January-February 2005.pub

KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

BULLETIN

Volume 80 Number 1

January--February 2005

5 Society Meetings
6 Editor's Page
7 President's Letter
9 Critter Contest
10 KGS Committee Chairmen
12 Honorary Member Profile
14 Honorary Member Profile
16 Scientific Paper: Mazzullo

CONTENTS

20 Meet 2005 Board of Directors
21 From The Manager's Desk
24 Kansas Geological Foundation
25 KGF Memorials
26 Memorial: Nelson Thomas
28 Exploration Highlights
30 Professional Directory
31 Advertisers' Directory

The KGS Bulletin is published bi-monthly by the Kansas Geo-
logical Society, with offices at 212 North Market, Wichita, Kansas
67202 Copyright @1993, The Kansas Geological Society. The
purpose of the Bulletin is to keep members informed of the activi-
ties of the Society and to encourage the exchange and dissemina-
tion of technical information related to the Geological profession.
Subscription to the Bulletin is by membership in the Kansas Geo-
logical Society. Limited permission is hereby given by the KGS
to photocopy any material appearing in the KGS BULLETIN for
the non-commercial purpose of scientific or educational advance-
ment. The KGS , a scientific society, neither adopts nor supports
positions of advocacy, we provide this and other forums for the
presentation of diverse opinions and positions. Opinions presented
in these publications do not reflect official positions of the
Society.

ON THE COVER

This issue contains profiles of two men se-
lected to receive Honorary Membership;
George Mueller & Walter Martz. (Pgs. 12--
15)

Also in this issue is a memorial on Nelson
Thomas. (page 26)

This issues welcomes the new 2005 KGS
Board of Directors (page 20)

KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

SPRING SCHEDULE

Jan. 12--Rodney Reynolds, PTTC, "Stimulating Arbuckle Production with New Technologies, Large
Volume Polymer Gel Treatments and Solid Propellant Gasgun Stimulation Treatments"

Jan. 26--Evolution Panel: Alfred James, III, Dr. Keith Miller, Dr. Peer Moor-Jansen

Feb. 9--Dr. Lynn Watney, Kansas Geological Survey, "Atokan Age Incised Valley Fill Reservoirs"

Feb. 16--Dr. M. Lee Allison, "Energy in Kansas"

Feb. 23--Dr. William Parcell, WSU, "Mixed-Sediment Depositon in a Retro-Arc Foreland Basin:
Lower Ellis Group (M. Jurassic), Wyoming & Montana"

Mar. 2--Dan Hitzman, Tulsa, OK, "Ames Hole Impact Structure"

KGS Library Open Late on Thursday Nights

The KGS Library is open Thursday nights until 9:00 pm

These special hours benefit:

Geologists who have left the business to work elsewhere during downturns in the oil

business

Out of town members will now be able to maximize a trip to our library to do research,
perhaps cutting a full day off of their visits

We generally chip in for pizza for dinner. (Or sometimes surprise potluck!)

Join us for the camaraderie

All technical meetings are held at 12:30 p.m. in the Bank of America Auditorium

unless otherwise noted.

Note: For those geologists who need 30 points to renew their licenses, there will be a sign-in sheet at each

presentation and also a certificate of attendance.

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Dear Members,

Mostly thanks.....that's what I feel at
the beginning of this year. Thanks for your giv-
ing me this privilege in the profession I love,
and for so many people who make KGS the fine
society it is. Past Presidents Tom Hansen and
Tim Pierce, the board, and Rebecca and her ex-
cellent staff make the job a real pleasure.
On my desk, a relic of harder times, is a
little plaque which says "Please God let there be
one more oil boom and I promise I won't piddle
it away." Well, here it is! Those checks for
$51.00 oil in November are a big incentive for
us. The nation needs our exploration and pro-
duction, we can buy the leases, and the new
Walters Digital Library stands ready to feed
your prospect ideas with the data you need at y
our fingertips. Talk about having your work cut
out for you. This will be my 51

year in this

business, but it is too much fun to retire.
That's the good news. We as geoscien-
tists have a couple of challenges facing us now.
One is the growing shortage of professionals in
the oil industry. Governor John Hoeven of
North Dakota recently spoke for the Interstate
Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
(IOGCC) to Congress stating "High school and
college students are looking to other industries
and professions for their career choices. There
are not enough up and coming petroleum geolo-

gists and engineers to fill the jobs required to
produce more oil and gas for our future." The
National Science Board (NSB) documented this
reality last year finding that 38% of doctorate
holders in America's science and engineering
workforce are foreign born, and reported that
the US now ranks 17

among nations surveyed

in the proportion of college students majoring in
science and engineering, down from 3

in 1975

(Newsweek 11/29/04). You and I need to talk
up our science and industry to young people
whenever we can. Bob Cowdery's Speaker's
Bureau (Kansas Geological Foundation) is a
great way to do this...volunteer! I recently had
the experience of talking with a high school
grad who was helping me trim trees. He was
college bound but uncertain as to major area; I
told him the oil business is needing people like
him. He's now at Colorado School of Mines.
The second issue relates to this: teach-
ing science in our schools, grades 1-12. With
the approval of your board and the advice of a
former Kansas Lt. Governor, I will be talking to
the Kansas Board of Education on this subject,
trying to keep the direction away from politics
or religion, and simply the unrestricted teaching
of science. Though I have the approval of your
Board of Directors for this, I am making it very
clear that the views I state are mine and not
those of the membership, and will not identify
myself with KGS unless asked.
We're very fortunate that Bob Cowdery
has agreed to continue as Program Chairman
another year; he's the best I've known in my
KGS years. Bob has scheduled a program or
panel to discuss this subject on January 26

Your views are always welcome; I'm at 267-
7592 or

ajiii88@hotmail.com

Tom Hansen loves quotes and so do I,
so here's one from one of the great oil finders,
John Masters. "If you've done your homework
and you have an idea you really like, and they
tell you you're crazy, you're probably on to
something good."

Fred James

Established 1926

Lockhart Geophysical Company

Call (303) 592-5220 FAX (303) 592-5225

Or E-mail lockden@xpert.net

2D & 3D Seismic Acquisition

Vibroseis Specialists

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Operating 4 Rigs in Western Kansas & NW Oklahoma

WESTERN KANSAS EASTERN COLORADO SOUTHERN NEBRASKA

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316

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Wichita, KS 67202

Alan Hayes

Well Service Supervisor

785

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Hill City, KS 67642

For contract information:

Great Bend Ness City Medicine Lodge

(620) 793-5861 (785) 798-3843 (620) 886-5926

Acidizing Available at Medicine Lodge District

Russell Oakley

(785) 483-2627 (785) 672-3452

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Advertising Kent Scribner
Advisory Morris Korphage
Chuck Brewer
Annual Banquet Marjorie Crane
Bulletin Wes Hansen
Kimberly

Dimmick-

Wells
Computer
Continuing Education Robert Cowdery
Distinguished Awards Tim Pierce
Directory Larry Richardson
Environmental Steve Murphy
Field Trip Larry Skelton
Fishing Tournament Tim Pierce
Future Plans
Golf Jon T. Williams
Historian Larry Skelton
Investment Ernie Morrison
Legislative Richard Moberly
Library Roger Martin,
Ted Jochems
Membership Larry Friend
Nomenclature John H. Morrison, III
Picnic

Kimberly Dimmick-Wells

Public Relations Robert Cowdery
Shooting Tournament Larry Richardson
Technical Program Robert Cowdery
Ticket Sales Bill Shepherd

3500 N. Rock Rd., Bldg. 800-B

Wichita, Kansas 67226

CALL!

John H. Beury III Phone: (316) 636-5552

Fax: (316) 636-5572

E-mail: paragon@paragongeo.com

We have entered the New Millennium

With Advance Technology!

"Shouldn't you?"

I/O System Two

1,000 Channels and Beyond!

2D and 3D Seismic Recording

Designed to match your project demands

In cost and technology

Looking For Donations

To The KGS Core Hole Library

If you have core hole drilling data
or seismic data that you would like
to donate to this project, please con-
tact Gus Messinger or Rebecca
Radford at the Kansas Geological
Society Library.

316-265-8676

This collection of data could prove
to be of great value to those who
are looking at prospects in Kansas.

Landmark

Square

Headquarters for

Oil & Gas Professionals

Newly restored second floor lobby

Space starting at 150 sq. ft.

Offices available with

Adjacent storage space

And freight elevator access

Convenient nearby parking

Steps away from the KGS Library

Stan Wisdom,

Leasing Agent

212 N. Market

Ste. 420

Wichita, Kansas

67202

Phone and FAX

(316) 264-1084

Help Wanted!

Integration Project

If you have

any

time you could

give to the Library, we have

projects that could move a little

faster with some

Expert Professional Geologists

Just a few hours a week would make

such a difference in helping to

integrate the small scale files into the

regular file cabinets.

To volunteer, please contact Ted Jochems

or Rebecca at the Library 265-8676

Think About It

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able
to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-- Aristotle (384-322 BC), Greek philosopher

"A positive attitude may not solve all your
problems, but it will annoy enough people to
make it worth the effort."
-- Herm Albright

"The game of life is a lot like football. You
have to tackle your problems, block your
fears, and score your points when you get the
opportunity."
-- Lewis Grizzard

"If a man watches three football games in a
row he should be declared legally dead."
-- Erma Louise Bombeck

KGS Library Open Late

on Thursday Nights

until 9:00 pm

This is an added benefit for :

Geologists who have left the business
to work elsewhere during downturns
in the oil business

Out of town members will now be able
to maximize a trip to our library to do
research, perhaps cutting a full day off
of their visits

HONORARY MEMBER PROFILE: George Mueller

School in an eight year rural one room school-
house. The school grounds are now on the bor-
der of McConnell AFB, but the hedgerow still
exists. George attended Roosevelt Intermediate
School and East High School where he gradu-
ated in 1945. Classmates at East who later be-
came geologists include Bob Douglass and El-
bie McNeil.

In 1946 George enlisted in the Marine Corps.
For two years and went to San Diego to "boot
camp". He was next sent to Camp Pendleton,
California where he was assigned to Base Engi-
neering as a Draftsman. His last assignment be-
fore discharge was to draft plans for a trailer to
transport Marine Quonset huts without disas-
sembly. Interestingly, a year after discharge
George found an article in Popular Mechanics
with pictures of his trailer moving Q-huts. In
1948, after discharge from the marines, George
enrolled at Wichita University. A cousin, a part-
ner of Charles Carlock, who was drilling and
operating in the Kechi area, encouraged George
to major in geology.

The faculty at the time was Dr's, Ver Wiebe
and Berg, assisted by Jack Bligh. [George had a
part time job with a sewing machine sales and
service man. What the boss called and overhaul
consisted of thread adjustment, oiling and
cleanup. Who should call for pick up and re-
pairs but Dr. Berg's wife. Of course, Dr. Berg
found out George worked there and had his fun
"needling" George to his discomfort.] Later,
when Elbie McNeil graduated George replaced
him as "sample boy" at Magnolia Petroleum.
After one year George was made a draftsman
and was succeeded by Ted Sandberg, the begin-
ning of many close associations with Ted.

While a freshman at WU, George met Bon-
nie Moore in an English class. Subsequently he
courted and married Bonnie in December 1950,
while a junior. They have two sons, Randall a
petroleum engineer with Anadarko in The
Woodlands, Texas, and Scott a geologist with

George's roots are in and near Wichita,
where he was born 77 years ago on March 19,
1927. His father farmed on the southeast out-
skirts of Wichita on a quarter section he had ac-
quired shortly after 1902 when he arrived in
Kansas from Missouri. He came to Kansas
from the "Jesse James" county near Lexington
with his brother by horse and wagon. George's
mother was from Cairo, Illinois, and had a rail-
roading background. George has one sister,
Ruth Marten, who lives with her husband in
Clay Center, Kansas. George's father was in his
mid forties when George was born. He was a
hard working man with great patience and
strong integrity; traits that George has greatly
valued.

The lucrative Eastborough Field discovered
in 1930 was slightly more than on mile North of
Georges farm. Also on the quarter North of the
farm was a dry cable tool hole drilled in about
1914. In a tool shed on that farm was an old
fashioned grape basket that contained randomly
labeled samples in old tobacco tins from that
well. George's father spent many hours on loca-
tion over the nine months spent drilling the
well. The samples, which may have been sig-
nificant to George, over time were scattered to
the winds.
George went to at Vernon Elementary

EOG in Oklahoma City. Scott was formerly
with Slawson and Mull in Wichita. Bonnie and
George have four grandchildren, one in senior
high, one at Wichita state, one at Texas Univer-
sity, and one at Texas A&M.

After graduation in 1952, George began his
career with Midstates Oil Corp. and was as-
signed to their office in San Antonio, Texas.
Coincidentally a fellow geology graduate,
Charles Sandy was hired and sent to San Anto-
nio by W.C. McBride. While there, Ray Dom-
bough, who was in the Air Force, and his wife
Theresa, were occasional visitors.

In 1953 George was transferred to Wichita
by Midstates. Here he worked with John Cox,
Mark Richardson, Al Craver and Ed Mathews.
In 1955 he joined National Cooperative Refin-
ery where Ed Pugh was the chief geologist.
Also at NCRA was Ed Darrow and Dough
McGinness, with Ted Sandberg and Jerry Jes-
person soon to join them. At NCRA George
worked on two significant discoveries. The first
in 1956 resulted in the multi-zone Elrick field in
Graham County. NCRA had a partner on a large
block with whom they had drilled a small, one
zone, producer, and several dry holes after ex-
tensive seismic. George was assigned to deter-
mine if another wildcat location existed on the
block. The location George recommended re-
sulted in the Elrick Field which to date has re-
covered 9.1 million barrels.

Nine years later George screened a nine
prospect submittal and selected one to shoot in
Ness County. The resulting seismic indicated a
concentrated cluster of thins. A location was se-
lected and drilled, resulting in the Start Pool in
Ness County producing from the Cherokee
sand. In 1967 after leaving NCRA George pre-
sented a paper on the Cherokee sand with em-
phasis on the Start Pool.

When NCRA moved to Denver in 1966
George chose to remain in Wichita as a consult-
ant. His roots were here as well as an aged
mother. During the ensuing years her was a

wellsite geologist for numerous entities includ-
ing Champlin, Tilco, Mull, Slawson, etc. Of the
many wells he supervised, one stands out be-
cause it was the deepest and longest for Cham-
plin, in the Liberal area, where it finally bot-
tomed in the Arbuckle at 6783', after 27 days; it
found Mississippian gas and oil.

George is a past member of the AAPG. In
2003 her received a 50 year membership in the
KGS. He also served the KGS as Secretary/
Treasurer in 1973, Vice President in 1983 and
President in 1984. The first tentative steps into
the computer age were taken in 1984 by KGS.
He was later presidential advisor in 1987.

A great amount of his recreational activity is
spent at his "Peck County Club", which consists
of acreage with and old farmstead in Sumner
County. Here he has plants and harvests a small
acreage of wheat and has gardened since 1972.

In retrospect, the choice of a career in geol-
ogy was fortunate as well as rewarding. Contin-
ual variety, change, and satisfaction offset the
disappointments in this field. He feels most for-
tunate to have been able to remain in Kansas
where his associations have been very fulfilling.

George is now part of a geologists group at
Landmark Square who work at their own pace.
They may be found together having coffee , eat-
ing or just enjoying each other's company.

HONORARY MEMBER PROFILE: Walter Martz

Walter was born on June 19, 1927 in Independ-
ence, Missouri to Walter H. Martz from Mt. Solon,
Virginia and Elizabeth (Dulaney) Martz from Hale,
Missouri. Walter has one sister, Lucille Mitchell,
who lives here in Wichita, Ks. His family moved to
Hutchinson, Ks in 1935 so that his father, who was a
weather-stripper, could take advantage of work
brought about during the dust-bowl days.
While "growing-up" in Hutchinson, Walter had
several part-time jobs including three different paper
routes, various jobs in a powdered egg factory, a salt
plant, the newspaper office, and helping his father
when possible. His family belonged to the Trinity
Methodist Church (now Trinity United Methodist)
where he was a member of Boy Scout Troop 13 and
attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
After graduating from Hutchinson High School in
May, 1945, Walter joined the US Navy and was for-
tunate to have the war with Japan end while he was
still in boot camp at the Great Lakes Naval Training
Center. After being sent to Camp Shoemaker in
California for a brief period, he was assigned to the
Federal Office Building in San Francisco, where he
worked in the teletype relay office.
Walter was discharged as a Seaman 1/C from the
Navy in August, 1946 and enrolled at the Hutchinson
(KS) Junior College, which he attended for three se-
mesters. One of his extra-curricular activities was
music. This was to result in an extremely important
meeting in the Fall of 1947. He had played the bari-
tone horn since the 7th grade, and. in addition to the
school bands, had played in the Hutchinson Munici-

pal Band and the Great Lakes Naval Training Station
Band. While playing in the band during his second
year at Juco, he met his future wife, Joan May, who
was a freshman from Haven, Ks. and also happened
to be a clarinet player in the band. While not quite
"love at first sight," it was almost that and they were
married a year later on September 10, 1948.
Joan and Walter have raised four children:
Steve, who is an Associate Technical Fellow for
Boeing Military at Wichita, Ks; Tim, who is Super-
intendent of Park and Recreation for the City of
Wichita, Ks; Jenny, who was a bassoon player and
Sergeant First Class in the US Army-Europe Band at
Heidelberg, Germany; and David, who is a software
engineer for Hewlett-Packard in Boise, Idaho. The
family lost Jenny to breast cancer in March of 1999
after a three-year battle. Steve created a memorial
web page for her and, if someone is interested in her
career, it can be viewed at: http://members.cox.net/
smartz1/jenny/
Walter and Joan have eight grandchildren of
which four are boys and four are girls. Three of the
grandchildren are now married and reside in Mer-
riam, Ks; Lincolnton, NC; and Oklahoma City, OK.
Walter transferred to the Colorado School of
Mines at Golden, Colorado in the summer of 1948
and graduated with a degree of Geological Engineer
in May, 1951. His first job was with Champlin Re-
fining Company and came about as a result of a
friend meeting Bob Gutru at an AAPG Meeting in
Denver. Walter's friend had known Bob while grow-
ing up in Nebraska. Bob, who worked for Champlin
at that time, was leaving to join Beardmore and told
the friend, who in turn told Walter, of Champlin's
need for another geologist. John Miller took Bob's
place as District Geologist for Champlin in Wichita.
John, with instructions from J. Lawrence Muir,
Champlin's VP of Exploration, really helped train
Walter as a well-site geologist by having him go out
with several consulting geologists before getting to
watch a well by himself. Among those that helped
Walter learn the ropes were: Harold McNeil (Elbie's
older brother), Tom Roberts, Benton Brooks, Delbert
Costa, Ray Goodin, Fred Lillibridge, and Harry
Emerich. At this time, Marvin Douglas was also em-
ployed by Champlin and worked out of the Enid, OK
home office. Two influential people early in Walter's
career were Dr. Francis Van Tuyl, head of the geol-
ogy department at Colorado School of Mines; and J.

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316-265-8676

Lawrence Muir, VP-Exploration for Champlin.
When John Miller left Champlin to join Grahame-
hart-Miller, Walter became District Geologist and
helped hire C. W. Smith, and later Virgil Tucker.
Champlin was sold to The Chicago Company in
1955. Walter stayed with them a few months and
then succumbed to the lure of an independent's life
and joined up with Eugene Carter for two years.
Their lone discovery was not enough to sustain them
and Walter went to work for Skelly Oil Co. in 1957
and Eugene Carter went to Michigan to get in on the
Scipio "boom."
Skelly was one of the most active majors in Kan-
sas at that time. Harold Smedley was District Geolo-
gist in Wichita and Howard Bryant was Division Ge-
ologist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both men were past
KGS presidents. The oil business in Kansas began to
change in the early 1960's. The majors started con-
centrating more and more on Canada, the Gulf Coast,
and foreign countries. Harold Smedley, just a short
time from retirement, was transferred to Columbus,
Ohio. Walter took his place as District Geologist ,
but could see "the hand-writing on the wall." Not
wanting to leave Kansas, he resigned in October,
1963 to go into business for himself as a consultant.
Walter had sort of an embarrassing moment while
watching a well for Rains & Williamson in Hodge-
man County in the middle 60's, Walter refused to
give a bearded-man information on the well, which
was being drilled as a tight hole. The tool-pusher
said, "It's OK, Walter; this is Jay Mull and he's got a
pretty big interest in this well." Walter knew Mull,
but had failed to recognize him with the beard.
As time progressed, Walter shifted the emphasis
of his consulting work from well-sitting to originat-
ing deals and turning them to companies or inde-
pendent operators, while retaining an override and/or
working interest. . He was fortunate in finding pro-
duction at several spots in central and south-central
Kansas. Numerous people played a helpful part in
these endeavors but he would particularly like to
give some credit for his success to Bill Shelton, land-
man; Charles Carlock, operator, and Grant Canaday,
petroleum engineer and operator.
Walter has no regrets on his choice of career and
believes there is still a "market" for geologists that
have enough interest and desire. He thinks there are
probably more opportunities in geologic fields other
than petroleum, but in all cases a good working
knowledge of computer software and seismic would
be essential.
Walter has been a member of KGS and AAPG
since 1951. He has served KGS as Secretary-
Treasurer, Vice-President, and on several commit-
tees. Walter authored papers on "Developments In

North Mid-Continent" for AAPG for three years.
Mostly retired now, he enjoys reading, playing a
little golf, and "tinkering around" on the computer.
He would like to thank Tyler Sanders for introducing
him into the computer age and getting him started
with his first computer in 1993 (250 MB hard drive).
Walter believes that three of the biggest changes for
a petroleum geologist in the last 50 years have been
the introduction of geologic trailers (ahh, luxury!),
copy machines, and the computer.

CLASSIFICATION OF CARBONATE ROCKS IN WELL CUTTINGS AND CORES:

A DIRECTED APPROACH TOWARD RECOGNITION AND CORRELATION OF

CARBONATE RESERVOIRS BASED ON DEPOSITIONAL AND DIAGENETIC ATTRIBUTES

S. J. Mazzullo

Department of Geology

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas 67260

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important contributors in an exploration "team" that is searching for hydrocarbon reservoirs
and reserves is, without question, the well-site geologist. After all, it is the well-site geologist's description of the rocks
encountered during drilling, and the presence and characteristics of the shows of oil and/or gas therein, that are critical
to evaluation of reservoir potential and additional exploration in an area. Descriptions of shows are extremely critical as
technology (and oil prices) have progressed such that what may have appeared a decade or two ago to be a marginal
show may, with current reservoir stimulation techniques, turn out to be a profitable producer. Likewise, in these days of
increased exploration effort for stratigraphic traps (e.g., in Pennsylvanian strata) or various subunconformity plays (e.
g., in Mississippian and Arbuckle rocks), sample descriptions that provide as much meaningful sedimentologic, strati-
graphic, and diagenetic information as possible are critical to identifying and correlating strata, and therefore, to future
success at finding new reserves.
Consider the scenario illustrated in Figure 1, which is a real example from Kansas, and the dictate that in sedi-
mentary rocks, production is never haphazard. Rather, notwithstanding relative structural attitude and/or fracturing, it is
always related to depositional and/or diagenetic factors -- a.k.a. depositional and/or diagenetic facies (Mazzullo and
Chilingarian, 1992a,b). Well A-1 has produced and continues to produce considerable amounts of oil from a limestone
in the Lansing-Kansas City section, and additional drilling locations in the area obviously are being sought. Detailed
sample work several years after drilling indicated that the reservoir is a porous phylloid algal reef limestone capped by
a porous oolite sand. In contrast, the section in well A-2 is a mostly tight lime wackestone with crinoids, mollusc frag-
ments and some phylloid algae and rare ooids. The presence of the latter two particles in this well clearly serves as a
proximity indicator to the productive facies in well A-1. Porosity in the reservoir in well A-1 comprises interparticle
pores in the oolite sand resulting from selective dissolution of much of the

Figure 1. Example of a depositional facies-type stratigraphic trap reser-
voir comprising reef and overlying oolite facies, and types of particulate
and diagenetic components in the rocks. In the well-site report, the de-
scription of sample shows was "good show free oil, good odor, stain,
and fluorescence" and of the amount of porosity it was "moderate to
good porosity". These are most informative, although the statement on
porosity does not indicate the types of pore systems present, which can
be useful in evaluating reservoir treatment, petrophysics, and productiv-
ity. The description of the samples in the reservoir section was as fol-
lows -- "tan limestone, porous, some chalky and some oolitic, with vugs
and calcite spar". Unfortunately, from this description one can not de-
duce anything about the lithology of the reservoir except that it is po-
rous limestone, and not much more about the depositional facies and
pore types present in the rocks. So the question is, specifically what are
we looking for in our exploration for additional locations or similar
plays based on this description?

interparticle calcite cement in the rocks; and porosity in the reefal rocks resulted from selective dissolution of much of
the intraparticle calcite cement within formerly aragonitic phylloid algal blades. Such vertically-partitioned reservoirs
comprising superposed reservoirs of different lithofacies are common in the subsurface, especially in Pennsylvanian
rocks in the mid-continent, and reservoir petrophysics can be such that the two lithofacies may or may not be inter-
communicative. Even if they are, production characteristics likely will be different in a reservoir that produces from

Sal Mazzullo is professor of geology at Wichita State University, where he's been since 1987. Prior to that time he was Manager of
Stratigraphic Exploration for Union Texas Petroleum Corp. in Midland and Houston, Texas, and thereafter consulting petroleum
geologist and explorationist in Midland. He is an AAPG certified petroleum geologist. He can be reached at the university address
above, or via e-mail at salvatore.mazzullo@wichita.edu

interparticle pores (the oolite sand) versus from biomoldic pores (the reef facies), and if stimulation is recommended,
then each zone may require different treatment in order to maximize productivity. In the case of this example, both poros-
ity and permeability are much higher in the oolite sand portion of the reservoir than they are in the reef portion because of
the different pore types present.
Given the detailed facies and diagenetic information above, in seeking additional drilling locations the explora-
tion geologist knows precisely what is being sought and may also know approximately where in the paleography of the
area such deposits are likely to be present. Accordingly, risk can be reduced. Also, the geologist can at least assume that
the production characteristics of the two lithofacies comprising the reservoir may be quite different because of different
pore systems in the rocks. Based on the well-site geologist's sample descriptions in these wells (Figure 1), however, there
is no indication of the specific type of depositional or diagenetic facies represented by the producing well. This comment
is in no way intended to berate well-site geologists because their sample descriptions are specifically geared toward pro-
viding information about porosity and the presence and quality of shows, and in doing so they provide critical evaluative
information during drilling. The point is how, then, does the explorationist know what to explore for? The same principles
discussed above and illustrated in Figure 1 for depositional-facies stratigraphic traps also apply to exploration for subun-
conformity traps in, for example, Mississippian and Arbuckle strata (e.g., Johnson, 1994).
The purpose of this paper is to provide a template for well-site and other geologists for describing cuttings (and
core) samples of carbonate rocks such that in addition to critical evaluative information on porosity and shows, the de-
scriptions also generate a maximum amount of lithologic (sedimentologic and diagenetic) information as possible. Such
information is crucial in formulating developing depositional/diagenetic facies models of analogous field reservoirs as
guides to exploration for similar types of reservoirs.

MAXIMIZING SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS

Identification of Lithology Limestone versus Dolomite and Chert
At first glance, distinction of limestone versus dolomite appears to be a simple procedure. Dolomite is most
readily recognized, for example, when it occurs in samples as scattered rhombs or interlocking mosaics of rhombs, par-
ticularly when the crystals are large enough to be seen with the naked eye or binocular microscope. However, dolomite is
not always rhombic; and rhombs are not always dolomite -- they can be "dedolomite" (dolomite later replaced by calcite),
ankerite, or siderite. Furthermore, replacive dolomite can be so finely crystalline, and can so delicately preserve the tex-
ture of pre-existing rocks, that its presence is not even suspected by the geologist! Figure 2, for example, illustrates a pi-
solite grainstone that was replaced entirely by very fine crystalline dolomite.

Figure 2. Rock slab of a Permian (Guadalupian) pisolite grainstone, from
outcrop, in which the pisoids are entirely replaced by fine crystalline dolo-
mite with resulting excellent preservation of original depositional texture.
Length of scale is 1 inch (2.5 cm).

Short of analyzing the samples by X-ray diffractometry,
which obviously is not possible while on location, the simplest and
most rapid and reliable means of identifying dolomite in cuttings or
core samples is by staining with Alizarin red-S. Details of the pro-
cedure are given in Friedman (1959). After rinsing wet samples in a
dilute (5% or so) solution of HCl, immerse the sample in Alizarin in
the sample tray and keep it mildly agitated for about 10 seconds.
Then pour off the solution (back into the stock container, for it can
be re-used several times until it turns very dark red) and rinse the
sample gently in standing water. Regardless of crystal size or degree
of textural preservation or obliteration, the dolomite will be un-

stained or stained very light pink, whereas calcite (limestone) in the samples will take on a bright red stain. Dolomite can
take a darker stain, and calcite even more so, if the samples are immersed in the Alizarin for longer periods of time. Cau-
tion: ankerite and siderite (which, fortunately, are not common in most reservoir rocks) and non-carbonate minerals such
as chert also won't stain. With the latter rock type, here is an opportunity to determine relative percent chert versus car-
bonate simply by staining the samples for about 30 seconds -- all the carbonate will be some shade of pink (dolomite) to
red (calcite) and the chert will remain unstained. To remove the stain from samples, immerse them in dilute HCL and then
rinse in water. If your fingernails get red-stained during this process, which will happen if you dip your fingertips into the
stain, then rinse them in the dilute acid as well. They'll turn light yellow, but at least they won't be red; the color will fade
after a few hand washings.

Description of Rock Texture in Limestones: An Important Lithologic Attribute

Of the several classification schemes proposed for carbonate rocks, those of Dunham (1962) and Folk
(1962) have gained the widest acceptance in industry and academia, and many petroleum geologists utilize the
Dunham scheme with Folkian modifiers. In the Dunham scheme, particulate carbonate rocks are defined texturally as
grainstones (carbonate sands or gravels), packstones, wackestones, or mudstones depending on amount of carbonate
mud present, how particles (grains) are packed together, and whether or not the mud supports the particles in the
rocks; and such lithologies can readily be identified in cuttings samples (Figure 3). In this paper I will not discuss
recognition in cuttings of rocks such as biolithites or bindstones. Grainstones and packstones (Figures 2 and 3C and
D) are, by definition, those rocks that are supported by the grains -- that is, the interparticle mud conceptually can be
removed without affecting the foundation of the rock. In contrast, in wackestones and mudstones (Figure 3A and B)
the grains are supported by (i.e., "floating in") the carbonate mud. If one so chooses, the dominant components in the
rocks can be added as prefixes to the textural name of the rock following Folk's scheme, thus generating such terms
as, for example: (1) "oolite grainstone", which suggests to the geologist a shallow-water, high-energy environment of
deposition; (2) "oolite wackestone", which implies proximity to an oolite shoal, the rocks deposited in adjoining low-
energy environments; (3) "phylloid algal biopackstone", which likely indicates the presence of a reef; (4) "spicule
wackestone", which signifies an offshore, deeper-water depositional environment; and so forth. By such combination
compositional-textural names, one is provided with a clear mental picture of rock texture and likely depositional en-
vironment, which are critical initial steps in the generation of depositional models of hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Figure 3. Examples of different limestone textures in Pennsylva-
nian well cuttings samples, all at magnification of 8x. A - mud-
stone; B - wackestone with forams, unaltered physically-deposited
lime mud (white arrow), and patches of neomorphic calcite spar
(black arrow); C - oolite packstone in matrix of physically-
deposited lime mud (white arrow), and intraparticle calcite cement
within formerly leached ooids (black arrows); and D - oolite grain-
stone with interparticle calcite cement.

The size of component particles in grainstones,
packstones, and wackestones can vary from silt to gravel
size, and accordingly, one can deal with grainstones or
packstones, for example, that actually are carbonate gravels,
carbonate sands, or carbonate silts in the sense of the Wen-
tworth grade-size scale; and such modifiers can also be
added to rock name, for example, "gravel-size skeletal pack-

stone". The point is that most limestones are of a particulate nature, and accordingly, terms such as "coarse-grained",
"fine-grained", "gravelly", "sandy", and so forth can be applied to them. However, terms such as "coarse (or
coarsely) crystalline" and "fine (or finely) crystalline" should not be applied to limestones in reference to their tex-
ture because the term "crystalline" refers only to crystals and not to particles. In terms of diagenetic attributes, as the
amount of physically-deposited mud in a limestone decreases, component particles in grainstones and some portions
of packstones are/were progressively more lithified by chemically precipitated, interparticle calcite (or dolomite, sil-
ica, etc.) cements (Figure 3D), which can vary in terms of crystal size from being fine crystalline to coarse crystal-
line. The latter crystal size descriptor commonly is referred to as "spar" if it can be seen with the naked eye or under
low-power magnification. It is only these chemically precipitated, diagenetic components of limestones -- interparti-
cle (and intraparticle: Figure 3C) cements -- that can and should be referred to in terms of crystallinity.
Hence, one can recognize in limestones both a particulate component described by terms such as "coarse-
grained", "fine-grained" (e.g., mud matrix in mudstones, wackestones, and packstones), and a crystalline component,
represented by chemically precipitated (diagenetic) cement, described by terms such as "fine crystalline", "coarse
crystalline", and so forth. Such diagenetic components should not be described as "fine-grained" or "coarse-
grained". Particulate components and diagenetic components in limestones should not be confused in sample de-
scriptions. In the reservoir example described above (Figure 1), for example, the particulate components are sand-
size ooids in the oolite grainstone, and variously-sized algal blades and mud-size particles comprising the matrix of
the rocks in the reef wackestone. In contrast, the chemically precipitated (diagenetic) component in the oolite grain-
stone is the remaining interparticle calcite cement, and in the reef facies it is the remaining intraparticle calcite ce-
ment, both of which likely would be described as "spar" in cuttings and cores.
In some cases, the carbonate mud matrix of mudstones, wackestones, and some packstones has recrystal-
lized to a fabric of crystals (fine to coarse crystalline) that superficially resemble cement, and such fabrics are known

as "neomorphic spar" (or "neospar": Figure 3B). Recognition of true cement versus neomorphic spar usually, but not
always, requires thin-section petrography (see Bathurst, 1975), and it is most important to distinguish the two because:
(1) the presence of cement indicates a formerly mostly mud-free rock (i.e., grainstones and perhaps some portions of
packstones), which in turn implies a high-energy environment of deposition, whereas; (2) in marked contrast, the pres-
ence of neomorphic spar indicates the diagenetically-former presence of the exact opposite -- a muddy carbonate rock
deposited in a low-energy environment. Obviously, then, distinction of cement versus neomorphic spar is critical if the
geologist is attempting to identify and map trends of specific depositional facies in the subsurface. Of course, as crys-
talline entities, dolomites are best referred to in terms of crystal size (e.g., fine to coarse crystalline) and the specific
fabric of intercrystalline relationships in the rocks (e.g., sucrosic = idiotopic of Friedman, 1965, and so forth).

Importance of Porosity Descriptions

Based on the types of pore systems present in a limestone or dolomite, the geologist can predict the likely
petrophysical and resulting production characteristics of a reservoir ahead of the drill bit, and also likely stimulation
procedures if so required, which are important in evaluations of the economic potential of a reservoir system in a given
area. In the example shown in Figure 1, whereas the relative amount of porosity provided by the well-site geologist cer-
tainly was important in evaluating that well during drilling, lacking are precise descriptors of pore types in the samples
that would impact evaluation of inferred rock texture and production characteristics. For example, had the well-site ge-
ologist described interparticle pores, one might have mentally merged the presence of oolites and interparticle pores
reported by the well-site geologist into a picture of a least part of the reservoir being a high-energy oolite sand with
likely relatively high porosity and permeability. Then, in concert with log analysis, one probably would have inferred
the existence of a complex reservoir in the well, one wherein there is a lower porosity-permeability portion at the base
of the producing section (its specific lithology known in Figure 1 to be an algal reef with only moldic pores) and an
overlying oolite grainstone.
Most pore types present in outcrop and core samples can readily be identified in cuttings samples (Mazzullo,
2004), and notwithstanding complex diagenetic scenarios (which are common in carbonate rocks), there can sometimes
be predictable relationships among limestone texture and depositional environment, likely pore types present, and
petrophysical aspects of the reservoir. For example, aside from vugs and dissolution-enlarged fractures, which can be
present in any type of carbonate rock, porous grainstones and packstones representing high-energy carbonate sand de-
posits basically have two types of framework pores -- interparticle and intraparticle. The former pore system usually is
characterized by relatively high porosity and permeability, whereas the latter can be of moderately high porosity but
limited permeability. Wackestones, which can represented low-energy environments of deposition or some types of
reefs, inherently comprise low porosity-permeability reservoirs if the only pore type present is molds.

CONCLUSIONS

Precise descriptions of cuttings or core samples of limestones maximize the amount of depositional environ-
mental and diagenetic information available to the explorationist who is attempting to develop specific models in the
search for analogous depositional facies-type and subunconformity reservoirs in the subsurface.

REFERENCES

Bathurst, R.G.C., 1975, Carbonate Sediments and Their Diagenesis; Elsevier Publ. Co., 658 p.
Dunham, R.J., 1962, Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture, in W.E. Ham, ed., Classification of Carbon-

ate Rocks; AAPG Memoir 1, p. 108-121..

Folk, R.L., 1962, Spectral subdivision of limestone types, in IBID, p. 62-85.
Friedman, G.M., 1959, Identification of carbonate minerals by staining methods; Journal Sedimentary Petrology, v. 29, p. 87-97.
Friedman, G.M., 1965, Terminology of crystallization textures and fabrics in sedimentary rocks; Journal of Sedimentary Petrology,

v. 35, p. 643-655.

Johnson, R.A., 1994, Distribution and architecture of subunconformity carbonate reservoirs: Lower Meramecian (Mississippian)

subcrop trend, western Kansas, in J.C. Dolson, ed., Unconformity-Related Hydrocarbons in Sedimentary Sequences;
Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists, p. 231-244.

Mazzullo, S.J., 2004, Overview of porosity evolution in carbonate reservoir; published in two parts in Kansas Geological Society

Bulletin, v. 79 no. 1, p. 22-28 (Part I) and v. 79 no.2, p. 22-27 (Part II). Also available on-line in AAPG's Search and Dis-
covery series, paper #40134 (2004) -- the web site address is http://www.searchanddiscovery.com.

Mazzullo, S.J., and G.V. Chilingarian, 1992a, Depositional models of carbonate reservoirs, in G.V. Chilingarian, S.J. Mazz-

ullo, and H.H. Rieke, eds., Carbonate Reservoir Characterization: A Geologic-Engineering Analysis; Elsevier Publ.
Co., p. 109-198.

Mazzullo, S.J., and G.V. Chilingarian, 1992b, Diagenesis and origin of porosity, in IBID, p. 199-207.

I also want to do my year-end thank you's to all
who have volunteered time this year. Of course,
Sal & Chellie Mazzullo have given us yet an-
other year of Thursday Nights! Thank you!!
Also, Craig Bjorg, Marj Crane, Larry Friend,
Ted Jochems plus others that I know I am for-
getting. We are making some great strides in
the library, getting donated data integrated,
thanks to those who volunteer their time. If you
are interested in helping, just come on down on
Thursday evenings, we try to make it fun!

I hope to see all of you at the Annual Banquet
on the 28th of this month. This is always a fun
evening and we will be honoring two very fine
men this year, George Mueller and Walter
Martz. We also will be honoring Janice Bright
for completing 20 years of employment with the
KGS! Whew! That's a long time. Please plan to
join us in thanking her for all of her hard work
over the years. And this year, I promise, the
chocolate fountain is going to be there!!

I wish you all the very best for a prosperous
New Year!

Respectfully,
Your Manager

Rebecca Radford

FROM THE MANAGER'S DESK

Dear Members,

What a great year we have had at the KGS!
Ending up with a nice profit this year as I hope
everyone is.

I would like to thank Tom Hansen and the rest
of the KGS Board for all of their assistance and
wisdom in running this outfit. I will miss those
of you who have gone off the board, Tim
Pierce, Ernie Morrison & Gus Messinger. You
were all great to work with. Welcome to the
new board members, pictured here at the left,
Chuck Brewer, Steve Stribling and Bill Romig.
I know our new President, Fred James, will do a
wonderful job and I look forward to another
great year with such fine gentlemen at the helm.
I know many of you have served on the KGS or
KGF boards and you know the work and time
commitment that is involved. Those of you
who have not had this "opportunity" need to be
thankful for those who agree to serve in these
positions as it certainly helps to keep our Soci-
ety and Library running smoothly.

2005 should be a great year as we have many
fine Technical Programs that Bob Cowdery has
lined up for us. Thanks Bob for all of your
work. Our Society stands above most when it
comes to these technical programs. Most or-
ganizations charge for these types of meetings
and Bob brings us excellent programs at no cost
to you. Please thank him when you see him.

DIGITAL ARCHIVING NEWS

The following is a listing of where we are at on the scanning project:

Completion Cards--West Ranges completed scanning and are on the Walters Digital Library

Plotted Geologist's Reports-- West Ranges--scanning completed and on the WDL.

Well Logs-- West Ranges scanning in 13 S, 14S and south on line.

Laughlin-Simmons Cards-- West Ranges, scanned & on-line.

Typed Geologist's Reports--West Ranges, scanning in 9S

Old Major Scout Tickets-- We will be trying to get all of these scanned prior to finishing
Drilller's logs. (Many driller's logs can be found on-line with the Kansas Geological Survey)

Keep checking on-line at

www.waltersdigitallibrary.com

where the coverage area is updated regularly.

If you have any questions or concerns or suggestions......call me.

- Rebecca Radford

Subscription Service NOW available !

We have a new web address

www.waltersdigitallibrary.com

Coverage area is growing every day!

Check Out Our New Pricing Structure & Find What Works Best For You

1-month trial period for $250.00

(which can apply toward a 1 year subscription )

3-months for $600.00

(designed for the person with a project in Kansas but does not

necessarily need a full year's membership)

Regular Pricing of Digital Library Memberships:

KGS Library Members = Can subscribe to the Walters Digital Library for $600.00 / year

Non-KGS Library Members = Can Subscribe for $1500.00 / year

Call Now to Sign Up!!

Toll Free: 877-265-7300

Local: 263-2916

KANSAS GEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

Kansas Geological Foundation Services

The Kansas Geological Foundation pro-
vides the following services as a part of the organi-
zation's commitment to educate the public regarding
earth science.

Speaker's Bureau

- A list of speakers

available to talk about various aspects of geology
may be obtained by contacting Janice Bright at the
KGS Library, 265-8676. This service is free to the
public.

Videotape Library

- The KGF main-

tains a videotape library focused primarily on the
various fields of earth science. These tapes may be
checked out without charge by the public. To ob-
tain a list of tapes, please contact the KGS Library,
212 N. Market, Ste. 100, Wichita, KS 67202, or
call Janice Bright at 265-8676.

New Slides on Energy from AAPG

- 14

slides are available from the Speaker's Bureau on
energy. Please contact Bob Cowdery at 267-9030
to check out the slides.

The Kansas Geological Foundation was founded in
March of 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation under
the guidelines of section 501(c)(3) of the tax code to
provide individuals and corporations the opportu-
nity to further the science of geology. It is dedi-
cated to providing charitable, scientific, literary and
educational opportunities in the field of geology for
the professional geologist as well as the general
public.
KGF can receive in-kind donations through
which the donor may receive a tax deduction. Of
equal importance, the KGF provides the financial
resources to sort, process and file this data at the
KGS library. If you have a donation to make,
please contact the KGF at 265-8676.
Your tax-deductible membership donation
helps to defray the cost of processing donations and
to support public education programs about the sci-
ence of geology. Annual membership begins at
$50.00 per year. Donations of $100.00 or more are
encouraged through the following clubs:

Century Club $ 100 to $ 499
$500 Club $ 500 to $ 999
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Web Site: www.kgfoundation.org

Name Dc'd Dte M'l Est.

KGF MEMORIALS

Dan Bowles 09/89 1990
John Brewer 10/89 1990
Robert Gebhart 01/90 1990
George Bruce 09/90 1990
Ray Anderson, Jr. 11/90 1990
Harold McNeil 03/91 1991
Millard W. Smith 08/91 1991
Clinton Engstrand 09/91 1991
M.F. "Ted" Bear 10/91 1991
James & Kathryn Gould 11/91 1991
Benton Brooks 09/92 1992
Robert C. Armstrong 01/93 1993
E. Gail Carpenter 01/93 1993
Nancy Lorenz 02/93 1993
Norman R. Stewart 07/93 1993
Robert W. Watchous 12/93 1993
J. George Klein 07/94 1994
Harold C.J. Terhune 01/95 1995
Carl Todd 02/95 1995
Don R. Pate 03/95 1995
R. James Gear 05/95 1995
Vernon Hess 06/95 1995
E. K. Edmiston 06/95 1995
Jack Rine 08/95 1995
Lee Cornell 09/95 1995
John Graves 10/95 1995
Wilson Rains 11/95 1995
Heber Beardmore, Jr. 10/96 1996
Donald F. Moore 10/92 1997
Elmer "Lucky" Opfer 12/96 1997
Gerald J. Kathol 03/97 1997
Raymond M. Goodin 03/97 1997
James D. Davies 08/88 1997
R. Kenneth Smith 04/97 1997
Robert L. Dilts 05/97 1997
Delmer L. Powers 06/72 1997
Gene Falkowski 11/97 1997
Arthur (Bill) Jacques 1/98 1998
Bus Woods 1/98 1998
Frank M. Brooks 03/98 1998
Robert F. Walters 04/98 1998
Stephen Powell 04/98 1998
Deane Jirrels 05/98 1998
William G. Iversen 07/98 1998
Ann E. Watchous 08/98 1998
W.R. "Bill" Murfin 09/98 1998

Donald L. Hellar 11/98 1998
Joseph E. Rakaskas 01/99 1999
Charles W. Steincamp 02/99 1999
Robert and Betty Glover 10/86 1999
Howard E. Schwerdtfeger 11/98 1999
W. W. "Brick" Wakefield 03/99 1999
V. Richard Hoover 01/00 2000
Warren E. Tomlinson 01/00 2000
James A. Morris 01/00 2000
Eric H. Jager 03/00 2000
Kenneth W. Johnson 03/00 2000
Dean C. Schaake 04/00 2000
Fred S. Lillibridge 05/00 2000
Jerry A. Langrehr 07/00 2000
Clark A. Roach 07/00 2000
Ralph W. Ruuwe 09/00 2000
Robert L. Slamal 02/01 2001
Jerold E. Jesperson 06/01 2001
William A. Sladek 06/01 2001
Harlan B. Dixon 06/01 2001
Edward B. Donnelly 08/01 2001
Richard P. Nixon 02/02 2002
Robert W. Frensley 12/01 2002
Gerald W. Zorger 01/02 2002
Don L. Calvin 03/02 2002
Harold Trapp 12/02 2002
Claud Sheats 02/02 2002
Merle Britting 2002
Donald M. Brown 11/02 2003
Elwyn Nagel 04/03 2003
Robert Noll 09/19 2003
J. Mark Richardson 02/02 2004
John "Jack" Barwick 02/04 2004
Benny Singleton 09/01 2004
Jay Dirks 2004
Richard Roby 03/04 2004
Ruth Bell Steinberg 2004
Gordon Keen 03/04 2004
Lloyd Tarrant 05/04 2004
Robert J. "Rob" Dietterich 08/96 2004
Mervyn Mace 12/04 2004

MEMORIAL: Nelson Thomas

With the passing of Nelson on October
25

, the profession lost one of its most in-

teresting practitioners and some might say
one of its most colorful. Certainly Nelson
had led a fascinating life and throughout his
life pursued many aspects of the oil industry
and in his leisure time enjoyed a wide vari-
ety of pastimes.

His life commenced in 1923 in Webb
City, Oklahoma where his Dad was em-
ployed as a pumper for Stanolind Oil and
Gas. Early on, Nelson started accompany-
ing his Dad to the field to learn all he could
about the oil fields.

Due to the nature of his father's employ-
ment with the many moves, Nelson's educa-
tion was often interrupted. He started grade
school in Oklahoma, but by the third grade
he was in McPherson, Kansas. From the 4

thru 8

grade, he was in Galva, Kansas. His

year in high school was in Canton, Kan-

sas, but he returned to Galva to complete
high school graduating in 1941.

Nelson completed one year of college at
Ft. Hays State, before enlisting in the
United States Army.. He trained as an engi-
neer at several locations before being
shipped to England. After the invasion,
Nelson's unit was stationed in France where
he played in the band and served as the bu-
gler for his unit.

After serving for just over 3 years, Nel-
son was discharged in January 1946 and
worked as a Roustabout-Pumper for Stano-
lind before enrolling at the University of
Tulsa. He then established a pattern of
working in the summer for Stanolind and
attending college in the fall and spring.

This included two years at Wichita State
where he developed an interest in geology.

In 1950, Nelson married Maryan Decker
who he met while he was working as a
dance instructor. Maryan and Nelson had
three daughters; Barbara Kae, Peggy Lou
and Sharon Louise. Barbara and Peggy re-
side in Wichita and Sharon lives in
Breckenridge, Minnesota.

After working five years for Stanolind,
Nelson r