BEG 5.5 A5 1994 The Univtrslt ~rllas at- Austin Austin, Texz 78713-8924 - - - - - Noel Tyler, Director Foreword The Bureau of Economic Geology, established (1) environmental impact statements that are in 1909 as the successor to the Texas Geological submitted to the Office of the Governor of Survey and the Texas Mineral Survey, is a Texas and (2) permit applications that are research entity of The University of Texas at submitted to the Surface Mining and Reclamation Austin. It also functions as the State Geological Division of the Railroad Commission of Texas Survey, a quasi-State agency, and the Bureau and to the Environmental and Consumer Health Director represents Texas in the Association of Protection Division of the Texas Department of American State Geologists. Health. Extensive advisory, technical, and informa- Major reports of the Bureau are published in tional services relating to the resources and The University of Texas Publication series; its geology of Texas are provided by the Bureau. In own series include Reports of Investigations, addition, the Bureau conducts basic and applied Geologic Quadrangle Maps, Geologic Atlas research projects in energy resources, mineral Sheets, Environmental Geologic Atlases, Guide- resources and statistics, coastal and environmen- books, Handbooks, Geological Circulars, Mineral tal studies, land resources, geologic mapping, Resource Circulars, and other publications. Pub- and a variety of other research programs in areas lications are sold for a nominal price to recover such as hydrogeology, basin analysis, and geo- printing costs. A complete list of publications is chemistry. Some projects are conducted jointly available on request. - - with other units of the University as well as with The A17,,"^1 D----A - 4- .' - State, Federal, and local agencies. The Texas Geolog. Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute researcl is an administrative unit of the Bureau. ties, anc The Bureau provides ongoing services to and gec governmental agencies including reviews of agencie BEG Bureau Of Economic Geology 5.5 A5 ANNUAL REPORT 1994 ADVISORY, 1994 TECHNICAL, AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES --- RESEARCH I- - ---- --- 1 --- AND PUBLIC --- -- -- LAND RESOURCES I INVESTIGATIONS SERVICE IN TEX, --i-- -_- - RESOURCES AN - I I GEOLOGY COASTAL STUDIES, ENVIRONMENTAL lNVESTIGATlONS MINING AND MINERAL RESOURl RESEARCH INSTITUTE, MINERAL STUDIES LABORATOR CORE RESEARCH CENTER BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Noel Qler, Director Research and Administrative Office and Laboratories J. J. Pickle Research Campus 10 100 Burnet Road Austin, Texas 78758-4497 (512) 471-7721 (512) 471-1534 FAX 47 1-0140 Mailing address The University of Texas at Austin University Station, Box X Austin, Texas 78713-8924 OVERVIEW Program support ...................................................................................................................... 1 Oil resource investigations ......................................................................................................2 Natural gas resource investigations .........................................................................................3 Geophysics: 3-D seismic applications ..................................................................................... 5 Tectonic modeling ................................................................................................................... 6 Hydrogeology and environmental investigations ....................................................................7 HIGHLIGHTS Noel Tyler assumes Bureau directorship .............................................................................9 Bureau wins major award for its ongoing research in oil recovery in the Permian Basin ...............................................................................................................9 Bureau convenes global gas conference ................................................................................10 Bureau establishes Midland Core Research Center ...............................................................10 Bureau workshop on the Canyon Sandstone play attracts record audience .......................... 11 Bureau co-hosts First North American Rock Mechanics Symposium ..................................11 Bureau personnel play prominent role in 1994 Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Convention ......................................................................................11 Public education highlights .................................................................................................... 12 Senior researcher Don Bebout retires ..............................................................................12 Awards and honors ..............................................................................................................13 New research staff .................................................................................................................13 RESEARCH Energy resources investigations ......................................................................................... 14 Petroleum .............................................................................................................................. 14 Gas ........................................................................................................................................19 Coal ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Experimental and applied tectonics investigations ............................................................22 Land, water, and environmental resources investigations ...................................................23 Environmental, geologic. and hydrogeologic studies .......................................................... 23 Coastal studies ...................................................................................................................... 26 Mapping investigations ..........................................................................................................29 Other geologic investigations .............................................................................................. 30 Contract and grant support ...................................................................................................30 PUBLICATIONS Reports of Investigations .......................................................................................................32 Geological Circulars .............................................................................................................. 36 Mineral Resource Circulars .................................................................................................. 36 Cross Sections ........................................................................................................................37 Map ........................................................................................................................................37 Other new releases ............................................................................................................... 37 Papers and abstracts in outside (non-BEG) publications ...................................................... 38 Contract and grant reports .....................................................................................................44 iii Core Research Center ............................................................................................................47 Mineral Studies Laboratory ...................................................................................................47 Public Information .................................................................................................................47 Reading Room/Data Center ................................................................................................... 47 Geophysical Log Facility ......................................................................................................48 Lectures and public addresses ...............................................................................................48 Bureau of Economic Geology seminars ................................................................................53 Congressional. legislative. and special testimony .................................................................54 Committee services. offices. and other professional responsibilities.................................... 54 University teachinglcontinuing education ............................................................................. 57 SUPPORTSTAFF Administrativelsecretarial .....................................................................................................59 Cartography ........................................................................................................................... 59 Computer resources ............................................................................................................... 59 Publications ............................................................................................................................59 Quality assurance .......................... :........................................................................................ 59 SOURCESOF FUNDINGAND BUDGETTRENDS ....................................................