Title: Geophysical Consultant (Ret.)
Location: Houston, Texas, United States
David C. Bartel, retired geophysical consultant has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in oil and mining.
With over three decades of experience to his credit, Dr. Bartel has built a distinguished career in the oil and mining industry, specializing in gas extraction and oil and gas exploration using velocity, anisotropy, ray tracing, and earth model building. He served as a geophysical consultant at Chevron from 1988 until his retirement in 2020, and since then, he has continued his work as a freelance geophysical consultant. He has also dedicated his expertise to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Foundation, where he currently serves as director emeritus. Throughout his career, he has been an active member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, serving on the board of directors and as past chair, contributing as an associate editor for Interpretation from 2012 to 2016, associate for Geophysics for Case Histories from 2007 to 2011, and as a member of the SEG Reviews Committee from 1997 to 2020, with terms as chair from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2011 to 2014. He also served on the SEG Annual Meeting Technical Committee in 1998 and 2005 and is a member of the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and the Geophysical Society of Houston.
Dr. Bartel is widely recognized as a leader in velocity modeling, ray tracing, vertical seismic profiles, and anisotropy. In his most recent role, he served as a team leader in the research and technical services area, where he led a team of eight, managed high-performance computing, and conducted research on projects such as fiber optics for tight rock applications and seismic processing techniques for noise reduction. His technical expertise and leadership have left a lasting impact on the industry. Beyond his professional work, he has been deeply involved with the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Foundation, recently concluding his term on the board of directors and now serving as director emeritus. His efforts in the foundation have centered on fundraising to support programs that benefit members of the professional society, with a particular focus on encouraging students to pursue geophysics. Under his guidance, the foundation has also advanced initiatives that use geophysical techniques to tackle societal challenges, including water resource management, natural hazards, and archaeology.
Throughout his career, Dr. Bartel has authored or co-authored 16 presentations at international geophysical conferences, authored six articles in Geophysics, co-authored two articles in The Leading Edge, and co-authored five U.S. patents. In light of his impressive undertakings, he was honored with the SEG Foundation Directors’ Award in 2024 and the Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Houston Food Bank in 2020. Laying a strong foundation for these successes, he earned a Bachelor of Science in geophysics, magna cum laude, from the University of Utah in 1982, a Master of Science in geophysics from the same institution in 1984, and a PhD in engineering geoscience from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988. Additionally, he held registration as a geophysicist with the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists from 2003 to 2022 and with the State of California from 1994 to 2022 and was recognized for his academic achievements with memberships in Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Mortarboard Honor Society.
Dr. Bartel attributes his success to his adaptability and willingness to embrace change. In the coming years, he plans to prioritize his family’s well-being while continuing to explore new places, meet new people, and spend time with friends through travel. In the near future, he intends to remain active in supporting the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Foundation, helping to sustain programs that promote career development for students and professionals in the field. In the long term, he and his wife aim to increase their focus on civic volunteering, shifting from professional contributions to more community-oriented activities and expanding their engagement in civic causes to create a lasting impact.
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