Annals of Library Science and Documentation 1986,33(3),117-125

DEVELOPrvtENT OF EXPLORATION AND ITS I'NFORMATION ACTIVITIES

DAVENDRA K. GUPTA Department of Library Studies University of Ibadan lbadan Nigeria

Traces the development of exploration geo- societies and associations, their activities for the physics as a scientific discipline and discusses promotion and progress ofthe discipline, publi- the factors responsible for its development. cation of journals,' state-Of-art reports of geo- Recent trends in geophysical research are dis- physical data and other forms of literature and cussed briefly. Details of professional societies information would be considered later. Here, I and their role in controlliny the information would like to discuss the aspects of development activites are given. Publication trends of two of the subject as an independent discipline and leading journals in exploration geophysics are factors responsible for the growth of data and presented in tabular and graphical forms. information in exploration geophysics.

INTRODUCTION HISTORICAL :PEVELOPMENT

Earth sciences have a large data base and rich Methods of geophysical prospecting in a way literature. Since geological information retains as we see them today started about 1923 for its value for a considerable period of time, mineral exploration and since then they have the data and information are stored in a variety become increasingly important because of oil of forms as permanent record for future con- exploration. Mediunin [6 J has given a good sultation, correlation and utilization for further historical account of the development of geo- studies. Like other sciences, sciences have physics and has argued that exploration has been accumulating a vast amount of data and emerged as an independent scientific discipline. the process is exponential since last three De Golyer[3] has reviewed the development decades. of gravity and seismic methods in early thirties Geophysics has contributed a major pro- of this century. Heiland[5J 'and Rust[7J des- portion of data to earth sciences. Exploration cribed some of the early attempts to employ geophysics is still a very young scientific dis- electrical methods. Eckhardt [4J a pioneer in cipline, but has been developing very fast since the field has given,an excellent historical account last two decades. The growth uf data and in- of instruments and techniques used in gravita- formation has accelerated of late because of new tional methods. Schriever [8J recounts the ventures in offshore prospecting and availability experimental work attempting to develop the of technology. reflection seismic methods in early 1920s. Weatherby [9 J has given a general historical DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEO- account of seismic methods. The early de- PHYSICS AS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE velopments in the methods of exploration geophysics have been described by these autho- Before the information activities are discussed, rities. Later developments have been reviewed it would be helpful to discuss the various aspects by the experts in the various issue of pro- of development in exploration geophysics as the fessional journals of exploration geophysics. development of exploration geophysics as a The most interesting review articles appeared scientific discipline is directly related with the in Geophysics in the years 1955 to 1958. development of information activities in this Although these articles are addressed to the field. The points like formation of professional scientists but they are equally important and

Vol 33 No 3 September 1986 117 GUPTA interesting fot the librarians and documenta- the ages, this interaction has been growing lists to prepare state-of-art reports on various ever more deep and diversified. Through this topics in exploration geophysics. The fourth diversity two important tendencies can be in the above mentioned series is one by traced: firstly, the utilization of natural re- White[10] who has reviewed technological sources, and secondly, reasonable consideration developments in exploration geophysics. An- and utilization of the properties of the natural other paper of Born [1] highlights the develop- environment affecting man's activity. ments of geophysical instrumentation. The progress of the development of geophysical Utilization of natural resources methods - instrumentation, data processing Utilization of the total resources of useful and interpretation, achievements in exploring 0 more oil fields etc. are reviewed in one of the minerals in industry is rapidly increasing; issues of Geophysics every year. o Energy consumption by human society is The most interesting thing to note from increasing in leaps and bounds; all these reviews is that the development of geophysical prospecting methods was steady 0 Accelerating productive forces for econo- upto 1940 and thereafter it started accelerating mic development; at a faster rate and this rate has been very Transforming the nature in the interest of fast during the last twenty years. Another 0 man. point of interest to note is that every geo- physical method has had its period of initial Importance of the properties of the natural trial, followed by its peak commercial appli- environment cation over a period of few years. As areas amenable to a particular method have been Man's environment - the , mineral re- studied and covered, the popularity or appli- sources, climate etc. greatly influence his acti- cation of the method decreased and it was vity and sometimes determines various aspects replaced by other methods. The succession of of it. one method after another sometimes followed Geophysics among earth sciences and rapidly. At other times there has been con- applied geophysics have contributed their share siderable lapse of time between peak applica- for these causes in general and several other tions of various methods. Each method has factors in particular. A few factors for, the had a limited period of maximum commercial progress of exploration geophysics and related utility and activity because r; either eventually information activities are discussed as below: covered the most amenable areas, or else was succeeded by a narrower technique (modified/ 1. Chiefly due to stiff commercial competi- refined) having economic advantages. A nice tion, exploration geophysics is a dynamic and detailed description regarding the dis- art continually changing and increasing; coveries of new fields and relationship with development of new ideas and method is given 2. The main incentive to modern exploration in the Bulletin of American Association of geophysics was the search and its success Geologists in 1958 in its fourth for oil during the early years of this cen- issue. tury. An increased demand of oil and the inadequacy of the haphazard methods of FACfORS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DE- the early "wild catter" in meeting the VELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEO- demand forced the development of the new PHYSICS science of petroleum and with it the effective tools of geophysical explora- Important characteristics of modern sciences tion; in their development is their utilitarianism. Today, earth sciences are of tremendous im- 3. Geophysical methods have been success- portance providing the minerals as raw ma- ful in the search for oil primarily because terials for industry. The data of earth sciences of their ability to determine the geologic help to ensure the most profitable and expedient structures and mapping conditions favour- interaction of human society and nature. Over able for oil accumulation;

118 Ann Lib Sci Doc DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS

4. In its struggle to keep up with ever in- In short, it could be said that the science creasing demand for its products, the oil and art of exploration has in general kept pace industry is expending great effort and with the advance of civilization and the improve- enormous sums of money to find new oil ment in methods for refining and conserving and gas resources - directly or indirectly mineral resources. The development of explo- invested in the development of exploration ration geophysics is global and it is expected geophysics; that the present trend would. continue even at a faster rate in the coming years. 5. Developments in physics, electronics, and other scientific disciplines have directly in- fluenced the development of exploration RECENT RESEARCH TRENDS IN EXPLO- geophysics; RATION GEOPHYSICS

6. Development in modern technology, to The combination of the future development, mention a few, computer technology, differentiation of sciences and the development satellite communication, aviation and ship- of geophysics led to an independent scientific ping transport means; discipline, namely Exploration Geophysics ~hich is characterised as a particular research subject 7. Geophysical instrumentation depended and a set of particular techniques; Now the upon the development of electronics and future development in the methods of explora- mechanical engineering, designing, develop- tion geophysics, improvement and development ing and construction of instruments was of new instruments, new·techniques of measure- largely influenced by the development of ment, processing and interpretation are not these fields; conceivable without further expansion and use of theory of exploration geophysics and corres- 8. Techniques of recording were improved ponding physical and geological principles. Therefore, there is a shift in thinking from the with the improved quality and means of previous concepts of accumulating data and rec?rding. Co~puter technology has been mainly responsible for this progress. Air- facts only to the new trend of explaining them. borne and ship borne recording has im- Some new trends of research ill exploration geo- physics are discussed below: proved enormously with the development of technology. Better menas of communi- cation have mostly influenced this develop- ment; Field Recording

9. Te~hniques of data processing and interpre- The normal field recording for commercial pur- tation have tremendously improved with poses continues with more refined techniques the increasing application of computers and and more sophisticated materials and instru- computer graphics; mented. New techniques like and holography are being experimented.Em- 10. Modelling and simulation techniques have phasis is more toward offshore surveys, developed to the same extent for the similar reasons and ability of equipments Study of physical and physico-chemical para- and better facilities available in the labo- meters of rocks and real media on which the ratories; various geophysical methods are based 11. Offshore ventures and the recent success of geophysical methods to discover more re- Complex investigations of physical properties serves, and ability of modern technology to of rocks under both natural and laboratory con- tackle hazardous problems of offshore ditions (under varied temperatures and pres- production has boosted the progress of sures) are being performed in order to under- exploration geophysics. Now mote funds, stand relationships between geological and geo- more p~ople (scientists and technologists) physical characteristics. Theoretical principles are available for the development of this of direct and indirect methods for prospecting science. are being formulated.

Vol 33 No 3 September1986 119 GUPTA

The study of characteristics and properties of INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN EARTH SCI- the various geophysi'2-al fields: (modelling ENCES AND EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS studies) The normal process of generating geoscientific New means for exciting geophysical fields based information is collection of data from the field on model studies are being examined. Models of by collecting samples or by observations or various features of the earth are constructed recordings; processing the data in the labora- and tested to ascertain their response to given tories and computer centres; interpreting the variation in physic"ii parameters. Studies are processed data in geological terms; and then aimed to predict geophysical fields in complex finally submitting the report of investigations models of real media. with final results and recommendations. Most of geophysical data are accumulated The study of the relation between geophysical by recording natural or artificially created geo- fields and the medium, construction of im- physical phenomenon by very sophisticated proved models of media and development of electromechanical instruments. The normal interpretation methods output of data is a reading or observation 'noted in the field note books, or paper record or Based on the investigations above, new now mostly in a tape record. The field data methods of interpretation are being developed. thus obtained in large quantity are preserved in the headquarters of most organizations and Computer Softwares are being developed to institutes and retrieved whenever required for solve complex problems of data processing and reprocessing and reinterpretation manually or in interpretation and also displaying the various most cases now by computers. Processed data kinds of maps and sections. in the forms of graphs, charts, sections or maps etc. are separately collected and pre- served for interpretation purposes and retrieved Development 'of instruments later for reinterpretation purposes. Final reports of investigations are then deposited in the There is a new trend of thinking, designing and central repository. Most of the data of this kind developing more- sophisticated electronic equip- is of commercial and classified nature and kept ments - mostly computer based - more compact confidential within the organization for long and portable and capable of recording more time, released later after a certain period for and more information of complex nature. academic and public use. This kind of literature, One could very distinguishingly note that i.e, Report Literature is difficult to access and the recent research and development trends in acquire for genera! consumption. Since this data exploration geophysics are of the same nature i~' important and of commercial value and use, as should have been for any scientific discipline it is very systematically gathered, processed, of applied nature. To summarise the above organised, stored, maintained and retrieved but research and developments, two features could rarely disseminated. Another kind of data is be noted with interest: the normal primary literature published through scientific journals or patented with the patent- 1. Trend for conducting fundamental or aca- ing authorities. Broadly, geophysical ~nforma- demic research which includes laboratory tion could be classified into two categories: experimentation, model and simulation studies; 1. Commercial Information (field data, pro- cessed data and reports of investigations); 2. Trend for Research and Development type of studies which include designing and 2. Scientific Information (primary research developing instruments, improvements in findings). che materials used, development of com- puter softwaresfor automatic data acqui- Scientific information has all the same sition, processing and interpretation and characteristics and forms and its bibliographic graphic:tl display of results of interpreta- control as we observe in other disciplines of tion. science and technology. Characteristics of

120 Ann Lib Sci Doc DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS geoscientificliterature are describedby Craig[2]. Geophysics in January, 1936. Today, SEG's Geophysical information can be described as: membership is more than 10,000 represent- Geophysical Information = Data + Literature ing more than one hundred countries. It is in all its forms. primarily an international organization of Following discussion would be useful and exploration geophysicists. Table 1 gives the helpful to understand and appreciate the role data on membership of the society which is played by professional societies in promoting self explanatory to give an idea of its growth. the organization of geoscientific literature in generaland geophysicalliterature in particular. Table 1 Membership ofSEG, 1930-1980 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND SO- CIETIES 1930 46 members 1935 189 " Professional associations and societies play a 1955 4,764" very important role, promoting the scientific 1975 9,442" interest of their members; promoting the de- 1980 13,550" velopment of areas and disciplinesto which they are concerned with; disseminating knowledge of science among members; maintaining pro- Table 2 fessional standards; developing educational and Publications in Geophysics, 1930-1980 training programmes for the students and for developing competent manpower; establishing Year / period No. of publications contacts between the members and conducting 1930-1935 57 many such activities. 1936-1945 294 There are more than 100 such associations 1946-1955 429 and societies in earth sciences all over the 1956-1965 646 world. Gale's Encyclopedia of Associations 1966-1975 733 mentions about 28 associations in United States 1976-1980 521 alone. These. organizations can be categorized in their scope as national, regional and inter- Table 3 national. Some of them cover broad field of Publications in Geophysical Praspectiny, earth sciences, some of them geophysics and a 1953-1980 few of them represent highly specialised fields like exploration geophysics. The details of few Period No. of publications organizations which are directly or indirectly and partially concerned with exploration are 1953-1955 14 givenin the followingsection: 1956-1965 290 1966-1975 417 Society of Exploration Geophysists (SEG) 1976~980 239

Address : Box 3098, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 7401 Note : Year to year distribution of publications (USA) of 'Geophysics' and 'Geophysical Pros- Founded in 1930; Members : 9442 (1975); pecting' is shown in Figure 1. Staff: 15; Local groups: 24 Following figures give an idea about the diver- Donald C Barton organized society of sity of membership: Economic Geophysicists in 1930, with 46 geologists and geophysicists. The Society of 40% members represent petroleum corn- Petroleum Geophysicists was founded in late panies; 1930, held its first convention in March 1931 20% members represent private ~ophysi. with Association of American Petroleum geo- cal contractors/consultants logists. Only 57 papers were f,ublished during 20% members represent mining and engi. 1930-1935, and there were on y 189 members neeringcompanies; in 1935. The society started its own journal - 20%membersrepresent academics.

Vol 33 No 3 September 1986 12' """ N) N)

100 I GEOPHYSICS 1\/\' 00 90 II GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING ;- Z 0 :E-t>-4 80 < 'E 70 -..;l . /\//\/\/\/\/ !XI ::J ~ 60 . l ~ Cl 0 50 ,~ ~ /"\/-'-'-' .~ - 40' > ,!XI ;::e ./.-../'".;». / ::J 30 Z \•....• ,/ \./" .-. 20

10 L 1930 1936 1940 1944 1948 1950 1953 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 YEAR OF PUBLICATION

Fig. 1: Frequency Distribution of Publications in Exploration >::I ::I c Geophysics: 1'930-1980' C" tIl !2. l? (") DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS

Society consists of 14 different committees o EOS Transactions (monthly); to look after the various affairs of the society. o Water Resources Research (biornonthly): Publications o Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics (quarterly); o Geophysics (scientific "and professional journal - now monthly); o Radio Science (monthly) o Yearbook; Some Russian journals are translating them cover to cover: o Monographs, glossaries, indexes and ~items of academic and professional interests; o Izvestiya: Atmospheric and Oceanic Phy- o Proceedings of conventions and annual sics, (monthly); meetings conference. o Izvestiya: Physics of the Solid Earth, (monthly); European Association of Exploration Geo- physicists o Geodesy and Aerophytography (bimoarhly) o Geotectonics (bimonthly) Address: 30, Carl Van Bylandt laan, The Hague (Netherlands). o Oceanology (bimonthly) Founded : December, 1951; members: 2,500 0 Soviet and Selected Papers (1975 ) (bimonthly)

The association was founded with 300 0 Soviet Antarctic Expedition Information active members which doubled in a year. Now, Bulletin (irr~gular). there are more than 3,000 members from sixty countries. The percentage distribution in 1964 was as below: American Geological Institute Address : 5205, Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, France 35% VA 22041 (USA) Germany 21% Founded in 1948; members: 18 U.K. 19% Holland 14% American Geological Institute is a federa- Italy 6% tion of 18 national scientific and technical Others 5% societies in the field of geology, Publications and solid earth physics. o Geophysical Prospecting (1953- quarterly journal); Aims o Occasional papers; o career guidance programmes; * See Table 3 for distribution of publication (1953-1980) o to improve teaching of geological sciences in public schools; colleges and universities; American Geophysical Union o seeks to main tain high standards of pro- Adress : 1909, K St., N.W. fessional training; Washington D.C. 20006 (USA) o sponsors documentation and translation Founded in 1919; members: 12,000 services for geological sciences. Sections : Geodesy, geomagnetism, Paleomag- netism; Hydrology; Meteorology; Oceano- graphy; Planetology; ; Tectono- Publications : several of international standards; physics; Volcanology; Geochemistry and ; and Exploration Geophysics; o operates GEO-REF, a computer based reference HIe of world-wide geological Publications literature. o Joumal of Geophysical Research (3/ month);

Vol 33 No 3 September 1986 123 GUPTA

International Union of Geological Sciences retrieval, dissemination, editing and communi- (lUGS) cation.

Address : P.O. Box 379, HAARLEM (Nether- Association of Earth Science Editors lands) Founded : 1961; Members : Representatives of Address : C/o American Geological Institute, national committees for geological science; 5205, Leesburg Pike, Falls Churg, VA 22041 Aims : International cooperation in geology and Founded 1967; Members: 100; editors, manag- related science; ing editors and others in editorial manage- Publications: Geological newsletter (quarterly); ment positions of publications in the field of earth sciences; Geoscience Information Society Aims: Address : C/o American Geological Institute, 5205, Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 0 to promote effective publications of 22041 (USA) journals, reviews, monographs, abstracting Founded : 1965; Members : 250; librarians, periodicals and services, indexes, micro- documentalists, information specialists, cards and other publications which dissemi- editors, geologists, and other earth scien- nate knowledge on earth sciences. tists; o to be affiliated with AGI and EDITERRA Aims (European Association of Earth Science Editors); o to promote the exchange of information in the earth sciences; Publications: Blueline (quarterly) o seeks to recruit technically trained people in the profession; CONCLUSIONS Committees The development of exploration geophysics has o Earth science union list committee; accelerated in the recent years. The main reason of this fast development is commercial applica- o Field reference guide books committee; tion of geophysical methods in search of mineral o Subject headings committee; resources. Information activities are mostly o Theses Committee; controlled by the professional societies. Two of the societies (SEG and EAEG) are mostly Publications conc~rned with the science of exploration geo- physics, Both of them are international in their o Newsletter (4/year) scope of membership and activities. The next three organisation discussed are indirectly or o Proceedings (annual) partially related to exploration geophysics. o Directory, bibliographies, union lists and Association and organizations mentioned next are scholarly publications. directly concerned with the geoscience infor- marion activities - publishing, documentation, Geological Information Group (GIG) and dissemination and editorial activities. A further study of trends of growth in size, volume, The group was founded in 1971 by Geological number of authors and kinds of materials etc. Society of London to study geological informa- would be more useful. Citation analysis study of --:ion in all its aspects including the principles the literature could be useful to determine the of recording, indexing, collation,· storage, usage pattern of the information sources.

124 Ann Lib Sci Doc DEVELOPMENT OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICS

REFERENCES 6. Medunin, A Y : Concerning the historical aspect of certain methods' employed in ~t.udying the

1. Born, W T j A review of geophysical instrumenta- earth and relevant aspects of the classification of tion. Geophysics 1960, 25, 77-91. natural sciences. In The Interaction of Sciences in the study of earth. 1966. Craig, J E G : Characteristics of use of geology 7. Rust, W M : A historical review of electrical pros- literature. College & Research Libraries 1969, 30, pecting methods. Geophysics 1938, 3, 1-6. 230-6. 8. Schriever, William: Reflection seismograph pros- De Golyer, E : Notes on the early history of 3. pecting - how it started contribution. Geophysics applied geophysics in . Early 1952,17,936-977. Geophysical Papers 1935, 245-54. 9. Weatherby, B B: The history of development of Eckhardt, E A: A brief history of the gravity 4. seismic prospecting. Geophysics 1940, 5, 215-230. method of prospecting for oil. Geophysics 1940, 5,231-242. 10. White, J E, Press, Frank : Geophysical research and progress in exploration. Geophysics 1960, 25, Heiland, C A: Advances in techniques and appli- 5. 168-80. cation of resistivity and potential drop ratio methods in oil prospecting. Early Geophysical Papers 1932,420496.

Vol 33 N~ 3 September 1986