Geologist

Background, Education and Professional Affiliations
Mr. Taylor was born on the Llano Estacado (palisaded plains) in the West Texas town of Levelland.  The Llano Estacado is one of the largest, flattest places on the surface of the Earth, surrounded on most sides by escarpments, some up to 300' in height,and under Levelland is one of the largest Oil Fields on Earth.  His father, Raymond Taylor, worked for Amerada Geophysical Company, and because of this fact he was "raised" in the petroleum industry and was inspired at an early age by many different people associated with Oil and Gas, especially an Amerada Geologist/Geophysicist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tommy Southgate, to become a Petroleum Geologist.  In 58 years Dennis has seen seven different states as home, and his last move to Corpus Christi was the 30th move in his life of being exposed to the geology and natural patterns of all these different and varied and wonderful places. Dennis has a full spectrum of Geoscience experience that includes Production, Exploitation, and Exploration for Oil and Gas reserves, for a continuous 28 years predominantly on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast.  In working for Sun Exploration and Production Company, Wagner Oil Company, Suemaur Exploration Company, and recently his Independent company, Metate Minerals Inc., he has drilled and completed over 150 Oil and Gas wells ranging in depth from 1500’ to 16500’.  Dennis has filed approximately 80 new field pay discoveries with the Texas Railroad Commission.  Dennis formerly taught Geology and Earth Science for nine years at Okeene Public Schools and Oklahoma State University.  Several past students are now practicing Geologists.

Dennis is an AAPG Certified Professional Petroleum Geologist  (# 5177), and received his BS degree in Geology from Oklahoma State University in 1974, and 26 hours of Graduate credit in Petroleum Geology from 1981 until 1983.  Dennis’ Geoscience papers have been Published in the AAPG, CCGS, and the STGS Bulletins and the GCAGS Transactions with numerous speaking engagements at the National AAPG Convention in 1985 and 1996, numerous local Societies, Houston SIPES, Dallas SPWLA, and the Dallas Bar Association.  He was past President of the Oklahoma State University AAPG Student Chapter and Geological Society, and has currently served 2 terms as the Corpus Christi Geological Society / Coastal Bend Geophysical Society Technical Editor, where he generates a monthly Editorial with a Technical paper authored by various Geoscientists. Dennis is a past member of the O.S.U. Geological Society; the O.S.U. A.A.P.G. Student Chapter,  the South Texas Geological Society,  and a current member of the Corpus Christi Geological Society / Coastal Bend Geophysical Society and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (Member 28 yrs. Since 1982). Dennis will be the upcoming Vice President and Program Chairman for CCGS/CBGS for Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.

Personal Activities, Hobbies, etc.
Dennis considers himself a native of Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico; basically  the desert Southwest, the South Texas Gulf Coast and the Rocky Mountains. He has a strong love of the outdoors as a naturalist, and thrives off of outdoor photography and videography. Dennis loves to hunt and fish, especially saltwater fishing, and he enjoys Scuba Diving and doing underwater videography on Reefs in tropical settings. In his more youthful days, he was avid cave explorer and has climbed several peaks in the Rockies over 14,000 feet, including Mt. Elbert, Colorado’s tallest and 2nd tallest in the Continental USA.  He has a passion for exotic plants especially cactus, palms, and succulents.  Playing guitar and writing songs are also a favorite activity for Dennis.  Dennis and Mary Ann Taylor love to raise and ride their Peruvian Paso Horses, including their stallion Conquistador del Viento, and work their new Golden Retriever Puppy, Sundance Fire Storm, at their place near Calallen, Texas, which they call Las Palmas. They enjoy 4 wheeling down Padre Island and living on the South Texas Riviera. Their daughter, Laura Taylor, is a writer, poet, and musician in Sacramento, California, and recorded 11 of her originals songs in her 1st CD, Mariposa, in New York City. Their son, Chris Taylor, is a Wildlife Biologist for Geomarine Incorporated in Plano, Texas. He lives there with his lovely wife, Lisa, and their 1st child, Makena Ruth Taylor. Dennis and Mary Ann attend Church of Hope in Calallen, Texas.