jHawkTX

I am a Texas petroleum engineer in exploration and production (E&P, upstream) sector of oil and gas (petroleum) industry, born in Kansas City, Kansas. We moved from Kansas to Texas while I was in junior high school. In 1967 I entered the University for my BS EE. Around that time, two landmark events transformed geology and geophysics. Geology was transformed when AT&T’s oceanic magnetometer vessel accidentally found the spreading ridges while locating the Atlantic Cable, confirming the Plate Tectonic theory. Geophysics was transformed by the introduction of the transistor and the formulation of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). I was unaware of the importance of these developments till much later, but they set off the explosion of understanding and imaging in the geosciences! This explosion is continuing today. I took every opportunity (and all 9 hours of my electives) to study nuclear physics, direct energy conversion (fuel cells, photo-voltaics, etc), nuclear reactor design, meteorology, and environmental engineering. Of course, then and now, all fields of science and virtually all other sophisticated endeavors rely upon the designs of electrical engineers. I have unusual experience; while still an electrical engineer, I worked on wellsite for Schlumberger and Gearhart (HLS). This wellsite work continued as I transitioned to petrophysical and reservoir engineering at Damson Oil, and recently as a wellsite geologist on over 100 drilling wells. There I began and continued my economic geology experience. I have also worked in the office for Damson and Columbia Gas Development doing petrophysical and reservoir engineering, a Ryder-Scott subcontractor, and appraising oil and gas leases in Texas. My reservoir simulation work took place at Columbia Gas Development and at the University. My laboratory experience includes years in R&D with Gearhart (HLS) and at the University of Houston EOR Lab and Well Logging Group, where I put in a CT scanning lab for whole core samples and a shaly sands measurement lab. I gained in my MPE degree and in my Ph.D. program, all but dissertation (ABD). So, I had strong incentive to become a very geologic engineer, and I studied both academic and economic geology and seismic modeling and processing. My personal interdisciplinary fusion of geosciences and engineering is not unique among engineers, but certainly not common, so I like to encourage it professionally! Ability to visualize, discuss, and refine understanding of the 3D aspects of unseen structures comprised of reservoir rock, hopefully with seals above, often faulted, is a key to realistic reservoir appraisal. Aside from professional motives, I consider geology a Godly and intuitively satisfying subject. Historical geology, for example, dramatically lays out detailed mechanisms that provided life on Earth to be fostered and appreciated! I am an environmentalist and a conservationist. I have pertinent programming, geologic database, petrophysical field studies, SPE event presentation, and publications. Petroleum engineering is very interdisciplinary; electrical engineering provides the tools and systems which support all professional specialties. I have sincerely integrated every discipline I can access, and I can chat, inquire, and debate with most. Empathy and insight help me coordinate and schedule phone calls and meetings to manage conflict, accuracy, and efficiency. I take a strong interest in business topics, especially as they relate to my various scientific and engineering emphases. I believe science and engineering benefit vitally from enhanced techniques of administration and management, facilities and systems. I have a daughter and 2 grandchildren in Florida, and my son will go to college in 2010. We lost my father about 5 years ago. My mother is healthy and retired in Carlsbad, NM, and my son is 18, preparing for college, and located with his mother in Lubbock, TX. My favorite locations are mountainous or have other geologic features, like the Gulf of Mexico, Rockies, Appalachian, and Pacific states, AK, etc. I am an outdoorsman; I am regular at health club, museums, and occasionally for classical and popular music. I play tennis and ski. Sorry, no golf!