ON THE STRATEGY AND TACTICS OF EXPLORATION 
FOR PETROLEUM! 
E. E. ROSATRE? 
The marked increase in applications of geophysical methods of 
exploration since 1930 has resulted in the recent grouping of many 
men relatively unfamiliar with the history of geophysics. Since these 
men, generally, are specialists in only one exploration method, they 
are prone to considerable discussion as to the relative merits of vatious 
geophysical methods, and too frequently deprecate the value of 
methods other than their own individual specialty. Pride in, and prej- 
udice for a chosen arm are to be expected of second lieutenants, but 
are quite unseemly in a chief of staff. 
One purpose of this paper is to review the history of the use and 
development of geophysical methods in the exploration for petroleum 
as exemplified in one particular, successful strategy. A second purpose 
is to examine the choice and sequence of methods to be used in an 
exploration campaign. A third purpose is to determine the relative 
importance of problems of tactics, such as research in methods of 
exploration, and problems of strategy, such as the more extended use 
of the methods already developed. The justification for this paper to 
the writer at least, has been his own past confusion as to the relative 
merits of various exploration methods, and his observation that their 
proper use now is the exception rather than the rule. 
The policy of an oil company, at various times, may vary con- 
siderably. Shortly after the discovery of the East Texas field, the 
general policy was to decrease exploration for new fields. Recently, 
however, the general policy has been that of searching intensively 
for new fields. Policy, then, may be defined as the recognition and 
statement of a broad problem intimately associated with the future 
of the organization. 
With the problem recognized and stated, the next question is that 
of the choice of approach to the solution. Thus, with an oil company 
committed to a policy of increasing reserves, strategy calls for a 
choice between the tactics of purchase or discovery, or the use of 
1 Address of Retiring President, presented at the Annual Meeting, Society of 
Petroleum Geophysicists, March 22, 1935, at Wichita, Kansas. 
2 Independent Exploration Company, Houston, Texas. 
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