Happy New Year!
As 2022 begins, we wish for all HGS Members, their families, our industries and the entire planet in our care to have a much safer, healthier and more prosperous year. Be Safe and Have Fun!
As we “Turn the page” to HGS’ 99th year of Service to our Members and the Community, we are in preparation for HGS’ centenary in 2023. The Houston Geological Society continues to ‘serve the science’ in 2022 with new speakers, articles and events coming to you and our community.
We begin the year with a returning speaker and author, Dr. Marc Helsinger. He takes us back to our applied science roots, calling for a renewed application of Sequence Stratigraphy to enhance the Probability of Success and Risk Reduction. We are looking forward to at least two more related articles by Dr. Helsinger this spring.
HGS Technical Meetings for January 2022 will begin with a Joint HGS-GSH January Virtual Evening Meeting on Monday the 10th, from 6:00 PM through 7:00 PM. Our speaker will be Dr. James Kanpp, presenting "Reflection Seismology: Born in Oklahoma, 100 Year Centennial". Register early, this presentation is now expected to be a sellout! Dr. Knapp is an OSU Professor and Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair of Geoscience at the Boone Pickens School of Geology, in the Noble Research Center of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. His specialties are structural geology, tectonics, geophysics, and petroleum geology. Dr. Knapp notes that the Seismic Reflection Centennial will be celebrated from 17-19 May 2022 (delayed by a year by COVID), jointly organized by the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Tulsa, and sponsored by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
The Wednesday, January 12, 2022 HGS Engineering and Environmental Group speaker and topic is Chemical Element Formation by Patrick Moore. See the HGS Bulletin, the HGS Website and the HGS Calendar for additional meeting information.
On Monday January 24th, 2022 the HGS North American Meeting will be a Socially Distanced In-Person event! Four exceptional speakers will address “The State of Private Equity in Oil & Gas”. Register early, as we expect a sellout crowd! The event location will be Greentown Labs, 4200 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77004. The schedule includes a Social Hour, Dinner and Presentations from 4:00 PM- 7:30 PM. Speakers will include: Justin T. Stolte, Partner in the Houston office of Latham & Watkins and serves as Global Chair of the firm’s Energy & Infrastructure Industry Group. Deborah Byers, Ernst & Young LLP Americas’ Industry Leader, responsible for market-leading integrated solutions. She is also a part of the firm’s Energy Center of Excellence based in Houston. Josh Sherman, Partner in charge of the Complex Financial Reporting group of Opportune LLP He has 20 years of experience in energy technical research, capital markets and SEC reporting assistance.
Richard Ball is Director of Geology at Detring Energy Advisors. He worked at Chevron for 10 years, served as Treasurer and Secretary on the AAPG Executive Committee and is now Councilor for the AAPG Division of Professional Affairs.
Later that week, on Wednesday January 26th, we have another virtual event scheduled for the HGS General Luncheon - Guyana: From Exploration to First Production. Our speaker will be Linda Price, from ExxonMobil Integrated Solutions.
As we remember our field camps and field trips of yore, rest assured that the HGS is busy working on providing our members another World-Class Grand Canyon field trip in 2022. See this month’s Cover photo for HGS President Mike Erpenbeck on a past trip. Grand Canyon fields trips were organized by HGS in 2009, 2011 and 2012. The most recent HGS Grand Canyon Field Trip was from June 2 to June 10, 2021. Cost last year was $3700 per person; working to hold the line on cost for our 2022 trip. HGS has reserved with the tour group operator, Hatch River Expeditions. The group traditionally meets in Las Vegas Nevada and travels by bus through Zion National Park to the headwaters of the Grand Canyon, entering and spending the first overnight at Marble Canyon in double occupancy rooms at Cliff Dwellers Lodge, adjoining the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Cliff Dwellers Restaurant was voted one of the "10 Best" 2013 by Arizona Highways Magazine. The raft trip begins the following day, with a a 15-minute ride from the lodge to Lees Ferry, the put-in for all the Grand Canyon rafting trips and a world famous trout fishing destination. The rafts float down the Colorado River, taking in the majestic , stunning Canyon views, in their most impressive perspective, looking up from the river at the towering bluffs and formations above.
The trip includes double occupancy room at Cliff Dwellers Lodge, 8-days/7-nights on the river including a sleep kit and all meals on the river, drinks on the river, and transportation back to either Las Vegas or Marble Canyon (if you prefer to drive yourself to and from Marble Canyon). Not included is transportation to and from Las Vegas, meals at Marble Canyon (dinner and breakfast), tips for the river guides, or any souvenirs. We anticipate Steve Earle will again be HGS trip leader. Please contact the HGS office to sign up or if you have questions.
Following the return of the Grand Canyon Field Trip, the HGS is planning the return of Guest Night in mid-June of 2022. Special guest speakers, IMAX 70 mm films, Planetarium presentations and a catered ‘Dinner among the Dinosaurs’ at the Houston Museum of Natural Science are being arranged, so stay tuned!
We truly appreciate and thank ALL our HGS Members, Volunteers and HGS educational outreach teams!
Wishing Everyone the best of health and great success for a Happy New Year in 2022!
HGS Editor 2021-2022
Scott C. Sechrist
Editor@HGS.org