History of the PBGS: 1955
OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT: James E. Finley (Conoco)
FIRST VP: Joseph S. Pluta (Honolulu Oil Corp.)
SECOND VP: R. Maxey Pinson (Union of California)
SECRETARY: Billy Johnston (Forest Oil Corp.)
TREASURER: William A. Seal (Continental Geophysical Co.)
Noel R. Park (Standard Oil Co. of Texas) was appointed Secretary.
ORIGINAL RECAP: “George A. Grimm, a member of the PBGS, was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists for the 1955-56 term.”
In February, 1955, the Midland Reporter-Telegram asked President Finley for a history of the PBGS for their yearly publication of “Permian Basin Petroleum Progress.” A copy of his history is in the PBGS files.
Also in February, Mr. Finley wrote the honorable Louis R. Anderson, House of Representatives, Austin, opposing HB #256 with reference to seismic permits and exploration efforts in West Texas. To quote Mr. Finley: “The costs of exploration permits in West Texas have already increased to the amount that in many areas it is not economically feasible to conduct geophysical operations.” (I think I heard similar comments just recently – along with the statement that permit costs/mile are more than crew cost/mile). HB #256 was intended to protect landowner legal rights to adjacent areas of public lands, water, right –of-way and airspace. On March 3, 1955, Mr. Anderson (Co-sponsor of HB #256) replied that he would “…oppose any bill that interferes with the legitimate operation of the oil industry.”
Miscellaneous note: The letterhead of a publication called “Doodlings of the SEG” pictured a dowser.
The October 9, 1955, Sunday edition of the Reporter-Telegram had a full page picture of the 1954 oil show geophysical exhibit in the lobby of the Scharbauer Hotel. A copy of the newspaper page is in the PBGS file.
Some companies operating in Midland in 1955 were: Argo, Stanolind, Bankline Oil Co., Honolulu Oil Corp., Rayflex Exploration Co., Wilshire Oil Co., Southern Production Co., The Chicago Corporation, Cosden Petrol Co., Delhi-Taylor Oil Corp., Houston Oil Co. of Texas, Skelly Oil Co., Sohio Petrol. Co., Statex Petroleum Co., Ashland Oil & Refining Co., American Trading & Petroleum Co., Lion Oil Co., Globe Exploration Co., Burton Exploration Co., Midland Geophysical Co., General Geophysical Co., Unger Exploration Co., Blackwood and Nichols Co., Husky Oil Co. and Ada Oil Co.
Over the years the number of oil operators, producers, consultants, contractors, suppliers explorationists, etc. has been in the hundreds – it is not in the scope of this narrative to recognize all of them.
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