June 2002

Deep-Marine Depositional Margins Industrial Alliance Research Deep-marine settings are the frontier of research in the 21st century. Research on deep-marine sedimentology, structure, process stratigraphy, hydrocarbon habitat, and seafloor stability is being conducted by Lesli Wood of the BEG and Paul Mann of UTIG. [more] 06/30/02

The Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory (RCRL) presented a three-day workshop focused on constructing flow models of carbonate reservoirs. F. Jerry Lucia presented the results of research on defining flow layers using the rock-fabric method and James W. Jennings discussed geostatistical and scaleup methods that he has developed. Charlie Kerans gave an overview of sequence stratigraphic methods. The participants were from companies that sponsor the RCRL and included 11 engineers, 3 petrophysicists, and 7 geologists. The material was well received and discussions were lively and constructive. 06/28/02

Research Scientist Sue Hovorka, together with 8th grade Wimberley ISD teacher Maggi Cayhill, recently taught a short course titled "New Views of Familiar Places: Using GIS for Environmental Inquiry" to teachers from Region XIII, our local Regional Science Collaborative. The workshop was held the mornings of June 26 and 27 at Hutto High School, in Hutto, Texas. Teachers used local data GIS data sets to explore relationships among geology, topography, population, and tornados. 07/02/02

Bureau Director Scott Tinker and Associate Directors Doug Ratcliff and Jay Raney traveled to New Harmony, Indiana, to attend the annual meeting of the Association of American State Geologists, June 23–26, 2002. 06/27/02 Above: Former BEG Director William Fisher, Charles G. Groat, Director of the United States Geological Survey, and BEG Director Scott Tinker at Cape Sandy Quarry, the largest quarry operation in Indiana. Below: Doug Ratcliff, William Fisher, and Scott Tinker.

Fractured Sandstones of the Rockies were the focus of the June Workshop and Field Trip conducted by the Fracture Research and Application Consortium. The field trip started in Kemmerer, Wyoming on the morning of June 21, with a workshop that followed on June 22 at Snow King in Jackson, Wyoming. 06/06/02

Director Scott Tinker traveled to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, on June 18, 2002, and presented "Upstream Technology for the Coming Natural Gas Economy." [Abstract] 06/19/02

Perth, Australia, was the destination for Research Scientist Mike R. Hudec, who traveled "down under" May 30–June 15 to attend a field trip to the Flinders Range and visit the offices of Woodside Petroleum. The field trip, led by Dr. Ian Dyson, featured visits to the world-famous diapirs of the Adelaide Geosyncline. At Woodside Petroleum, Mike presented "Contractional Salt Tectonics in Deep Water," and, as part of AGL's technology transfer efforts, consulted with work groups studying the Gulf of Mexico and Mauritania. 06/03/02

Dr. Bill Fisher was selected by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) as winner of this year's Hats Off! Award, which is given to public servants who have distinguished themselves not only in their fields, but also in their service to independent producers and royalty owners. Dr. Fisher is the only recipient in the history of the award that has been chosen from the field of academia. 06/19/02

The Bureau is proud to welcome new Research Associate Sergey Fomel, who received his Ph.D. in Geophysics from Stanford University in 2001 and most recently plied his craft as visiting assistant professor at the University of California at Berkeley. Sergey, who was awarded the J. Clarence Karcher Award in 2001 by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists for "numerous contributions to seismology," will work with Senior Research Scientist Bob Hardage. 06/14/02

Former Senior Student Associate Scarlett Hurt has chosen, upon her recent completion of a B. S. degree in Communication Studies at UT—and to the immense joy of many here at the Bureau—to become a full-time BEG employee. Scarlett's new position is titled Administrative Assistant. Welcome aboard, Scarlett!