Government Updateby Henry M. Wise, P.G. and Arlin Howles, P.G.PE Board Water Quality Planning Stakeholders MeetingThe stakeholders meeting on the proposed Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) Policy Advisory Statement on water quality planning was held on January 11, 2005 and was heavily attended by approximately 30 people.  The TBPE had also received a large number of written statements, including one from the HGS Board of Directors.  With the large stakeholder response, the TBPE will rewrite the policy opinion and hold another stakeholders meeting in February.  See the separate article for a more in-depth review by Arlin Howes.From the Texas Register The January 7, 2005 Texas Register contains an opinion that may be relevant to the use of the Professional Geoscientist Seal.  The question was whether the seal of a professional engineer licensed in Texas may be placed on engineering plans, specifications, and other documents relating to projects not to be constructed in Texas (RQ-0244-GA).  The opinion’s summary states, “A professional engineer licensed in Texas must place his seal on engineering plans, specifications, plats, and reports prepared under authority of his Texas license, even if the project will not be constructed in Texas.  Whether documents prepared and sealed by an engineer under authority of his Texas license may legally be used for construction in another state or country depends upon the laws of that jurisdiction.”TCEQ Applications for Air Permit by RuleThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) now provides a new service for facilities applying for an air authorization under a Permit by Rule (such as used for permitting soil vapor extraction equipment).  Applicants can now complete the PI-7 form on-line and submit it, along with a Core Data Form, checklists, and other supporting documents.  The signature line has been removed from the form PI-7 to accommodate electronic submittals of the form.  These forms can be found on their Website. DOI Estimates More Natural Gas ReservesThe Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced an interim update of offshore energy resources that estimates undiscovered technically recoverable offshore gas resources at 406.1 trillion cubic feet.  This mean estimate for 2003 is 12 percent higher than MMS''s 2000 national assessment of 362.2 tcf.MMS releases the broad national assessments every five years, while offering the interim updates "in response to significant information obtained from new exploration and development activity, and on occasion to incorporate major improvements in methodology and modeling."Gas resources in the Gulf of Mexico account for much of the increase, with the new interim update showing total Gulf reserves at 232.5 tcf, compared to roughly 192 tcf in the 2000 national assessment.  Increased estimates of so-called deep shelf recoverable resources, which are gas reserves more than 15,000 feet below the sea floor, contributed to the new estimates, according to MMS.In other news, the interim update and information provided by MMS shows a 1 percent increase in offshore oil resources, to 76 billion barrels.  That includes a jump of 1.2 billion barrels of estimated resources in the Atlantic Ocean based on the information gained from recent Canadian drilling, bringing the Atlantic total to 3.5 Bbbl.Other areas were nearly unchanged, with the Gulf and Pacific Ocean mean oil estimate slightly lower, while the Alaska estimate was a tad higher.  The assessment cautions that some resources were not included in the new estimate because the figures take into account 2 billion barrels of oil and 8 tcf of gas that "were discovered and moved to the reserves category during this time period."  The interim update does not address what portion of the reserves are currently commercially viable to extract.  The update is available online.  Education/Evolution UpdatePennsylvaniaOn December 14, eleven parents from Dover, Pennsylvania, represented by the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and attorneys from Pepper Hamilton LLP, filed suit in federal court to overturn the "intelligent design" policy of the Dover Area School Board.  The plaintiffs in Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District argue that teaching intelligent design, which consists of creationist criticisms of evolution that are supposed to lead to the conclusion that supernatural intervention by an "intelligent designer" must have been responsible for the history of life, is government establishment of religion when taught as science in a public school science class.  Vic Walczak, attorney for the Pennsylvania chapter of the ACLU, said that "Teaching students about religion''s role in world history and culture is proper, but disguising a particular religious belief as science is not," at the press conference announcing the suit.  He added, "Intelligent design is a Trojan Horse for bringing religious creationism back into public school science classes."Reaction to the complaint was swift.  A trenchant editorial in the York Dispatch began by observing, "The intelligent design/creationist clique on the Dover Area School Board now have the national media attention they''ve been angling for -- and so much for their mandated responsibilities to the students and district residents," and went on pointedly to describe the procedure for running for school board. Angie Yingling, a member of the Dover Area School Board who initially voted for the policy but later reversed her position and threatened to resign over the policy, told the Associated Press, "Anyone with half a brain should have known we were going to be sued."  The Discovery Institute issued a press release calling on the board to withdraw and rewrite its policy. But Richard Thompson, an attorney for the Thomas More Law Center, which describes itself as a "not-for-profit public interest law firm dedicated to the defense and promotion of the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life," indicated that his firm would represent the Dover Area School District to defend the "intelligent design" policy.  Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, Thompson acknowledged that "religious implications" of "intelligent design," but expressed confidence in the prospects for a legal victory.  NCSE''s Nicholas Matzke took a different view, saying, "Evolution is great science and this intelligent design stuff is religiously motivated pseudo-science," adding, "it seems like a pretty clear-cut case to us."

Article and Photos
by Arthur E. Berman,
editor@hgs.org

From the Editor    

March , 2005    

The End of a Stage
by Arthur E. Berman

End of a Stage* is possibly the best short story ever written. I first read End of a Stage (Fin de Etapa) in the 1990s and life keeps returning me to it. In the story, Diana visits a provincial art museum in a sleepy town in Argentina.  Here she encounters a series of paintings that hover somewhere between art and realism.  The theme of all the works consists of scenes from inside a house with repetitive geometric patterns of tables, chairs, windows and an occasional distant person with back turned.  The museum closes for lunch before Diana can see the final work, in a separate room by itself, considered special by the artist, according to the museum’s guard.  After lunch she walks through the town and encounters an open door to a courtyard and, within, a deserted house also with an open door.. When she enters the house she realizes that this house and its various rooms are the source for the paintings she saw earlier in the day in the museum.. As End of a Stage builds to a climax that involves discovering her destiny, Diana finds herself racing back and forth between the museum and the house, trying to determine what is real and what is a reflection and representation of life.
HGS 2005 Budget Deficit
Like Diana in Cortázar’s short story, the Houston Geological Society Bulletin has reached the end of a stage. The HGS’s projected budget deficit for 2005 is between $85,000 and $128,000.  About 40% of the deficit is due to payroll and the next biggest component is the Bulletin.  Membership is down to about 3800 from nearly 5000 a few years ago.  Advertising income for the Bulletin is down; this is, in part, is counteracted by advertising income on the Website.  Attendance at technical meetings (HGS General Luncheon and Dinner meetings, International and North American Explorationists meetings, Northsiders meeting) is down, especially luncheon meetings.
The HGS receives a major infusion of income whenever it hosts the AAPG annual meeting—nearly $200,000 from the last meeting in Houston in 2002.  It will be two more years before income from the 2006 meeting begins to flow and, ideally, alleviate the deficit we have.  The amount of the AAPG influx is not certain.  In the meantime, changes must be made to cut costs, and the Bulletin is the largest segment of  the deficit where costs can be controlled.
“Are we in financial danger?” asks HGS Treasurer Ken Nemeth.
“This year, no.  Despite the deficit, we have funds that we can withdraw from Schwab (our savings reserve account).  We were fortunate to have had that big influx from AAPG [in 2002] to get us in to the Private Clients section [a preferred level of investment return from Schwab].  However, we have taken out $55,000 since June 1 [2004] and will probably take another $30,000 out by the end of the fiscal year.  Can we ‘refill’ the account? Only if we get another $200K from the next convention [AAPG 2006 Annual Meeting].”
The HGS Bulletin currently costs approximately $16,000 per issue.  Advertising covers about 2/3 of the cost and membership dues help some, though not very much.  The magazine’s cost is a function of the number of pages we design and print so the obvious way to reduce Bulletin cost is to reduce the number of pages in each issue.

The March of Technology
I have written every month about the role of technology and the necessary but uncomfortable change that it brings.  Last month I suggested that the World Wide Web really began in 1883, when news of Krakatoa’s eruption brought geology and the restless Earth to the forefront of everyone’s consciousness.  A new network of  submarine telegraph cables changed the pace of information in the world forever.
For the past eight years, the HGS’s own piece of the World Wide Web, the HGS Website, has quietly grown, thanks largely to the vision and persistence of Bill Osten and with the help of many members.  For at least the last two years, with a major revision and update of the Website and hiring Dave Crane as Webmaster, the HGS Website has become increasingly important in the life of our Society.  The Bulletin and the Website have become more closely integrated and intertwined.  Members have come to see both as sources of information about, and interaction with, the organization.
Like Diana in End of a Stage, we find ourselves going back and forth between the Bulletin and the Website searching for destiny or perhaps just trying to figure out how to register for the next HGS event that interests us.  We are unquestionably at the end of a stage in which the print and electronic voices of the HGS were separate.

The Next Stage for the Bulletin
Last month we tried an experiment.  We put the entire Bulletin on the HGS Website a few days before members received the print version in the mail.  What appeared at the end of January at http://www.hgs.org/2005/February was a fully interactive Bulletin.  It combined sites already developed by Webmaster Dave Crane to give information about technical talks and other HGS events, with PDF extractions of the features and columns in the February Bulletin.  My February “From the Editor” column was presented with full-color figures (unlike the print version) that Dave made “clickable” so they could be zoomed and copied at high resolution.  This was really exciting!
The March 2005 Bulletin has a new format that is different from previous issues.  

Declining Science Education Puts Nation at Riskby Steve LevineIs the United States losing its edge in science education? Science graduates from U.S. universities decrease each year. Will many, if not most, of the world’s future scientific discoveries come from outside the United States?These concerns are supported by test results and graduation statistics. Military leaders, major corporations, and immigration authorities are keeping an eye on this dangerous trend. As scientists, we must be advocates for better science education for our youth. It is critical for the success of our state and nation.The State of Science in the State of TexasThe state of Texas must improve science education. Assessments of U.S. science proficiency scores for grade 8 public school students show that Texas trails 24 other states among a pool of 42 states and U.S. territories. Results from the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests further show that those only four states significantly trail Texas: California, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Mississippi.Even in Connecticut, the state with the highest NAEP science achievement test results, news is discouraging with 65% of the grade 8 students scoring below basic or basic scores. Just 35% of the students were assessed proficient (31%) or advanced (4%). Texas results show that an astonishing 77% of grade 8 students earned below basic or basic scores! A mere 23% of the students received proficient to advanced scores.The NAEP 2005 assessment in science is to be administered again to U.S. students in the first quarter of 2005 in grades 4, 8, and 12. Results will be released in the spring of 2006 and, hopefully, the scores will not decline much further.Asian Nations Lead in Science Test ResultsAverage U.S. science scores between 1995 and 2003 for some grade levels improved slightly relative to other surveyed nations. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) results showed that grade 4 U.S students performed above average, scoring 536 vs. the international average of 489. Grade 8 U.S. students also outperformed their peers in 32 of the 44 surveyed countries. Singapore, Korea, the Hong Kong sector of China, and Japan showed much higher results than other nations surveyed while Belgium and Sweden dropped significantly. Sweden has since committed to revamping its entire science education program.Fewer Science Graduates at U.S. Universities At universities in the United States, first degrees in science are awarded to only 11% of graduates. Of this pool of science graduates, over half (53%) of degrees awarded were in life sciences, followed by 22% in computer science, 16% in the physical sciences (includes the geosciences), and 10% in mathematics and statistics. Declining science enrollments by U.S. students has lead Congress to increase the number of student visas issued to qualified foreign nationals.Because university funding levels are based largely on enrollment, geoscience and other relatively smaller departments now find themselves with insufficient resources for scholarships, student research and faculty staffing.What Steps Can We Take as Scientists?Get involved! Volunteer in area schools during Earth Science Week or at other times with a local school district’s science research center. Participate as a judge in a local science fair such as the upcoming 46th Annual Science & Engineering Fair of Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center, March 17-19. Volunteer at the Houston Museum of Science (HMNS) or other community museum, even if it is only a few hours a year. Encourage your own children to consider science as a career.The Houston Geological Society will continue to support youth education programs. Volunteers are needed in the fall to assist with Earth Science Week and the Houston Gem and Mineral show. I encourage our members to get involved for our nation’s sake![For a PDF version of this article, see http://www.hgs.org/2005/March/PresidentsLetter/]

Gold! HMNS Adult Education ProgramsThis article is also available as a two-page Word DOC file. America’s First Gold Rush and the Double EagleBrent Glass, Ph.D., director, Smithsonian’s National Museum of American HistoryTuesday, March 1, 6:30 p.m.$12 members, $15 nonmembersIn 1799, John Reed found a large metallic rock on his farm in North Carolina.  For three years, this chunk of metal was used as a door stop, until a jeweler recognized it as a 17-pound gold nugget!  This event launched America’s first gold rush—years prior to the more famous gold rush in California.  Brent Glass, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will tell the story of how gold transformed North Carolina and made way for the later gold rushes in the western United States. Glass will also tell the intriguing story of the 1933 Double Eagle, one of the world’s rarest and most sought after collector coins. Exploring Florida’s Earliest Spanish GalleonRoger C. Smith, Ph.D., Florida Bureau of Archaeology Tuesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m.$12 members, $15 nonmembersIn 1559, a fleet of Spanish galleons led by Tristan de Luna y Arellano brought the first European immigrants to the Southeast in an attempt to colonize Florida. Scholars have long known that Pensacola Bay was the site of such a colony, but no remains from the Spanish colonial period had been found until recently. In 1992, Roger C. Smith and a team of underwater archaeologists discovered the remains of one of Tristan de Luna’s galleons, which sunk in a hurricane off of the coast of Pensacola.  The shipwreck, the earliest to be discovered in Florida, has proven to be an invaluable resource in reconstructing the story of the nearly 2,000 colonists and soldiers who made the trip to Florida.  Thousands of artifacts have been recovered, including pottery, cannonballs and coins.Smith is the state underwater archaeologist with the Florida Division of Historical Resources in Tallahassee.  He has directed a number of underwater surveys and excavations throughout Florida, and has worked extensively in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Africa. Smith specializes in 15th and 16th century Spanish and Portuguese maritime history, and he has participated in the excavations of several of the earliest European shipwrecks in the New World.  He has also been instrumental in establishing several shipwreck preserves in Florida.Cultural Feast; A Taste for Gold Tuesday, March 8, 7 p.m.Hosted at the Warwick HotelNearly every culture has myths associated with gold, a long-coveted metal that has influenced the world since ancient times. A Taste for Gold will explore the historical figures and legends that celebrate the noblest of metals, including greedy King Midas of Turkey; the legendary City of Gold, El Dorado; the mythical Jason and the Golden Fleece; and King Louis XIV of France. A glittering menu will feature dishes and banqueting lore inspired by these renowned golden stories. Participants will also indulge in a feast of information as they dine.  The guest of honor will be gold itself, as it is incorporated into various dishes throughout the meal. Join us for a sparkling celebration of gold and those it has inspired to greed, folly, intrigue and greatness. Behind-the-Scenes TourGold! Natural Treasure, Cultural ObsessionMarch 8, 6 p.m.April 5, 6 p.m.May 10, 6 p.m.June 7, 6 p.m.Tour the special exhibition Gold! Natural Treasure, Cultural Obsession with Mark Mauthner, associate curator of Gems and Minerals.  This special tour through the dazzling exhibition will give participants an insider perspective through background stories about the pieces on display as well as how the Houston Museum of Natural Science created the exhibition.Hands-On ClassJewelry MakingTuesday, April 12, 6 p.m.Local artist Margaret Hardman-Muye will introduce the basic techniques and tools used to create jewelry pieces from Precious Metal Clay ®, a clay-like material created when microscopic particles of silver or gold are suspended in an organic binding agent. The clay is shaped and heated in a kiln to form solid metal that can be worked with conventional tools.  Participants will complete a piece of sterling silver jewelry that will be ready to wear at the end of the evening. Limited to 12 participants, adults only. For more information on HMNS programs or to purchase tickets, visit www.hmns.org or call 713-639-4629.

NAPE 2005Article and Photos by Arthur BermanThe annual North American Prospect Exposition (NAPE) was held in Houston January 26-27, 2005 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  It was presented by the Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IAPL).  This year, NAPE was even larger and more successful than last year’s expo with at least 12,000 attendees.  In addition to the two-day exposition, this years meeting also featured an all-day International Forum on Tuesday, January 25.The Exposition included more than 900 exhibits featuring prospects, producing properties, U.S. onshore and offshore plays, international opportunities, capital providers, and networking opportunities.In its 13th year, the popular NAPE Expo provides a forum for more than 500 oil and gas companies to introduce their domestic and international oil and gas prospects and producing properties to more than 12,000 interested professionals. Additional exhibit booths were provided for financial and investment institutions representing potential sources of capital for appropriate companies.Along with the International Forum, sponsored by IHS Energy Group, there was a NAPE Institute and AAPL Model Form Operating Agreement Workshop. A luncheon, underwritten by Randall & Dewey, featured a presentation by Mac McLarty, formerly President Clinton’s chief of Staff, on Wednesday, January 26. A hybrid live/Internet auction sale conducted by The Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse, a Petroleum Place company, was held on Wednesday, January 26, in conjunction with NAPE.

Web Notes - March, 2005Change seems to be a way of life for the HGS Website.  That’s the nature of the entire Internet, for that matter.New HGS Website features:1. Potential new members can now make application for membership directly on the HGS Website.  They can still use the old paper form if they like, but that creates extra work for the HGS Office because the application must be on the Website in order for the Membership Committee to process it.  This new feature will streamline the approval process and reduce the time it takes for action by the Executive Committee.  The Website Committee is now reviewing what is needed to add on-line dues-renewal to the Website.2. Be sure to read Art Berman’s “Editor’s Letter” in this issue of the Bulletin.  It describes a long-range plan to more tightly integrate the HGS Bulletin and the HGS Website.  Prior to February, 2005, a black-and-white copy of the Bulletin was posted on the Website in Adobe PDF format.  It was very large and fairly difficult to download and read.  We will continue to post the PDF version but, beginning with the February issue,  a color version of many articles will be available, complete with active URL links and, when possible, expanded content.  Each new issue will be posted about the same time as the print Bulletin is mailed. Two issues are now on-line at http://hgs.org/2005/February/ and http://hgs.org/2005/March/.Dave CraneHGS/GSH Webmaster713/789-5916

Texas Water Quality Planning Issuesby Arlin HowesSo what is generating all the interest and why should geologists or anyone else really care?  A quick answer is that the Policy Opinion process can be used to broadly define what engineering is.  On October 8, 2004, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers (TBPE) issued a Draft Policy Advisory Opinion Regarding Water Quality Planning that included the interpretation that “all water quality planning activities that lead to or support the analysis of works or systems or the alteration or use of water constitute the practice of engineering and should be performed under the supervision of a licensed engineer”.  The resulting Policy Opinion itself does not have the force of law but could be attached to any relevant legislative bill and become law.  Is it just a coincidence that the Senate Select Committee on Water Policy has just issued a draft report and that the Texas Legislature is currently in session?   The first stakeholders’ meeting was held on November 29, 2004.  Stakeholder attendance and written response was so great, that the second meeting was scheduled.       On January 11, 2005, I attended a second Stockholder’s meeting (the HGS Board submitted a written statement as well) for the Draft Policy Opinion concerning Water Quality Planning held by the Policy Advisory Committee of the TBPE.  Mr. Gerry Pate, PE chaired the meeting and a short PowerPoint presentation was given which summarized the TBPE Policy Advisory Opinion and a Brief Comment Summary.  All of the stakeholders oral and written statements from the first stakeholders meeting were summarized into four bullet items; 1) Overly broad in scope, 2) Lack of training in scientific issues for typical engineer, 3) In conflict with state/federal law and other state agencies, 4) Advisory is not specific in regards to scientist versus engineering activities. Mr. Pate then opened the discussion with a statement that the engineer’s board is mandated to define what activities are engineering and that those activities are required to be performed or supervised by licensed engineers.  It was further stated that the draft policy advisory opinion was not meant to question the competency of other professions or their own legislative mandates.  It was stated that any other activities that are performed by other professions that are defined as engineering activities must be supervised by an engineer.  Mr. Pate also made it clear that even though a licensed geologist is allowed to do work defined by their act, if that work is contributing to an engineering process, the geologist work must be supervised by the engineer.  Mr. Pate also stated that the license of another professional board does not authorize that licensee to perform engineering work.  Engineering activities must be supervised by an engineer. Some of the stakeholders that represented geoscientists at the meeting were Texas Board Professional Geologists (TBPG), two TBPG Board members, TBPG Executive Director, Texas Association Professional Geoscientists (TAPG), and HGS as well as several individual geoscientists.A small victory was obtained when Mr. Pate announced that the TBPE staff would write a new Policy Advisory and circulate it to the stakeholders for another round of comments and discussion.  Mr. Pate also announced that any further stakeholder meetings would not be published in the Texas Register.  

First Steps Toward Focused ExplorationBy W. E. Schollnberger** Wolfgang E. Schollnberger, Vice President Exploration and Production Technology, Amoco Corp., Houston, Texas.Thisarticle was first published in OIL GAS European Magazine in 1996.SCHOLLNBERGER, W.E. (1996): First steps Toward Focused Exploration:  OIL GAS European Magazine, vol. 22, (1/1996), pp 10 - 13, Hamburg - Wien (Urban Verlag).ABSTRACTFocus is an important ingredient of an exploration effort that aims for creation of financial wealth.  The simple statistical methods compiled and discussed in this article are useful tools in targeting exploration at the right basins and plays.1.INTRODUCTIONExploration builds the future for the petroleum industry. Exploration also is a risky business that requires the application of complex and costly technologies. Over the last decade, return on investment has been disappointing for exploration and production companies, and it has become a big challenge to create value growth through exploration[1].The capability to build a diversified portfolio of exploration options that generate high financial value is based on recognizing the resource potential of basins or plays and the skill to focus on the best ones. Of course, fiscal aspects, operational/cost aspects and marketing/price aspects are as important as the resource aspect. In this article, however, we shall present a few simple methods which have proven useful to predict the remaining petroleum resources of basins and plays. All the discussed methods are based on the results of past drilling and cannot directly be applied to undrilled basins/plays.2.PREDICTING FUTURE RESOURCES FROM PAST DRILLINGWe found a few simple statistical cross-plots very helpful in focusing exploration early, before the appropriate high-tech explorations methods are applied.All cross-plots discussed in this article can he applied to basins or to plays. If applied to basins they require only three input parameters:

• location (where each exploration was drilled)
• time (when each exploration well was drilled)
• the petroleum resources (liquid or gas discovered by each exploration well, including zero for a dry hole).

Location and time are straightforward; the resources discovered are not because the estimated resources of a petroleum field may not be fully known from one exploration well only; later drilling and production history often leads to upward or downward revisions of resources. In this article, we always use the most current resource estimate for a field and attribute it back to the first exploration well drilled into that field.If the cross plots are applied to plays, a fourth input parameter is required:

• the rock formation(s) in which the petroleum resources have been found in a well.

All four inputs are generally openly available from a number of sources, such as national and state geological surveys, national and state petroleum companies, and from commercial enterprises such as Petroconsultants S.A.(Geneva, Switzerland) for fields outside the United States and from Petroleum Information Corporation (Littleton, Colorado) for fields within the United States.Let us now discuss how these simple inputs can help focus an exploration effort in the right areas before any time-consuming geological field work or extensive stratigraphic, geochemical, seismic and drilling activities is started.2.1.RESOURCES PER SUCCESSFUL EXPLORATION WELLOn the abscissa we plot the successful exploration wells in a basin or play in time sequence as they were drilled with the first well positioned nearest to the origin and equal spacing between each well. On the ordinate we scale the resources found per exploration well, e.g., in barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). In most petroliferous basins the resources found per successful exploration well increase rapidly after some initial dry holes, then the growth flattens, and finally, the resources added per well decline (Fig. 1). This cross plot is useful in roughly estimating at any time, resources expected to be found by future successful exploration wells in a basin or play; its usefulness can he further increased if it is combined with success ratios (Fig. 6).For many petroliferous basins, the curve has the general shape exhibited in Figure 1, and it can be subdivided into distinct portions which characterize the exploration maturity of a basin/play (Fig. 2). The portion before any commercial quantities of oil or gas have been found is called the frontier stage; as the resources found in each exploratory well increase we say the basin is in the emerging stage. When the resources found per well crest and taper off, the basin is in the established stage, and once the findings per well decline overall, the basin has reached the mature stage. Exploration in emerging and established basins has generally a higher chance to create financial growth than exploring in mature basins, and is much less risky than exploring in frontier basins. New technologies such as new 3D-seismic acquisition, 3D-processing and 3D-visualization, migration before stacking (especially in pre-salt and overthrust plays), amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis, etc. can boost finding rates and flatten or even temporarily reverse declining finding rate trends. Empirically, we find that petroliferous basins with one exploration well per 500 km2 to 5000 km2 are in the emerging stage, basins with one exploration well per 50 km2 to 500 km2 are in the established stage, and basins with more than one exploration well per 50 km2 are in the mature stage. This empirically determined broad relationship between exploration well density and basin maturity stages can help in estimating how many wells it will take to fully explore a basin, although it is not valid for all basins.In many publications graphs similar to Figure 1 are plotted with time (e.g. years, equal spacing between each year) on the abscissa instead of successful exploration wells. We recommend against that practice because the resulting cross-plot can be very irregular

An Interview with Jim Hackett,Anadarko Petroleum CEO,January 7, 2005by Arthur Berman (from the March, 2005 HGS Bulletin).Arthur Berman:  E&P companies have not really done very well in the last decade or two at finding big new reserves, at least relative to the rate that we’re using them in the United States and elsewhere.  The biggest source of reserve additions has been mergers and acquisitions.  What’s you’re opinion on that and what’s your strategy for Anadarko?Jim Hackett: On the former point, I think there’s a lot of truth to that.  I think when we look back 20 years we could’ve counted on several hands the number of companies that could grow through exploration.  When you look at U.S.-based public companies, there are probably a handful that you could name that has succeeded in growing organically through exploration.  We hope to be one of those companies, and believe we have been in the last 15 years plus since we’ve been a public company.  But, it’s difficult to do it unless you’re internationally oriented at this point  because of the laws of physics in North American basins.   While it’s not impossible, the probability for growth is low for reasonably large companies through exploration in North American basins. It is tough to find in the quantities of petroleum or the field sizes you need to grow what is probably available in these basins.So, I think that increasingly you’re going into very deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico, or into frontiers areas like the MacKenzie Delta, or into international arenas.   There it takes not only a good balance sheet, which many of the companies have, but it also takes a skill set that you’re willing to acquire and nurture. It’s not as easy as being in an Acquire and Exploit company.  There’s higher G &   A (General and Administrative) associated with it.  There’s a greater need for management of scarce intellectual capital and there aren’t, frankly, enough good oil-finders to go around.  As we’ve gone through different cycles since the late ‘70s, the growth and progression of true explorationists has been something that’s been hard to find.  We haven’t had the right kind of environment to proliferate that talent in a greater way.Arthur Berman: Is that an issue of demographics or an ability to adapt to changing technologies?Jim Hackett: I think it’s a combination.  I think the demographics follow the environment that’s created for young people to pursue careers in the petroleum field.  I don’t think that the lack of college graduates coming out of engineering, petroleum geology, and geophysical programs is necessarily a reflection the schools willingness to offer the programs or students not being willing to go into them under the right circumstances.  I think it is because the industry itself has not provided the kind of long-term career and the right image, if you will, for young people to pursue petroleum careers in the kind of numbers that they did back in the 1970s.  So, I think it’s actually a cause-and-effect situation:  the cause is the industry itself; the effect is that you don’t have as many people wanting to be in the industry now.  It’s shifting slowly here in the last 3 years.  But I would add to that, in addition to the difficulty and expense of pursuing exploration programs of the size needed by public companies, there is also pressure that has built up over the last 15 years or so on returns and capital. Most notably, in the last 5 years investors really had sea-change shift in the fact that they looked at the energy sector as just one alternative among the whole S & P 500 for their investment dollars.  Prior to that, there had been a tendency to allocate a certain portion, although declining portion, of their investment dollars into the energy sector.  I think 1998 was kind of the crowning blow for that philosophy where people got so punished with the price drop from ’98 through ’99 that they just said, “Hey, listen.  We’re actually going to take a negative approach towards the energy stocks absent really compelling evidence and we’re going to insist that they get good returns on capital because they haven’t done it for 20+ years as an industry.”That started to drive a different behavior pattern in the management of companies to start taking less risk, in my opinion.  And I think that that along with the difficulty of acquiring and nurturing good intellectual capital on the exploration side, that has also driven people to be more cautious about spending money on exploration.  It doesn’t get immediate returns, it is riskier, and it gets no option value in the marketplace, whereas acquisitions and exploitation are near-term, lower risk strategies.  So I think the managements of public companies have, understandably, reacted to that sentiment in the investment community and I think that’s what’s driven, to even a greater degree, the acquire and exploit strategy.  I would tell you that any company that doesn’t want to be an acquisition company is a company that’s working without one leg, in my opinion.  Anadarko, to get to our strategy briefly, is clearly committed to staying an exploration company.  We feel we’ve had an unparalleled track record in terms of organic reserve or placement over an extended period of time and therefore feel comfortable pursuing an exploration strategy, even amid the reluctance of investors to necessarily pay you for that up-front.  But we also have a very strong desire to be opportunistic in acquisitions.  We think that in the right environment where we have technology advantages, or where we have scale advantages in a particular locality, or where we see compelling opportunity to advance a strategic

2005 HGS Member RemembrancesBarber, Thomas "Tom" D.January 15, 2005McCormick, James E.February 2, 2005Starr, Stephen G.February 14, 2005Wadsworth, Albert Hodges, Jr.January 29, 2005Thomas David Barber passed away on January 15, 2005, at the age of 85. He earned a BS in Geology in 1940 and a MS in Geology in 1942, both from Texas Christian University. Tom then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He moved to Houston in 1946 to work as a geologist for Amoco and Michael T. Halbouty before leading his own company, Barber and Associates, Inc. He was an Honorary Member of the HGS and AAPG. A memorial donation will be made to the San Gabriel Presbyterian Church Building Fund. Albert Hodges Wadsworth, Jr. passed away on January 29, 2005, at the age of 88. His M.A. in Geology in 1941 was from the University of Texas in Austin. Al began his career as a geological scout for Texaco, was a field geologist for the USGS, served as a E&P manager for Commonwealth Oil Company, and spent most of his career as a worldwide independent oil producer and mining consultant. He helped start The Gulf Coast Geological Library and The Society of Independent Earth Scientists (SIPES). He was an Active Member of the HGS and AAPG. A memorial donation will be made to the HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. James E. McCormick passed away on February 2, 2005, at the age of 77. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, Jim earned a B.A. in Geology from Boston University. He began his career in 1953 as a geologist with Sun Oil Company. He retired as the President and COO of Oryx Energy in 1992. Jim was an Emeritus Member of the HGS. A memorial donation will be made to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Stephen G. Starr passed away on February 14, 2005, at the age of 71. Stephen served in the U.S. Army for four years prior to pursuing his education at Wayne State University. He earned a B.A. in 1961 and a M.S. in 1964, both in Geology and Geophysics. As a geophysicist, Stephen traveled the globe, becoming an extremely well respected expert in his field. He was a member of the SEG and AAPG organizations and was always willing and ready to help others. In the eighties downturn he directed his energies to putting the younger men and women in his field back to work, encouraging them to go back to school, if necessary, to complete degrees and worked tirelessly finding them opportunities for success. In his professional and personal life many were touched and all were the better for it. Education was of utmost importance to Stephen. He was an Active Member of the HGS, GSH, AAPG, and SEG. A donation will be made to the George Bush Heart Center.

2004 HGS Member Remembrances Allen, Phillip HayesApril 28, 2004 Breard, Sylvester Quinn "Skip", Jr.August 23, 2004 Campbell, Angus Scott November 6, 2004 Coffey, Glen MorrisApril 7, 2004 Cokinos, Geneos Pete "Genel" November 7, 2004 Deschamps, Alfred Joseph October 8, 2004 Halbouty, Michel November 6, 2004 Hatley, Michael Dean June 26, 2004 Horton, Marvin Dean November 20, 2004 Jones, Garry DavisMay 6, 2004 Kunz, Howard Edward, Jr. March 12, 2004 Martin, Clyde DavidNovember 9, 2004 Nering, Lee G.March 28, 2004 Truman, Robert Bruce, II April 28, 2004 Turnbull, Wade William, Sr.April 23, 2004 Wehnes, Charles Leroy December 13, 2004Howard Edward Kunz, Jr. died March 12, 2004, at the age of 67. Mr. Kunz received his Bachelor ('59) and Master ('61) Degrees in Geology from the University of Oklahoma and was employed as a Geological Consultant. Mr. Kunz was an Active Member of the HGS and was honored by the Environmental & Engineering Geology Committee for his years of dedicated service. A donation will be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church.Lee G. Nering died March 28, 2004, at the age of 79. Following service in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Nering earned a B.S. in Geology in 1952 from Washington State University and a Masters in Geology in 1954 from the University of Washington. After retiring from his position as Vice President of Exploration for Home Petroleum, Inc., he worked as a Consulting Geologist in Florida. Mr. Nering was an Emeritus Member of the HGS. A donation will be made to the American Diabetes Association.Glen Morris Coffey died April 7, 2004, at the age of 52. Mr. Coffey's formal education included coursework at the University of Texas, the University of Houston, and Houston Community College. He was employed by Sanchez Oil and Gas Corp. as a Senior Geotech. Mr. Coffey was an Active Member of the HGS. A donation will be made to the HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.Wade William Turnbull, Sr. died April 23, 2004, at the age of 88. Wade graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1939 with a B.S. in Geology. He retired from Exxon USA in 1976 as Manager of Exploration, completing a 37 year career. Wade was an Emeritus Member of the HGS and a distinguished volunteer to the AAPG. A donation will be made to the Alzheimer's Association.Phillip Hayes Allen died April 28, 2004, at the age of 63. Phillip graduated from Hardin Simmons University in 1963 with a B.S. in Geology. During his successful career he worked for Coastal States, Texas Gas Exploration, CSX, Tenneco Gas Ventures, Trans World Exploration, and as a consulting geologist. Phillip was an Active Member of the HGS. A donation will be made to the HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.Robert Bruce Truman II died April 28, 2004, at the age of 60. Bob attended St. Edwards University in Austin for two years before finishing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State - Long Beach in 1966. Bob had served as Director of Industry Affairs at Baker Atlas since 1998, and was President of Z & S, Inc from 1992-1998. He was Founder &a

Members who have recently changed jobs, received awards related to their careers, been elected to professional positions, or moved their homes are invited to update their member profile and notify the HGS Webmaster of the effective date.  We will make a note here and refer them to your member profile in the Membership Directory  That is to protect your email address from spammers who harvest  addresses from open pages on the Internet..
This service is only available to current HGS members.  Note that both members and non-members must be logged in to read the HGS Membership Directory on line.

Michael S. Benrud, Chief Geologist at South Bay Resources, L.L.C. is the new HGS Directory Committee Chairman.

The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) in Houston has announced the results of their recent elections:President: Sonia Bradley, new to ExxonMobil from University of Oklahoma;Vice President: Julie Trotta, new to GeoMechanics, Inc., from Brown University;Secretary: Julie Matoush, ExxonMobil employee;Secretary Alt: Heather Quevado, ExxonMobil employeeTreasurers: Jan Boyer, retired ExxonMobil employee, now a Yoga Instructor andDeb Weeden, ExxonMobil employee, AWG Foundation Board member.

SCA has promoted Hal Miller to Senior Vice President of Operations. In this new position, Mr. Miller has P&L responsibility for SCA''s global, day-to-day consultancy operations. He will also contribute significantly to the guidance of SCA''s strategic and long-range processes. Prior to joining SCA in 2004, Mr. Miller had a 26-year career with Conoco and ConocoPhillips.

Stu Hastings Edmund Stuart "Stu" Hastings of Petcons & Associates has retired to Gainesville, Florida.  Stu has some health problems that are being treated.  He has moved to be near his son.
Lisa Ashabranner, has joined Shell International E & P as a Geologist with the Geohazards Assessment Team effective August 16, 2005.  She was formerly a Consulting Geologist with Digital Prospectors and a Geologist with Phillips Petroleum.

 HGS Internationists NewsletterFebruary, 2005 TO: HGS International ExplorationistsSubject: Reminder for February 21st Dinner meeting This month's dinner meeting, next Monday, February 21st is a special event in two ways:One of our own committee, Steve Henry, will be presenting results of an exciting new project in West Africa AND we will be trying out a new format for our dinner meetings. The meal will consist of a selection of hearty hors d'oeuvres during an expanded social hour, and theatre seating instead of the usual seated dinner. The benefit to you is that the talk will be over sooner and dinner is cheaper (for members). Social Hour - 5:30 -7:00 PMMain Talk - 7:00--8:00 PM Remember to register in advance: Reserve before 4:30pm Friday, 18 February for the reduced meal price of $21.00 for HGS members. New Insights into Petroleum Systems and Playsin Angola-Congo-Gabon from PSDM Sub-Salt Imaging by Steve Henry - Innovative Exploration Services, Al Danforth - Consultant,  & S. Venkatraman - GX Technology. Published February 14, 2005                

Houston Geological Society UpdateGCAGS Call for Papers Extended GCAGS will be held September 25th - 27th, 2005 in New Orleans.Their Technical Committee has extended the Call for Papers until next Friday, February 11th to ensure they have reached everyone who would like to present. If you would like to share a technical paper at the GCAGS 2005 convention, please go to the HGS Website or to the GCACS Website for details. All submittals are welcome; they are are particularly interested in Onshore Louisiana, Texas, and OCS Shelf papers. Published 4 February, 2005 

Houston Geological Society NewsletterFebruary, 2005   Events CalendarFebruary is a full month for HGS, with some superb technical programs and social events.  Also, check the bottom of the newsletter for more info about the proposed Continuing Education credit requirements proposed by the Texas Board of Professional Registration.February 5, Rock out at the HGS Scholarship Rock Dance! Live music, door prizes, and a Silent Auction, all to raise money for the HGS Undergrad and Calvert scholarships. We are still collecting items for the Silent Auction; contact Joan Henshaw at the HGS office if you want to make a (tax deductible!) donation. Tickets on sale at the door.  Petroleum Club, 6:30 pm.February 7,  HGS General Dinner, Keith Shanley, "Understanding Myths and Realities of Basin-Centered Resources," Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30, Dinner 6:30.February 15, HGS NorthSiders Luncheon, Kevin Hill, "Grayson Field Jurassic Smackover Reservoir:  a case study using leading-edge reservoir characterization seismic processing of 3D data," Hotel Sofitel, 11:30 am.February 17, HGS Continuing Ed Short Course, Roger Young and Gordon Van Swearingen, "Rock-based Integration: Geologic interpretation of the integration of seismic and petrophysical data," BEG Houston Research Center, 8 am-5 pm.February 17, HGS NeoGeos Joint Social with SPE, Rice Village, 5555 Morningside Drive in Rice Village.February 21, HGS International Explorationists' Evening Meeting, Steve Henry, Al Danforth and Sujata Venkatraman, "New insights into petroleum systems and plays in Angola, the Congo and Gabon from PSDM sub-salt imaging," Westchase Hilton,  Social 5:30, Presentation 7:00.  We're trying a new meeting format with an hors d'oeuvres buffet and theater-style seating.  Come try it and tell us what you think!February 23, HGS General Luncheon, Rion Camerlo, ChevronTexaco, "Shale tectonics in the northern Port Isabel Fold Belt trend, deepwater Gulf of Mexico," Petroleum Club, Social 11:15, Lunch 11:45.  February 28, HGS North American Dinner Meeting, Brian Toelle, Schlumberger, "An overview of the Trenton--Black River play, Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30, Dinner 6:30.Other Items of NoteEarth Science Teacher of the Year nominations search -- HGS, GCAGS and AAPG all provide hefty cash awards for their Teacher of the Year.  If you have a great candidate, contact Mike Deming. The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists will be finalizing their requirements for Continuing Education for registered geologists at their Board meeting in Austin February 7. (See the draft version at the TBPG website.) HGS is gathering members' comments to be presented at this meeting.  Please send your comments  to Kara Bennett.   Published 3 February, 2005 

HGS Earth Science Teacher of the Year Award It is time to nominate the HGS Teacher of the Year for 2005.  The winner will receive a $1000 cash award from the HGS and will represent the HGS at the Section level of the GCAGS. The GCAGS Teacher of the Year winner will receive another $1000 and be nominated to the national level of AAPG.  The AAPG Teacher of the Year will be granted $5000 plus an all expense paid trip to the 2006 AAPG national convention to receive the award.  If your nominee is interested, you and they need to check out the GCAGS or AAPG Foundation Websites for details, qualifications and forms.  Forms and other required materials need to be sent to the HGS Awards Chairperson, Mike Deming, at the HGS Office by May 1, 2005.

Article and Photosby Arthur E. Berman,editor@hgs.orgFrom the Editor    February, 2005    The Northern Sumatra Earthquake of 2004:Forty Years of Ignoring Plate TectonicsDiscuss the significance of the calc-alkaline series.That was the only question on my petrology mid-term examination in 1975. It was perhaps the most penetrating question I have ever been asked as a geologist. It is also the only exam question I remember from my academic years.I went to the professor, Dr. Rudy Epis, after he returned the exams to discuss my low grade with him. I had written everything I knew about the granitic rocks that make up the calc-alkaline series and it was all correct. What I had failed to do was to answer the question. I had not discussed the significance of the calc-alkaline series.I did not address the “granite problem.” Granite is a light-colored, relatively light-weight rock that contains a lot of quartz. Most of the Earth is made up of basaltic material, the opposite of granite: a dark, heavy rock without much quartz. Based on the overall composition of the Earth, there is just too much granite, and most of it is found on the continents. This has puzzled geologists since the science of geology began.It is understandable that the typical victim of the recent tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean did not anticipate the tragic events that are still unfolding there. It is inexcusable that their leaders and governments made no effort to inform and prepare their citizens for the inevitability of an event like this during the forty years since the articulation of the plate-tectonic model.Epis explained that he was looking for a plate-tectonic explanation to the granite problem. Basically, the plate-tectonic model says that the Earth is a great factory. Earth is constantly recycling mostly oceanic, basaltic crust into ocean-trench subduction zones and generating granite by a kind of distillation process.That discussion with Dr. Epis transformed me. I was awed, even overwhelmed, by the way his mind worked and the power of a scientific model—the plate-tectonic model, in this case—to collapse complexity into simplicity. I knew about plate tectonics and the calc-alkaline series separately. I had simply not connected the two in the elegant way he had. I entered his office a student concerned about a grade and left, in some way, a geologist. He made me see, perhaps for the first time, the importance of critical thinking. I promised myself to never again fail to seek the question within the question.I thought about the conversation with Rudy Epis in early December 2004 as I began reading Simon Winchester’s Krakatoa, The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883. Winchester’s book is an entertaining, popular explanation of plate tectonic theory in the context of a cataclysmic volcanic explosion that occurred in Indonesia 121 years ago. Krakatoa had a profound affect on Victorian consciousness because invention of the telegraph made news of the eruption immediately known around the world.On December 26, 2004, the Northern Sumatra Earthquake occurred in the same tectonic neighborhood as Krakatoa. The world is stunned by the death and destruction that is coming to light from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami. The difference between the past and present seismic events in Indonesia is that we understand the current disaster because of the plate-tectonic model; in 1883, however, geology did not yet have an Earth model or context to explain Krakatoa to a frightened and confused world.Plate Tectonics and a Restless EarthPlate tectonics was not new in 1975 when I was studying petrology from Rudy Epis, but it was a model still considered optional by many geologists: as with all new ideas, it takes time before any but the innovator and early adopter groups embrace a new invention (Berman, 2004k). The plate-tectonic model began in 1915 when Alfred Wegener published his observations on the fit between the continents minus the intervening, present-day ocean basins (the relationship had, in fact, been previously noted as early as 1620 by Francis Bacon). Wegener supported his theory of “continental drift,” that the continents had, at one time, been connected, with abundant and convincing biological evidence. Wegener’s work was scorned and ridiculed by the scientific community presumably because there was no mechanism to de-couple the crust from the underlying mantle and core of the Earth. Thomas Chamberlin, the American geologist famous for his address Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses (HGS Bulletin, v. 47, no. 2) apparently abandoned his thesis when he commented in 1923 on Wegener’s work, “If we are to believe this hypothesis we must forget everything we learned in the last seventy years and start over again,” (Winchester, 2003). Plate tectonics was revived after World War II due to wartime advances in measurement technology and instrumentation. A new Earth model evolved and was articulated in a series of key papers, notably by Dietz (1961), Wilson (1965), and Cox et al (1967). The breakthrough came in late 1965 when Brent Dalrymple presented findings at a meeting of the Geological Society of America: he showed an exact match between terrestrial paleomagnetic measurements and seafloor magnetic reversal bands that had been identified in post-war ocean basin surveys (Figure 1). “It was indeed a revelation...and the start of a revolution in Earth science!” (Donnenfield and Howell, 2004).A mechanism was discovered for a crust in dynamic and perpetual motion, de-coupled from and, at the same time, interacting with the underlying mantle and core (Figure 2). Wegener’s concept was validated. The crust is divided into tectonic plates that move carrying continents along with them (Figure 3). Earth’s crust is constantly being destroyed and regene

February, 2005 HGS Bulletin in HTML Format
February, 2005 HGS Bulletin in PDF Format
Regular Monthly Articles:

From the President
From the Editor
GeoEvents Calendar
Webnotes
HGA/GeoWives
Professional Directory

Feature Articles:

Understanding Myths and Realities of Basin-Centered Resources
Grayson Field Jurassic Smackover; Reservoir Characterization Using 3D Seismic Data
Gulf of Mexico Shelf Stratagraphic and Structural Interpretation from Spectral Imaging
Petroleum Systems and Plays in Angola-Congo-Gabon from PSDM Sub-Salt Imaging
Shale Tectonics in the Northern Port Isabel Fold Belt Trend, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico
An Overview of the Trenton - Black River Play
Experimenting with Meeting Formats by Kara Bennett
Ongoing Subsidence of the Gulf of Mexico Margin; An Interview with Dr. Roy Dokka
Industry Supporting Research on Quaternary Tar Pit Fossils in Venezuela
Governmental Update
Volunteer of the Month: Cheryl Deforges

Volunteer of the Month: Cheryl DesforgesThe February Volunteer of the Month is Cheryl Desforges.  Cheryl is a consultant at Ryder Scott Company, currently working on projects at BP.  She has become quite active this year in the HGS becoming Finance Committee Chairman to replace the new Treasurer-Elect and serving on the Website Committee.  Additionally, Cheryl has become Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee.  She was a candidate for Director in the 2004 HGS Board elections.  Her duties as Finance Committee Chairman require her to oversee budget preparation and serve as liaison between the HGS Board and the Investment Advisors for the Society's invested funds.Cheryl volunteered to become Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee recently when the previous chairman took an assignment overseas.  She and her committee have organized a three-part mini-series on Petroleum Reserves (December, January, and May).  They have planned an additional course on Rock-Based Integration: Geologic Interpretation of the Integration of Seismic and Petrophysical Data (February 17) and helped set up the TBPG Continuing Education Requirements Forum (held in January).  She has led her committee in the innovative (for the HGS) addition of video taping the Continuing Education Series on Petroleum Reserves.  Cheryl has a BS in geology from Texas Christian University and an MS in physical science/geology and an MBA (finance) from the University of Houston.  She is a member of AAPG, GSA, SEG and is a licensed Professional Geologist in the State of Texas.  Before coming to Ryder Scott, she worked for a variety of companies, the most recent being Subsurface Consultants & Associates and Randall and Dewey, Inc.The HGS Board acknowledges and thanks Cheryl for her spirit of volunteerism and work for the Houston Geological Society.

HGS Scholarship Benefit Party and DanceSaturday, February 5thDon''t forget to purchase your tickets to the HGS Scholarship Benefit Party on Saturday February 5th at the Petroleum Club. Performing will be "Ted Roddy and the King Conjure Kombo," a great-sounding rock''n band from Austin, Texas. Doors open at 6:30 PM with numerous auction items (see flyer), along with Hors d'' oeuvres and a cash bar . The band cranks up at 7:30 PM. HGS members and non-members are all welcome.Where: The Petroleum Club (downtown @ 800 Bell St. 43rd floor)When: Saturday Feb. 5th            6:30 pm - cocktails, hors d''oeuvres and silent auction           7:30-11:00 - Music and dancingDress: Cocktail attire, Jacket suggestedHow:    Buy Tickets for $45.00 per person through the             Houston Geological Society office or (713) 463-9476 or on the             HGS Website. Why: All proceeds go to student scholarships for geoscience education at many Texas universities. In addition, all contributions are matched one for one by the AAPG-GCAGS !Mailed Wednesday, January 26, 2005

January, 2005 HGS Bulletin in PDF Format
Regular Monthly Articles:

From the President
From the Editor
GeoEvents Calendar
HGA/GeoWives
Professional Directory

Feature Articles:
Understanding and Predicting the Distribution and Type of Slope Reservoirs
Deepwater Reservoir Learnings from the Zafiro Field, Equatorial Guinea
Seismic Considerations for Classifying Proven Resources
Depositional Environment Characterization for Effective Remediation
Burgos Basin Update
Gravity and Magnetic Studies of the Southern Rocky Mountain Crust:
    Basins to Basement
The Bakken Play of Montana and North Dakota
Trapping Vs. Breaching Seals in Salt Basins: Macaroni and Mt.Massive, Auger Basin,
    Gulf of Mexico
Put It Back—An Experiment in Returning Carbon from Burned Fossil Fuel 
    to the Subsurface as Carbon Dioxide
Michel T. Halbouty—A Tribute and Remembrance
Inspiring Today’s Fresh Faces. Where Are They? Who Are They?
    How Can We Meet Them?
Governmental Update
Volunteer of the Month: Natalie Uschner

Houston Geological Society NewsletterJanuary, 2005

Events Calendar

HGS has some great talks this month, along with Part Two of the very successful HGS short course on Petroleum Reserves on January 20. Also, be sure to catch up on the two governmental affairs events of immediate importance to Texas geologists.  Details are at the bottom of this newsletter.  
January 10, HGS General Dinner: Art Donovan, BP, Taking the Scenic Route & Avoiding the Interstates: Understanding and Predicting the Distribution and Type of Slope Reservoirs. Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm.
January 17, HGS International Explorationists Evening Meeting: John Ardill, ExxonMobil, Deepwater Reservoir Learnings from the Zafiro Field, Equatorial Guinea. Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm.
January 18, Northsiders Luncheon: Jeff Ogilvie, Noble, Seismic Considerations for Classifying Proven Resources. Sofitel Hotel, Social 11:30am, Lunch 11:45.
January 18, Environmental & Engineering Dinner: John Larson, TRC Environmental Depositional Environment Characterization for Effective Remediation. Guadalajara Hacienda, Social 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm.
January 20, HGS Continuing Ed Short Course: Dan Tearpock, SCA.. Recommended Geoscience Practices for Reserve Estimates. Shell Auditorium, 910 Louisiana, 8:00am-4:00pm.
January 25, HGS North American Dinner: Julie LeFever , N. Dakota Geol. Survey, Bakken Play of Montana and North Dakota. Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30pm, Dinner 6:30pm.
January 26, HGS General Luncheon: Selim Shaker, Geopressure Analysis Services, Trapping vs. Breaching Seals: a Case History of Macaroni Field and Mt. Massive, Auger Basin, Gulf of Mexico. Westchase Hilton, Social 5:30, Dinner 6:30pm.

February 5, Rock out at the HGS Scholarship Rock Dance! This should be a great evening of fun with live music and lots of door prizes, as well as a Silent Auction, all to raise money for the HGS Undergrad and Calvert scholarships. We are still collecting items for the Silent Auction; contact Joan Henshaw at the HGS office if you want to make a (tax deductible!) donation.
Important Legislative News
On the legislative front, two important and immediate events will affect Texas geologists. First, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers is discussing a new policy advisory opinion that essentially restricts responsibility for anything to do with water quality to the realm of the engineers, effectively removing responsibility from geologists.
HGS has put together an HGS opinion letter to the Engineering Board signed by President Steve Levine to be presented in Austin January 11, (yes, this upcoming Tuesday) but it would be useful if the Engineering Board heard comments from as many stakeholders as possible. Send your comments to peboard@tbpe.state.tx.us
The meetings have been timed to slip quietly unnoticed in remarkably short order, and we want to make sure that our opinions are clearly made known.  The more comments, the better.
Second, the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists is holding a public meeting for input on the continuing education requirements for registered Texas  geoscientists at 5:00pm January 19, 2005 in Houston at the Crown Plaza Brook Hollow. A few more details are on the HGS Website.

Comments about the newsletter? Send them to Kara Bennett and Bill Osten.

Published Friday, January 7, 2005

HGS has put together an HGS opinion letter to the Engineering Board signed by President-elect Dave Rensink to be presented in Austin January 11, 2005.The meetings have been timed to slip quietly unnoticed in remarkably short order, and we want to make sure that our opinions are clearly made known.

Natalie Uschner receives the Volunteer of the Month Award for January 2005 for her dynamic role as the chairperson of the NeoGeos. Natalie stepped into this position in 2003 and has invigorated the members by holding exciting events for the young professional group, such as the NeoGeos 5th Anniversary Birthday Bash at St. Arnold''s Brewery, and field trips and dinner meetings such as  October''s tour of the Core Laboratories and November''s Career Management dinner meeting with Glen Pankonien. She has had an active role in keeping the group true to its roots, infusing the group with her enthusiasm and charisma, and planning so many varied and interesting opportunities. Her goal is to raise awareness of this interesting group, and to create closer ties between the NeoGeos and the greater HGS organization to foster future participation in the HGS by young geoscientists.Natalie received her Bachelor''s degree in geology from the College of William and Mary in 1998, and is currently working on her MS degree in geology-paleontology from Indiana University. She began working at Schlumberger in 2001 as a geoscientist in the Information Solutions group, where she provides support and training for geologic, petrophysical, and mapping/modeling GeoFrame applications. Her current focus is on the petrophysical software, Interactive Petrophysics.Natalie also serves as the secretary for the WISE group (Women in Schlumberger Everywhere), and has been an active member of the HGS and NeoGeos since  2001.

The Remembrances Committee is one of the first to know about the passing of a member of the HGS.  Since many HGS members want to be notified in time to attend services, the Committee will be sending emails to interested parties.If you want to be on the mailing list for these notices, simply become a member of the Committee: Remembrances user group.  Here''s how:Log on to the HGS Website.  If you are a current or former member of the HGS or GSH, you are pre-registered.  Read these instructions if you don''t know your password. If you are not registered, you can register yourself. Next, go to your User''s View and click on "Groups" at the top of that page.  Scroll down to Committee: Remembrances and put a check mark in the box.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Submit Changes.  If you later want to stop getting these emails you can reverse the process or simply click on the reference at the bottom of one of the remembrances newsletters where it tells you how to unsubscribe.

Public Forum January 19th, 2005On Proposed Continuing Education RequirementsTexas Board of Professional Geologists (TBPG)
A Public Forum regarding the proposed Continuing Education requirements for maintaining TBPG Professional Registration is scheduled for January 19, 2005 in the early evening.  Ed Miller, Vice President of TBPG will be the speaker and will take questions from the floor as well as receive recommendations.
 
A current statement on the proposed CE requirement is available at http://www.tbpg.state.tx.us/ (See red link in upper right of web page).
 
Details regarding location and time will be posted in early January on the HGS calendar and on http://www.tbpg.state.tx.us/

New Insights into Petroleum Systems and Plays inAngola-Congo-Gabon from PSDM Sub-Salt Imaging  by Steve Henry - Innovative Exploration Services, Al Danforth - Consultant, C. Willacy & S. VenketramanA paper presented at the HGS International Explorationists Dinner on February 21, 2005SUMMARY:In this paper we present the preliminary results from a new regional survey of over 13,000 km of 2D pre-stack depth migrated (PSDM) seismic data that has been acquired by GX Technology over the West African salt basins of Angola, Congo and Gabon in 2004 (CongoSpan).  This data is providing the first consistent acquisition and processing from the shallow water (50 m), past the limit of the salt, and into the ultra-deep water (4,000+ m) (Fig 1). The new profiles provide multiple transects crossing the continental margin, from rifted continental crust, across the crustal transition zone and on to the interpreted volcanic terrain associated with break-up of the South Atlantic.The advantage of these depth images is that they provide improved reflector geometry.  These improved images have been used in identifying a consistent set of tectono-stratigraphic units, and relating post-salt extensional and compressional structures to underlying basement structure. These structural and stratigraphic insights are generating new ideas on the petroleum systems and will be useful for developing new plays. SEISMIC ACQUISITION – PROCESSING:The seismic acquisition parameters follow the concept of a “Span”, with long record length, a long cable, and a large source.  The goals of a Span are to provide long (250-2500 km) regional profiles that are positioned geologically to improve imaging beneath the salt, cross post-salt, pre-salt, and basement structural elements and to follow sediment distribution pathways.  The positioning of these 2D lines used the known orientation of the major pre and post-salt features to minimize out of the plane effects.   The dip lines are spaced on an average of about 50 km, with strike lines selected to pass through sediment depocenters and avoid the poor signal areas associated with salt canopies.  In map view, the lines are gently curved to achieve these geologic goals and to tie key wells.Seismic processing utilized propriety routines for converting the wavelet to zero phase, attenuating multiples and noise, and various migration algorithms designed to preserve both steep dips and the range of frequencies needed for stratigraphic interpretation.  Building the velocity model is extremely important and strongly contributes to the final quality of the PSDM data.  The process is iterative and begins with picking sediment velocities, then applying a “salt flood” based on interpreted horizons for top and then base salt, and finally applying sediment velocities beneath the salt.  Interaction between interpreters and seismic processors has provided a very useful quality control check on the velocity model, ensuring that the final model satisfied both the seismic imaging requirements and geologic constraints.INTERPRETATIONThe primary advantage from this PSDM data is the ability to minimize the structural distortions due to lateral velocity variations and improve imaging of reflectors beneath the salt. This data is revealing the syn-rift basement structure, sequence boundaries within the pre-salt, and enabling more realistic estimates of the post tectonic and even the original depositional thickness of salt.  The quality of this data is excellent, with faults and sequence boundaries well resolved in both the post and pre-salt.  Interpretation of this data is providing support for some published West African salt basin models and generating new ideas that will undoubtedly drive future exploration in the next decade.This PSDM data is supporting and helping to further refine a tectono-stratigraphic model (Fig. 2) that was developed over the past ten years using nonexclusive 2D seismic acquired primarily in Angola.  The main elements of this model are: 1) a westward migration of the rifting axis, 2) thermal subsidence in the abandoned rifts with the development of a sag basin prior to the continental separation, and 3) the development of a massive subaerial volcanic terrain in the successful rift axis at the time of break-up.  Major tectono-stratigraphic (TS) units are associated with each of these elements, and their imaging on the PSDM data is much improved over the existing time migrated seismic data.Tectono-stratigraphic units group sediments into packages with characteristics associated with the tectonic setting in which they were deposited.  The main TS sequences are: 1) Pre-rift, 2) Syn-rift, 3) Sag, and 4) Drift.  Thermal energy uplifts the crust prior to (Late Pre-rift) and during Syn-rift, and the loss of this thermal energy results in subsidence, the tectonic setting for both Sag and Drift.  Sag is common for intra-cratonic rifts that fail to develop a spreading ridge. In the rifting of the South Atlantic, where extension occurred over a very broad (250-300km) zone, Sag developed as the axis of rifting migrated to the location of the future spreading ridge.  This westward migration is supported by maps of the locations of the Early Sag, Late Sag, and even the overlying salt depocenters, that are progressively shifted to the west (Fig. 2).Using these TS units, an interpreter can explain how one area can be actively involved in uplift and basement involved rifting (Syn-rift), while during the same geologic time an adjacent area overlying an abandoned rift is subsiding (Sag) with little or no basement-involved faulting.  Initially the Sag basin is above sea level and fills with fluvial - lacustrine sediments, as subsidence continues the Sag basin may reach and even drop below sea level.  The Sag basin (Fig. 1), as mapped in West Africa, is a large (200 x 1200 km) interior basin that in the Late Sag was periodically flooded with marine waters spilling over the Walvis Ridge. Restricted circulation could have produce additional rich Late Sag source rocks and periodic marine flooding provides a mechanism for the subsequent thick deposits of salt.SEISMIC RECOGNITION CRITERIA Illustrated in Figure 2 is the reflector geometry that has been used to recognize the major TS units.  These units are the: 1) Pre-rift, 2) Syn-rift, 3) Sag, and 4) Drift. Pre-rift sediments are sub-parallel to basement and their reflectors are not easily identified on seismic data.  It is likely that pre-rift sediments exist in this area, but they would be preserved only in the deeper parts of the Syn-rift basins.  The sediments of the Syn-rift are easily identifiable from reflectors that show g

MEMBER NEWS
Members who have recently changed jobs, received awards related to their careers, been elected to professional positions, or moved their homes are invited to update their member profile and notify the HGS Webmaster of the effective date.  We will make a note here and refer them to your member profile.
This service is only available to current HGS members.  Note that both members and non-members must be logged in to read the HGS Membership Directory on line.

Gene Davis, formerly a Project Geologist at EOG Resources in Midland, moved December 1, 2004 to Forest Oil in Denver where he is Geological and Geophysical Manager, Western Division. (Posted 3 January, 2005)

Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H. was inducted as a Fellow in the GSA during the November annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Campbell is licensed as a Professional Geoscientist and Geologist in the States of Texas, Wyoming, Mississippi, and Washington, licensed as a Professional Hydrogeologist in the State of Washington, and holds national professional certifications in geology and hydrogeology.  He is a principal in M. D. Campbell and Associates in Houston. (Posted 13 December, 2004).

Mark Leander has joined Fugro Multi-Client Services, Inc. as Senior Staff Geophysicist.  He was previously a Consulting Geophysicist and had been a geophysicist for Unocal and BP. (Posted 7 October, 2004)

Jerry Ferguson has joined Yuma Exploration and Production Co. as an exploration geologist. He was previously with Alpine Resources, Inc. He can be reached at 713.968.7068. (Posted 6 October, 2004)

Manny N. Fernandez has transferred to the ConocoPhillips Qatar Limited Business Unit, Doha Qatar effective August 01 , 2004. In his new role, Manny will become Manager, Geoscience Operations for the QatarGas 3 Project. Manny was formerly the Global Geoscience Operations Coordinator for ConocoPhillips in Houston, Texas. (Posted 28 August, 2004.)

Claudio Bartolini is the senior editor for the new AAPG Memoir 79 entitled The Circum-Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean: Hydrocarbon Habitats, Basin Formation, and Plate Tectonics. The memoir contains 44 international papers on the geology of the Gulf of Mexico, with an emphasis on the Mexican portion of the basin, and to the petroliferous areas of the Caribbean, including Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Claudio continues to conduct integrated studies of the Mexican basins and their petroleum systems as part of his independent consulting activities. His present research includes the Sabinas and Burgos Basins of northern Mexico, and the Mesozoic syn-and-post rift sequences along the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico. (Posted 26 August, 2004.)

Ken Webb to Geoscience Manager, Ridgewood Energy, Houston, Texas.  Formerly he was Consulting Geologist, Ridgewood Energy, Houston, Texas. (Posted 17 August, 2004.)

Joe Lynch, formerly with Roxar, has moved to Landmark Graphics.  He continues as Chairman of the HGS Vendor's Corner Committee.

Charles Sternbach's Remembrance of Mike Halbouty.
(PDF of the article from the January, 2005 HGS Bulletin.)

2004 Member Remembrances

Allen, Phillip Hayes
April 28, 2004

Breard, Sylvester Quinn "Skip", Jr.
August 23, 2004

Campbell, Angus Scott
November 6, 2004

Coffey, Glen Morris
April 7, 2004

Cokinos, Geneos Pete "Genel"
November 7, 2004

Deschamps, Alfred Joseph
October 8, 2004

Halbouty, Michel
November 6, 2004

Hatley, Michael Dean
June 26, 2004

Horton, Marvin Dean
November 20, 2004

Jones, Garry Davis
May 6, 2004

Kunz, Howard Edward, Jr.
March 12, 2004

Nering, Lee G.
March 28, 2004

Truman, Robert Bruce, II
April 28, 2004

Turnbull, Wade William, Sr.
April 23, 2004

Howard Edward Kunz, Jr. died March 12, 2004, at the age of 67. Mr. Kunz received his Bachelor (''59) and Master (''61) Degrees in Geology from the University of Oklahoma and was employed as a Geological Consultant. Mr. Kunz was an Active Member of the HGS and was honored by the Environmental & Engineering Geology Committee for his years of dedicated service. A donation will be made to St. Paul''s United Methodist Church.  

Lee G. Nering died March 28, 2004, at the age of 79. Following service in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Nering earned a B.S. in Geology in 1952 from Washington State University and a Masters in Geology in 1954 from the University of Washington. After retiring from his position as Vice President of Exploration for Home Petroleum, Inc., he worked as a Consulting Geologist in Florida. Mr. Nering was an Emeritus Member of the HGS. A donation will be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Glen Morris Coffey died April 7, 2004, at the age of 52. Mr. Coffey's formal education included coursework at the University of Texas, the University of Houston, and Houston Community College. He was employed by Sanchez Oil and Gas Corp. as a Senior Geotech. Mr. Coffey was an Active Member of the HGS. A donation will be made to the HGS Undergraduate Scholarship Fund.