COLLEGE NEWS

MCEE Celebrates Oklahoma Geological Survey’s 100 Years

The Oklahoma Geological Survey celebrated 100 years of service to Oklahoma with an open house and a reception on Friday, November 21, at the Sarkeys Energy Center. The Survey was written into the 1907 Oklahoma Constitution then became operative in 1908, with a legislative mandate to “Investigate the state’s land, water, mineral, and energy resources and disseminate the results of those investigations to promote the wise use consistent with sound environmental practices.” One hundred years later, the words are still relevant and appropriate.

The Centennial events kicked off at 1 p.m. with an open house in the Survey offices and a poster display in the adjacent hallways and OGS conference room. Survey work was featured on 27 poster boards and a number of easels and tables. The wide range of topics included current OGS projects, mapping status, Survey history, staff members, and various publications and projects. Survey Staff members were on hand to talk about the displays and to chat with the visitors, some of whom have been OGS friends and associates for a very long time. During the open house staff and guests enjoyed, punch and cookies shaped like Oklahoma, and two large cakes with the OGS seal on top.

At 3:30, a reception was held in the west atrium to officially mark the OGS Centennial. Dr. Randy Keller, OGS interim director, welcomed the standing-room-only audience of more than 200 people then recognized a number of visitors from state and federal agencies.

MCEE Dean Dr. Larry Grillot thanked Dr. Keller for serving as interim director after Dr. Charles J. Mankin retired on October 31, 2007. Dr. Grillot also talked about the Survey’s unique relationship with MCEE and its important role in the future. He then introduced OU Senior Vice President and Provost Dr. Nancy L. Mergler, who spoke about the Survey’s unique connection with OU and the School of Geology.

Dr. Mergler pointed out that the first OU President, David Ross Boyd, was instrumental in the establishment of the Survey, as was Dr. Charles N. Gould, the Survey’s first director, OU’s first professor of geology, and the founder of the School of Geology. She spoke briefly about the history of the OGS, and outlined various programs instituted over the years to respond to the changing needs of Oklahoma and the nation. With the current focus on environmental issues and sustainable resources, she said, the Survey’s past body of work and future studies will be even more important.

OGS Staff and Professionals gathered for a group photo during the Centennial Celebration November 21, 2008. Photo courtesy of Robert Taylor
She noted that while new technology has helped make advances in the science of geology, the geologist must still walk the land and make observations critical to research.

“While technology may constantly evolve, the need for educated and resourceful people will continue to grow,” she added, bringing to mind the exciting collaboration between the Oklahoma Geological Survey and the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy.

Dr. Grillot then presented Dr. Mergler with an inscribed rock hammer and joked that one of the OGS geologists would be available if she wanted instructions for its proper use. Dr. Mergler was delighted with the unique gift, which was destined for her office in Evans Hall, OU’s administration building.

The day was a tribute, a look back at the Survey’s contributions to the Earth sciences, a homecoming, and a celebration of the people, the projects, and the promise of the next 100 years.


Julie Chang, OGS Geologist, poses in front of her poster presented at the OGS Centennial Open House. Photo courtesy of Connie Smith
Provost Nancy Mergler and Oklahoma Geological Survey Interim Director Dr. Randy Keller prepare to cut the cake at the OGS Centennial Open House. Photo courtesy of Robert Taylor


Photo courtesy of Robert Taylor
Dean Larry Grillot presents Provost Nancy Mergler with a commemorative pick hammer inscribed: Presented to Nancy L. Mergler Oklahoma Geological Survey Centennial Celebration November 21, 2008
Connie White and Jan Coleman serve refreshments at the OGS Centennial Open House. Photo courtesy of Connie Smith


Photo courtesy of Connie Smith
Brian Cardott, OGS Geologist, reviews his poster display at the OGS Centennial Open House.
Senior Geologist and field trip co-leader Brian Cardott lectures at one of the field trip stops, an exposure of the Woodford Shale


OGS Hosts “Oklahoma Gas Shales Conference and Field Trips”

The Oklahoma Geological Survey recently held the “Oklahoma Gas Shales Conference and Field Trips.” Over 340 individuals attended the October 22nd conference, which had 11 informative technical presentations and 8 posters presented, as well as numerous vendors. Conference topics included Woodford and Caney Shale geology, stratigraphy, electric-log response, source-rock characteristics, reservoir properties, drilling and completion practices, hydrocarbon production, and regional gas-shale projects.

 Approximately 80 people participated in the two one-day field trips on October 21st and 23rd, which featured several extended stops in western Arbuckle Mountains and eastern Criner Hills in southern Oklahoma. Exposures of the Woodford Shale were viewed to compare and contrast source-rock and reservoir quality for gas shales, correlate lithologies in outcrop to electric logs in the subsurface, and examine the occurrence, extent, and orientation of fractures in outcrop that are the source of permeability in the subsurface.
ConocoPhillips School of Geology & Geophysics alum Stan Cunningham shows prospects to two attendees

Real Deal Mid-Continent Prospect Expo

The Oklahoma Geological Survey, along with the Oklahoma City Geological Society, hosted the first annual “Real Deal Mid-Continent Prospect Expo” for geologists, geophysicists, landmen and engineers (those in the trenches) on October 29th.  The event was an overwhelming success, with over 230 attendees, who viewed prospects in 24 prospect booths and the services and goods of 15 vendors.  Attendees came from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Colorado. Prospect exhibitors reported meeting with decision makers and many prospects were sold.  Vendors commented that attendees were the very people they wished to target. 

The Association for Women Geoscientists hosted Marjorie Chan on September 11th on the OU Campus. Dr. Chan is a professor and Director of the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. Dr. Chan gave a lecture on iron concretions studied in Utah and used them to make inferences on environments on the surface of Mars.

As part of Dr. Marjorie Chan’s visit to OU, the AWG sponsored a field trip to the Garber Wellington, an aquifer in central Oklahoma which supplies a lot of our drinking water. Some outcrops with iron precipitates can be found around Arcadia.

AWG Hosts Guest Lecturer Marjorie Chan
AWG field trip to Garber Wellington

MCEE Students and Staff prepare for the OU Homecoming Parade. Hemant Phale, Yashwanth Chitrala, Sagar Kale, Ishan Raina, Rika Burr, Chris Althoff, Catherine Cox, Andrew Thiel, Kristin Weyand,  Dean Larry Grillot, John Bennett, Curtis Mewbourne, Judy Grillot and Donna Mullins
"Once Upon a Time in Soonerland"- OU Homecoming Parade, Oct 18, 2008
Joining Dean Larry Grillot, Associate Dean Carl Sondergeld and Dr. Chandra Rai for this year’s homecoming parade were undergraduate and graduate students representing both the Conoco Phillips School of Geology and Geophysics and the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering. Also walking in the parade were the spouses of Grillot, Sondergeld and Rai. The red corvette, in which Dean Grillot and Judy Grillot rode representing the college, was provided by Donna Mullins of CPGG and her husband, Larry, and was driven by Donna. 


CPGG Oktoberfest -- Chili cook-off, pumpkin carving contest and costume contest
Wednesday, October 29, the Conoco Phillips School of Geology and Geophysics held its first-ever Oktoberfest featuring a chili cook-off, pumpkin carving and costume contest.  The event, which was held on the Plaza in the Sarkeys Energy Center, was very well attended. The costumes were pretty amazing, and so was the chili!  Judges of the chili contest were: Dr. Charles Gilbert, professor emeritus; Allison Richardson, MCEE Dean’s Office; Tami Althoff, reporter, The Oklahoman. There were nine chili entrants—Shamik Bose (1st place winner); Jennifer Hardgrave (2nd place winner); Johari Pannalal (3rd place winner). Other entrants were comprised of faculty, staff and students and included David London, Tom Ward, Jody Foote, Adrianne Fox, Jordin Tipton, and Donna Mullins. About 75-80 students, staff and faculty attended, and Niki Chapin says they plan on holding it again next year given the great participation this year. She expects next year to be even better!

Pumpkin contest
Winners of the costume contest were:
Andrew Thiel -- Famine, one of the horsemen of the Apocalypse (1st place)
Catherine Cox – Bathtub (2nd place)
Roderick Perez -- The Mask (tied for 3rd place)
Carlos Russian -- The Mime (tied for 3rd place )


Dean Oliver Receives SPE Distinguished Membership

Contact: Tom Whipple, SPE Awards, awards@spe.org or +1.972.952.9452
Richardson, TX (2 October 2008) – The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) honored Dr. Dean Oliver with the 2008 Distinguished Member Award at SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held 21 September in Denver, Colorado.

SPE serves more than 79,000 members worldwide, sharing technical knowledge for the benefit of our industry. Each year, SPE presents awards that recognize members whose efforts have advanced petroleum technology, as well as their professional achievements and contributions to the industry and the society.

Established in 1983, the Distinguished Member award recognizes SPE members who achieve distinction deemed worthy of special recognition. Distinguished Membership is limited to 1% of SPE professional members and acknowledges members who have attained eminence in the petroleum industry or the academic community, and/or who have made unusually significant contributions to SPE.

“Each year, SPE honors an elite group of individuals who have extended the boundaries of the profession and of SPE. Future generations of exploration and production professionals will be measured against their contributions and accomplishments. We congratulate Dean Oliver for receiving this prestigious international award,” said William M. Cobb, 2008 SPE President.

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Dean Oliver
About SPE
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional association whose members are engaged in energy resources development and production. SPE serves 79,000-plus members from more than 115 countries worldwide. SPE is a key resource for technical knowledge related to the oil and gas exploration and production industry and provides services through its publications, conferences, workshops, forums, and website at www.spe.org.