Profile: Thomas D. Barber

After a long and successful career in petroleum exploration, Tom Barber is semi-retired but still very much in the business of working up drilling prospects for the industry. A couple of old-timers, we talked and got acquainted as we sat and looked east out of the window of his 10th floor office at an absolutely beautiful view of a small green park in the GaUeria area, in the middle of which is a dark blue-green lake with resident ducks and geese basking in the sun (only the 610 Freeway traffic behind office buildings to the east contrasted with the scene). A display of another kind covered the wall of Tom''s office: geological and geophysical maps, the makings of a wildcat drilling prospect he is currently working up. Tom graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.A. (1940) and an M.S. (1942) in geology and geochemistry. He served in the U.S. Navy (1944-45), saw action in the Philippines, Okinawa, and China, and, as the war ended, found himself commanding an amphibious landing ship, the LSM-96.
Barber''s Early Career Began at StanolindHe began his geological career in Houston in 1945, accepting a position with Stanolind Oil and Gas Co. (now Amoco) and joining the HGS right away. In 1949 Tom was transferred to Stanolind''s offices at Corpus Christi, where he worked until being transferred back to Houston in 1953. He was district exploration superintendent, division geologist and later assistant division exploration superintendent but turned down an opportunity to head up the Company''s Geological Research Division in Tulsa because, he says, "I was afraid it would remove me from the excitement and fun of handson oil and gas exploration.'') In 1959 he joined Michel T. Halbouty as exploration manager and ended up president of Michel T. Halbouty Energy Company. In 1987 he formed Barber & Associates, Inc. and continues working up drilling prospects.
Tom''s experience as an active member of HGS has been professionally rewarding, broadening his contacts, adding to his knowledge in many areas, and providing almost the ideal medium for networking. Professional, industry, and academic contacts have developed into lifelong friendships. He remarked that "the HGS attracts people who enjoy their profession and each other."
Performed Hilarious Skits on Guest NightFor the Houston Geological Societys 1955 Guest Night, Tom wrote a play which has now been performed three times by HGA and HGS members, twice under its original title "Two Heads Are Better Than One" and more recently as "Decisions, Decisions!" In addition to his professional activates in petroleum exploration, Tom has also written a book entitled "The Gospel According to the Serpent" (as yet unpublished).
Barber''s Philosophy of the Geological ProfessionLike some other veteran explorers, Tom feels that the industry has somewhat passed him by. The impressive technology now available for today''s routine exploration studies can be daunting to one long accustomed to the traditional exploration methods. "Finding and producing the reserves necessary for the 21st century''s energy needs will depend on developing and routinely applying tech- nologies partially or even totally unknown to older generations of geoscientists. Geology is still geology, however," he says, ''and the successful concepts of the past provide a stable platform on which tomorrow''s geoscientists can apply their knowledge and new technology with facility." Vision, dedication to the task of exploration, and a lot of hard work were required in the past and will be no less important in realizing success in the future, according to Tom.
He spells it out in a graphic way in an address given to the GCAGS convention hosted by HGS in 1991: "A wind- mill grinds corn, pumps water or generates electricity but not until a wind provides the force to turn its vanes. The energy to turn the windmills of this nation''s (oil) industry is provided by explorationists. The success of the entire enterprise depends on our performance. Nothing happens down the creek until something first happens up the creek. Up the creek is where we geologists are and, in short, we are the wind. So how and where do we blow effectively? Be assured geologists do not come to this assignment ill-pre- pared. Some of the biggest winds I know are geologists. Moreover, we are endowed with an abundance of arrogance, or if you prefer, aggressive optimism. Let''s stand up, let the wind of imagination swirl around in our minds, take a deep breath, fill our lungs with a fresh supply of aggressive optimism and GET BLOWING!"