalent cumulative production per well per foot of depth.

Figure 1 is an iso-economics map of the Ellenburger formation in West Texas. It is based on cumulative production data from the Texas Railroad Commission current to early 1987. (A complete set of EU figures are also available in McKallip, C., 1987, Rankings of Oil & Gas Fields in Texas RRC District 8.). The high values in the Puckett field in Pecos County serve as an example. This field produced a cumulative 1,666,605 bbl of oil and 2,867,641,333 Mcf of gas from 36 wells at a depth of 15,324 ft. Gas is converted to barrels of oil equivalent by dividing by six to get 477,940,205 BOE. The number of EU's is calculated by:

1,666,605 BO + 477,940,205 BOE

36 Wells x 15,324 feet

= 869.38 EU

Typically, the available statistics do not show the number of dry holes drilled around the field or the number of

dry holes drilled around the field or the number of abandoned wells within it. These lower the EU value of the field when included in the calculations.

The lowest EU value representing economic exploration targets depends on the price of oil, the cost of drilling, and expected success ratios. As a simple example, assume the net revenue per barrel to the producer is $lO/bbl and an Ellenburger well costs roughly $50/ft to drill and complete. (Therefore, a 15,000 ft well costs $750,000.)

The number of barrels equivalent to break even would be:

$50 per foot = 5 BOE per foot for

$10 per barrel one well = 5 EU

The number of dry holes (or miles of seismic) it takes to find a field will raise this figure. If it takes an average of four dry holes which cost about $750,000 apiece then the breakeven would be:

4 dry holes + 1 producer = 5 wells x 5 EU = 25 EU

Therefore, the 25 EU contour line (not shown) is the economic equivalent of a "water level" in a conventional field structure map. Exploration should be concentrated inside this contour line.

On the Ellenburger EU map, the 100 EU line is the lowest shown, and contours above 300 are left out for convenience because contours around some extreme values would be illegible. Obviously, these are rough calculations, but they do demonstrate how useful an iso- economics map is for regional exploration.

It provides an accurate picture of where economic exploration targets are most likely to be found in a developed area. And if you create several of these maps for different formations and overlay them, they define interest- ing trends of profitable multipay objectives.

Reprinted by permission from Oil and Gas Journal.

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Houston Geological Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989 3 6

Statement of Michel T. Halboutyl at the

National Energy Strategy Public Hearing Washington, D.C., August 1, 1989

This article is the text of Michael T. Halbouty's testimony a t the public hearings on National Energy Strategy on August 1, 1989, in Washington, D.C. The contents relate directly to the oil industry, a n d to public attitudes toward the petroleum business.

I would like to begin my remarks by commending our Secretary of Energy, Admiral James Watkins, for having a hearing such as this regarding the United States' critical need for an energy policy strategy The United States, unlike other major world powers, has never had a comprehensive nat~onal energy policy that worked. Each presi- dential administrat~on that has tried to put together a planof action to provlde greater energy security has failed.

All too often, i f the executive branch suggested a policy of action, the legislative branch refused it and did not offer a substitute that was acceptable to the executive branch. Likewise, c.ongressional suggestions have often been ignored by the execu t~ve branch. They have see-sawed back and forth dnd up and down, and have accomplished nothing. I should not say nothing, because they have placed this nation's economic and strategic securities in jeopardy, and that is something - very serious.

I t is long overdue for the Congress and the administration to put ')side special interests and look only toward providing a comprehensive energy policy, a workable plan, that will lead to constructive and meaningful legislation. Such action must begin at the top of our federal government. Even though we have the knowledge, the technological advances, and the expertise to collate and produce our domestic energy supplies, it cannot be accomplished without proper federal management to set the guidelines. Calls for a firm national energy policy have intensified amid increased public attention to prospects for a renewed oil squeeze, made likely by falling U S . production, rising consumption, and rising imports.

All of our vast domestic energy resources - petroleum, coal, nuclear, solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass ( to name only a few) - should be continuously researched for improved usage. However, our key resources - petroleum, coal, and nuclear energy - are not being produced in quantities o r in manners adequate to meet our energy demands. I want to speak briefly on the importance of each of these resources.

O u r petroleum resource base has a special place in the hierarchy of domestic energy sources. Crude oil and natural

' C h a ~ r r n a n o f I h c a Bodrd and Chwf Execu t~ve Oi f~ce r . M ~ c h e l T Halbouty Energy Co . Houston. Texds ( G e r ~ s c ~ e n t t s t atid Petroleum Engmeer)

gas today supply about 66% of our entire fuel mix. Yet, unfortunately, our domestic crude oil production is declining at a precipitous rate, and our supplies of natural gas in most cases cannot immediately be substituted for oil usage. As a result, our crude oil and product imports are dramatically rising almost daily.

I will now reveal some frightening statistics. I know that the Department of Energy has all that 1 will cite, but it is proper and appropriate that they be emphasized and stated in this public hearing.

The impact of increased imports is demonstrated by the fact that our domestic production has dropped from 8.9 million barrels a day in 1985 to our current production of 7.5 million barrels a day, a drop of 1.4 million barrels a day. Of our production, some 1.9 million barrels a day comes from Alaska. Therefore, we are producing less than 6 million barrels a day in the conterminous U.S., and the drop is accelerating. We are now producing 500,000 barrels a day less than we did in 1988. Our imports have risen from a n average of 5.1 million barrels a day in 1985 to today's average of 7.9 million barrels a day. This is a negative turnaround of an astounding 4.2 million barrels a day in just 4 years!

"It is possible that we could be importing close to 9 million barrels per day before the end of this year.

Currently, our demand is 17.2 million barrels per day. We are producing 7.5 million barrels per day and we are now importing 7.9 million barrels per day - a combined total of 15.4 million barrels a day. O u r imports represent 468 of our demand. We now have a 1.8 million barrel per day deficit which must be made up from our existing crude oil s tocks and our natural gas liquids produciton. It is possible that we could be importing close to 9 million barrels per day before the end of this year! Furthermore, it is estimated that, in the lower 48 states, production has been dropping at the rate of 40,000 barrels per day each month. In a year or so , a decline will finally set in on the North Slope, which will further accentuate the import dependence. And it is estimated that by the end of 1990 the United States will be importing from 9 million to 10 million barrels per day. This is indeed frightening! This could approximate 60°0 of our total daily consumption.

37 Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bu l l e t~n October 1989

We cannot continue just to produce our remaining reserves without trying to replace them through more exploration. It is most evident that when imports increase, exploration decreases, which in turn reduces the strength of our petroleum industry and thus jeopardizes our economic and national security.

Let me cite a few more statistics; in 1981 we drilled 91,600 wells. Last year we drilled 25,186. For the first quarter of 1989, the total was 5529, and there are estimates of only about 20,000 wells drilled for the year. Today there are fewer than 800 rigs running. Because of this very low rate o f exploration, the independent segment of the industry has not been just decimated, but virtually wiped out.

I should here remind you that throughout the history of the petroleum industry, independents have drilled 80 percent of the wells and discovered 75 percent of all the oil and gas in this country. Where there were once 60,000 independents actively drilling for oil and gas, there are now less than 1,000. Where there were once more than 40 major companies, there are now less than a dozen.

"It is evident that the appropriate and obligatory role of the federal government in our quest for energy supplies is to create an atmosphere and an energy policy which will encourage the private sector to seek, produce and develop all of our energy sources without undue interference."

For more than 30 years, from one administration to another, the government has thrust one disincentive after another at the industry. These disincentives did not appear suddenly. Rather, it was a gradual process which caused a deterioration, particularly in the exploration and production segments. It is really baffling that a nation that is considered to have some of the most intelligent people on earth can permit this deterioration of the industry when they - the people - realize that in the long-run that whatever hurts the petroleum industry will eventually hurt them. Such thinking is irrational.

Yet there a re those, many even inhigh places, whosay "don't drill," "don't explore anymore," meaning, let the U.S. petroleum exploration and production segments of the industry die. They say just keepon increasing imports - the oil is cheaper. This concept is most dangerous in that it does not take into account where our dependency lies, and how it could affect our economic and strategic securities. Those who favor greater imports d o not realize that we would be placing this nation's destiny in the hands of o thers who hold their own interests above ours. But, unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening. We are gradually ceding some of our liberties to those who control and own the supplies of oil that are shipped to this country.

It is evident that the appropriate and obligatory role of the federal government in our quest for energy supplies is to create a n atmosphere and an energy policy which will encourage the private sector to seek, produce and develop all of our energy sources without undue interference. The policy must provide core pieces of legislation through which we can rationally evaluate our energy-resource options.

Such a policy should be truly bipartisan, formulated solely for the protection and best interests of the national welfare. It must be viewed as a means of survival for this country.

From qeoscientific studies of our land and water areas. it is evidentthat there is the potential to find a s much oil and gas a s we have produced to date. Much of our petroleum potential lies in our federal lands and waters. Yet we have been prevented from exploring for energy and minerals on some of these lands because of federal restraints. For example, geoscientists from industry, academia and government are in common agreement that the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is the most promising onshore petroleum frontier in the United States. Yet federal restraints prevent drilling in this region.

Our growing energy needs indicate that nuclear energy and coal will progressively have to be substituted for petroleum in the post-petroleum era. The proper long-range development of these sources has been sorely neglected.

Nuclear-generated electricity has already saved America over 3 billion barrels of oil. with billions more to be saved before the turn of the century. Our existing nuclear plants are preventing more than 2 million barrels of oil per day from being imported into the country. Public fear has prevented the construction of additional plants. I firmly believe reform of nuclear permitting regulations and stan- dardization of design could revive the industry. If we were to establish one, and only one, design, we could rapidly build the 100 new plants we now need, which could save us another 3 million barrels per day and thus so l~d~fy our domestic enerqy base.

Now let's talk about coal. Coal is the most abundant yet

IIollstoll

1330 Post Oak Boulevard Houston, TX 77056

(7 13) 623-6544

Denver hlicllantl 14001 E. lliff 4000 N. 13ig Spring

Suite 500 Suite 400 Aurora, CO 800 14 IClictluncl, I'X 79705

(303) 695-8778 (9 15) 684-0600

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullet~n, October 1989 3 8

least utilized of our domestic energy resources. We should be using more coal than we are today, and, therefore, should be planning to use more in the future. In terms of proven reserves, we have 60 times more coal than oil on an energy equivalent basis and more than 40 times more coal than natural gas on an energy equivalent basis. Considerable research is necessary to determine the most efficient use of coal and its compliance with approved environmental standards. Coal also can make a positive contribution by becoming a major export which would be a boon to reducing our foreign deficits.

In addition to what nuclear energy and coal can provide, if we could increase our energy supply from other sources equivalent to another 2 to 3 million barrels of oil per day, we would be energy secure, and that security would increase year by year.

The invitation to participate here today stated we should give our opinion on "what should the priorities be for National Energy Strategies."

Therefore, my recommendations for priorities for the creation of an Integrated National Energy Strategy which would also serve a s guidelines to form a most constructive national energy policy are as follows:

1. Enhancement of federal leasing policies to provide for more energy and minerals exploration.

2. Completion of the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

3. Environmental controlsand regulatory policies based on a scientific cost-benefit basis. Government should encourage and strongly recommend that environmentalists and industry leaders get together and both parties use every possible means to arrive at a compatible understanding and solution to a dispute or a problem or a situation instead of one or the other adopting a "go to hell" attitude or a standoffish impasse attitude.

4. Increased efforts to provide safe and economic nuclear power and encourage industry to build 100 new, standard-design plants.

5. Development of clean coal technology, greater utiliza- tion of our coal resources, and promotion of U.S. coal exports.

6. More research and development programs to fully exploit our energy alternatives, energy conservation, and enhanced oil recovery technology.

7. And, most importantly, reasonable tax measures such as:

(a) Removing oil and gas preference items from Alternative Minimum Tax computations. (b) Providing investment tax credits for research and development activity, especially in the area of enhanced oil recovery. (c) Allowing immediate expensing of 100% of Intangible Drilling Costs in tax calculations, and expanding the definition to include geological and geophysical costs and unrecovered surface casing. (d) For increasing the depletion percentage for oil and gas to 221/2%. (e) Returning temporarily abandoned stripper wells to production under a 22-1/2% preferential tax credit on all production and equipment costs. ( f ) Providing a 20% exploration incentive credit on all drilling and equipment costs expended for a discovery well and for subsequent development of the new field.

If the above mentioned tax incentives are granted, it is my opinion that within 18 months of enactment there would be 2,500 rigs operating in this country, searching for, discovering and producing oil and gas from new fields and, thereby, reducing our import levels and our foreign deficit with each new discovery.

Furthermore, if all of the above-mentioned recommendations are adopted, they will materially restore and sustain the nation's energy strength and security as well as set the permanent foundation for a viable, effective national energy plan for now and in the future.

I appreciate the invitation from Secretary Watkins to participate in this hearing.

TERRA RESOURCES, INC.

GULF COAST HEGIONAL OFFICE F FIVE GREENWAY PLAZA, STE. 300

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046

(7 13) 960- 1040

9CTIVE AND GROWING IN THE GULF COAST

g., 9 Mc Kenae Petroleum Company McKenae Me thane Corpora tion

DENVER HOUSTON BIRMINGHAM 5847 San Felipe Road Suite 4300

Houston, Texas 77057 (713) 783-4300 Telecopier (713) 781-7809

Michael McKenzie Jack Logan Steve Jeu Steven D. McKenzie J.C. Haines Dan Clark Timothy S. McKenzie J d Paseman Tom Gill Billy J. Neal Al Haettlein Howard Dennis

Lannv Frazier

EVERGREEN OIL & GAS Houston based oil and gas operator, whose clients

include privately funded drilling and production partnerships, offer prospective clients these services:

Turnkey property management including drilling and completion

engineering, lease operations, RRC filing, joint interest billing and

revenue distribution. Interested parties please contact:

GREEN OIL & GAS (713) 981 -9698

Vance Usher

Houston Geological Soc~ety Bullettn. October 1989

PERSPECTIVE

FROM RAIL HEAD TO WELL HEAD: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS

by KENT HANCE

Editor's No te : In the second part of a two part series on the Texas RailroadCommission, Kent Hance traces the Commission's history from its modest beginnings to its powerful role in the oil and gas industry.

Looking at the complex regulatory responsibilities of the Texas Railroad Commission today, it's hard to imagine that the agency began with three commissioners, a secretary, no staff, and the limited task of regulating railroads. That was almost 100 years ago, before the turn of the century. Then, the railroad was king. Today energy resources play the key role in state economics.

Let's look back over the decades to see how the Railroad Commission began and how the state's burgeoning oil and gas industry redirected the primary focus of the Commission's regulatory responsibilities.

We begin in the years after the Civil War. Economic and social change was in the air, heralded by the railroads. Movement of goods to market had always been a problem in agricultural areas. Railroads offered a fast, efficient system for transporting crops and livestock from growing areas to market.

Recognizing the great potential of the railroads, Texas leaders came up with a big incentive to encourage rail companies to spread their networks. They traded public land for track. The Texas Constitution of 1876 granted 10,240 acres for every mile of track laid. As you can imagine, an explosion of track-laying followed. By 1882, over 35 million acres of public lands had been granted to railroads. After the dust settled, the legislature realized the available supply of public land suitable for the railroads had been exhausted. The grant program was repealed. But the railroads were in a very powerful position.

State law said railroads must sell their wanted land within 12 years or ownership reverted to the state. So the rail companies encouraged families to settle in areas along the rail lines and sold land as fast as they could. Soon, the railroads had both wealth and control of a vital transportation network. And that created problems. Citizens across the nation demanded that the railroads be regulated. In Texas, people complained of kickbacks, unfair rates, inadequate service, and the heavy influence of the railroads in the state legislature.

Although federal rail regulation began in 1877 with the creation of the Interstate Commerce Commission, its regulation was weak and ineffective. Texans demanded better railroad regulation. Led by Governor James Steven Hogg, the legislature passed a bill creating the Railroad Commission in 1891. The Commission mandate was to "correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates of freight and passenger tariffs on the different railroads in this state."

The governor persuaded the distinguished U.S. Senator John H. Reagan to give up his Senate seat and chair the new commission. Before much work could be done, cautious Texans passed a constitutional amendment in 1892 making the Railroad Commissioner an elective office. The terms of the office would be six years and would be staggered, with one commissioner elected every two years. Court challenges followed, but the three Railroad Com- mission posts became elective in 1894 and have been so ever since.

"...Texas leaders came up with a big incentive to encourage rail companies to spread their networks. They traded public land for track.. . By 1882, over 35 million acres of public lands had been granted to railroads."

How did one of the pioneer rail regulatory agencies in the country also become one of the pioneers in oil and gas regulation? To see how that came about, we need to return to the birth of the Commission in 1891. By that time, the fledgling oil industry in Texas was already more than 30 years old. Following close on the heels of the famous Drake well in Pennsylvania, L. T. Barnett drilled Texas' first producing oil well at Melrose in 1859. Some 11 years later, the first known gas production in the state was recorded from a well near Graham.

Concern about wasting oil and gas was shown in laws passed by the legislature around the turn of the century. For example, in March 1899, the legislature directed that any new gas wells be shut in within 10 days unless the gas could be used for light, fuel, or power. But there was no regulatory agency to enforce such laws.

The face of the oil industry changed almost overnight as a cold January day in 1901 saw the first great gusher come in on a mound south of Beaumont called Spindletop. The enormous nroduction from the well. some 100.000 barrels of oil a dab, saturated the small ~ e x a i oil marketand prices dropped to three cents a barrel. Would-be oilmen rushed to the field to get their share of the newly-discovered crude. In the two years that followed, 1,200 wells were drilled on the 200-acre Snindletou dome.

Landowners scrambled to ;reduce the oil under their own property as quickly as possible so that none would be lost to a neighbor's wells. Pipelines were almost non- existent and oil storage was limited. Rather than slow production, many landowners erected earthen dikes and

Houston Geolog~cal Society Bulletin. October 1989 40

created hugh lakes of crude. Thousands of barrels of oil were wasted in the production frenzy. Water pollution became a serious problem in the oilfields and destructive fires were common. Something had to be done. In May of 1905, the legislature declared a state of emergency over the drilling, operation, and abandonment of oil, gas, and water wells. In the following decade other laws were added, all with the general intent of preventing waste. But they all had a problem. There was no effective way to enforce them.

As the industry grew, pipelines also grew to handle the production. I t didn't take long for the same problem to develop with pipelines that had developed with railroads. Pipeline operators had the same life-or-death grip on well operators a s the railroads had on farmers and ranchers. They could pretty much charge what they pleased for getting the oil to market. I t was only natural that the legislature looked to the Railroad Commission for help just a s it had almost 30 years earlier.

O n February 20, 1917, the legislature declared oil pipelines to be common carriers and called on the Com- mission to regulate them. This was the first act naming the Comnlission a s the agency to administer a state oil and gas conservation law. With production running unchecked and waste r a m p ~ ~ n t , it didn't take the legislature long to extend the powers of the Commission. In 1919, a law was passed which said "natural gas and crude oil petroleum shall not be produced in the state of Texas in such a manner and under such condi t~ons a s to constitute waste."

The reCll significance of the act was that i t galie the Commission broad enforcement powers. Following hear-

ings and staff investigations, the Commission issued in November of that year, a set of rules which remain today a s the basic framework of our oil and gas regulatory system. These rules cover every phase of oil, gas, and geothermal field operations from the permit to drill to the final authority to plug and abandon a well.

Tested thoroughly over the years in the field and in the courts, we are proud to note that our rules have served Texas well and have served a s models to other states and other nations, too. Today, our oil and gas regulatory program continues in the proud tradition of our rail regulation heritage of almost a century ago.

Bounty Group, Inc. 3600 S Gessner Dr~ve . Suite Houston. Texas 77063 (713)953-7841

P o r t e r V e r s f e l t O i l & Gas V i c e P r e s i d e n t E x p l o r a t i o n Development I n t e r n a t i o n a l & U.S. & Produc t ion

O f f i c e Space A v a i l a b l e i n o u r B u i l d i n g

This SIPES-sponsored ro ram brings together a group of distinguished specialists to explain the romises and pitfal s o controversial non-seismic exploration methods. Used in combination R P 1: wit subsurface geology, these methods comprise a powerful addition to your exploration arsenal. Each speaker will field questions. Several will also make themselves available for informal poster sessions during intermissions. Examples of each method will be available for your inspection. The entire program is an information-packed opportunity for active explorationists and consul tan ts. A reference book is included. Enroll todav. Yourspcakcn and topics John Sandy of Geochcrnical lirploration Srrv~ccs: Radion~cfncs

Dictmer " I h t " Schumacher of Pcnnzo~l: Surface I'rospccting - An Ovewicw Jack Land of J . P. Land & Associates: Micromagnctics

William Kobcrts of I Iydrcxco: Temperature Anomalin and Basin Ilydrology David Cole of Amoco I'roduction Company: Remote Sensing

Phillip 1 ion it^ of I lorvitz Research Laboratories: Geochemical Soil Sampling Santiago Reynolds of Sanco & Associatcs: Fracture Exploration r--T--------------------

I Rcgis t ra t lon - Short Course 11-10, Society of Independent I'rofessional E ~ r t h Scientists:

Date: November 10th I Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. I Name: ~ I'lacc: Exxon Auditorium

I Cost: $35.00 in advance by November 5th I I

$45.00 a t thc door ( Address : .- ----- ~~ .. - - I Mail check (made out to SIPES) to: I

----_----------.------. ------ - . ~- ----

I SII'ES

I I Short Course 11-10 One Allen Center #925

I I I h s i n e s s P h o n e klome I ' h o m . . . -_ I

500 Dallas L-----------------------_I Houston, Texas 77002 J E W 0 Seismic, Inc. Support~ng mntinumg educaf~on

PERSPECTIVE

CONSULTANTS A N D THE HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

by RlCH SCA TTOLlNI

Summary The Houston Geological Society, the largest local

Geological Society in the Unitedstates, has approximately 5 consultantsfor every 10 members. This article discusses the reasons fo r this large number of consultants, a n d makes s o m e predictions regarding the number of consultants through 1995. Predictions for the future suggest significant improvements after 1991. If the "gas bubble" bursts soon, the forecasts presented here could be too pessimistic.

T o assess where the Houston Geological Society has beenand isgoing with regard to the consultant population, I undertook a brief study of the consultants a s listed in the Houston Geological Society's Annual Directories.

The number of consultants in the Houston Geological Society for each year since 1982 was estimated using the Directory's listings of consultants, independents and one- man companies. Anyone listed a s a one-man operation was considered a "consultant" for this study even if listed a s "independent". This may have added 300 to 400 members to the total number of consultants. The 1989 directory was in preparation at the time of writing, however, a n estimate for 1989 numbers is shown in Table 1, together with the data from 1982 to 1988. The numbers are from the July to September period of the previous year

TABLE 1 Year Total # of Excess # of' Total # of

Consultants Consultants Members

1989 1986 1486 4400 1988 1808 1308 4010 1987 1867 1367 4500 (est) 1986 1532 1032 4962 1985 No Directory available 4909 1984 1173 673 4753 1983 1017 517 4676 1982 803 303 4397 1981 3875 1980 3460 1980 3460 1979 3286 1978 2962

'The number of consultants less the 1981 level of consultants

Total # of Consultants/ Total Members Percent 45 45 4 1 30 N.A. 23 21 17

Since 1981 was a "boom" year, one would expect 1981 to be the year with the smallest number of consultants. Figure 1 shows a plot of the total number of consultants from 1982 to 1989. By extrapolating the trend in the data

back to 1981, the number of consultants in 1981 is estimated to be just over 50G. I will assume that these are the individuals who would be consultants regardless of whether times were "boom" or "bust". Subtracting the constant number of 500 from the "total consultants", I arrived at the lower curve, referred to a s "excess consultants" in Figure 1 and Table 1

Total I Consultants 6 Excess t Consultants I

Figure 1 - The total number of consultants and an estimate of the excess # of consultants plotted against year. Note there is a slight decrease in the 1987-1988 period.

If you are disturbed by the trend in figure 1, you should be. The startling fact about the data is the steady and consistent rise in the numbers of consultants since 1981. The only year which shows any decrease is in 1988 and the decrease is very slight.

The important questions here are: 1) who are these new consultants, 2) why are there s o many of them, and 3) how long will such large numbers continue? The new consultants are a result of the consolidation in oil and gas companies, caused by the current over-supply of oil, which has forced prices to decline. Falling prices in turn have forced the price of oil-competitive natural gas even lower. Today's drastically lower oil prices have reduced the incomes of energy companies, causing consolidation, cen- tralization and exploration staff reductions. The decline

Houston Geolog~cal Society Bulletin, October 1989 42

in the natural gas market due to oversupply and the take-or- pay crisis for pipelines has contributed still further to a reduced need for explorationists.

Total I Cmsultimts per total mkrs

Year O Totmtabr o Percent

Figure 2 - Total Number of Consultants per Total Membership (Percent) plotted against year.

The answer to the question, "how long will such large numbers continue," is more difficult. Figure 2 shows the consultant data in a different manner. Here, the percentage of all consultants is plotted against time in years. Today, about one Society member in every two is a consultant. The analysis does not include any former members who have dropped their Society membership, but still consider themselves consultants. This plot also suggests that the number of consultants is levelling off, but the peak is really due to a drop in the HGS membership, NOT to a major decrease in the numbers of consultants.

Predicting the future While my crystal ball is no better-illuminated than that

of anyone else, the future holds three possibilities; the situation may improve, remain the same, or worsen.

Dark clouds are on the horizon. One large company recently sold its producing properties and is getting out of the exploration business. Others have followed suit, or are considering doing so. Some companies have large debt loads, and are targets for takeovers and subsequent exploration staff reductions.

On the bright side, business is cyclic. The excess gas supply is diminishing and, with recent changes in law and administration, some relief may be on the way. If depletion allowance-type tax incentives are approved, some improvement will occur. Major change however, will take time.

Figures 3 and 4 represent two possible scenarios for the future. Figure 3 shows the number of consultants remaining at the present high. Figure 4 shows the number of consultants rising slightly. After 1989, both are shown as being symmemetrical about the high, although this assumption may not be valid because of circumstances not currently seen. The hint that we may be close to the peak is the slight decrease in numbers of consultants in 1988 shown in Figure 1. This should occur near the maximum which is expected in 1989 or oossiblv 1990.

The simple symmetry case in Figure 3 is an optimistic view anticipating large decreases in the consultant popula-

Total Cmsultants p r total Rllbers 56- ; . , , , . , . ,

, ,

, . . . , . , . , ,

a ............. ......... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... .....

JB ........ ............ ......

28 ............. ...... . . . . , , , . . , , . .

hear a Totcmtmbr o Percent

Figure 3 - Future scenario # 1. Percentage sf Total Consultants per total members plotted against year to 1995.

tion in 1991, which corresponded to the large increase in the consultant population in 1986 when the price of oil collapsed. Members presently employed outside the petroleum industry, hoping to return when the business recovers, may have to lengthen their expected time horizon. Figure 4 shows a more likely, but somewhat pessimistic, case which allows for at least two periods when the price of oil may fall due to lack of discipline in OPEC. Both Figure 3 and 4 estimate near 20% of HGS members to be consulting in 1994.

Total Cmsultants per total W n

1W 1m 1984 1956 1966 l9M 1992 1994 19W 1998 Year

o T o t n t o h r o Percent

Figure 4 - Future scenario # 2. Percentage of total consultants per total members plotted against year. This is an asymmetrical plot which suggests that overproduction periods will slow the reduction of the consultant population.

References 1988 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1987 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1986 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1985 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1984 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1983 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1982 Directory of Houston Geological Society 1981 Directory of Houston Geological Society

43 Houston Geolog~cal Soctety Bullet~n. October 1989

EXPLORATION ACTIVITY REVIEW National Rig Count: August 14-858; Year Ago-940

Texas Gulf Coast Two deep Wilcox tests are scheduled for southern

Zapata County. Santa Fe Minerals will drill their #1 Sanchez to 15,500' in the lower Wilcox less than a mile west of old shallow Jackson production at Charco Redondo Field. Deepest current Wilcox production in the area is in the 7000' to 10,500' range. At the Carrizo Wilcox horizon, the wildcat spotson fairly steep east dip and appears to be in the same downthrown fault block as the deep Falcon Lake East Field 5 miles south.

Slightly southwest, Tesoro Exploration & Production has staked a 14,500' wildcat about 3000' northeast of Wilcox production at Falcon Lake Field. The #1 Perez is 3-113 miles west of closest deep Wilcox production (16,154-292') at the one-well Falcon Lake East Field. At the Carrizo Wilcox horizon, the deep test spots on the southwest flank of a faulted north-south trending anticline downthrown to a regional down-to-the-coast fault.

Farther north, in adjoining Webb County, Pogo Pro- ducing will evaluate upper Wilcox sands at the #1 Vaquillas Ranch Co., a scheduled 10,000' wildcat 314 mile northwest of Jackson and Yegua production at Aviators Field. Nearest Wilcox production is 1-112 miles southeast at a Vaquillas Ranch Field well. Carrizo Wilcox structure here is moderate southeast regional dip with broad local nosing.

Royal Oil & Gas has staked a 9700' lower Wilcox test one mile west of Wilcox gas production at the one-well

NOR

550

,CEN EXPLORER, INC

WestLake Park B l v d . , Suite 350

Houston, Texas 77079 (713) 558-6611

Cousins North Field in McMullen County. The #1 Atkinson is about 4000' north of the Hanson #1 Cousins dry hole which encountered scattered lower Wilcox sands between 9430' and 10,175'. At the top Wilcox horizon, the wildcat spots near the crest of a small structural high, immediately downthrown to a down-to-the-southeast fault.

Two 4200' Edwards tests are scheduled for Bastrop County. The Plains Petroleum #1 Red Rock Ranch is located 5 miles southeast of Austin Chalk oil production at Dale Field, and less than a mile northeast of several shallower dry holes. In the northern part of the county, Energy Exploration will drill the #1 Oak Hill 5-114 miles southeast of old Austin Chalk, Buda, and Georgetown production at the inactive Sayersville Field. This test is about 1500' northeast of the Plains #1 Coffield, recently completed D&A at 4169' in Serpentine. Both wildcats appear to be located on regional southeast dip in an area of known "serpentine plugs".

Nicor Exploration will drill a 14,500' wildcat 1-113 miles north of Frio production at Red Fish Reef Field in Chambers County. The #1 State Tract 203 will evaluate middle and lower Frio sands, productive in the Exxon #188"A" Galveston Bay we11 (11.5 MMCFGPD-AOF) in Red Fish Reef Field. At the Nodosaria blanpiedi horizon the new test spots on the west flank of a nonproductive faulted structural high.

Farther east, also in Chambers County, Cox &

Byron F. Dyer I TECH-REPROGRAPHICS, INC. I

PETROLEUM CONVENTIONAL AND SIDEWALL CORE ANALYSIS

SPECIAL CORE ANALYSIS

lK?SiilMG OIL AND WATER ANALYSIS

% I 9 !FKa PVT STUDIES

Corporate Headquarters

Houston. TX Bakersf~eld Anchorage Santa Fe Spr~ngs ( 7 1 3) 680-2268 (805) 835-031 1 (907) 243-2822 (21 3) 698-0081

Houston Geologrcal Soclety Bulletin, October. 1989 44

Perkins will explore for productive Vicksburg sands at their #1 Peterson, scheduled t o 13,500' and situated between Frio production at Willow Slough North Field and Discorbis/Vicksburg gas production at Elwood Field. At the Nodosaria blanpiedi horizon, the wildcat spots in a small structural trough, between a pair of local down-to-the-basin faults.

Atapco has opened Isaac M Field in western Fort Bend County 3-114 miles southwest of Frio production at the one-well Krause Field. The #1 McFarlane, et al flowed 1,057 MCFGPD (1 1.3 MMCFGPD-AOF) from Frio perfs at 4512.19'. At the top Yegua horizon, the discovery appears to be located on the extreme southeast flank of the large Hungerford East Field structure.

South Louisiana Petro-Hunt will drill a 13,500' Cockfield (Yegua) test

2-112 miles west of Starks Field (Miocene, Anahuac and Frio production) in Calcasieu Parish. The #1 Walker-Louisiana Properties is also less than 3 miles south of two recent Cockfield discoveries; the Prairie #1 Hankamer (F/1,059 BOPD plus 8,965 MCFGPD), discovery of West Starks Field, and the Maralo #1 Iles (F/302 BOPD). At the Hayes horizon, the wildcat spots on regional southeast dip with local nosing.

In West Feliciana Parish, less than 4 miles northwest of Austin Chalk oil production at the one-well Thompson Creek Field, three lower Tuscaloosa tests will be drilled in close proximity to a pair of recently completed wildcats; the Mobil#l Spillman (D&A at 14,460') and the Griffin & Griffin #1 Munson, Jr. (temporarily abandoned at 14,105' with reported shows in the lower Tuscaloosa). The Griffin & Griffin #1 Spillman and #1 Woodland and the E. A. Epstein, Jr. #1 Minor are all scheduled for 14,000-14,200'. Lower Tuscaloosa structure here is regional southwest dip with local nosing.

Farther south, in eastern West Feliciana Parish, Elsbury & Ac ker are drilling ahead at the #1 Winters, et al, a 15,500' lower Tuscaloosa wildcat 4-114 miles northwest of abandoned lower Tuscaloosa production at Freeland Field. The new test is 1-114 miles east of the 15,350' Exxon #1 Harvey dry hole which logged well developed but water- bearing lower Tuscaloosa sands. Lower Tuscaloosa structure, here too, is regional southwest dip with local nosing.

Ensource has staked an 11,000' Vicksburg test 4-314

miles southwest of lower Miocene (lower Operc sand) production at Big Point Field in St. Tammany Parish. The #1 SL 12865 is also 4-1/4 miles southwest of a 22,904' dry hole, the Union Oil of California #2 SL 6753. There is no Het or Vicksburg production in the area. At the Marginulina ascensionensis horizon the wildcat spots on southwest dip off the Big Point down-faulted anticline.

Farther south, in LaFourche Parish, Statex Petroleum is drilling ahead at the #1 SL 13302, a projected 13,000' wildcat just over a mile southwest of Tex L, Big 2, Tex W and Big hum production at Little Lake Field. The new test should evaluate sands down through the upper Tex W. At the Big 2 horizon, the wildcat spots on the west flank of a large southward plunging anticline crossed by several faults.

MESOZOIC TREND East Texas

Prairie Producing will drill a 14,000' Jurassic wildcat 3-112 miles northeast of Smackover production at Southeast Ginger Field in northwestern Wood County. The #1 Finklea-German, et al is one mile southwest of the Trend Resources #1 Spelling, a 14,300' dry hole which wireline tested the Smackover at 13,620' with no details released. At the top Smackover horizon, the new test spots on the northwest bounding fault of a narrow, elongate graben within the Smackover downdip salt anticline trend of the East Texas Basin.

Farther east, in Upsur County, Exxon has staked their #2 Exxon/Fina L. V. Ray GU 1, an 18,000' deeper pool test in the Rosewood-West Gilmer Fields area, which, if completed, would be the deepest well drilled in the county.

SEEKING PROSPECTS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA

Pliocene .Miocene *Oligocene

TEXANA EXPLORATION CO., INC. ONE ALLEN CENTER, STE. 935

500 DALLAS STREET HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002

(71 3) 650-1 820 CONTACT: BILL HOWARD

S N C L A EXPLORATION COMPANY ERWIN ENERGY CORP.

We welcome submittals of prospects from independent geologists. Submittals may either be in the form of geological ideas which need to be leased or ready-to-drill prospects. Only propects with 100% interest available are requested-no fractional interests please. Onshore non-pipe tests with development potential are preferred.

SlNCLAlR EXPLORATION COMPANY / ERWIN ENERGY CORP. 81 5 WALKER, SUITE 1352, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 2 71 3 / 2 2 5 - 3 5 3 0

- -- - - - - -

45 Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullettn. October. 1989

Current production here is from Cotton Valley sands, with pays usually between 10,200' and 11,000'. The deepest test so far reached 13,078' in the Cotton Valley Lime. At the basal Cotton Valley sand horizon, the new venture spots on the east flank of the Rosewood Field structure. Structural development at the projected depth can only be speculated.

WANTED - TEXAS PROSPECTS Soliciting Oil and Gas Prospects in Texas RRC's 2, 3 and 4

Desired prospects will have potential formulti-pays. multi-wells and long term leases.

Funds for seismic to highgrade leads, and to fease drillable prospects, are available.

Will pay to principals only, finders fee and ORRl

ETHYL CORPORATION (Oil & Gas Division)

7600 GSRl Road Baton Rouge, LA 70820

(504) 768-6070

North Louisiana Big Joe Oil will drill an 8400' Wilcox test 3 miles west of

abandoned Wilcox production at the one-well Natchitoches Island Field in Avoyelles Parish. The #1 Santa Fe Fee H is about 800' west of an 8,356' dry hole (ASPCO #J-1 South- western Improvement Co.) which recovered a slight oil show in one sidewall core at 8,067'. Structure at the base Big Shale is regional south dip.

Alabama Fina Oil & Chemical has staked a 13,000' Norphlet

test 2 miles south of Smackover production at South Womack Hills Field in western Clarke County. The #1 Turner Land & Timber is 1-314 miles east of the one-well West Bend Smackover Field, and about 1300' northeast of the Cities Service #1 Turner dry hole which bottomed in salt at 13,504'. At the top Smackover horizon, the wildcat spots on the far west flank of an unproductive, faulted structural high.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS EUROPE

AUSTRIA RAG has announced a gas discovery at the Voeckla-

markt # I wildcat, located in the Upper Austria permit in the Molasse Basin. The discovery is located some 5 km west of the Puchkirchen Field, which produces gas from Oligocene and lower Miocene sandstones (2,10OMCFD), and some oil from Eocene and Paleocene clastics. The well was drilled to TD 2,580 m (8465').

IRELAND (Offshore) Marathon completed its four-well program in Block

48/20 in late June when the 48/20-5 wildcat was abandoned dry. Marathon discovered gas in 48120-2 in late March and confirmed the discovery in late May with 48120.4. NETHERLANDS (Offshore)

Mobil tested a combined 28,000 MCFGPD from two

Bunter zones in the P/12-10 deviated appraisal. Mobil now has two potentially commercial gas structures on PI12 and is considering development with exports via the existing P/6 facilities.

UNITED KINGDOM (Offshore) Conoco discovered gas in the 49/17-10 wildcat between

the Valiant and Victor gas fields. Test flows were not disclosed.

Total's 44123-g appraisal well in the newly named Caister Field which was abandoned in May is now reported to have tested 32,500 MCFGPD and 330 BCPD from the Carboniferous. The new field produces gas from the Bunter at 4500' and from the Carboniferous at 12,000'. Development of the field under consideration.

NEAR EAST OMAN (Onshore)

PDO has a deeper-pool gas/condensate discovery at the Saih Nihayda SE #3 in central Oman, 9 km southeast of the Saih Nihayda oil field discovery well. Testing conducted in June recorded 1,100 BCPD and about 20,000MCFGPD. A first estimate of recoverable reserves is 0.35 TCF, making it the fifth largest gas field in the country.

AFRICA EGYPT (Offshore)

Amoco announced a significant oil discovery at its Gulf of Suez wildcat October North 183-1, which reportedly flowed 20,170 BOPD (39.6" API) from the Miocene Upper Rudeis formation between 10,302' and 10,562'. Located in the southern block of Amoco's North October concession, the wddcat was drilled from the October D production platform. The October Field is currently producing about 120,000 BOPD, mainly from Lower Cretaceous Nubian A sandstones. October North 183-1 most likely tested clastics in a stratigraphic flank trap, downdip from the October Field.

LIBYA Zueitina Oil Co. discovered oil at its wildcat G- l -

NC074B, drilled 10 km west of Zella Field. The well flowed 495 BOPD of 48" API oil and 715 MCFGPD from the Lower Eocene Facha Dolomite member.

LATIN AMERICA BRAZIL (Offshore)

Petrobras' deep water wildcat 4-RJS-403 is a new-pool oil discovery in the Campos Basin off Rio de Janeiro. A test of the interval 2557-2566 m yielded 1,200 BOPD of 26" API oil from an Oligocene Carapebus turbidite sandstone. Location is in 563 m (1847') of water 2.5 km northeast of the Marlim well 4-RJS-377. The new pool, which extends over an area of 30 sq km, holds 500 million bbl in place, of which 125 million bbl are recoverable.

ECUADOR (Onshore) Elf Aquitaine reported that Yampuna 1 (TD 3389

m/11,119'), its second wildcat in Oriente Block 14, tested an aggregate 1,254 BOPD of 13"-22" API from Cretaceous Hollin and Napo sands. Elf's first test in the Block, Sunka-l (TD 3364 m/11,037') was abandoned in March after testing 970 BOPD of 18"-19" API from Napo sands.

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bulletin. October 1989 4 6

VENEZUELA (Onshore) Corpoven confirmed their deeper-pool wildcat Tejero-

1 as a major oil and gas discovery in the Greater Furrial structural trend of the Maturin Basin (Monagas). Official completion was restricted to a 14 m (46') interval which yielded 4,458 BOPD (27.8" API) and 14,502 MGFGPD below 4996 m ( 16,392') in the Oligocene Naricual sands. A lower pay (60') in the Naricual C-2 Unit tested 2,889 BOPD (35.8" API) and 27,446 MCFGPD below 5,046 m (16,556'). The f!nd is 52 km WSW of Maturin and 10.5 km west of the company's Carito 1 discovery. The Tejero Block is presently the most western segment of the Furrial structural trend to be successfully tested.

FAR EAST AUSTRALIA (South Australia)

Santos' Mettika 2, a wildcat in the Cooper-Eromanga onshore basin, was completed as a gaslcondensate discovery, flowing 8,100 MCFGPD and 112 BCPD from the Permian Patchawarra formation at 2376-2408 m (7796-7901').

INDIA (Onshore) ONGC's wildcat, Khoragat 3, in the Golaghat district

(Assam) discovered oil in July. Testing over the intervals 2488-2503 m (8163-8212') and 2459-65 m (8068-88') provided an aggregate 450 BOPD (31" API). This is the first well on the Khoragat structure.

TAIWAN (Offshore) CPC reportedly discovered a "large gas field" off the

south coast of Taiwan. The wildcat, located about 100 km off the southern coast, tested up to 27,000 MCFGPD from a reservoir at about 3350-3395 m (10,991-11,139'). This marks the first discovery on Taiwan's southern shelf.

Internationa/ da ta nrovided bv P E T R O C O N - SULTANTS

BILL EISENHARDT Consultant, Geol. Representative-Geomap Co.

WOOLEY EXPLORATION Actively seeking oil & gas

prospects in Texas & Louisiana. Close-in or wildcats - preferably

open acreage ideas - Normal pressure prospects. 3657 Briarpark, Suite 105

Houston, Texas 77042 (713) 781-8974

SONAT TOWER 5599 San Felipe

P.O. Box 1513 Houston, Texas 77251

DISTRICT OFFICES

TYLER OKLAHOMA CITY

SHREVEPORT

Lauritzen Energy, Inc. 31 31 Eastside, Suite 525 Houston, Texas 77098 Phone: (71 3) 520-5577

Lauritzen Energy, Inc. is looking for prospects

and drillable ideas in Texas RR Districts 1, 2, 3 and 6. The prospects should be

non-pipe tests.

Contact

Barry Weaver or

Bill Elliott

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bulletin. October 1989

"Support those who support our Sociecy. "

154,000 Miles In The Gulf Of Mexico STATE OF THE ART HIGH RESOLUTION SEISMIC DATA

OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF / SLOPE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

SOUTH TIMBALIER CHANNEL MISSISSIPPI DELTA STATICS Refraction scatic corrections applied to remove 1,000 miles of refraction corrected data on the time distortions of the channel. hlississippi Delta Platform.

INTERPRETATIONS STATE WATERS COVERAGE Intetgraled geological and geophysical structure maps Recent surveys include over 3,500 miles of and cross sections available across thc enlirc shelr area. state waters coverage in Louisiana and Texas.

TGS OFFSHORE GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY

TGS 333 CLAY STREET SUITE 3900 HOUSTON , TEXAS 77002, ,

For additional information please contact : Barry Eastland , Rob Brooks or Woody Hardman '

Telephone : (713) 951-0853 Telex : 295 832 Telecop~er : (71 3) 739-71 30

Houston Geolog~cal Soclety Bulletrn. October 1989 48

SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS SEISMIC COVERAGE

TGS TGS ONSHORE GEOPHYSICAL COMPANY 333 C L A Y SUITE 3900 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL : (7 13) 95 1-0853

EXPLORING THE GULF COAST

PEL-TEX OIL COMPANY Five Post Oak Park, Suite 1530

Houston, Texas 77027 (713)439-1630

EARL P. BURKE, JR. - President

JOEL T. MILNER - Execut ive V.P.-Finance

JOHN H. BAlR - Geologist

BRIAN D. BURKE - Geologist

GLENN P. BURKE - Geologist

DALE E. COULTHARD - Geologist

STEPHEN J. FOLZENLOGEN - Geologist

DONALD J. SCHIELE - Geologist

CHARLES A. SAGE - Landman

Terra-Mar PC Software for the

Geosciences

STIW - Interpolation Modelliiig Seisniic Modelling System - Block Modelling

Synthetics Plus - Syntlietic Seismograms Attribute+ - Attribute Analysis

Log Assist - Log Editing

LOP 'hdysis Petrophysics Plus

Call or Write today ror :I Tree clen~ostration diskette of program

output. Terra-Mar orrers a 30 day trial installation for all the above software,

ask for details.

Terra-Mar 19 Briar Hollow Lane

Suite 241 Houston, TX 77027

(713) 623-8070

PALEO=DATA, 1NC. 6619 Fleur de Lis Drive

New Orleans, Louisiana 701 24 (504) 488-37 1 1

T. Wayne Campbell John B. Dunlap, Jr.

Francis S. Plaisance, Jr. Arthur S. Waterman Albert F. Porter, Jr. Michael W. Center Norman S. Vallette

supports the

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Houston Geolog~cal Soclety Bulletin. October 1989 50

EXPLORATION ISTS

Is this bookshelf indicative of your professional growth in recent years?

Successful professionals grow by consuming knowledge contributed by others as well as by their own experiences.

I. Choose any three of the following books for ONLY $15.00!!!

Regular Price

1. Deltas in Their Geologic Framework . . . . . . . $15.00 2. Deltas - Models for Exploration . . . . . . . . . $25.00 3. Houston Area Environmental Geology:

Surface Faulting, Ground Subsidenm, I l amrd Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00

1. Abnormal Subsurface Pressure . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 5. 1,ignitc Resources in East-Central Texas . . . . . . $8.00 6. Oil I'ields, Subsidence and Surface Faulting

in the l louston Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00

11. PLUS - with any purchase from I. above, take lS700ff the regular price of -

Typical Oil and G a s Fields of Southeast Texas, Volume 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60.00

I TYPICAL OIL AND GAS FIELDS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS VOLUME I1 G.K. BURNS, Editor

I EXPERIENCE SELLS PROSPECTS and the Houston Geological Society sells experience with the publication of Typical Oil and Gas Fields of Southeast Texas, Volume I I There is no more useful information to an explorationist than broad and intimate knowledge of fields. And at 66$ per field, there's no better bargain! Take a look:

I n Ninety field reports including maps, cross sections, type logs, text, production data, and more

I A synopsis of the regional geology

I " More than 400 pages of information . . . $60.00

The Houston Geological Society sells kncwledge at rock bottom prices!!

Save up to 70% through December 31, 1989

111. PLUS -New I-IGS Publications at regular prices - 1. Houston Geological Society Membership

Directory, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15.00

2. Directory of Oil Company Name Changes, Third Edition, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00

3. Exploration Software and Data Sources for Micros, Third Edition, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . $18.00

IV. Mditional Publications

Finding Deep Sands in the Gulf Coast Tertiary . . $10.00

Cross Sections

Stratigraphic Cross Sections of Southeast Texas . $25.00

Field Trip Guidebooks

Field Studies of the Big Bend, Trans-Pews Region. Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00

Damon Mound, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8.00 Lignite Resources in East-Central Texas . . . . . . $3.00 Lower Tertiary of the Brazos River Valley . . . . $12.00 Oil Fields, Subsidence, and Surface Faulting

in the Houston Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3.00

r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ALL ORDERS MUST BE PREPAID Total of Publtcatlons Requested $

1 I ENCLOSE CHECK OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION Texas Res~dents lncl 8% Sales Tax

I I Make check payable to Earth Enterprises, Inc.

P 0. Box 672 Sh~pplng 8 Handlmg Charges - If total IS I Mall To

I

Austin, Texas 78767 less than $10 00 add $1 00 $1001 $2500 add $2 00 I

1 Telephone 5121345-3007 Card Account Card

$2501 - 8 5 0 0 0 add $3 00 I I Number Here Exp~rat~on

$5001 $10000 add $4 00 greater than $100 00 add $5 00

I I Mastercard

1 rr~:~rlm 1 11 T x Fore~gn Orders add 53 Oor\/olurne I

I TOTAL $

I I Signature - I I S H I P T O Name I I Address -- I

C~ty, State, Zip Code


FORNEY & McCOMBS

OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida

Forney & McCombs is actively seeking high quality drillable prospects or development of geological/geophysical ideas or leads. We can operate or participate with proven industry companies. Partial interests are acceptable.

5599 SAN FELIPE SUITE 1200 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056 (713) 621-0033

PEND O R E I L L E O I L 8 GAS COMPANY 1100 MILAM, SUITE 3700 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002

713/658-8308

Active& see king Quality Gulf Coast Prospects Please contact: Steve Golas, Phil Fleming, or Randy Nichols

WESTERN GEOPHYSICAL

International A L#nOn/DreSSer Compny

10,001 Richmond Avenue P.O. Box 2469 Houston, Texas 77252-2469 (71 3) 789-9600, Telex 762406 Fax (71 3) 789-01 72

5934 Bingle ~ d i ~ o k t o n , TX 77092 Tel.: (71 31 462-7847

1. Standard Geological Mud Logging 2. Total Computer Logging Service 3. Pressure Evaluation 4. Wellsite Geologist

Jackie Small, President Neil Cobb, V.P.

Houston Geological Society Bulletin, October 1989 5 2


VICTOR H. ABADIE III CONSULTING GEOLOGIST

CERTIFIED PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST, AAPG. NO 3936 CALIFORNIA REGISTERED GEOLOGIST LIC NO 4040

BILL BAEHR CONSULTING GEOPHYSICIST

WS. (nq zn-0131 8302 BRAESVIEW ws. ( n ~ ) m-ai2 HOUSTON. TEXAS non

I BAILEY & HATFIELD 011 6 US PROSPECTS

I H. BAILEY - GEOPHYSICIST 171 3) 926-9934 L HATFIELO - 6EOL061ST 1409) 756-41 91

BUYING OR SELLING: PROOUCTION PROSPECTS

OVERRIDES ROYACTIES LEASES

BREW A. BARKER

PO. Box 1402 Hanbn. Tsxu 77251 -1402 (713) 827-7348

TRANS-TEXAS GAS CORPORATION

James H Barksdale 111 Pres~deni

Tel 7 13/880-083 1

Fax 713/8801)83:

Robert H. Barton Presldenl

Spectra Resources lnc. 11 11 1 Wllcrest Green Swte 201 Houston. TX 77042 713 974 6061

- BSC 8 6 S Explorason, Inc

JAMES B BENNETT RANDALL SCHOll G = m Gsoernrss

Tribow Oil And Gas Corp. DUR70N C DOWEN Pnsld*nt 1 0 1 0 UMM

hll* I MO

WIUIAM 0 TURNiR Houston lX 77001

(n0bplll

RODERT H FOl lDt T ~ k p h o m C r o l o a l % ~ (7 13) 630.3614

CROSBIE-MACOMBER PALtONlOIOGICAI LABORAIORI 'NC

Wm. A. Brantley, Jr. Swle 4

THOMAS M REILLY 2705 Dlv~ston Street FRANK J KLOOR. Ill Melame, LA 70002 W GRANT BLACK. JR (504)885-3930

EARL BURKE

AAPO GROUP INSURANCE PRODRAM SFA3 GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAM

JOHN D. BREMSTELLER BARBARA BREMSTELLER

1013 S A N JACINTO BL.DD HOUSTON. T X 77-

T. WAYNE CAMPBELL PALEO-DATA. INC.

CONSULTING PALEONTOLOGIST AND GEOLOGIST

6619 FLEUR De LIS DRIVE NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA 70121

(504) 488-371 1

GENEOS P E T E C O K I N O S PETROLEUM A N 0 GEOLOGlCAL

ENGlNEEFIlNG CONSULTANT lNOEPENOENTP~OOUCEFlANOOPEFIATOR

OUlSlANA TEX

JACK COlLE

JACK COLLE & ASSOCIATES CONSULTING GEOLOGIST 5 PALEONrOLOGlSl

91 1 WALKER SUITE 321 HOUSTON TEXAS 71002

JACK COLLE J G WAAC 713 2288221 713 22882 AES 822 9555 RES 451 72'

+!= W. F. COOKE, JR.

800 T U L L Y , S U I T E 2 0 4

H O U S T O N T E X A S 7 7 0 7 9

( 7 1 3 ) 5 3 1 - 9 2 9 0

713 360 2711 P O Ror 5181 Kmgwood

Te rv 77339

Marilyn Crane Consulting Paleontologist

Forammdera dr O~:iscoder lurmrlc lo Rcccni Spectahze tn Gulf Cowl md Offrhore Allmuc

KENNETH E. DAVIS GEOLOGICAL CONSULTANT

1 0 8 0 6 Archmonl Houslon. Texas 7 7 0 7 0 Res. 7 131469-8727

BOB DRAKE

PALE0 MARKETING, INC.

5525 N X T H WFST CENlML SUIEDlOl

H3VSTrn. TDW 77092

OFFCE 713-690-4255

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bulletm October 1989

"Suppost those who support our Society."

WOLF LAND COMPANY

M.L. "Newt" Feldman Senat Expbralan Adwsor

Cenlfled Petroleum Geobqst #3918

5353 W. Alabama Bus. (71 3) 871 -9000 Houslm. T%as 77056-5922 Res: (713) 556-1 784

James W. Fowler Geologist

372 The Maln Building 1212 M a ~ n Street iousfon. Texas 77002

011 7131651-3017 Res 7131444.4269

24 HOUR (71 3) 523-9888

PETRO-CORE S E R V I C E CO. CORE ANALYSIS & SAMPLE STORAGE

JOHN GARROTT JR. P.O. BOX 1924 RES: (713) 494-7259 SUGAR LAND, TX 77487

JOHN GREEN JOHN W. GREEN CO.

Geophysical Consult ing and Management

27 Amer~cana Building I I Dallas S t r m offif; (713)757-1156 louston, Texas 77002 Homc: (713) 465-21 15

408 H E Y M A N N BLVO OFFICE 13181 234 3379 P 0 BOX51858 HOME13181 235 1923 LAFAYETTE LA70505

Clrde E. Harrison CONSULTING GEOLOGIST

SUITE 780 17131 658-9115 ONE ALLEN CENTER XRTIFIED PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST HOUSTON TEXAS 77002

PETCONS & ASSOCIATES PETROI.El'M CONSI LTAKTS

STUART HASTINGS CHAIRMAN

MI4 BRAES MEADOW ORIVt HOI STON. TFXAS 11W1

13314 Tosco Lone

JOHN H. HEFNER nouston Texas 77079

Computer Consultant ( 71 3) 468-9495

P.O. Box 441372 (713)497-7693 Houston. TX 772441372

HAROLD V. HILTON Certified Petroleum Geologist

CPG I304

Speidizing in South Louisiana

EXPLORATION-SEDIMENTATION-PALE0

9039 K A N FREEWAY (713) 465-4134 3UILDING2W SUITE219 CERTIFIED PETROLEUM GEOLOGIS' HOUSTON TEXAS 77024 PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

J. R. JACKSON, JR P e t r o l e u m C o n s u l t a n t

635 RAMBLEWOOD RD HOUSTON TEXAS 77079

(7131497 1861

L A R R Y L J O N E S PRESIDENT

I l l>? MTY FRWY SUITE Rm

SPARTAN PTTROI EUM HOUSTON TEXAS 17079 CORPORATION 71\/49\ 1022

Don Kling 51 21 883-5662

1142 The OCCl Build~ng Corous Christ) Texas 78473

THE RUFE LeBLANC SCHOOL OF CLASTIC SEDIMENTS

Houston Geolog~cal Soc~ety Bullet~n. October 1989

EDWARD McFARLAN, J R GEOLOGICAL CONS111 1 AYT

RESIDENCE OFFlCt I N 3 1 GAWALN LANE 3131 W ALABAM4 \1'I11 5 3 1 HOUSTON T€YAS 77024 HOUSTON EXA5 '-ova (713) 464 OjOb (713) 529 4134

IOP11 llO1.l.y SPHIN(2Y IIOURTON. TEXAS 7 7 M O

EVELYN WlLlE M O O D Y -,

CONSULTING GEOLOGIST OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION

SUBSURFACE STUDIES TECHNICAL PAPERS

956 THE MAlN BLDG. OFF 713-6544072 1212 MAIN ST. RES 71 3-789-5999 HOUSTON. TEXAS 77002 CERTIFIED 113540

Kenneth E. Nelson Consulting Geophys ic i s t

(713) 4618402 1210 Wisrerwood Houston. Texas 77043

SALT TECTONICS INTERNATIONAL. INC.

Workshops. Interpretations. Evaluations

2203 Timberloch Place Thomas H. Nelson Drawer 51. suite 100

The Woodlands, h 77380

(71 31 363-1 952

Consultong Petroleum. Nalural Gas 6 Geolog~cal Englneer

Harry E. Otell, Jr. Petroleum Consultant

5347 Oueensloch Houslon Texas 77096

GARY W. PAI.MER, P. E. Consulting Pctmleum EMineer


I.J. "PETE" PITRE CONSUL TlNG GEOPHYSlClS T

3511 TAMUIISK UNE MISSOURI CITY. TEXAS 77459

JOSEPH O. PUTMAN ,111

18002 Kempton Park

370-2241 Spr~ng. Texas 77379 8584601

RAYMOND D. REYNOLDS

PRESIDENT 4091295 5 5 M THE REYNOLDS COUPANY PO B O X W S

I01 NORMAL PARK SUITE 201 HUNTSVILLE TEXAS 113428685

SUITE WW) ONE A W CENTER

Cecil R. Rives PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST

>00 OAUAS STREET HOUSTON. TEXAS 77002

DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS INTERPRETATIONS

DAN SCOPEN CONSULTING GEOPHYSICIST

(714) 337-7008 (713) 4967526 (818) 3390849 P O Box 2218 524 S. Barranca St Blue Jay, Ca 92317 West Covma. Ca. 91791

SHIELD DEVELOPMENT UID..lma

u ELGEAN C. S H I E L D

President

300 Shepherd Sulle 'D' Bus 17131 861 ~ 2 0 1 0 Houston. Texas 77007 Res 17131 520~0303

DOMESTIC FOREIGN

LEO SHISHKEVISH STRATCO

MICROPALEONTOLOGY 12422 PERTHSHIRE PALEOECOLOGY HOUSTON, TEXAS 77024 REGIONAL GEOLOGY 171 3) 464-4794

CRAMON STANTON ."..10.*.

CRAYON STANTON. INC. "0. .."IYO. DY*.. OIW. OIL. .U . I I * .UL "SOU"=.. HOUS~ON. TIXIS 77069 .x. LOUTIOM. O.V.LO.II*.~W

.w-Ol. 1-11 7 t l DO"...IC. CO".I.*

E. H. STORK, Jr. Consulting Geologist & Paleontolog~st

Specializing in Biostratigraphy

Paleoecology - Geologic Interpretations

E. H. Stork., Jr. & Assoc's.

2190 N. Loop West

Off. Ph. (713) 956-5026 Suite 308 Res. Ph. (713) 466-9064 Houston, TX 77018

UPLORATtON CONSULTANT THE SWINWNI mUILDING

OIL 8 PROPERTOES 214 WEST I)TH STRCET

5121863-751s GEORGETOWN. TEXLO 78626

L O Y D TUTLE & PALE0 CONTROL, INC.

MICROPALEONTOLOGY PALEOECOLOGY

C.M. QUIGLEY. JR Oobslr--

BARRY K VAN SANM PE MBA

VAN SANM & ASSOCIATES, INC. Perrokvm Englncer~ng Consullonrr

and Fmancvd Anulyrrr

9525 Katv Freeway Sutte 138 Off 713,465 3792 Houston, Texas 77024 Res 713/467 7256

17911 Fall Rlwr Crcle Howton. Texas 77090

w W A L T E R O I L & G A S C O R P O R A T I O N

J C Walter. JI Pre%denl

240 The Mstn Bu8ldtng. 1212 Mat" Street Houston Texas 77W2 1713165S1221

AUGUSTUS 0. WILSON SAKER GEOLOGICAL SERVICES

ClRBONLTE GEOLOGV 331 WEST 3310 S T EXPLORAT,OI( LND ~ O O U C T I O N HOUSTON T E X 1 5 77018

George F. Watford -1nverrrnenrs-

700 Cltlcorp Center 1200 Smrth Street

Houston, Texas 77002

Nelson B. Yoder. President ~ p 8 c l 8 l l z l n g I n c 8 r b o n m t 8 8 x p l o r 8 t l o n

P 0 Box 1546 0 3903 Sour 501 (Old Hwy 146)

LaPorte. Texas 77572 . (713) 471-8406 nr 071-2070 1

Houston Geologcal Society Bulletm. October 1989


Ashton & Associates Bosworth Oil Company Bounty Group, Inc. Core Laboratories Dibler Seismic Services, Inc. Marc B. Edwards Ethyl Corporation Evergreen Oil & Gas Exlog, Inc. Forney & McCombs Four Star Printing Co. Geco Geo Lab Geomap Company Geophysical Trend Corp. GeoQuest International Great Western Drilling Co. Houston Creative Connections, Inc. Hydrexco

ADVERTISERS Lauritzen Energy. Inc. Mammoth Oil & Gas, Inc. McKenzie Petroleum Company Micro-Strat lnc. Norcene Explorer, Inc. Omni Paleo Control, Inc. Paleo Data, Inc. Pel Tex Oil Company Pend Oreille Oil & Gas Co. Petroleum Information Petroleum Testing Services, Inc. Petrophysics. Inc. PetroScan, North America, Inc. Pierce Petroleum Plains Petroleum Operating Co. Pilgrim Exploration Corp. Prairie Producing Co. Res Tech Houston Reservoirs, lnc.

Sinclair Exploration Company Sonat Exploration TGS Offshore Geophysical Co TGS Onshore Geophysical Co. Tauris Exploration, Inc. Tech-Reprographics, Inc. Teledyne Exploration Terra-Mar Terra Resources, Inc. Texana Exploration Co., Inc. TerraTek Tidwell Engineering Texas Crude J. Loyd Tuttle Union Texas Petroleum Wentworth Energy Inc. Wesson Energy Corporation Western Geophysical Wooley Exploration

BOSWORTH OIL COMPANY Actively Seeking Prospects

Contact: Cecelia Armstrong 1212 Main Street, Suite 546

Houston, Texas 77002 (71 3) 951 -9351

P L A I N S

PLAINS PLTROI.EU M OPERATIN(; COMPANY

2500 EAST T.C. JESTER SUITE 550

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77008

(7 13) 880-22 I8

Geophysical Trend Corporation

DATA SALES DATA STORAGE VELOCITY SUWEYS

SUSAN W. CULP, Houston Mgr.

1980 Post Oak Blvd. 234 Loyola Ave. Ste. 1320 Ste. 320

Houston, Tx. 77056 New Orleans, La. 701 12 (71 3) 623-0099 (504) 524-51 73

W ESSON ENERGY CORPORATION

A PITTS ENERGY COMPANY

500 Rleadows Building Dallas, Texas 75206

(214) 369 - 9266

EXP1,OKATION A N D PRODUCTION

I N T H E JURASSIC SMACKOVER

FOUR & T A R

7- *

Co.

"YOUR ONE STOP PRINT SHOP" 691 6 Ashcroft . Houston. Texas 77081

Houston Geolog~cal Society Bullet~n. October 1989

"Support those who support our Sociefy."

Q GEOMAP COMPANY

3701 Kirby Drive, Ste. 7 5 0 Houston, Texas 77098

EXTENSIVE GULF COAST GEOLOGY! MARKETING-TECHNICAL

REPRESENTATIVES

Gregg Watts. Manager

30 Regional Geologic Mapping Services Houston. TX

Scott Kuykendall, Geologist

Spotted Base Maps Houston. TX

Steve Oivanki, Geologist

Gulf Coast Production Maps - Blueline Prints and Color Coded Jackson. MS

Bill Eisenhardt, Geologist

Microfiche Well Logs for Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Houston. TX

Louisiana, and SE New Mexico Walter S. Light. Jr.. Geologist Houston. TX

Full Color Executive Reference Maps

Memberships Available in our Geological Data Libraries in Houston, Plano, and Midland

Robert Scott, Geologist San Antonio. TX

0 . L. Smith. Geologist Tyler. TX

HOUSTON PLAN0 MIDLAND OUTSIDE TEXAS (7 1 3) 520-8989 (2 14) 578-0571 (9 15) 682-3787 1-800-527-2626

Get rapid quantitative identification of minerals, including clays, with Mineralog

Rapid, cost-effective, and accurate Core Laboratories' MineralogTM, a quantitative identification service using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, is faster and less expensive than traditional methods of identifying minerals. It is accurate to +5 weight percent.

Data you need when you need them most Mineral data are critical, influencing every- thing from log calibration, to the selection of drilling and production fluids, to control of formation damage. Mineralog analysis can be performed in a well-completion time frame and is suitable for conventional core, sidewall core, and drill cuttings. These measurements

6 Western Atlas Internat~onal. Inc C89-051

not only provide quantitative data for cali- brating wireline logs, they provide a thorough mineral characterization of the well selection.

"The best thing to happen to sidewall core analysis in the last fifteen years" hat's what an exploratiod geologist with a leading major called Mineralog. We call it The Interpretive EdgeTM. Let us give you the Edge on your next well.

Western Atlas International

A L8nmlDr-r Company 10201 Westheimer Houston. Texas 77042-4299 (71 3) 266-5700

Mineralog and The Interpretive Edge are trademarks cl Core Laboratores. Western Atlas lnternatoml Inc

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