1965 Paper I-D

THE EDUCATION OF A WELL LOG ANALYST

by

S. J. Pirson Professor, Petroleum Engineering Department The University of Texas, Austin, Texas

ABSTRACT

One might ask at the outset: Should there be a formal higher education curriculum for Well Log Analysts? The answer is an emphatic: No. Then how should this elite of earth scientists be educated and trained in its specialized field?

First of all one may define facetiously basic or fundamental education as: "What is left after everything one learned is forgotten, but yet one remembers where and how to find it".

The purpose of fundamental education is an introduction to the great sources of knowledge by a formal learning program and more specifically it should include an understanding of the subject matters which this specialized earth scientist may have to face. A successful learning process should require of the students that they think for themselves and think to a conclusion. To this end they should devote considerable time to creative reasoning. In an undergraduate curriculum the student should definitely receive grounding in mathematics, physics, chemistry, physical chemistry, geology, geo-physics, petro-physics, fluid flow in porous media, drafting and mapping. Special courses in electronics and atomic physics, well-drilling and testing, well-completion and reservoir engineering, fluid phase behavior, etc., would be desirable but this information may be acquired at the graduate level or by on-the-job training. Efficient means of communication should be cultivated all the while by practicing oral and written means of self-expression.

No university curriculum can possibly train a fully efficient well log analyst. Industry's solution is to attempt to train specialists by intensive, crowded and superficial short courses which violate all the rules of efficient learning and of good teaching. For the large companies the alternative "tutor" system is advocated and for the smaller companies the alternative "on location", a half-day semi-intensive program is proposed over a period of about four weeks.

Another question as yet unanswered is: To what extent should computerized log interpretation be part of a well log analyst's educational baggage?

Last but not least, one must not forget that education involves also instilling a sense of social and economic responsibility not only to country, state, community and company, but also to oneself. In this respect an understanding of modern Machiavelism in business is indeed a must.