Michel T. Halbouty

Halbouty is an internationally renowned earth scientist and engineer whose career and accomplishments in the fields of geology and petroleum engineering have earned him recognition as one of the world's outstanding geoscientists.

Born in 1909 in Beaumont, Texas, he earned his B.S. in geology, an M.S. in geology and petroleum engineering, and his professional geological engineering degree from Texas A&M University. He also received a Doctor of Engineering (hc) degree from Montana College of Science and Technology, as well as a Doctor of Geoscience (hc) degree from the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences. The University of Nanjing, People's Republic of China, presented him with an honorary professorship in geology.

Halbouty began his career as a geologist and petroleum engineer with an independent oil company, and later as a consultant, before becoming chairman of the Michel T. Halbouty Energy Company in Houston. Throughout his career, he has been engaged in the exploration for and production of oil and gas. Widely recognized as one of the world's foremost geologists and petroleum engineers, he is acclaimed for his scientific expertise.

Halbouty is the author of more than 300 articles on geology and petroleum engineering, including several books on petroleum and contributions in encyclopedias. Many of his papers have been translated into Spanish, Russian, Chinese, and German.

Halbouty is a member of the National Academy of Engineering as well as many worldwide professional and technical societies, including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, where he is a past president; the Society of Exploration Geophysicists; Geological Society of America, where he is a fellow; the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME); and the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME to name a few. Halbouty was also one of the founding trustees when the GSA Foundation was established in the early 1980s. He has served on GSA's Committee on Committees, Committee on Investments, and the Centennial Development Committee, was honorary chair of the Second Century Fund Committee, and in 1993 received GSA's Distinguished Service Award.

Halbouty was the first independent to explore and wildcat in Alaska. He discovered the West Fork Gas Field on the Kenai Peninsula in 1959, the first discovery by an independent in Alaska.

He chaired President Reagan's Energy Policy Advisor Task Force and was later appointed leader of the Transition Team on Energy by the president. During the past 40 years, he has been appointed to many governmental, energy-related committees and commissions, and has given much of his time and expertise to ensure energy sufficiency for America and the world. Recognized as the perennial wildcatter, he is exceptionally active and, despite his age, is in the Halbouty Energy Center office every day overseeing his wildcatting ventures.

"Michel Halbouty has had a remarkably long, effective, and illustrious career in the field of energy resources," Foundation Trustee Gordon Eaton said. "He has always held deep concern for all of this nation's natural resources, and it is this abiding concern for our country that led him to create this distinguished lectureship on the subject."