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Instruments \ Gallery \ SEG History \ 1990 Decade \ 

Society of Exploration Geophysicists
History
1990 Decade: Looking Forward

1990
Membership dues were reduced by US$20 for both unemployed and retired members of the Society; 20% discount on publications given to SEG Student Members. Total worldwide geophysical expenditures increased 15% over 1989 to $2.195 billion. Ad rates in TLE were increased. 43rd Midwest Meeting held in Midland with 516 attending. Cray Research donated a CRAY 1/M supercomputer to the SEG Museum and CEJA Corp donated a complete seismic recording truck doghouse now restored and on display. 6th SEG/U.S. Navy Joint Technical Symposium on Deep Ocean Technology held in Bay St. Louis, MS. first Archie Conference held in Houston. Section membership declined 200 to only 8790 from the 1988 count. New student sections at Univ of New Orleans and Ecole Politechnique Geophysical Society in Montreal SEG was cosponsor of 35th Intl Geophysical Symposium in Varna, Bulgaria. The editor published a set of guidelines for Associate Editors in July TLE. Proposal to rejoin AGI declined. Continuing Education program cut back and efforts increased to make it break even, concentrating on offering courses at Annual Meetings; smaller list of courses, reducing tuition, etc. Joint SEG/SPG (Chinese Society of Petroleum Geophysicists) meeting held in Chengdu; theme, Exploration for Petroleum Carbonates. New Foundation Board of Directors program allows Corporate Trustee Associates for companies that wish to contribute. Reference requirements waived for members of AAPG, SPE, and SPWLA who apply for Associate Membership in SEG. Fee charged to sections for Continuing Education courses eliminated. 64 scholarships awarded for 1990 91, totaling US$80 450. 6th Gulf Coast Meeting drew 460 to New Orleans. Geopotential Fields Committee held its first workshop and decided to change name back to original Gravity and Magnetics Committee. Science Fair held in Tulsa; SEG prizes changed from trip to next Annual Meeting by Distinguished Achievement prize winner to US$500 cash award; Award of Merit winners each receive US$300. Research Committee presented the Summer Research Workshop on "Permeability, Fluid Pressure, and Pressure Seals in the Crust" in Denver and the 3rd Biennial Joint EAEG/SEG Workshop on "Estimation and Practical Use of Seismic Velocities" was held at Cambridge Univ. TLE Board is now pursuing contributions from Eastern Europe, Orient, and South America. SEG Member application forms revised by Membership Committee. Distinguished Lecturer in 1990: Roy Lindseth (Aaron Seriff Fall Lecture canceled because of ill health). Mining and Geothermal Geophysics Committee sponsored a symposium on "Borehole Geophysics" with the Univ of Arizona at Tucson and drew 230 delegates; a workshop on "Geophysics in Gold Exploration" with the Univ of Nevada at Reno drew 114; and held a Research Workshop on "Airborne Geophysics" at the Annual Meeting. 22nd OTC attendance (31 451) was up 18.9% over 1989; two sessions sponsored by SEG; our share in profits was US$73 500. 60th Annual Meeting held in San Francisco with Bay Area Geophysical Society as host; Charles Swift served as general chairman, 7553 attended, 906 booths, record number of papers presented: 497 in 68 technical sessions; new policy at convention allows nonmembers to use $60 of registration fee to join the Society and use as current year's membership dues; a breakfast meeting held again for Latin American delegates hoping to increase cooperation with geophysicists in Central and South America. Joint SEG/SOVG (Society of Venezuelan Geophysicists) Symposium on "Reservoir Characterization, Case Histories, and Techniques" held in Maracaibo; 206 participated. SEG participated in Archie Conference in Houston with AAPG, SPE, and SPWLA. New section in Geophysics: "Geophysical Studies"... limited number of graduate students (less than 10% total attendance) may have registration fees waived at SEG summer research workshops.

New publications in 1990: Seismic Data Processing Video Course of 15 cassettes by Oz Yilmaz; Cumulative Index 1936-88 (supplement to March Geophysics); Reflections of a Seismic Interpreter, Paul Tucker; Seismic Interpretation Series, v. 2; Geophysical References 4: Seismic Wavefield Sampling, G. J. O. Vermeer; Geophysics Reprints 12: Velocity Analysis on Multichannel Seismic Data, Bok Byun, editor; 13: Numerical Modeling of Seismic Wave Propagation, K. R. Kelly and K. J. Marfurt, editors; Investigations in Geophysics 4: Induced Polarization, J. B. Fink et al.., editors; 5: Geotechnical and Environmental Geophysics, Vol. I-III, Stanley H. Ward, editor; SEG Standards: Computer Program Converting SEG 2 Data to SEG Y, Brett Bennett; Seismic (Radar) Data Files in PC Environment; Slide Set series expanded from 19 to 24; Video Tape series expanded from 6 to 8.

Companies/Universities/Organizations: BHP of Australia and Sonatrach of Algeria signed exploration agreement ... Chicago based Pettibone Corp acquired ARDCO ... Western Atlas completed multimillion dollar upgrade of marine seismic exploration data processing center in Houston, is building new US$12 million data processing center in Singapore, and opened new facility in Buenos Aires and another in Port Harcourt ... Nigeria Canada's Sonics Exploration joined GECO Schlumberger group ... IBM/Colorado School of Mines have a joint program to establish Center for Exploration Geoscience Computing on university campus; W.M. Keck Foundation gave US$1 million as first installment on US$3 million grant for the center ... Grant Norpac acquired geophysics division of Computalog ... Joint venture: Wega D Geophysics of Calgary and Neftegeophysika of the USSR ... new CGG/Davis Great Guns Logging joint venture: Digital Logging ... Horizon Exploration renamed Simon Horizon ... Geophysical Surveys Systems Inc (GSSI) acquired by OYO Geospace ... USSR/PGI have joint venture for exploration in USSR ... GECO moved HQ from Oslo to Stavanger; also purchased Delft Geophysical ... Seismic processing center installed by Anadarko Algeria in Boumerdes; to be managed by Geophysical Development Corp. ... Yakut ASSR government authorized Lenaneftegasgeologia partnership with Fairfield Industries to offer joint oil/gas exploration opportunities in East Siberia SSL and Neftegeofizika agreement for joint venture for oil/gas exploration in Soviet Union ... Landmark Geophysical acquired Inverse Theory & Application (ITA) of Calgary and Zycor of Austin ... Vector Seismic moved into new HQ in Denver . . HGS opened new seismic data processing facility in Istanbul; HGS/Eotvos Lorand Geophysical Institute new joint venture company: Geophysical Services Europe ...

Personals: Richard Flury named Sr VP worldwide exploration for Amoco in Chicago ... Mohammed A. K. Siddiqui joined Zilkha Energy ... Bob Hardage named VP for Atlas Wireline Services ... chair at Univ of Nevada Reno named for Arthur A. Brant ... G. Thomas Wilkinson named Exec VP of Ashland Exploration ... SMU's Inst for Study of Earth and Man 1990 Hollis Hedberg Award in Energy to Cornell Univ professors Sidney Kaufman and Jack Oliver ... Czango Baag appointed prof of geophysics at Kangweon Natl Univ., Korea ... Jose (Pepe) Regueiro named tech mgr of Simon Bolivar Univ's seismic processing center in Cara as ... Craig Beasley named R&D mgr for Western Geophysical in Singapore ...Michel Halbouty is first foreigner to receive honorary D.Sc. from USSR Academy of Sciences ... Jeff Wynn completed three year USGS assignment as chief of advisory mission in Venezuela ... Neil Cramer recieved Haworth Distinguished Alumnus Award from Univ of Kansas ... Brian Biggs appointed managing director of GeoQuest System operations in Europe, Africa, and MidEast ... James Hornsby named VP of Western Atlas Intl ... A. M. (Red) Olander stepped down after serving nine years as SEG representative to OTC Board of Directors ... Rodney J. H. Smith retired on Halloween as a geophysical consultant with Mobil E&P US ... James D.Robertson appointed VP, exploration technology for ARCO International Edward Chiburis named chief geophysicist, R&D for ARAMCO in Dharan ... Former SEG presidents/honorary members who died this year were Sigmund Hammer and W. Harry Mayne; E. I. Galperin, renowned Soviet geophysicist became ill during SEG's convention in San Francisco and returned to Moscow where his condition worsened and he died less then a month later on October 20; he was author of the SEG volume, Vertical Seismic Profiling. Membership: 14,964; Student Members: 551


1991
The SEG Foundation Trustee Associates (and spouses) held its first annual meeting at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Pointe Clear, Alabama on the east side of Mobile Bay. Efforts by Publications Committee Chairman Stan Ward beginning in 1989 resulted in publications sales in 1991 to total a staggering US$903 813. Increase of US$10 in membership dues as of 1/1/91. New publications in 1991: Investigations in Geophysics 3: Electromagnetic Methods in Applied Geophysics, Vol. 2: Applications, M. N. Nabighian, Editor; 5: Geotechnical and Environmental Geophysical, Vols I-III, Stan Ward, editor; 6: Multicomponent Seismology in Petroleum Exploration, R. H. Tatham M. D. McCormack; Proceedings of First Archie Conference; Geophysical Developments 2: Seismic Modeling of Geologic Structure, S. W. Fagin, editor; 3: Expert Systems in Exploration, F. Aminzadeh/M. Simaan, editors; Geophysical References 1: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics, 3rd edition, R. E. Sheriff; Geophysics Reprints 14: Slant Stack Processing, G. H. F. Gardner/L. Lu, Editors; Course Notes 3 and 4; Slide Sets 25-28. Student Section Academic Liaison Committee published an earth science poster targeted at high school students. March TLE cover story featured Maurice Ewing. Continuing Education Program now offers 35 courses. Martin C. Kelsey recieved SEG Gold Certificate and Martin C. Kelsey Jr. recieved SEG Silver Certificate, the only father-son duo so honored in the same year. Some 2.5% of membership returned questionnaire in April TLE on a survey on digital publications. Sustaining Membership in SEG was eliminated in light of new category Corporate Trustee Associates; Exxon Production Research initiated this area of support by donating US$20 000 to the SEG Foundation. Casper Geophysical Society inactive. Agreement completed between SEG and Assn of Exploration Geophysicists (India). Spring 1991 Distinguished Lecturer: Larry Lines; Fall Lecturer: Alistair Brown. Engineering/Groundwater Committee discussed becoming a section of SEG. 59 scholarships totaling US$76 560 awarded. Reduced fees allowed Student Members attending continuing education courses.

Meetings/Conferences/Symposia: 44th Annual SEG Midwest Exploration Meeting/Exposition, Tulsa, 611 attended ... 7th Annual SEG Gulf Coast Exploration/Development Meeting and Exposition, New Orleans; 608 registered ... 8th Annual SEG Summer Workshop, St. Louis (MO) ... 20th Annual Meeting, IAGC, Houston ... 66th Annual Meeting of SEG/AAPG/SEPM/SPWLA Pacific Sections, Bakersfield, CA ... 23rd OTC, Houston; attendance up 9% over 1990 to 34 242 ... 8th Conference/Exhibition of ASEG/Geological Society of Australia Exploration Symposium ... 6th Annual Meeting: Houston Geotech '91: Integration into the 90s (cosponsor, Geophysical Society of Houston) ... 61st Annual International SEG Meeting, Houston attracted 10 670; Hugh Hardy was general chairman; Fred Hilterman, Technical Program chairman renamed Poster Papers "Mini Workshops"; 339 exhibitors in 1171 booths ... Mini Geo Exposition 1991 sponsored by GSH Data Processing Group ... first SEG Development/Production Committee Forum drew 96 geoscience professionals ... second Archie Conference, Houston.

Companies/Universities/Organizations: All stock of Tensor Inc was acquired by Grant Norpac, Houston to form Grant Tensor Geophysical Corp. ... New Museum of Exploration Geophysics in Mexico City dedicated during 4th Geophysical Symposium of the Mexican Assn of Exploration Geophysicists (AMGE) ... GeoQuest Systems acquired North American maintenance ops of Seismograph Service and relocated SSC maintenance HQ from Tulsa to Houston ... ICF Resources acquired HouTex Seismic and subsidiary Professional Geophysics ... AGU added JGR Planets to series Journal of Geophysical Research ... Joint ventures: CGG and USSR Ministry of Geology thru subsidiary Neftegeofizika; Fairfield and Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Yakut; CGG/Robertson Group/NOPEC with Sevmorneftegeofizika of Murmansk and Dalmorneftegeofisika of Sakhalin; OYO Geospace with Geophyspribor in Ufa, Russia; Simon Geophysical with Vietsovpetro (Vietnamese-Soviet joint venture); Polar Pacific of Geophysics new joint venture of HGS/Dalmorneftegeofizika Trust; GEOID joint venture of Fairfield Industries/Sakhalingeology of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk; Nefte Seismograph Geofizica joint venture of Seismograph Service/Neftegeofizica established geophysical data center in Moscow; Bulgarian Geophysical Service joint venture of HGS and Enterprise for Geophysical Exploration/Geological Mapping (Geofizika) of Sofia ... CUBE moved HQ from Beaverton, OR to Belmont, CA and also opened petroleum technology center in Dallas ... De Regt Special Cable Ireland completed management buyout from N.V. Verto, Netherlands ... National Science Foundation grant of US$216 500 to Denver Earth Science Project at Colorado School of Mines ... ITA Inverse Theory & Application received gold trophy in small business category of Canada Awards for Business Excellence for 1990 ... GeoQuest Intl purchased Petroleum Information (PI), Denver based division of Dun & Bradstreet ... Seismograph Service, England purchased Seis Pro & Consultants; also added seismic vessel, Seisquest, to fleet ... SPE opened London office to coordinate programs/activities in Europe, Africa, Middle East, India ... Career Fair at Colorado School of Mines featured a careers in geosciences booth sponsored by SEG's Student Section/Academic Liaison Committee ... Western Geophysical ordered 4 seismic survey ships to add to its fleet of 30; Western Atlas Software new div ... GFS opened data processing center in Houston ... GECO Prakla new name of Schlumberger's marine/land seismic firm since its acquisition of Prakla-Seismos; GECO Geophysical bought Terra Marine Engineering ... SeisTex purchased by First Seismic ... Daniel Geophysical changed name to Geotrace Technologies ... Sierra Geophysics, div of HGS, opened new offices in Australia and China ... Geonics of Canada purchased by Swedish Geological AB (also owner of ABEM).

Personals: G. Thomas Wilkinson named president of Ashland Exploration ... M. E. (Shorty) Trostle retired from Fairfield Industries as CEO ... Jack L. Kerfoot transferred to Lafayette, LA by Conoco ... Juan Valhonrat appointed general manager of geophysical software development for Western Geophysical Jeannie A. Fisher joined Pogo Producing ... Melvyn E. Best named new director of the Pacific Geoscience Centre of the Geological Survey of Canada ... James D. Klein, ARCO Oil & Gas recieved ARCO's 1990 Outstanding Technical Achievement Award ... Sid Siddiqui joined Pennzoil E & P as Sr geophysicist in the US Offshore Div. Herbert D. Valliant named VP of ZLS Corp. ... Alfredo Gomez appointed Latin America ops manager for HGS and transferred from Bogota to Houston ... Tom LaFehr, founder of LCT, appointed president/CEO ... Jisoo V. Rxu took early retirement from Chevron and offers consulting services in geophysical exploration and new exploration technology ... Damir Skerl elected executive VP of Western Geophysical ... Colin Adlard appointed marketing manager for the SS (England) Ltd.'s Phoenix Vector ... Kenneth Shaw promoted to VP, scientific computing services of Unocal Canada Exploration, Calgary Jerry Dees appointed senior VP of ARCO Oil & Gas ... Hal Godwin recieved Univ of Calgary's Award for Excellence in Intl Business for 1991 ... Richard Burnett joined BHP Petroleum (Americas) ... S. Reddy Ravula new president of Alpha Geo (India) ... Orval Brannan named executive VP of Western Geophysical ... Walt Lynn joined Lynn Inc. ... Poh Hsi (Percy) Pan name director of geophysics for Flow Industries ... T. D. (Davy) Einarsson resigned from HGS after 35 years and established Einarsson Enterprises ... Rudy Prince Jr. elected chairman/board of IAGC ... Rhonda Boone named mgr of Western Atlas Intl's Corporate Communications Dept. ... W. S. (Bill) French, founder of Tensor Geophysical Service, elected president of Grant Tensor Geophysical ... Turk Timur, Chevron Corp., recieved SPE's 1st Formation Evaluation Award ... Claude P. De Roster new manager of Russian exploration ventures ... William Schneider named president of Fairfield Industries . . Sidney Kaufman retired from Cornell Univ. and as SEG representative to the U.S. Geodynamics Committee. Deaths: Founder, 36-37 Secy/Treasurer John Wilson, 91; Honorary Member Ken Burg, 86; SEG Founder J. P. Black, 87; Honorary Member/former Editor of Geophysics Aaron Seriff, 67. Membership: 14 611; Students: 537


...to be continued

 


 

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Last Updated: 2/11/2006
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