hgs bulletin volume 4 no. 3 (november 1961volume 4, no. 3 november ... of petroleum, explosion...

B U L L E T I N

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Houston, Texas

Volume 4, No. 3

November, 1961

%oustok CjeoOog i c d Society

President . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Vice President . . .

2nd Vice President . . .

Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . .

W . R . C a ~ d a

W m . F . Cooke . l r .

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Publications

Technical Program . . . Awards and Loans . . . . Personnel Placement Public Relations . . . . . . Research and Study . . . . Boy Scout . . . . . . . . . . . Entertainment . . . . . .

OFFICERS

George C . Hardin . Jr CA 7-5323 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benjamin T . Simmons FA 3-0493 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E H Rainwater M 0 7-5661 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lewis I . Hubka. Ir CA 5-5511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cecil R . Rives CA 3-401 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMEN

W m . A . Gorman. Ex-Officio

COMMlllEE CHAIRMEN

STANDING COMMllTEES

. . . . . . . . Thomas D . Rush . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benjamin T . Simmons . .

. . . . . . . E . H . Rainwater . . . . . . Jack W Craig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . Theodore P . Ellsworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reese Berry

. . . . . . . . . De Witt C . VanSiclen . . .

. . . . . . . . Clyde Beckwith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curtis C . Franks

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Ballot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention Preparation . . . . . . Distribution of Publications . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising

Exhibits G.C.A.G.S., A.A.P.G. Engineers Council . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Academic Liason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preservation of Samples and Cores Remembrance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advisors to Museum of Natural

History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

G.C.A.G.S. Representative Alternate G.C.A.G.S. Representative A.A.P.G. Membership . . . . . . . Directory . . . . .

Carey Croneis

Ben Morgan

M . Stephen Kovac . . . . . . . . . . CA 3-4645 W . A . Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . CA 2-9721

. . . . . . Paul H Allen . . CA 5-1396 Jeral J . Crowder . . . . . . . . . . . . CA 2-0226 C . W . Leisk . . . . . . . . . . . . CA 8-9461 Otto Pixler . . . . . . . . . . . . . JA 4-63 8 1 Howard Schoenike . . . . . . . . . MO 5-7079 Frank R . Hardin . . . . . . . . CA 7-5323 Ralph E . Taylor . . . . . . . CA 5-441 1 Arthur S . Dickinson . . . . . . . . . CA 3-401 1 James A . Wheeler . . . . . . . FA 3-1618 Charles W . Stuckey, / r . . . . . JA 9-4821 John L . P . Campbell . . . . . . WA 8-53 1 1 Carlton D . Speed, Jr . . . . . . CA4-2523

Jack 0 . Colle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CA 7-6266 George C . Hardin. Jr . . . . . CA 7-5323 Arthur S . Dickinson CA 3-401 1 Raymond E . Fairchild CA 5-0487 John L . P . Campbell . WA 8-53 1 1 Charle c. F . Ross CA 3-4491

T H E B U L L E T I N

THIS MONTH

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3

Meeting Notice.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 2

President's Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Items from Editor's Desk.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4

News of Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

Past Presidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 7

GeoScience Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 13

On the Distaff Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 20

THE B U L L E T I N OF THE HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Office -234 Esperson Bldg. - Houston 2 , Texos - FA 3-9309

Subscription Price $3.00 per year.

Published monthly, September to June by

CARDINAL PRINTING AND L E T T E R SERVICE, LNC.

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edd R . Turner, Jr. , Tidewater Oil Co. . . . CA 8-9361

Ass't Edi tor . . . . . . . . . J . D. "Denny" Bartell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CA 2-0216

Managing Editor . . . . . Clark Edgecomb, Jr., Schlumberger . . . . . . WA 8-2511

MEETING NOTICE

Volume 4, No. 3 November

THIRD REGULAR MEETING - NOVEMBER 13

The third regular meeting of the 1961-1962 year will be held on Monday evening, November 13, on the 10th floor of the Houston Club. The social hour will begin at 5: 15 p. m., dinner at 6:00 p. m.

Three outstanding earth scientists (geologist, geophysicist, geochemist) will present the latest developments by the Russians in the fields of the origin of petroleum, explosion seismology, and the application of geochemistry in mineral exploration. A comparison will be made with the progress along these lines by American earth scientists.

Dr. Paul Weaver, who is well known a s a geologist, geophysicist, geochemist, engineer, will discuss the latest thinking on source material, diagene- s is , and migration of petroleum. The Russians believe that terres t r ia l floras were the main source. This is in contrast to the views held by most Americans that marine organic material provided the source. Entrapment of petroleum, and the origin of anticlines and domes, will be discussed by D r . Weaver.

Dr . Peter Dehlinger, Professor of geophysics at the A&M College of Texas, will speak on "Some Aspects of Soviet Explosion Seismology. " During the past several years the Russians have made advances in the correlation refraction method; utilization of amplitudes on seismograms to determine effective ab- sorption coefficients of systems of layers; construction of "dynamic" travel- time curves, which include wave amplitudes and frequency spectra in addition to arr ival times; utilization of seismometer arrays to improve not only the signal- to-noise ratio but also to determine the directionality of incoming waves; exten- sive theoretical and seismic model investigations to accompany field data analyses. Low frequency seismographs have also been developed in the USSR, but only relatively recently.

Dr . A. A. Levinson, Mineralogist, the Dow Chemical Co. , will speak on geochemical prospecting in the USSR. Applied geochemistry has proved s o successful in Russia that since 1957 every a rea that is geologically surveyed must also be subjected to geochemical investigation. Dr . Levinson will describe the development of the methods and the application of basic principles of geochemistry.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Make-up period for directory picture appointments i s Nov. 13-17, 1961. This week is se t aside for H. G. S. and G. S. H. members who were unable to fill their appointment on the date shown on the notice they received from the photography committee. The last day scheduled for sittings is November 17, 1961. Be s u r e to have your picture taken before this date.

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

The next meeting of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies will be held in New Orleans from October 31 through November 3, 1962. L. H. Meltzer, General Chairman of the Convention Committee, writes that for a Convention Theme, they plan to pose the question: "Where are the basinward limits of production?" In this question, they refer to the basinward limits of all horizons presently producing in the Gulf Coast. The Houston Geological Society has been asked to supply papers on the Eocene and Oligocene of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. Each paper may be written by a Study Group, or by an indivi- dual. The HGS needs VOLUNTEERS to work on the preparation of these two papers. If any member of our Society is willing to prepare one of these papers, or to work in a Study Group, I will appreciate it very much if he will call me.

In discussing the preparation of the requested papers with the Executive Committee of the HGS, the question of company security was raised. After a discussion of the problem, we concluded that there is no reason why the preparation of these two papers should cause any violation of company security. The theme does not require the writers to disclose any ideas that they might have about the development of sands downdip from the presently known limits of production. A generalized subsurface map (contours drawn on 500 f t . intervals) showing a line drawn downdip from the producing fields would demonstrate the presently known basinward limits of production. One or more cross sections, using only well logs that have been released, could be prepared to show changea in sand development. This information is not secret, and is available to all geologists in the area. If any member is willing to work on this project, but feels that his company might object, please call anyway. It might be possible to eliminate the company's objections by setting certain limits on the information to be presented.

Zn recent years, there has been a decrease in the percentage of commercial geologists preparing technical papers for publication. A check of the A. A. P. G. Bulletin shows that most of the papers being published in it a re prepared by geologists associated with universities or governmental surveys. This avoid- ance of the preparation of papers by commercial geologists is deplorable, and suggests lack of interest in the profession, particularly by younger geologists. The preparation of a technical paper is undoubtedly the most productive means of self-education available to the scientist. Those who have prepared papers for publication have found that no one learns a s much from them as the author.

Most geologists possess a great many unconnected facts and uncorrelated ideas, and in preparing a paper for publication, all of these facts and ideas must be welded into a cohesive unit. Frequently, the conflicts found among his own concepts a re startling to the author. The geologist who has been practicing five to ten years will find that there is no better way to broaden his geological concepts, and to advance his professional career, than to prepare worthwhile technical papers for publication.

. . . George C . Hardin, Jr.

TEXAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE MEETING, DECEMBER 7, 8 and 9, 1961

The 1961 annual meeting of The Texas Academy of Science will be held in Galveston, December 7-9. Sectiolal and general meetings will be held in the -Moody Convention Center. The Earth Sciences Section is under the dtrectian of Dr. Willis Hewatt, Texas Christian University, and some program titles are "Relationship of Hurricane Carla to Beach Erosion, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas," by Dan Feray, SMU; "Fracture Patterns in Bumett County, " by McQueen and Boger, University of Texas, and &hers.

The meeting is open ro anyone who is interested, and especially it IS the hope of the Academy tfrat Houston Geological Society members will attend. A detailed program listing will be published in the next issue of the Bulletin.

KNOW YOUR SOCIETY OFFICERS

LEWIS J. HUBKA, JR., SECRETARY

h was born during a howling bliz- zard on a farm near Humboldt, Nebras- ka. He attended Humboldt High School, Nebraska Wesleyan and Nebraska Uni- versity. In additinn to earning B. S. and M. S. degrees, Lew was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Sigma Gamma Epsilon.

Lew'e professional e x p e r i e n c e started with Shell in I949 as a trainee geologist. He was promoted to Division Geologist in 1953, and in 1956 res- to become chief geologist of Beck Oil Company. From June 1957 to June 1958 he was a consulting geologist and then

joined United Producing Company as staff geologist. He became district geologist in 1959.

Lewis Hubka is a member of the AAPG, Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Aasocia- tion, Terra Club and Sandy Lakes Cauntry Club. His hobbies include golf, fishing and hunting.

Mr. and Mrs. Hubka have two daughters and one son. and they live at 3535 Lama Drive.

WILLIAM R. CANADA, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN, 1961-1963

----* ?" Denver is the birthplace of B i l l Canada, but he has lived in such places a s Washington, Philadelphia, Boston, Lake Charles, Dallas and Mount Lakes, New Jersey. Bill earned his A.B. degree a t Yale a n d took some postgraduate work a t Columbia.

Bill Canada is well known here because of his two periods of employment in Houston for Mobil Oil Company. The f i rs t t e rm was from 1949-1956, and the present one started in 1960 when he moved back from Dallas. Other professional experience includes t w o years with New York Edison Company and nine years with the old Stanolind Oil and Gas Company.

In 1953, Bill was president of the GCAGS and also the Houston Geological Society's representative. In 1941 he served a s president of the South Louisiana Geological Society, and now he i s a Houston District Representative to the Busi- ness Committee of the AAPG. Membership is also held in the Geological Society of America.

WILLIAM F. COOKE, JR., EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN, 1961-1963

- . -.. Bill Cooke was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He was awarded a B. S. in Mining Geology at the Missouri School of Mines in 1935. His professional ca ree r includes eight years a s a petroleum engineer andgeophysicist with SunOil Company follow- ed by nine years a s a geologist with the Atlantic Refining Co.

Since 1952 Mr. Cooke has been engaged as an independent oil operator and a s a partner in Anderson and Cooke Oil Exploration Consultants. He is also president of the Acco Oil & Gas Co.

I I Bill is a member of the AAPG and AIMME. He

was the author of art icles in The Bulletin of AAPG in 1954 and 1961. Bill, his wife Dorothy, and daughter Jeanne live a t 218 Chimney Rock. Their son, Clay- ton, recently marr ied a "Miss America" type girl , which is part of the reason for the gleam in father-in-law's eyes.

THE BULLETIN STAFF

Mr. J. D. "Denny" Bartell has accepted the position of Assistant Editor cl the Bulletin. To assist him a s reporters of news of members and Society hap- penings are:

Joe DeGuire A1 Boatman Stormy Smith Jimmy Critz Neil Hanson

Christie, Mitchell b Mitchell United Core; Inc. J. Ray McDermoa Superior Oil MPS Production

During the 1%0-61 year the Awards Corumluee processed for approval three non-interest bearing student loans and r ee ived payment in full of four granted in prior years. Thirty-six loans have &en made since the inception of the Student Loan Fund, and at present Loans Nd. 19 through 36 are outstanding and represent a total of $7,600. It is a distinct ;Compliment to the students who have received the loans and their recommendin@ professors that this Fund has never had to write off an unpaid loan. The book@ a r e in complete balance!

. . .Jack Colle, Chairman

NEWS, ..............

MACK C. MILNER, JR. has opened his office as an independent geologist at 2519 Watts Road. His office phone number is MO 4-1217. Mack was formerly employed by the Union Texas Natural Gas Corporation in that company's Texas Gulf Coast district office.

ANDY ANDERSON is now working for the American Natural Gas Co. in the Adams Petroleum Center. Andy was previously with Austral Oil. Also with American Natural Gas is A. JOHN BRINKOETER, JR. John has returned to Houston after 18 months in South America with Petrobras.

REX REYNOLDS, farmerly with Atlantic, has joined the Skelly Oil Co. in their Houston Upper Gulf Coast office.

As a result of the reorganization of Core Laboratories, SAM B. DUNLAP is the new Division Manager in this area, which includes all of the Gulf Coast.

C. W. LEEK has been elected president of Austral Oil Co., Inc. Wardell has been serving a s executive vice-president of that firm.

VINTON SCHOLL i s now employed by Superior Oil Co. Vinton was with Sinclair prior to his move.

GRADY TRAYLOR is now working for Cyprus Oil Co. in the Bank of the Southwest. Grady formerly worked the upper Gulf Coast for Skelly Oil Co.

Three new geologists in Houston are JULlAN "Hank" MORGAN, now with Harry Hurt, CHARLES PIRKEY with Austral (both moving here from Labyette), and JOEL PASEMAN with Brazos who came to Houston from San Antonio.

WHERE ARE THEY? . . . WHO?

The Past Presidents of the Houston Geological Society

Well, to begin with, there is JOHN ROBERT SUMAN, who with o thers organized the Houston Geological Society and served a s i t s f i r s t President in 1923 and 1924. At that t ime he was Vice-president of the Rio Bravo Oil Company. Since then he has served a s Vice-president of the Humble Oil & Refining Company in Houston and the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in New York.

John has many accomplishments of which to be proud. T o name a few, his book on petroleum engineering was the f i rs t of i t s kind to be published. He is a recipient of the Anthony J . Lucas and John Fr i t z Medals for meritorious work in petroleum engineering. He was honored by the American Petroleum Institute in 1955 for pioneering sound principles in petroleum production methods. H e has an Honorary Life Membership in our own HGS. Who's Who listed him in 1955.

After re t i r ing in 1956, John returned to his home in Houston where he now se rves on the Board of Directors a t the Schlumberger Corporatio . He lives a t 984 Kirby Drive with his wife, Bee. John is quite a s tory tel ler , many of which Bee does not approve, but we understand that she has her own way of curbing him.

The second President was DILWORTH S . HAGER. Dilworth served in 1925, a t which t ime he was Chief Geologist for the Gulf Oil Corporation. Later he went out a s an independent geologist and has remained a s such.

The biggest of his geological successes was the locating of two oil fields - the Dars t Creek Oil Field in Guadalupe County and the Sulphur Bluff Oil Field in Hopkins County. His holdings in these fields, and in others, has put him in the category of a strong independent oil operator. Among his philanthropies is a gift to the Department of Geology of the University of Texas . Dilworth never had much t ime for matrimonial affairs until a f ter he had made his fortune. On December 12, 1939, he was mar r i ed to M r s . Florine Kemp Clark of Dal las , Texas . They now live a t 4211 Armstrong Parkway, Dallas, Texas .

DR. DONALD C. BARTON was the third President of the Society, having served in 1926. He was not only a geologist, but a n outstanding geophysicist a s well. Torsion balance work was his specialty. In these fields he was recog- nized both nationally and internationally.

At the t ime he was President of the Society, he was Chief Geologist for the Rycade Oil Corporation. Later he went into consulting work and was quite successful . The Roanoke and Tepetate Oil Fields in Southern Louisiana a r e accredited to him. In 1935 he went into the employ of the Humble Oil & Refining Company, where he stayed until his death. In 1938 and 1939 he served a s Pres i - dent of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He has a long l ist of publications to his credi t . In the fall of 1939 he contracted bronchial pneumonia and died la ter that year .

On June 26, 1923, he was united in marr iage with Miss Margaret Dunbar Foules of Lafayette, Louisiana. They lived a t 1004 Kirby Drive when he passed away. Margaret, in her younger years , was very good a t telling Cajun s tor ies . She and their daughter, Ann, now live a t 2307 Locke Lane in Houston.

In 1927 DR. FRANK W. DeWOLF served a s the fourth President of HGS. He had come to Houston only a few years ear l ier a s Chief Geologist of the Humphry Oil Corp. Later he made a connection with the Louisiana Land and Exploration Company. Recognizing the merits of their properties in Southern Louisiana, he invested heavily in their stock. This later proved quite profitable to him.

D r . DeWolf was primarily a teacher and want back to Urbana, Illinois, where he served a s the head of the Department of Geology a t the University of Illinois. Later he retired and traveled quite a lot. In 1957 he was str icken with a hear t ailment and died. His wife, Fanny, whom we knew in Houston, now r e - sides a t 1508 South Vine Street in Urbana.

PAUL WEAVER, an outstanding geologist, geophysicist, and all-round scientist, served a s the fifth President in 1928. He was in the employ of the Gulf Oil Corporation a t that time and remained with them until his retirement. He had previously spent some 15 years in Mexico with the Royal Dutch Shell In- teres ts in geological work. In 1948 he served a s President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He holds an Honorary Life Membership in the Houston Geological Society. In 1959 he was chosen "Engineer of the Year" by the San Jacinto Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. After his retirement from the Gulf Company, he joined the teaching staff of A&M Col- lege. His strong point was in geophysics, but his study of the geology of the water resources of Texas gained him wide recognition a s an authority. He has recently had some serious eye trouble, but I believe is now on the well list again He lives with his wife, Stella, a t 2317 Maconda Lane in Houston.

GEORGE SAWTELLE served the Society in 1929 a s i t s sixth President. He was President of the Kirby Petroleum Company at that t ime and has remained with them, o r affiliates, to the present. He now has the title of Chairman of the Board of the Kirby Petroleum Company.

He was Vice President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists in 1933. He was President of the Texas Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association in 1942 and in 1943. He served a s General Campaign Chairman of the Houston Community Chest in 1943-1944, and was President of the Houston Chamber of Commerce in 1944-1945. He holds an Honorary Life Membership in our Houston Geological Society, and he presently is serving a s trustee for Lehigh University.

In his college days George played football at Lehigh University and was mentioned a s All American End in 1916. In France during World War I he was selected a s A11 A.E .F . End. He was Captain in the American Expeditionary Forces . He served a s Backfield Coach at Northwestern University in 1920- 21.

Although he has never re t i red k o m his company he admits that he often puts off until tomorrow some things that should be done today. He lives with his wife, Mae, in a new home at 204 Arborway in Houston.

This short write-up of each of the past Presidents of HGS i s being done a t the request of Edd Turner, also a past President and presently the Editor of the Bkilletin. This installment, covering the f i rs t six, is admittedly inadequate in doing justice to all, but Edd tells m e that I have already exceeded my allotment fif space. So if I do not hear too many complaints, I will be seeing you again w ~ t h hnother allotment in the next Bulletin. . . . Wayne F. Bowman

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Space for Professional Cards of Members

JOSEPH L. ADLER Geologist 8 Geophysicist

1801 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 2-7925

Houston 2, Texas

ALLEN h GlLKlSON Oil and Gas Consultants

Harris H. Allen and D. C. Gilkison

463 San Jacinto Bldg. CA 8-9329 Houston 2, Texas

CLIFFORD F. BARBER

Geologist

401 Esperson Bldg. CA 2-661 1

Houston 2, Texas

E. J. BARRAGY

lndependent

3005 Buffalo Dr. Box 13287

Houston 19. Texas JA 8-5525

JOHN L. BIBLE BIBLE GEOPHYSICAL CO., INC.

Gravity - Magnetic Surveys Interpretations

1045 Esperson Bldg. CA 2-6266 Houston 2, Texas

FRANCIS X. BOSTICK

Geologist

71 1 Melrose Bldg. FA 3-3754

Houston 2, Texas

LESLIE BOWLING

Oil and Gas Consultant

536 California Bldg. JA 2-0432

New Orleans, Louisiana

WAYNE F. BOWMAN, SR.

Independent Geologist

171 3 Niels Esperson Bldg. CA 2-0279

Houston 2, Texas

ORVAL L. BRACE

Geologist

181 0 South Coast Bldg. CA 8-5404

Houston 2, Texas

RALPH B. CANTRELL

Petroleum Geologist and Engineer

4005 Bellaire Boulevard

Houston 25, Texas

GEORGE H. CLARK Petroleum Geologist

404 First City National Bank FA 3-1 187

Houston, Texas

STUART K. CLARK

Consulting Petroleum Geologist

5443 Lynbrook Dr. SU 2-1638

Houston 27, Texas

JACK COLLE Consulting Geologist and Paleontologist

91 1 San Jacinto Bldg. Houston 2, Texas

RALPH E. DAVIS ASSOCIATES Consultants - Oil and Natural Gas

121 6 Niels Esperson Bldg. CA 4-7576

Houston 2, Texas


J. BRIAN EBY Geologist

2338 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 4-1 622

Houston 2, Texas

ERNEST A. ELWOOD, JR.

lndependent Geologist

331 8 Mercer St. JA 9-3779

Houston 27, Texas

PAUL FARREN Geophysical Consultant

1528 Bank of the Southwest Houston (2) and FA 3-1 356

Geodata Building MO 7-331 7 5603 S. Rice Ave. (36)

HERSHAL C. FERGUSON

Consulting Geologist

1421 Esperson Bldg. CA 8-841 9

Houston 2, Texas

JOHN F. FLANNERY

Petroleum Geologist

4006 Ella Lee Ln. MO 7-0534

Houston, Texas

HAROLD L. GElS Consulting Geologist

1238 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 7-531 7

Houston 2, Texas

KENNETH L. GOW Consulting Geologist

531 Texas National Bank Bldg. CA 4-6584

Houston 2, Texas

HUBERT GUYOD Well Logging Consultant

51 34 Glenmont Dr. MO 7-6561 and MA 3-971 3

Houston 19, Texas

GEORGE C. HARDIN, JR. FRANK R. HARDIN

Petroleum Geologists 71 1 First City National Bank Bldg.

Houston 2, Texas CA 7-5323

HEBERT AND SERBER Geophysical, Geological Consultants

Seismic Review and Subsurface 2422 Bank of the Southwest Bldg.

Houston 2, Texas CA 4-781 5

R. B. HOHLT Geological Consultant

Exploration . Exploitation . Valuation 241 1 Bank of the Southwest Bldg.

Houston 2, Texas CA 2-0081

HOWARD HOUGH Consultant

1005-A First City National Bank Bldg. FA 3-7548

Houston 2, Texas

GENTRY KlDD

lndependent

81 3 Esperson Bldg.

Houston 2. Texas

C. T. MacALLlSTER

Geophysical Consultant

6327 Vanderbilt, Houston 5, Texas

M A 3-41 81


GEORGE N. MAY & ASSOCIATES Consulting Geologists and

Paleontologists P. 0. Box 2052 Not Mouton Bldg.

Lafayette, Louisiana

W. B. McCARTER C. E. McCARTER

Independents 141 5 Sul Ross JA 3-5733

Houston, Texas

GEORGE I. McFERRON


Room 5, 1973 W. Gray JA 2-2627

Houston, Texas

RAYMOND E. MlNG

Geologist

750 San Jacinto Bldg. CA 8-1 91 6

Houston 2, Texas

R. B. MITCHELL

Independent

2801 First City National Bank Bldg.

Houston 2, Texas p~

JOHN C. MYERS Consultant in Oil, Gas and Sulphur

1207 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 5-41 33 and CA 5-4559

Houston 2, Texas

WALTER J. OSTERHOUDT Consulting Geophysicist and

Geologist P. 0. Box 31 82 CH 7-3769

Durango, Colorado

KENNETH DALE OWEN

Geologist

Esperson Building

Houston 2, Texas

ROLAND B. PAXSON


3524 Sunset Blvd. MA 3-9196

Houston 5, Texas

SAM M. PENA

Consultant Ge.ophysicist

446 M. Esperson Bldg. CA 8-8505

Houston 2, Texas

DAVID B. REMICK Consultant

620 Bank of Commerce Bldg. CA 7-4286

Houston 2, Texas

RAYMOND D. REYNOLDS Geologist

436 Bankers Mortgage Bldg. CA 7-5309

Houston 2, Texas

C. H. SAMPLE Consulting Geologisi 404 Esperson Bldg.

FA 3-9997 Houston 2, Texas

A. L. SELlG Geologist


Houston 2, Texas


BENJAMIN T. SIMMONS


601 C & I Life Bldg. FA 3-0493

Houston 2, Texas

FRED L. SMITH, JR. J. T. GOODWYN, JR. Consulting Geologists

1226 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. Houston 2, Texas CA 5-6656

HERBERT C. SMITH Consulting Geophysicist

and Geologist 320 Pinehaven Dr. 0 V 6-51 53

Houston 24, Texas

H. C. SPOOR, JR. HARRY KlLlAN

Geologists 21 30 Tennessee Bldg. CA 4-971 1

Houston 2, Texas

D. C. STALLWORTH, INC. Engineering and Geological Drafting

Surveying and Mapping Planimetering and Acreage Calculations

121 0 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. Houston 2, Texas FA 3-7343

S. BROOKS STEWART Geophysical Consultant

339 Bankers Mortgage Bldg. FA 3-4966

Houston 2. Texas

THOMAS F. TAYLOR Petroleum Geologist


Houston 2, Texas

A. H. WADSWORTH, JR.

402 Texas National Bank Bldg.

CA 7-81 51

Houston 2, Texas

J. C. WALTER, JR. Geologist and Petroleum Engineer

2202 Esperson Bldg. CA 7-1 246 Houston 2, Texas

Home Phone: HO 5-9773 --

GEORGE F. WATFORD Consulting Geologist

833 Bankers Mortgage Bldg. CA 7-6935

Houston 2, Texas

JAMES A. WHEELER

Consultant

191 0 Esperson Bldg. FA 3-1 61 8

Houston 2, Texas

HERBERT E. WILLIAMS

Geologist ' Oil Producer

1420 Esperson Bldg. CA 3-4033

Houston 2, Texas

The Future Use of Deep Submersible Vehicles, * by Lt . Don Walsh USN, Offlcer-in-Charge. Bathyscaph Trieste

The purposes of this brief exposition a re to outline some of the potential uses for deep submergence vehicles in scientific and commercial endeavors and to point up some of the problems found in operating in the oceans. For the past three years the United States Navy has operated a deep submergence research vehicle, the Bathyscaph Trieste, and it i s from the experience gained with this craft that this article is written.

The term "deep submergence vehicle" i s used here to denote those specialized submersibles, both manned and unmanned, that will be used to perform a variety of special tasks at depths generally greater than those attained by working SCUBA and hard hat divers. At present the Trieste is the only such vehicle operated by theunited States, but there is promise for many more in the near future. Indeed, throughout the world there a re but a half dozen deep submersibles in existence.

Professor Auguste Piccard, the Bathyscaph's inventor and builder, sold the Trieste to the U.S. Navy in 1958, a little over four years after it was first launched. The purchase and the early program for this "inner spaceship" were initially under the direction of the Navy's Office of Naval Research. The later

The Trieste At Sea Official Photograph. U . S . Navy

'Presented before joint meeting of the Navy League and the Houston Geological Society, September 12, 1961. This article in no way reflects the views or opinions of the Navy Department. Those stated are strictly the author's.

Sea floor as seen through Trieste's window, 4000' depth, 16 miles west of San Diego. (Official Photograph, U. S . Navy)

program (the past two years) has been under the direction of the Navy's Bureau of Ships and jointly supported by it and the Office of Naval Research. It is be- lieved that this arrangement best represents the three products of this program: scientific, technological and operational information.

The U. S. Navy Electronics Laboratory at San Diego, California, a Bureau of Ships facility, was chosen a s Trieste's home port for the obvious geographi- cal advantages of nearby deep water, good weather and abundant logistic support.

Three years of operations with the Trieste both in the San Diego area and in the vicinity of the island of Guam have proven this pioneer effort to be a source of insight into the potential of this approach to the problems of inner- space. It is well-known and not disputed that the Trieste is a model "T" vehicle, but it represents a starting point to put man into the medium. This program provided a great stimulus to those who will project and expand this technique into the future.

With roughly 71% of our planet covered by water, the problem of performing mining, drilling, farming, and other engineering projects on the sea floor will soon assume major proportions. Up to the present, shallow shelf operations have been carried out by a combination use of divers, and surface lowered devices. While this method has been semi-satisfactory in the shallow depths, this "classical" approach willnot be economically feasible in the greater depths. Lowered devices from surface ships represent a groping extension of man's sensory functions; the efficient way is to send man to the site via the manned vehicle. Naturally, no one system would possess all of the advantages but the combination of surface ships, manned vehicles, and unmanned vehicles should

make it possible for man to perform any deep sea operation anywhere in the world.

What form should these devices take? This is a question that is best an- swered by another question.. . What is the requirement? Just as i t is impossible to design one airplane for all flying operations, i t is also impossible to design the "Ornniscaph" which would be all things to all users. Important lessons in this respect can be learned by studying the past history of our aviation industry. The conquest of inner space stands now where aviation stood in about 1920.

This point leads us to the real crux of the problem. . .the environment. We know s o little about what is down there that we find it difficult to estimate what would be needed to extract the unmeasured resources. It's a fact that we now know more about the moon's surface than the floor of the ocean, which is an area nine times greater than the moon and of somewhat greater importance. However, the picture is not a s black as it may seem, as our Government is working out large scale programs that will soon begin to provide this needed information about the deep sea environment. With this basic information in hand, the e r a of large scale commercial exploitation of the sea's resources will begin. The techniques of approaching this vast problem will make heavy demands upon virtually every facet of engineering know-how. To make this area commercially feasible the extraction methods will have to be competitive with those methods used in te r res t id extraction of resources.

An attendant problem with knowledge of the environment is the creation of a labor pool with the necessary scientific and technical skills for operations in this vast medium. At present the number of persons working in this field is so limited that even a program of modest expansion would founder for lack of properly trained and qualified people. The solution is not only a greater input into the educational institutions but also to convert basic engineering talent from other fields of endeavor. The aircraft industry has furnished the space and missile industry with most of its labor pool; perhaps this too would be the place to look for recruits for inner space technology.

The engineering problems of deep submergence a r e not a t all complicated. The major obstacles - lack of visibility and great pressures - seem minute when compared to the complex problems of space and missile engineering. It really i s a matter of emphasis, a s roughly 80% of the problems of inner space a r e of a basic engineering nature. With even a simple extension of existing technology, we could make great advances in this area if there is a requirement to do so.

Industry must accept the challenge and help to measure the potential of this vast unknown frontier. If there is a requirement for performing operations in the sea and on its floors then these things will be done.

With the population explosion doubling the number of people on our planet by the year 2000, it stands to reason that the additional demands for food and mineral products can only be met through systematic exploitation of the oceans. This then is the challenge for industry in an area so vast and with so much

potential. It awaits the pioneer, much as our terrestial frontier did many years ago. The time to plan for this new b p t i e r ie mar, for, as technology advances, the time between plan and execution will shorten, apd those who are ready will be those who will succeed.

Now let's explain how the Trieste works. Basically the bathyscaph is n d m g more than a free balloon and as such has the same two major assem- blies, the balloon (called the float), and the cabin (called the sphere). The float's lift or buoyancy is achieved through 33,350 gallons of aviation gasoline. The float has at each end a floodable tank which is filled with sea water to make the craft just heavy enough to submerge. To make the craft lighter or to come back to the surface it is necessary to release some weight. This is provided for by two large pods located beneath the float. Each pod contains eight tons of steel shot ballast which can be drapped through an opening at the bottom of the pod. Surrounding this opening is an electric windLng or coil. When the coil is energized the ballast is magnetized and cannot drop but when i t is not energized the shot is free to flow making the bathyscaph lighter. An additional safety feature is that the entire pod can be dropped in case of emergency.

The sphere located beneath the float is the nerve center of this deep balloon. Protected by its thick walls are all of the operating controls, instruments and, of course, the crew of the craft. By the time all of this equipment is installed inside the cabin there remains only about 17 cubic feet of working space for its crew of two . . . slightly more space than the average household refrigerator. The primary feature of the sphere is the thick plastic observation window wMch is located at its front. It is so located that the observer can look at the sea floor just a dew inches from his eyes. Various data gathering devices auch ae cameras, recorders, and instruments supplement the trained mind and eyes of the scientific observer during each dive.

Prominent among the special new features of the rebuilt TRIESTE are the remote controlled mechauical arm located beneath the float which will permit the crew to pick up selected samples from the sea floor; a closed drcuit TV system that will extend the available visual viewing area, and five propulsion motors that will permit motion in almost any direction.

Some of the Trieste's "vital statistics" are: Length - 59-1/2 feet (length of the float), Beam - 11-1/2 feet (width of the float), Draft - 18 feer fully loaded. Weight - SO tons without gasoline; 150 tons with gasoline, Sphere thicknee8 - 4- 1/2 to 6- 1/2 inches thick, Float thickness - 1/8", Maximum towing speed - 5 miles an hour, Depth limit - none, Dive duration (maximum) - 24 hours.

(Editor's Note: Because of the unfortunate arrival of "Carla1' on the night of September llth, Lt. Walsh's talk was rescheduled to the following day. Since things were still not normal, the attendance at the meeting was small. As a service to our members who were not able to attend, Lt. Walsh prepared the article above and supplied the illustrations from official U.S. Navy sources. Our thanks to our Navy and Lt. Walsh. We hope he can return someday. )

Abstract: Bureau of Economic Geology: A Bureau of The University of Texas for Research and Service in Geology.* by Peter T. Flawn 1

The Bureau of Economic Geology, as the State Geological Survey for Texas, is the fifth geological survey and follows the Shumard Survey, Second Survey, Dumble Survey, and University Mineral Survey. The Bureau has operated since 1909 as an organized research bureau of the University. Major organizational elements include the research staff, cartographic department, Mineral Tech- nology Laboratory, and Well Sample Library; the research staff is supported by various assistants, a librarian, and a technical reports editor. The program includes basic research and public service. Important current projects inch,&

(1) Texas Geologic Atlas; (2) Ouachita System; (3) High-Calcium Limestone; (4) Big Bend National Park; (5) Mineral Resources of South Texas; (6) Cambrian System in Central Texas; (7) T e x a s Mineral Statistics (a continuing project); (8) Chemistry of South Texas c o a 1 s; (9) Athleta petrosa Stock in the Eocene of Texas--study of evolutionary trends using the CDC 1604 computer; (10) quad- rangle mapping in Trans-Pews Texas; (11) popular publications on State Parka, Texas rocka and minerals, etc. ; (12) other regional stratigcaphic s t u d i e s, paleontologic studies, and s- t u d i e s of a ~ p e f i a c mineral proqects.

Dr. Flawn The geologic staff of the Bureau has recently been increased to ten, and a

Technical Reports Editor has been added. In the coming years, the Bureau hopes to expand its activities in the field of non-metallic industrial minerals while continuing a strong basic geologic research program.

TEXAS CHAPTER, SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION

Scientific books and periodicals of all types can be used by South American colleges and universities. The average university library in many South Ameri- can countries could fit in your clothes closet.

The Texas Chapter, Special Libraries Association, is cooperating with the University of Houston Library in procuring, processing, and shipping donated books and periodicals to South America. Members of the H . G. S. may help this project along by sending unwanted or duplicate books and periodicals to Research Project 14, University of Houston, Cullen Boulevard, Houston 4, Texas.

'Presented before the Houston Geological Society, October 9, 1961 Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas

THE HOUSTON GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY by Richard E. Offeman, President

Lore of the earth, a s seen in rock and gem-stones, exerts a fascination for professional and amateur alike. The jewel expert collects mineral rarities and fine gems. The "rock hound" wanders far afield, climbing stony cliffs, probing river beds and digging among rock piles in search of minerals, rock specimens and fossils. As experience is gained, some jewel experts and rock hounds expand their hobby to include the fashioning of stones into gems and jewelry; they are known as lapidarists.

In December 1948, a handful of lapidarists headed by Dr. W. V. Vietti (Division Manager for Texaco's Gas Department) organized the Houston Rock & Lapidary Society, the forerunner of the present Houston Gem & Mineral Society. In April 1957, under the leadership of Mr. Stanley C. Morian (President of Dixie Chemical Company), the Houston Gem & Mineral Society incorporated under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act.

The activities and aims of the Society are a s varied as its members. A garage mechanic and a television service man cut and polish hard silica rocks such a s agate and opal. An engraver and a vice president facet rubies, garnets, diamonds and peridot . An instrument maker and a housewife carve figures and bowls from jade. A dentist and a furniture maker cast buttons, flys and spiders in gold. A jewelry maker and a geologist fashion silver chains and rings. A mud engineer and a bird watcher collect mineral specimens, fossils and rocks. All have, however, one common aim - close fellowship through the promotion of the scientific study of their hobbies and the fostering of a true appreciation in the minds of the public for the rocks, minerals and fossils found in our state of Texas.

Today, the Houston Gem & Mineral Society has over 100 members. They band together once a month (every third Tuesday) at the Downtown Recreation Center Building, corner of Memorial Freeway and Sabine. Between meetings, the members go on field trips, searching for topaz, tektites, petrified palm wood, agate, minerals and fossils. These trips reach many sections of Texas, including Moulton, Burnett, Austin, Alpine, Carlos, Zapata, Three Rivers and Gatesville.

Once a year, the members pool their resources and time to exhibit their fine mineral collections, prize carvings and precious gem stones. The exhibit i s free to all and draws many interested spectators and potential members. At both the exhibit and monthly meetings, visitors a r e welcome a s a re their ques- tions concerning the details of the lapidary art, the jewelry craft, and the collecting of rocks, minerals and fossils.

(Editor's Note: H. G. S. members interested in attending meetings or joining this group should contact Mr. R. E. Offeman, P . 0. Box 1675, Houston 1, Texas, or in care of Baroid Division, National Lead Co. )

As a result of a request from Mr. W. A. Thomas, General Chairman of the 1963 AAPG Convention, M r s . Don Gahagan and the las t four past presidents of the Geological Auxiliary will appoint a laides' entertainment chairman. Mes - dames Philip Allin and John M a r r have graciously consented to se rve on this committee.

At the suggestion and the request of the Houston Geological Society and M r s . Harr ie t Dickson, chief l ibrarian of the Houston Public Library, M r s . Don Gahagan, president of the Houston Geological Auxiliary, with the approval of the board, has appointed a committee for "Library Listing" with M r s . Ralph Taylor serving a s chairman. M r s . Stewart Folk, M r s . Robert B. Newcombe, Mrs . Jed Maebius and Mrs . Glenn R. Neighbors will also s e r v e on this committee. The "Library Listing" Committee will compile a l ist of al l the geological publications in the Houston Public Library. This l ist will be published s o that it can be c i r - culated to a l l the members of the Houston Geological Society. It will provide the membership with an up-to-datecatalogueof publications available in the Houston Public Library system, and i t will help the Library staff by supplying an accu- r a t e inventory.

June and Paul F a r r e n recently entertained all the "out-going" and the "incoming" officers of the Geophysical Society of Houston with a barbecue a t their home, 309 Westminister Drive. Everyone enjoyed meeting their daughters, Jill and Heloise Oliver of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Heloise is studying at Spring Branch High School in conjunction with the American Field Service student exchange program.

Margery Allen i s chairman for a style show given by Schep's at the Houston Geophysical Club on Bellaire Boulevard, November 13th. All members of the Auxiliary and their guests will be most welcome.

Flash back! The Roy Bennetts and the Tom Halls attended a Doodlebug Golf Tournament at Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada. Tom i s the proud owner of a golf bag that he won by winning his flight.

Both husbands and wives enjoyed dinner and a style show a t the Houston Geophysical Club, October 3rd, of which Hattie Palmer was chairman.

The newcomers group, Geo-Wives, is having a membership drive. Anyone interested in joining Geo-Wives may call Emmy Snyder a t HO 8-4415. If you have been a member of the Houston Geological Auxiliary a year o r l e s s you a r e eligible. The Geo-Wives meet once a month with a varied program.

. . .Eleanor Briggs

H. G. S. AND G. H.S. DIRECTORY NEWS

The membership deadline for the new directory has passed and the various committee chairmen a r e busy at their respective tasks. If everything goes according to schedule the new directory will be ready for distribution around February 1, 1962.

Members who have accepted the responsibilities of chairmen on the directory staff a r e a s follows: Aubrey H. Rabensburg - HGS, Co-chairman; Edward F . Zagst - GSH, Co-chairman; Clark Edgecomb, J r . - Advertising Committee; H T . Brundage - Arrangements Committee; and Robert A. Harris, Photograph Committee. These men have selected their staffs and a r e completing assign- ments according to schedule. The directory will be ready to go to press a s soon a s the advertising copy i s in and pictures a r e matched with the directory infor - mation.

The photography chairman advises a number of members a r e not reporting to the studio on schedule (Rembrandt Studio, 1205 Main - across from the Humble Bldg.). There will be a special make-up period for members who cannot fill their appointment on the scheduled day (see special announcement on page 2). Please make every effort to have your picture taken at the appointed time. (If too many members fail to show according to schedule this will cause inconven - ience and delay for all who have waited until the last week.)

Your cooperation and promptness in returning the directory information cards i s appreciated. Members of the various directory committees a r e making every effort to have the new directory in your hands at the earliest possible date. Your continued cooperation will expedite the preparation and publication of the directory.

. . . Charles F. Ross Directory Chairman

NEW ADVERTISING POLICIES ANNOUNCED

Mr. Clark Edgecomb, J r . , Business Manager for both the Bulletin and the forthcoming Directory, announces the new policies that will apply to advertising for both publications. It will be noted that there has been no advertising in the Bulletin except for professional listings. All advertising has been deferred to put it on a calendar year basis and advertisers will be solicited for signature ads to run for the entire year of 1962.

The new Directory for publication in 1962 will be printed in a loose-leaf binder with a s ize of 8-1/2 x 11 inches. This will be a standard form which will appeal to advertisers. The ads will be spaced among the photographs and read- ing matter rather than being concentrated in the beginning and end of the publication. The solicitations for both the Bulletin and Directory will be made in the next two weeks.

hgs bulletin volume 4 no. 3 (november 1961volume 4, no. 3 november ... of petroleum, explosion...

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