Why am I not surprised that the Oil & Gas Journal (Oct. 23, 2000, p. 64) convened a panel to discuss exploration and production risks and no geologist was invited. Why am I not surprised that those who were asked to "contribute" to that panel were engineering managers, college professors, planners, systems development managers, managing directors, and a president. All good and intelligent people who have an opinion we should listen to, I am sure, but how many are trained and make their living, year after year, taking a risk in the identification and drilling of an exploration or production prospect?
Why am I also not surprised at an industry that on a regular basis implodes onto itself, getting smaller and smaller, while discovering less and less hydrocarbons is interested in such a panel?
Allen G. Hatley
La Grange, Tex.
