Education/Key Dates
(1795 James Hutton establishes the
modern science of geology; no matter
what Sheldon Cooper says)
BSc Geology from University of Rhode
Island and hired by Cities Service
Company, 1975
1978 Move to Houston with Cities International and
join the HGS
1983-1988 Foreign assignments with Conoco
1988 Move back to Houston to begin Goh Seismic
Interpretation Services and Goh Exploration, Inc.
2017 Still in the game
Professional Affiliations
HGS (co-chair North American Interest Group)
AAPG (member Geophysical Integration Committee)
Geophysical Society of Houston
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Texas Professional Geoscientist (3888)
Experience
I was raised in the bucolic coastal town of Narragansett, Rhode
Island and while growing up our family was able to travel
throughout our great country and Europe. These trips lead to my
appreciation of geology. After I graduated from the University of
Rhode Island with a BSc in Geology, I was able to join the exciting
business of oil and gas exploration, compliments of the Arab
Oil Embargo. While working for Cities Service International
Oil Company, I moved to Houston in 1978. That is the year I
joined the Houston Geological Society. After career changes and
a stint overseas with Conoco, my family and I moved back to
Houston in late-1988. At that time I realized I am not a corporate
person. So, on purpose, I began my independent consulting
and prospect generation business, Goh Seismic Interpretation
Services, and later Goh Exploration, Inc. When you work
outside the corporate world, the industry looks very different
and professional societies, especially local societies such as the
HGS, become more important. Through continuing education
courses and networking I have found friends and mentors who
have helped guide me to understand the geological, technical,
commercial, and human aspects of exploration deals so I can
provide better ideas and more accurate risk assessments to clients
and investors. And, fortunately along the way I have been able to
help find substantial amounts of oil and gas.
Statement
I am aware of what it means to volunteer. Throughout my 30+
years living in Houston I have been an active volunteer at church,
at school, with Boy Scouts, my town, and with professional
societies. And I enjoy participating in these endeavors. With
regards to professional societies, currently I am co-chairing the
HGS’s North American Interest Group and I am a member of the
AAPG’s Geophysical Integration Committee. When the children
were young I helped coach little kids sports (soccer and baseball
with Spring Branch Memorial Sports Association). I helped with
music lessons (Bunker Hill Elementary Fiddling Lions through
Memorial High School Orchestra, associated Region Orchestras,
and Virtuosi of Houston Chamber Orchestra). Then there was
high school Lacrosse. Frankly it was a relief when the kids went
to college. My wife was an amateur belly dancer, which was fairly
involved, too, but in a good way. I currently volunteer with my
town (Hedwig Village Planning and Zoning Commission and
now City Council). Did you know there are 34 separate towns
within Harris County and another 4 that are split between Harris
and an adjacent county? So, when John Tubb asked me to consider
running for Vice President of the HGS, I checked my schedule and
gave it serious thought. I decided to say yes, not only because John
is a gentleman who you don’t really want to say no to (LOL). But
because at this stage in my career, I thought I should give back a
little more to a great organization that has helped me throughout
my professional life. n