Tom Bjorklund, Research Scientist
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
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Areas of expertise
- Active tectonics
- Petroleum geology
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Awards
Not available
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Publications
- *Christopher Gantela, Aifei Bian, Hua-Wei Zhou, Tom Bjorklund, 2015, Demasking Multiple Artifact in Crustal Seismic Images from Marine Reflection Data in the Southern California Borderland, Journal of Earth Science, Vol. 26, No. 4, August 2015, 592–597 (printed in China)
- *Hua-wei Zhou, Li Li, Tom Bjorklund and Michael Thornton, 2010, A comparative analysis of deformable layer tomography and cell tomography along the LARSE lines in southern California, Geophysical Journal International, Volume 180, Issue 3, March 2010, 1200-1222.
- Bjorklund, T., 2007, The Case for Using Extended Reach Drilling to Develop California OCS Reserves from Onshore Locations, AAPG, Search and Discovery Article #40235, http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/2007/07027bjorklund/index.htm.
- Bjorklund, T., 2006, Drilling advances warrant new look at leasing of Pacific OCS, Oil & Gas Journal, Aug 7, 2006, v. 104(29), 20-24.
- Bjorklund, T., 2004, Abstract: Four-Dimensional Analysis of the Whittier Fault, Los Angeles Basin, California: A Model for Oil-Productive, Inverted Half-Grabens Associated with Continental Transform Fault Systems, AAPG, Dallas, Texas, A13.
- Bjorklund, T., and Zhou, H., 2003, An Integrated analysis of tomographic and geologic data in the Los Angeles basin: Implications for models of basin evolution and active faults, GSA Annual Meeting: Abstracts with programs, Seattle, Vol. 35(6), 238-1.
- Zhou, H., and Bjorklund, T., 2003, High-resolution, travel-time tomography in the southern California region: The present and the future, SCEC Annual Meeting, Proceedings and Abstracts, Volume XIII, Oxnard, California, September 7-11, p. 159.
- Bjorklund, T., 2003, The Whittier fault trend: Cross sections, structure maps, and well tops in the major oil producing area of the northeastern Los Angeles basin, Search and Discovery, Article #10038, http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/whittier/index.htm
- Bjorklund, T., 2003, The Whittier Fault Trend in the Major Oil Producing Area of the Northeastern Los Angeles Basin: Interpretation and Data, Search and Discovery, CDROM Series #1 (http://bookstore.aapg.org/).
- Bjorklund, T and Zhou, H, 2002, Crustal Tomographic Models of the Greater Los Angeles Basin, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S21A-0971, 2002.
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Patents
Not available
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Funded Research
- Department of Energy: “Application of Cutting-Edge 3-D Seismic Attribute Technology to the Assessment of
Geological Reservoirs for CO2 Sequestration.”
- Department of Energy: “Application of Cutting-Edge 3-D Seismic Attribute Technology to the Assessment of
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Curriculum Vitae
Tom Bjorklund
Research Scientist and Oil and Gas Consultant
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
University of Houston
4800 Calhoun Rd.
Houston, TX 77204-5006
Phone: 832-816-9982
email: tbjorklund@uh.edu
SUMMARY
Dr. Bjorklund has supervisory and technical experience with three major oil and gas
companies that range from exploitation and close-in exploration in the West Coast,
Rocky Mountain and Mid-continent areas of the U.S. to international operations in
Trinidad, the South China Sea and the NW Territories of Pakistan. He has broad-based
skills in structural geology, reservoir description, reserve estimation and risk-weighted
prospect analysis. He has led multidisciplinary teams responsible for geologic operations
on drilling wells in a wide range of geographic settings. He has experience with UNIX
workstations, the SMT Kingdom suite, 2DMove, ArcInfo and the application of advanced
seismic attributes to assess subsurface reservoirs for CO2 sequestration potential. His
research interests are the tectonics and petroleum potential of California and climate
change issues. Dr. Bjorklund has been associated with the University of Houston
since 1995. He is a Research Scientist in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric
Science and petroleum industry consultant.
ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Degrees
Ph.D. in Geology, University of Houston, 1995-2002 Advisor: K. Burke
Dissertation: Evolution of the Whittier fold-fault system of the northeastern Los Angeles
basin, California
M.A. in Geology (math minor), University of Texas, 1960-1962 Advisor: W. R.
Muehlberger Thesis: Structure of Horse Mountain anticline, Brewster County, Texas
B.S. in Geology (with honor), California Institute of Technology, 1956-1960 Advisor: R.
- Jahns
Continuing Education
Post-graduate university courses in engineering mathematics, operational calculus,
reservoir engineering, elasticity and plasticity and the theory of seismic computations.
Industry courses in well logging, reservoir engineering, subsurface geology, petrophysics,
geophysics, petroleum economics, geostatistics, coal petrology, carbonate and clastic
depositional systems, sequence stratigraphy, structural geology, GIS and management.
WORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CO2 Sequestration Evaluation
Principal Investigator for University of Houston DOE funded project entitled
“Application of Cutting-Edge 3-D Seismic Attribute Technology to the Assessment of
Geological Reservoirs for CO2 Sequestration.” Advised graduate students each semester
and completed nine progress reports over 27 months that resulted in continued DOE
funding of the project and excellent relationships with DOE management.
Resource Evaluation
Analyzed potential for offshore California oil development from onshore sites using
extended-reach drilling technology and reported on results in a lead article in the Oil and
Gas Journal. Wide-spread interest in the article led to an AAPG poster that was
published on the AAPG Search and Discovery website, an interview broadcast locally on
PBS and contacts from representatives of the press, government and industry requesting
additional information.
Led team of geologists that successfully employed leading-edge computer technology to
map the distribution of economic coalbed methane resources in the San Juan Basin of
New Mexico.
Completed detailed field studies of sandstones and fractured shale reservoirs in California
fields that led to the drilling of 11 wells and the discovery of 10 million barrels of oil.
Coordinated evaluation of Cement Field in Oklahoma and subsequent stepout drilling
that discovered 100 billion cubic feet of deep, geopressured gas reserves in Springer
sandstones
Identified over sixty drilling and workover opportunities in Oklahoma gas fields with 30
billion cubic feet of gas reserves.
Carried out subsurface geologic study Yorba Linda, California heavy oil sands that
dramatically changed long-standing stratigraphic interpretation and provided a sound
basis for reservoir management.
International Drilling Operations
Coordinated evaluation of Second Round bid blocks in Eastern China that provided basis
for the timely ranking of areas of interest and focusing efforts on the most attractive
blocks.
Established close working relationships with Pakistan oil industry personnel that led to
the cost-efficient execution of exploratory drilling program in the Northwest Territories.
Coordinated geologic operations for South China Sea exploratory drilling program that
evaluated six prospects and contributed to timely Chinese government approvals of plans.
Developed operations procedures for offshore wells in Trinidad that ensured adherence to
government requirements, promoted cross-disciplinary teamwork and achieved technical
objectives.
Supervised team of operations geologists responsible for coordinating activities on key
exploratory wells in Australia, Pakistan and Myanmar.
Leadership and Personnel Development
Chaired a steering committee of exploration supervisors that was responsible for moving
the company from a mainframe system to distributed geoscience databases and
applications.
Led delegation on visit to China to review data and develop working relationships with
Chinese oil industry personnel that contributed to favorable Chinese response to work
proposal.
Directed the work of multidisciplinary teams that conducted field studies resulting in
numerous completed reports and successful drilling, land acquisition and seismic
programs.
Developed procedures to monitor drilling operations in the Overthrust Belt that were
recognized for improving performance by effectively promoting cross-disciplinary
teamwork.
Facilitated a continuous improvement team that developed a process diagram for well
planning that was used as model throughout the company.
Selected Field Studies (carried out or supervised)
Anchutz Ranch-Jurassic Nugget sandstone, gas, Utah
Beurline-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Brea-Olinda-Tertiary turbite-channel sandstones, heavy oil, California
Cat Canyon-Miocene fractured Monterey shale and chert, oil, California
Cement-Paleozoic overpressured gas sands, Oklahoma
Dickman, Mississippian porous zone, CO2 sequestration, Kansas
Geysers-Jurassic fractured Franciscan metamorphics, geothermal steam, California
Howard Townsite-Tertiary distal turbidites, oil, California
Hugoton-Panoma-Paleozoic gas-bearing carbonates, Kansas
Javelina-Jefferie-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
La Copita-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Long Beach-Tertiary distal turbidites, waterflood, California
Los Indios-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
McAllen Ranch-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Mocane-Laverne-Paleozoic carbonates and sandstones, gas, Oklahoma
MonteCristo-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Newport-Cambrian sandstone, meteoric impact structure, oil, N. Dakota
Orcutt-fractured Monterey shale, oil, California
Patoka, Trenton and Mt. Simon sandstone, CO2 sequestration, Illinois
Pavillion-Tertiary gas sands, Wyoming
Red Oak-Paleozoic tight gas sands, Oklahoma
Red Wash-Tertiary lacustrine sandstones, high pour-point oil, Utah
Rincon-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Roscrans-Tertiary distal turbidites, oil, California
San Juan Basin-Tertiary coalbed methane, New Mexico
Schmidt-Oligocene Vicksburg overpressured gas sands, Texas
Seal Beach-Tertiary distal turbidites, oil, California
Slocum-Tertiary Carrizo sands, steam drive, East Texas
Teapot Dome, Tensleep sandstone, CO2 sequestration, Wyoming
Tract C-b-Eocene oil shale, underground mine evaluation, Colorado
TWG-Paleozoic gas sands, Oklahoma
Wattenberg-Cretaceous tight gas sands, Colorado
Weatherford-Paleozoic gas sands, Oklahoma
Whitney Canyon-Mississippian Madison limestone, sour gas, Wyoming
Wilburton-Paleozoic gas sands, Oklahoma
Yorba Linda-Tertiary turbidite-channel conglomerates, steam-soak, California
Operations Areas-Domestic
Anadarko and Arkoma basins-field development and stepout drilling, Oklahoma
California and Alaska offshore hazards evaluations-platform and pipeline site surveys
Denver basin, infill drilling, Wattenberg field
Hugoton Embayment-infill drilling, Kansas
Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Maria basins, California-field and exploratory drilling
Powder River basin, Montana and Wyoming-appraisal core holes, surface coal mine
planning
San Juan and Raton basins-coalbed methane development, New Mexico and Colorado
South Texas Vicksburg-overpressured sandstones, gas, stepout drilling
Uinta, Piceance and Sand Wash basins, Utah and Colorado-field and exploratory drilling
Utah-Wyoming overthrust belt-field development and exploratory drilling
Williston basin-field and exploratory drilling, North Dakota
Wyoming foreland basins, tight gas sand development and lease maintenance
Operations Areas-International
Teak, Poui, Mora, Cassia, Samaan fields and Gulf of Paria-exploration seismic surveys
and development drilling, offshore Trinidad and Tobago
Liuhua 11-1 field area-Pearl River-Mouth basin, exploratory drilling, South China sea,
PRC
Indus and Kohat licenses-exploratory drilling, Northwest Territories-Pakistan
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
University of Houston 2003-present
Research Scientist, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (2008-present)
Consultant, Oxy (part-time 2008-2012)
Principal Investigator, Center for Applied Geosciences and Energy, DOE CO2
sequestration project (2006-2007)
Research Scientist, Department of Geosciences (2003-2007)
Amoco Production Company 1978-1994
Senior Geological Associate, Amoco Production Company-Houston. Coordination of
geoscience computer applications. (1993-1994)
Director of Exploration, Amoco Pakistan Exploration-Islamabad, Pakistan. NW
Territories exploration drilling. (1992-1993)
Senior Geological Associate, Amoco Production Company-Houston. Strategic planning
and operations. (1991-1992)
Chief Geologist, Amoco Orient Oil Company-Shekou, PRC. South China Sea
exploration of carbonate mounds. (1990-1991)
Chief Geologist, Amoco Trinidad Oil Company-Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Offshore development and exploration of Tertiary sandstones. (1989-1990)
Division Exploitation Geologist, Amoco Production Company-Denver. Rocky Mountain
thrust belt, coal bed methane, Mid-continent operations. (1981-1988)
Staff Geologist, Amoco Production Company-Denver. Morrow sandstones, Anadarko
basin. (1978-1981)
Shell Oil Company 1966-1978
1966-1978, Senior Geological Engineer, Shell Oil Company-Ventura, Los Angeles,
Houston and New Orleans. Heavy oil sandstones, turbidites, growth faults,
overpressures, coal exploration, oil shale development, geothermal, offshore hazards
evaluation.
Chevron Oil Company 1962-1966
1962-1966, Geologist, Chevron Oil Company-Denver, Salt Lake City and Vernal, Utah.
Wellsite geology, Exploration of lacustrine reservoirs.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS*
*Christopher Gantela, Aifei Bian, Hua-Wei Zhou, Tom Bjorklund, 2015, Demasking
Multiple Artifact in Crustal Seismic Images from Marine Reflection Data in the
Southern California Borderland, Journal of Earth Science, Vol. 26, No. 4, August 2015,
592–597 (printed in China)
*Hua-wei Zhou, Li Li, Tom Bjorklund and Michael Thornton, 2010, A comparative
analysis of deformable layer tomography and cell tomography along the LARSE lines in
southern California, Geophysical Journal International, Volume 180, Issue 3, March
2010, 1200-1222.
Bjorklund, T., 2007, The Case for Using Extended Reach Drilling to Develop California
OCS Reserves from Onshore Locations, AAPG, Search and Discovery Article #40235,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.net/documents/2007/07027bjorklund/index.htm.
Bjorklund, T., 2006, Drilling advances warrant new look at leasing of Pacific OCS, Oil
& Gas Journal, Aug 7, 2006, v. 104(29), 20-24.
Bjorklund, T., 2004, Abstract: Four-Dimensional Analysis of the Whittier Fault, Los
Angeles Basin, California: A Model for Oil-Productive, Inverted Half-Grabens
Associated with Continental Transform Fault Systems, AAPG, Dallas, Texas, A13.
Bjorklund, T., and Zhou, H., 2003, An Integrated analysis of tomographic and geologic
data in the Los Angeles basin: Implications for models of basin evolution and active
faults, GSA Annual Meeting: Abstracts with programs, Seattle, Vol. 35(6), 238-1.
Zhou, H., and Bjorklund, T., 2003, High-resolution, travel-time tomography in the
southern California region: The present and the future, SCEC Annual Meeting,
Proceedings and Abstracts, Volume XIII, Oxnard, California, September 7-11, p. 159.
Bjorklund, T., 2003, The Whittier fault trend: Cross sections, structure maps, and well
tops in the major oil producing area of the northeastern Los Angeles basin, Search and
Discovery, Article #10038,
http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/documents/whittier/index.htm
Bjorklund, T., 2003, The Whittier Fault Trend in the Major Oil Producing Area of the
Northeastern Los Angeles Basin: Interpretation and Data, Search and Discovery, CDROM
Series #1 (http://bookstore.aapg.org/).
Bjorklund, T and Zhou, H, 2002, Crustal Tomographic Models of the Greater Los
Angeles Basin, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S21A-0971, 2002.
Bjorklund, T., 2002, Evolution of the Whittier fold-fault system of the northeastern Los
Angeles basin, California, Dissertation, University of Houston, Houston 145 p.
*Bjorklund, T., Burke, K., 2002, Four-dimensional analysis of the inversion of a halfgraben
to form the Whittier fold-fault system of the Los Angeles basin, Journal of
Structural Geology, v. 24(9), 1369-1397. (PDF available on Search and Discovery, CDROM
Series #1 (http://bookstore.aapg.org/).
*Bjorklund, T., Burke, K., Yeats, R. S., and Zhou, H., 2002, Miocene rifting in the Los
Angeles basin: Evidence from the Puente Hills half-graben, volcanic rocks and P-wave
tomography, Geology, 30, 447-450. (PDF available on Search and Discovery, CD-ROM
Series #1 (http://bookstore.aapg.org/).
*Peer-reviewed Journal
Website: http://www.geosc.uh.edu/people/faculty/tom-bjorklund/index.php
June 3, 2016
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Contact information