A final thanks for this opportunity to serve as your Editor
By Ted Godo
In my concluding “Letter from the Editor” for the 2024-2025 HGS Board Team, I want to express my gratitude to all HGS members who allowed me to serve in this role. This opportunity marked my first time as an editor, enabling me to learn about the various roles involved in producing the monthly Bulletin. One of the biggest challenges I faced was expanding my network to connect with individuals who might contribute technical or feature articles. I also learned that one barrier preventing contributors from submitting papers is that the Bulletin is not peer-reviewed; thus, authors needing peer-reviewed publications may feel hesitant to publish here. Therefore, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the individuals recognized as lead authors who did offer their technical articles for publication in the fiscal term of 2024-2025.
October 2024 – Lorena Moscardelli
November 2024 – Joe Landry
December 2024 – (3 articles) Jamie Collard, Karen Carlson, and Craig Schiefelbein
January 2025 – Six technical abstracts from the University of Houston
Kenneth Shipper -PhD candidate
Daniel Maya -PhD candidate
Estafani Ruiz Toro -MS candidate
Jumoke Akinpelu -PhD candidate
Ruth Beltran – PhD candidate
Joshua Miller- MS candidate
February 2025 – (2 articles) Steven Naruk and L. Taras Bryndzia
March 2025- Wayne Camp
June 2025- (2 articles) James Pindell and Penny Patterson
The professional-quality look of the Bulletin results directly from the creative and consistent graphic designs of our graphic designer, Lisa Krueger. Year after year, Lisa acts as the essential glue that supports the ever-changing editors and staff of HGS. Lisa, I truly appreciate your suggestions and dedication. Andrea Peoples (Andi) has helped me immensely with organizational tips and the right contacts for the necessary information to perform my job. As the office manager, who has also been there for years, she takes calls from members and either answers them or redirects them to the appropriate contacts. Additionally, Andi knows where all the otherwise forgotten information lies and can help each new board member get “up the learning curve” faster. Beginning July 1, 2025, Lucia Torrado will assume the role of editor. I am confident that Lucia will excel in this role, especially since she has already made significant contributions this year by writing the “We Are HGS” column, which began mid-year. Each editor brings a distinct writing style and subject matter focus to the Bulletin, enriching it with a wide-ranging array of technical articles each year. Penny Patterson, as president, provided the leadership necessary for us to work together as a group on common goals. Catie Donahue, our VP, gathered an outstanding collection of speakers who covered diverse topics, and it showed by the increase in attendance.
This current Bulletin issue features three technical articles. The first article explores the recent stratigraphy uncovered along Buffalo Bayou in Houston. These articles conclude a two-part series, the first part of which appeared in the June 2024 Bulletin. Several authors contributed to both sections, and special thanks to Penny Patterson for leading the article in this Bulletin. The second article, by James Pindell and Teunis Heyn, focuses on the rapid early post-rift dynamo-thermal subsidence of the seafloor in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. My contribution, the third technical article, discusses the Gulf of Mexico’s Differential Spreading and Subsidence, adding information to the Pindell and Heyn article. Finally, the “feature article” offers an engaging overview, sharing insights from experienced geologists and their managers on the “Characteristics of Oil Finders.”
As a parting word, I am excited to see membership growth and interest in the Houston Geologic Society, especially with the new members and younger staff that hopefully portend a bright future for us all in the industry. And thank you again.
Ted Godo