BULLETIN

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Houston, Texas

Volume 4, No. 2

October

%oustor Cjeol!ogicd Society

President . . . . . . . . . . . 1st' Vice President . . . 2nd Vice President . . .

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

W . R . Canada W m . F . Cooke. Jr .

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 F A 3-0493 . . . . . . . . . . E H Rainwater MO 7-5661 . . . . . . . . .

Lewis J Hubka. J r CA 5-551 1 . . . . . . , .

Cecil R Rives CA 3-401 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EXECUTIVE COMMIlTEEMEN

W m . A . Gorman. Ex-Officio

COMMlTTEE CHAIRMEN

STANDING COMMllTEES

Carey Croneis Ben Morgan

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

. E . H . Rainwater . . . . . . . . . .

. Jack W . Craig . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. Theodore P . Ellsworth . . . . . . . .

. Reese Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DeWitt C VanSiclen

. Clyde Beckwith . . . . . . . . . Curris C . Franks . . . . . .

SPECIAL COMMllTEES

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 . . . . . . . .

M . Stephen Kovac . . W . A . Thomas . . . . . . Paul H . Allen . . . . . Jeral 1 . Crowder . . . . . C . W . Leisk . . . . . . . . . Otto Pixler . . . . . . . . Howard Schoenike . . . Frank R . Hardin . . . . Ralph E . Taylor . . . . . . Arthur S . Dickinson . . James A . Wheeler . . . . Charles W . Stuckey. Jr . John L . P . Campbell Carlton D . Speed. Jr . Jack 0 . Colle . . . . . . . George C . Hardin. Jr . Arthur S . Dickinson . . . Raymond E . Fairchild . John L . P . Campbell . . . . WA8-5311

T H E B U L L E T I N

THIS MONTH

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 2

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

President's Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3

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

News of Other Societies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6

On the Distaff Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...... Page 8

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

THE B U L L E T I N OF THE HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY Office -234 Esperson Bldg. - Houston 2 , Texas - 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, INC.

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

Ass't Ed i to r . . . . . . . . . J. D. "Denny" Bartell . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . CA 2-0216

Managing Editor . . . . . Clark Edgecomb, J r ., Schlumberger . . . . . . WA 8-2511

MEETING NOTICE

Volume 4, No. 2 October

SECOND REGULAR MEETING - OCTOBER 9

The second regular meeting of the 1961-1962 year will be held on Monday evening, October 9, 1961, on the 10th floor of the Houston Club. The social hour will begin at 515 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m.

The speaker will be Dr. Peter T . Flawn, Director of the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, who will tell us about the history of the Texas State Geologi- cal Surveys, the present organization and program of the Bureau, and plans for future work.

Dr. Flawn did undergraduate study at Oberlin College and received his M .S. and Ph.D. degrees in geology from Yale University. He was geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, research scientist and geologist for the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, special member of the graduate faculty at Texas, and visiting lecturer in geology at Northwestern University. Since 1960 he has been Director, Bureau of Economic Geology, and Professor of Geology, The Univer- sity of Texas.

Dr. Flawn has served on the Research and Business Committees of the M G and, since 1955 he has been chairman of the Basement Rocks Project Committee. He has published many important papers in The Bulletin of the AAPG, the G . S . A. , the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, and in other publi- cations. He is a Fellow of the G. S. A. and a member of many other professional societies, including the M G , SEPM, AIME, and Sigma Xi.

The speaker has addressed the Houston Geological Society on December 7, 1959, on the subject "The Ouachita Structural Belt in Texas. " Those who at- tended the meeting heard a most stimulating and learned paper. Dr. Flawn knows a great deal about the geology and mineral resources of Texas, and Houston geologists can expect to learn some important facts of this great State a t our next meeting.

NOTICE1 NOTICE1 N O T I C E I

OCTOBER 1, 1961 DUES AND DIRECTORY DEADLINE

Only those members who pay their dues and send in a completed Direc- tory data card by October 1, 1961, can be assured of being included in the new Society picture directory to be published next spring.

PAY NOW1

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

Sales of the new H.G.S. publication, "Geology of Houston and Vicinity, Texas," a re booming, and i t appears that the 2,000 copies printed for the Society will soon be gone. The Houston Public School system purchased 900 copies for classroom use, and new orders a r e coming in daily. Those members who want copies should order now because there will be considerable delay before another printing can be made. See the Publications List in the back of this Bulletin for an order blank.

A number of H.G. S. members have a callous on their "telephone finger" caused from trying to spread the word that the first meeting of the year wouqd be postponed from Monday until Tuesday night. B. C . (before Carla), it appeared that the attendance a t this meeting would be the largest in the history of the Society. The meeting was held jointly with the Navy League of Houston and the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and approximately 500 were expected to be present to hear Lt. Don Walsh discuss the U.S. Navy's deep sea diving program. Carla blew in and blew the Monday date out of the water. Due to the strom's effect on the telephone system, we were unable to reach most of our members to let them know that the meeting would be held on Tuesday. Approxi- mately a hundred made the meeting, and they were well rewarded for their efforts. By proclamation of the Governor, Lt. Walsh's rank was raised to that of Admiral of the Texas Navy, and his presentation was a credit to both the Texas Navy and the U . S . Navy.

The H.G.S. committees a r e all getting into high gear, but only a few of them a r e completely staffed. If any of you a re willing to work on a committee, please call the Chairman of that committee and let him know it. As with all scientific societies, the success or failure of the operation of the H.G.S. de- pends upon the work of i ts members.

George C. Hardin, J r .

P. S . Don't forget the G . C .A. G. S. convention in San Antonio, October 25, 26 & 27. The Theme: Resume of the Geological History of the Coastal Area.

FUTURE MEETINGS AND SPEAKERS ad

Plans have been made to have noted scientists address the Society in the near future on subjects of interest to all of us. There will be three speakers at the November 13 evening meeting: Drs. Paul Weaver, Earl Ingerson, and Peter Dehlinger. They will tell us about some late Russian ideas concerning the habi- tat of petroleum and the methods used in mineral exploration. Geophysicists and geochemists a r e invited to this meeting.

Dr. Harold N: Fisk, Chief, Geologic Research Section of the Humble Oil & Refining Company, will address the Society on January 8, 1962. His subject is "Paleoecology and Oil Exploration." Fisk has probably contributed more than anyone to the modern ideas of sedimentation, depositional environments, delta building, and Pleistocene history; and he has successfully applied geologic principles in petroleum exploration.

FRIDAY EVENING TALKS AT THE UNIV. OF HOUSTON

The ser ies of Friday evening talks by local geologists at the University of Houston is being resumed. The first is scheduled for October 20 at 7:30 p. m. in Room 202 of the Science Building(which is located north of the west end of the reflecting pool). All who a r e interested a r e invited to attend. The talk will be on "Environmental Data On Recent Sediments Off Massachusetts," (by a speaker whose name will be announced after he secures company clearance). Specific information should be available earlier that week. Any additional information may be obtained by calling CA 4-1681, Ext. 541.

TERRA CLUB NEWS

The Ter ra Club announces that there is now a transferable membership available effective September 29, 1961. This means that for an initiation fee of $200.00 a s contrasted to the regular non-transferable fee of $100.00, a member- ship may be transferred to anyone meeting the requirements of the club and approved by its Membership Committee.

It is anticipated that this new category will be of particular interest to those companies whose employees carry several memberships o r whose employees a r e subject to frequent transfer.

Prospective members in either category may obtain any additional informa- tion by calling the club a t CA 2-6158 or visiting the quarters on the top floor of the Oil & Gas Building at 706 Lamar, Houston. Texas.

KNOW YOUR SOCIETY

The short biographical sketches of our new officers a r e continued in this issue and will be completed new month.

BENJAMIN T. SIMMONS, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Our first Vice President is a native of Rochester, New York, and somewhat different from most geologists he re- ceived all of his schooling in that city. He graduated from I r o m o i t High School (they have quaint names in those outlying states) and received both B. A. and M. S. degrees from the University of Rochester.

Ben's professional experience ha s been quite varied. His first job was surveyor for Mstern Geophysical Com- pany; then followed two years in Vene- zuela for Standard Oil Company, two years as assistant to Michel T. Halbouty, and three years with General Crude Oil

Company as geologist and assistant chief geologist. From 1945 to present he has been a consulting geologist specializing in exploratory and development drilling with considerable work before the Railroad Commission and the Con- servation Commission of Louisiana.

Mr. Simmons is a member of the AAPG, National Rifle Association and numerous other organizations and clubs. He is married to the very cbarmiug Robbie Simmons, and they have one son, Roger, who also has a geolqical background.

E. H. RAINWATER 2ND VICE PRESIDW

"Rainey" is a native of Wayne County, Mississippi, a very important place in the h e r Cretaceous trend right now. His higher education was received at Mississippi State, North- western and Indiana Universities. For two years. 1935-37, he taught at Missis- sippi State, and in 1937 he joined Royal Dutch/Shell at The Hague. His career with Shell has included a tour as chief of the geological laboratory in Vene- zuela and work as paleontologist and s t r a t i g r a p h e r inTallahassee. Lake Charles, Jackson and Houston. He is now senior research geolagist, Shell Development Company, Houston.

Professional affiliations are numerous. He is a past preeident of tbe Gulf

5

Coast Section of the SEPM, a fellow of the G.S.A., a member of the AAPG, Sigma Xi and the Mississippi Academy of Science.

Those who have made the Houston Geological Society field trips in the past few years have come to respect Margaret, Rainey's charming wife, who doesn't hesitate to crawl through barbed wire fences and wade through mud and water. The Society is privileged to have the Rainwaters on its team.

NEWS ......... . . . . -4 GEOPHYSICAL SOCIETY OF HOUSTON

&-

The regular noon meeting for September was held on Monday, September 18, with P. E. "Pete" Narvarte; consulting geophysicist from San Antonio, dis- cussing the "Exploration and Discovery of the Santa Ana Structure, offshore Tabasco, Mexico. "

On October 6th the Geophysical Society will have its annual golf tournament at Lake Forest Country Club. Contact R. L. Palmer, P. 0. Box 6557, Houston 5, for details.

An evening meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 17, at the Briar Club for presentation of Lifetime Honorary Memberships to Messrs. Paul. Weaver, Lewis Nettleton and King Hubbert.

MID-CONTINENT REGIONAL MBETING, AAPG, OCTOBER 18-21

The Panhandle Geological Society, in cooperation with The Mid-Continent Council of Geological Sodeties, i s sponsoring this meeting in Amarillo, Texas, October 18-21.

The Technical Program covers two full days, and a field trip will be con- ducted to the Palo Duro Canyon on Saturday, October 21. From the Rockies to the Ouachitas the spotlight is on Natural Gas. The theme "Natural Gas on the Move" focuses attention on "The Geonomics of the Mid- Continent Area." Speakers of local, regional, and national stature will discuss the geology and economics of natural gas, includmg helium, and other aspects of the geology of the Mid-Continent .

Programs and housing request forms are availableat the HoustonGeological Society office at 234 Esperson Building.

SOUTHWESTERN FBDERATION OF GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES

The Roswell Geological Society and the Association Mexicana de Geologos Petroleros a re sponsoring the fourth annual meeting of the S. F . G. S. in El Paso, November 1, 2 and 3.

The program is "A Symposium on the Sedimentary and Tectonic Frame- work of Northern Mexico and Southwestern United States ." Housing requests and further information can be obtained from the El Paso Camber of Commerce.

HISTORY AND FORECAST OF ACADEMIC AND EMPLOYMENT KELATIONSHIPS IN THE GEOLOGICAL PROFESSION

BY

M i c h e l T . H a l b o u t y *

The unemployment and apparent increased rate of terminations ofgeologists by industry during 1959 and 1960 created much concern throughout the geological professions. In order to determine the causes, and with the hope of receiving remedial suggestions, the Executive Committee of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, during the National Convention in Atlantic City in 1960, organized the Industrial - Academic Relations Committee with 25 members to make a study of conditions affecting the employment of geologists. Members of this Committee were carefully selected s o a s to insure complete representation of areas in the United States and Canada from industry and universities.

The primary objective of this Committee was to review the employment history of geologists from 1950 through 1960 and to forecast what might be the intention for the years 1961 through 1965. Questionnaires were sent to all universities issuing degrees in geology, and to various industrial groups, as follows: Thirty-two major oil companies; State geological surveys and all Federal agencies that employ geologists; independent oil producers; service companies; foreign divisions of United States oil companies; and mining com- panies of the United States.

The results of the Committee's study a r e most interesting and a r e briefed below:

It was determined that out of 21,000 geologists in the United States, 2500 were seeking employment. In this unemployed number, 5 . a have less than a Bachelor's degree; 61.6% have a Bachelor's degree; 26.4% have a Master's degree; and 6.8% have a Ph. D.

It was observed that many geologists listed themselves as consultants and consider that they a r e self-employed, when in reality a large number of these men were simply waiting for any kind of job opportunity. These consultants were requested to give their experience in the profession prior to their becom- ing consultants, and the data revealed that seven years experience was the average length of service with a company prior to becoming a consultant.

Employers of nearly half of the employed geologists pointed out that there a r e basic weaknesses in the education of professional geologists. The most consistent response was a recognition of deficiency in the basic sciences usually considered a s necessary to geological training. The five common weaknesses most mentioned by employers in order of importance a r e mathematics, physics, English, chemistry and engineering principles.

It was determined from responses received by the Committee that approxi- mately 50% of all graduates in geology do not find a niche in the profession. In

*Presented before the Houston Geological Society, June 12, 1961

other words, this 50% find other fields of endeavor which in the statistics must be considered a s "healthy" for the profession. It i s deduced that this 50% would not have particularly upgraded our profession.

There has been a rapid decline in Bachelors' degree candidates in the last three years, while graduate student enrollment has continued to r ise . This can be explained, in part, by the return to school of many geologists who have been working in industry and have felt the necessity for additional academic training, o r who have not been able to obtain a job after receiving their Bachelor's degree, o r who have been terminated by their employer and have gone back to school for advanced work to better themselves for another job opportunity.

In 1960 total terminations equaled 964 and of these. 433 were a t company request. This total was fa r less than the Committee originally estimated and anticipated because of the many rumors of "mass firings" that hounded the pro- fession in 1959 and 1960. In a total population of 21,000 geologists these ter- mination figures can be placed in their true perspective. In many instances, firing of geologists by major companies was necessary because of overstaffed personnel and the inevitable culling out of those who just didn't have the re- quirements either in education o r experience.

It was noted that on the basis of the forecast for the next five years, there a r e going to be enough Master and Ph.D. graduates to supply all of industry's requirements (demands) especially if a degree alone is the deciding factor. However, industry forecasts that approximately one-third of the 600 new gradu- ates to be hired for each year of the next five years will be with only Bachelor degrees. It i s the opinion of the Committee that these Bachelor degree graduates will be used in areas other than creative thinking-- such a s in service, general, o r statistical assignments.

The next five years forecast shows that enrollment of junior, senior and graduate students will grow t o an all-time high figure of 9,000. Out of these 9,000 students, only 3,600 will graduate each year and these 3,600 will be com- peting for only 600 jobs. This indicates that 3,000 graduates each year will not find employment in the profession and will probably find themselves heading for the Peace Corps.

The Adolphe Gueyrnards and the Bill Cookes were pleasantly surprised when they met while vacationing at The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia.

The Geo-Wives have planned to have Mr. Hendreks of Cordes -Hendreks Coiffures to demonstrate a t the October 18 meeting. It will be held at the Geo- physical Club starting a t 10:OO A.M. with Bridge and luncheon.

All of Mrs. Jack Colle's friends a r e happy to s e e her back home after her stint in the hospital. We hope she will be out and amongst us before too long.

Mrs. Don Gahagan had a Board meeting at her home on August 21, at which she served a delicious lunch.

Edd and Polly Turner have recently returned from a gay vacation in Mexico City and thereabouts. Their talk has a Spanish accent now! Incidentally, they went down there on the Mexican Railway from Nuevo Laredo, and the trip was so satisfactory that Edd has written up a travelogue for others who may be in- terested in such a trip.

The R. C. (Dick) Marmadukes have moved into their new "abode" on Olympia, and a s an unfortunate result of Hurricane Carla, we a r e sorry to hear that the Fred Goerner's beach home a t Kemah was completely demolished.

The Elliott Powers and the A1 Winzelers have recently returned from a trip to Canada where they participated in the Oilman's Golf Tournament at the Banff Springs Hotel. The Powers also visited on the West Coast and in Vancouver.

Excerpt from a letter to the Wayne Bowmans from John Graham: "We a r e here at Salif (Yemen) in Asia. Our wives a r e in Asmara, Eritrea (Ethiopia), Africa, a continent away, but only 270 a i r miles. Asmara is in the Mountains of the Moon with an elevation of almost 8,000 feet. Eritrea i s having a terrific monsoon season this year. The daily temperature range in Asmara is 56 to 62 degrees and i t rains almost constantly. All the wives a r e screaming about freezing to death. The hotel, Mussolini's old guest house, has no heat. Lee has acquired an electric heater (Italian) of microscopic size and keeps it under her chair. Lee has used the cold weather a s an excuse to buy quite a few knitted dresses and suits. Oddly enough, the Ethiopians a r e excellent knitters. "

. . Eleanor Briggs

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY Space for Professional Cards of Members

JOSEPH L. ADLER Geologist & Geophysicist

CLIFFORD F. BARBER

Geologist

1801 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 2-7925

401 Esperson Bldg. CA 2-661 1

Houston 2, Texas I Houston 2, Texas

ALLEN & GlLKlSON 1 E. J. BARRAGY Oil and Gas Consultants

Harris H. Allen and D. C. Gilkison Independent

463 San Jacinto Blda. CA 8-9329 / 3005 Buffalo Dr. Box 13287 -

Houston 2, Texas 1 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. BOSTlCK

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.

lndependent 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 6. 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 2-1 638

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

1216 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 N. Rice Ave. (36)

HERSHAL C. FERGUSON

Consulting Geologist

142 1 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 7-53 17

Houston 2, Texas

HUBERT GUYOD Well Logging Consultant

51 34 Glenmont Dr. M O 7-6561 and M A 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 4-78 15

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

Consulting Geologist

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

lndependent

2801 First City National Bank Bldg.

Houston 2, Texas

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 3182 CH 7-3769

Durango, Colorado

KENNETH DALE OWEN

Geologist

Esperson Building

Houston 2, Texas

ROLAND B. PAXSON

Consulting Geologist

3524 Sunset Blvd. M A 3-91 96

Houston 5, Texas

SAM M. PENA

Consultant Geophysicist

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

A. L. SELlG Geologist

1907 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 4-9774

Houston 2, Texas

BENJAMIN T. SIMMONS

Consulting Geologist

601 C & 1 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 6-5153

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

12 10 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

1828 Bank of the Southwest Bldg. CA 7-4622

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

1910 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

Abstract: Midfield Field, Matagorda County, Texas, * by James 0. Lewis, Jr., Consultant, Houston, Texas

The discovery well of Midfield Field was drilled by Sun Oil Co. in November 1943; however, this well, the No. 1 Stranadel, was junked and abandoned after encountering a salt water flow at 10,500 feet.

The production established one of the earliest lower Frio fields in Matagorda County. Midfield Field i s particularly interesting for study a s the Frio sedimentation is very important and very evident. The con- ditions existing in Midfield Field exist in most lower Frio fields in Jackson, Matagorda, and Brazoria Counties with numerous complications and twists, however, the basic sedimentary processes and results a re the same.

Simply stated, Midfield Field production is a result of Northward thickening of the lower Frio section, changing the "regional" dip from southeast to north- west. Nosing on the upper Frio horizons becomes closure at depth.

*Presented before the Houston Geological Society, May 8, 1961

13

While a stratigraphic "shale-out" of the "Midfield" sand does exist on the southeast flank of production it i s not the primary cause of accumulation but is responsible for the larger column of accumulation.

There a re only two producing sands in Midfield Field. The lowest, the "Fluery" sand a t 10,500 ft., is of minor importance and i s wholly a stratigraphic type accumulation. The second producing sand, the "Midfield" sand at 9,100 ft., has over one hundred feet of producing column. This accumulation is a result of structural closure and a stratigraphic condition. The "Midfield" sand i s pro- ductive a s it occupies a particular position in the stratigraphic section where structure changing from all Southeast dip shallow to all northwest dip at depth across a regional nosing has resulted in a structural closure.

The three maps presented with this discussion illustrate the structural change brought about by northward thickening of the Frio section. While the interval used for illustration i s small it is probably the most critical part of the section.

It is the opinion of the writer that a thorough understanding of the conditions existing in Midfield Field will be of untold value in understanding and predicting the lower Frio eccentricities throughout the Gulf Coast.

LEST WE FORGET

One hundred and fifty years ago "geology" was a.dirty word, and geologists were consorts of the devil thinking atheistic and lecherous thoughts. Quoted below is the f i rs t paragraph of Hugh Miller's Third Lecture, published in his "Testimony of the Rocks" in 1862.

"It i s now exactly fifty years since a clergyman of the Scottish Church, engaged in lecturing a t St. Andrews, took occasion, in enumerating the various earths of the chemist, to allude to the science, then in i t s infancy, that specially deals with the rocks and soils which these earths compose. 'There is a preju- dice, ' he remarked, 'against the speculations of the geologist, which I a m anx- ious to remove. I t has been said that they nurture infidel propensities. I t has been alleged that geology, by referring the origin of the globe to a higher antiq- uity than is assigned to it by the writings of Moses, undermines our faith in the inspiration of the Bible, and in al l the animating prospects of the immortality which it unfolds. This is a false a larm. The writings of Moses do not fix the antiquity of the globe. "'

Should we geologists adopt a patron saint? If so, the Scottish clergyman who made our profession respectable was Dr . Thomas Chalmers, who later became a very well known theological writer .

Review: - - - . - - . . . Opportunities in Geology and Geological Engineering, by A. K. Snelgrove, 86 pp. Vocational Guidance Manuals, Inc., N. Y.

This pamphlet i s the geologic manual of a se r i es designed to guide young students in choosing their careers . It covers a great deal of ground and gives references to much more. It is unevenly written, owing to the effort to present all phases of the various careers related to geology. With the emphasis on engineering and mining, local young people considering oil geology a s a career will find much that seems unrelated to their problem, but it warrants their perusal. In addition to odd details and useful references, i t provides a different slant than they a r e likely to get from friends in the profession.

It contains some things of interest to the res t of us. For instance, i t brings realization that a Geological Engineer i s seldom prepared to practice Engineer- ing Geology. The author evidently believes that the economic phases of geology a r e best handled by men with an engineering background. If a student can afford the extra years necessary for a thorough training in geology a s well a s for his engineering, it may not be a bad idea even though the two phases call for some- what different mental attitudes.

Dr. Snelgrove concludes that a ca ree r in some phase of geology i s recom- mended if the student is vigorous and "bright-normal," i . e . , in the upper quarter of the population; that the financial return tends to be normal o r above and that the satisfaction derived, particularly a s a consultant, i s great.

. . . .Shirley L. Mason

EARTHQUAKE IN TEXAS1

That's right, only there a r e records of quakes described in University of Texas Bulletin No. 2609. This little known bulletin was published an March 1, 1926, and is probably out of print by now.

The major quake, recorded by witness accounts and seismograph readings in Denver, Lawrence, Kansas, and a t Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., occurred about 6:20 A.M. on July 30, 1925. The epicenter was probably in the Canyon-Amarillo-Pampa area, and it was felt as far away a s Wichita FalIs to the southeast, Tucumcari to the west, La Junta, Colorado, to the northwest and Winfield, Kansas, to the northeast.

Some of the description in Bulletin No. 2609 is a s follows: "houses were shaken o r swayed. A cement porch was believed to have been cracked in Kan- sas , a clock was stopped in Tucurncari, N.M., and a chimney fell in Wichita Falls." A very short addenda to the bulletin gives an account of an ear l ier earthquake, March 24, 1917, also in the Amarillo area.

Abstract: Lac Blanc Field, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, by Paul E . Boriskie, Aquaness Department. Atlas Chemical Industries, Inc.

The Lac Blanc Field was discovered in September, 1957 by the Superior Oil Company No. 1 St. Lease 3052. This well was a dual completion in reservoirs on the upthrown side of an essentially down-to-the-south fault and it turned out to be one of the most promising discoveries made that year in the Lower Mio- cene of southwest Louisiana. The Lac Blanc Field is located in White Lake which occupies the southwest portion of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, and is approximately 25 miles southwest of Abbeville, and 58 miles southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The deepest test in the Lac Blanc Field does not reach the Siphonina davisi zone (Lower Miocene) although the Humble Oil Co. No. 2 St. Lease 3055 was drilled to 15,500 feet. The Discorbis bolivarensis zone, which overlies the Siphonina davisi zone, consists of approximately 2,500 feet of sand and shale (discovery well) and is the most outstanding producing section in the field.

Structurally, the field consists of two elongated anticlinal structures along an east-west line. The eastern structure is crossed by an east-west normal fault which dips to the south. Due to increased throw with depth, the east-west fault causes the top of the eastern structure to move southward so that on the deeper horizon maps this feature appears a s a north-south elongated anticline. The western structure does not appear to be similarly affected by the fault and consequently remains in i ts original position at all depths.

Sand E, the deepest sand mapped, shows the fault with a throw of approxi- mately 750 feet. The fault has increased its throw from 140 feet on the Bigenerina hurnblei horizon to the 750 feet on Sand E horizon.

Isopachous mapping between Cristellaris I1 and the top of Sand E shows approximately 500 feet of thinning over the upthrown side when compared to the downthrown side of the fault. This feature indicates strongly that faulting was contemporaneous with sedimentation. The structure of the field was probably produced by relative subsidence of an adjacent area which was the scene of the development of a syncline a s a result of salt removal. The salt removed went to make the adjoining piercement salt dome reported to occur in the East White Lake Field which lies approximately 1 . 5 miles to the east. Thus the Lac Blanc Field represents an anticline formed on the outer rim syncline.

From its discovery to December, 1959, the Lac Blanc Field produced an accumulated total in excess of 1 . 3 billion cubic feet of gas, 33,500 barrels of condensate, and 89,700 barrels of crude oil. All of this production came from 12 wells producing from five o r six sands.

*Presented before the Houston Geological Society, June 12, 1961

The study of this field was undertaken as a student project in the Depart- ment of Geology at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. The writer wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of the Amerada Petroleum Corp. for the use of electric logs and in offering advice and constructive criticism.

- - . . - - - - LAC BLLNC F I E L D

"I".,'IO. ... 0." LD.lll...

STRUCTURE MAP

TOP SAND 'E'

H O U S T O N G E O L O G I C A L S O C I E T Y

P U B L I C A T I O N S L I S T

1954 C r o s s sect ions Upper Gulf Coast of Texas (4 s t r ike and 2 dip sect ions) . Vert ical sca le 1" equals 800'. Horizontal sca le 1" equals 16,000'.

P r i c e per s e t - $10.00 plus postage

1954 HGS Study Group Report , Stratigraphy of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas, and Str ike and Dip Cross Sections of Upper Gulf Coast. Approximately 50 pages. General discussion of Te r t i a ry Formations. F o u r fold-out Dip Cross Sections. Two fold-out Strike Cross Sections.

P r i c e - $5.00 plus 25$ postage

CI] 1952 Geologic s t r i p maps, Highway 77 f rom Texas-Oklahoma State Line to Dallas and Highway 75 f r o m Dallas to Galveston. Includes culture, geologic formations ' outcrop at surface, subsurface contouring, and Fields with pertinent data.

P r i c e - $1.50 p e r copy, postpaid

1959 Geologic s t r i p maps . U. S. Highway 90 f r o m Texas-Louisiana State Line to Van Horn and U.S. Highway 80 f rom Van Horn .

to Texas-New Mexico State Line, P r i c e - $2.75 pe r copy, postpaid

1953 AAPG - SEPM - SEG Guidebook General discussion, Cross Sections, and Structure Maps of 23 Gulf Coast Fields. Art icles of s ix aspects of Gulf Coast Geology. I t inerary of five field t r i p s .

P r i c e - $5.00 plus 25$ postage

1958 Guidebook of the Annual F ie ld Tr ip , HGS & SEPM, Upper and Middle Ter t ia ry , Brazos River Valley, Texas

P r i c e - $3.25, postpaid

1959 HGS F r i o Study Group Report. The F r i o Format ion of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. Includes 3 litnofacies maps of Upper & Lower F r i o Formation, Diagrammatic Strat igraphic Section of F r i o Formation, text explaining method of mapping, tabulation providing datum and detai l data for a l l reference wells.

P r i c e - $3.00 p e r copy plus 25C postage

1959 Guidebook, Annual F ie ld Trip, HGS & SEPM. Lower Ter t i - a r y and Upper Cretaceous, Brazos River Valley, Texas

P r i c e - $3.25 per copy postpaid

11 1960 Guidebook, Annual Field Tr ip , HGS & SEPM, Jackson Group, Catahoula and Oakville Formations and Associated Structures of Northern Gr imes County, Texas

P r i c e - $3.50 per copy postpaid

a 1961 Geology of Houston and Vicinity, Texas. Scenery and Recent Sediments along the Coast, Surface, Subsurface and Economic Geology. Contains maps , c r o s s . sections and photographs. Three Appendices cover fossi l localities, Llano Region and Glossary.

P r i c e - $2.00 per copy plus 25f postage

Houston Geological Society Bulletin Includes abs t rac ts of papers presented to the Society and other scientific notes. (Published September through June - 10 i ssues)

P r i c e - 50$ per copy $3.00 per year $4.00 per year foreign

On al l foreign o rde r s please include 25f additional per book for postage. This does not apply to o rde r s for the Bulletin.

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UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ANNOUNCES SPEAKERS

D r . Hugh A . Bernard, of Shell Research, will speak at the University of Houston on "Genesis of Barrier Island and Chenier Sand Bodies Along the Gulf Coast." The talk will be on Friday, November 10, at 7: 30 p. m . on Room 202 Science Building (located immediately north of the reflecting pool). The subject i s of special interest because it is con- cerned with features all of us can s e e right on the surface in this par t of the country. Everyone who is interested i s invited to attend.

Outside speakers will also talk to the Reservoir Geol- ogy c lass on several occasions, and interested geologists a r e invited to hear them. Dr . George R . Gray of Baroid talked on "What Geologists Should Know About Drilling Mud" on Wednesday, November 1, and Ben A. Elmdahl of Elmdahl Engineering will inform on "Core Analysis" from 7 to 8:20 p .m. on Wednesday, November 8. These talks will be in Room 202 Science Building also.

(Over)

HOUSTON GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS

Do you have a l l publications o f the Houston Geologcal Society?

Two very popular ones published recently a r e listed below. Inciden- tally, both of these a r e approaching the out-of-print stage, and if youwant to be a s su red of having a copy - send in your o rde r soon!

1959 HGS Fr io Study Report. The F r io Formation of the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. Includes 3 lithofacies maps of Upper & Lower F r i o Formation, Diagrammatic Stratigraphic Section of F r io Formation, text explaining method of mapping, tabulation pro- viding datum and detail data for a l l reference wells .

Pr ice - $3.00 per copy plus 25$ postage

C] 1961 Geology of Houston and Vicinity, Texas . Scenery and Recent Sediments along the Coast, Surface, Subsurface and Economic Geology. Contains maps, c r o s s - sections and photographs. Th ree Appendices cover fossil localities. Llano Region and Glossary.

Price - $2.00 per copy plus 25$ postage

USE THIS AS YOUR ORDER BLANK.

Make a l l checks payable to: Houston Geological Society, Academic Fund

Mail to: Houston Geological Society, 234 Esperson Bldg., Houston, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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