VOL. XXXXII No. 3, Third Quarter 2014

THE PETROLEUM MUSEUM

Change Is In the Air ... and Everywhere You have been reading about the renovation of the Petroleum Museum for a while now, but…the Future is finally here! The administrative office staff is beginning to feel at home at the downtown library. The Archives is fully functioning – although still working out of some boxes and the staff remaining at the Museum is busy shouldering phones, programs and rentals on the home front. We bid a fond farewell to the East and North wings in June, offering history buffs and museum patrons the opportunity to take home a piece of history while raising capital campaign funds with the sale of exhibit material. Asbestos remediation began in the front offices in June, moving to the East Wing, basement and finally the North Wing. Exhibit designers, fabricators, and audio visual, graphic and media specialists met in August with the general contractor, architects, staff and

community leaders to begin the next steps. The whirlwind of a major renovation is certainly in full swing this fall – but throughout the project it will be “business as normal” at the Museum. The Museum will continue its programs and events on site. The Mineral Gallery, Abell Gallery featuring the Tom Lovell paintings and the Chaparral Gallery will remain open. Brown Bag Lunches, Distinguished Lectures, Camp-ins and Family Science Nights will all continue at the Museum. So don’t miss a beat – because we certainly aren’t! Special thanks to our Farewell Party Sponsors: Basic Energy Services, Donna and Jim Byerlotzer, Mindy and Joe de Compiegne, Great Western Drilling Company, Light Tower Rental, McClure Oil Company and Sarah and Mark Philpy.

‘Check Out’ Our Temporary Digs The Petroleum Museum Library and Archives has moved to the downtown Midland County Library. The Museum's collection is located on the second floor alongside the County Library's Petroleum Collection. This unique setup allows patrons to view the Petroleum Museum's Collection and the Library's in one area providing patrons with more resources. Although both the County Library and Museum's Archives reside in the same facility, the collections remain as separate entities. If you are planning a visit to the Petroleum Museum's Library and Archives please contact Marissa Diaz, Director of Archives and Collections, to arrange an appointment to ensure availability. 432-742-7465 [email protected] www.petroleummuseum.org

Out in Space: Speaker Looking at Jupiter’s Moon On Page 3

Going MAD: Museum Plans Science Event On Page 4

Gifts for Boss: Find the Best Gift Ideas at Museum Store On Page 6

New Numbers For Staff Kathy Shannon 432-742-7462 Lisa Worden 432-742-7463

Luanne Thornton 432-742-7464 Marissa Diaz 432-742-7465

Letty Rubio 432-742-7466

Like Us On

2014 Board of Trustees

Roads + Oil = Transportation Plan

Joseph de Compiegne President Mark Philpy Vice President Alan Krenek Treasurer Billy W. Harris Secretary Richard E. Booth Bylaws Bruce Brady Chaparral Cars Jim Byerlotzer Development Paul L. Morris Hall of Fame Joe Castillo Programs/Exhibits Clint Hurt Nominating Jim Woodcock Membership

E. Earl Baldridge, III Miles Boldrick S. Clay Bomer Pat Bond Mark Carr Peter Courtney Myra Dria Donny McClure Toby Payne Will Porter Dale Redman Laura Roman Doug Schmidt Clint Walker Joe Wright

Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame ...exploration, innovations and legends... Page 2

Be Safe. Drive Smart. That’s the word that the Texas Department of Transportation is trying to get out to drivers everywhere. TxDOT kicked off its public safety campaign with the tagline of “Be Safe. Drive Smart” during a news conference in August at the Petroleum Museum. Signs promoting the safe driving plan lined the Museum property as a reminder to drivers along Interstate 20.

It’s Party Time At the Museum

If you are responsible for making your company’s holiday party plans, score a “plus” in the performance column by checking out the Petroleum Museum’s facilities. For large gatherings, or small parties, our distinctive settings will make your event “special.” Where else can you dine among the world’s most famous Chaparral racecars or stroll through a display of amazing minerals or Tom Lovell’s art work? We offer a one-of-a-kind setting for your parties and work to make your event a success. For more information about renting our facility, contact Hal Combs at 432-6834403 or [email protected].

Retiree Offers Help in Archives

Suzanne Bechyne can add another title to her list: the Petroleum Museum's newest volunteer! Suzanne graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin and worked for Union Oil Company of California for 33 years in the accounting, production and engineering departments. After leaving Union Oil she worked part-time for 10 years at Rays of Hope. Suzanne is now fully retired and enjoys giving back to the community. You can find Suzanne helping out in the Archives and the Museum Store at the Petroleum Museum. She also volunteers at the Midland County Centennial Library and Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center. Suzanne and her husband, Jerry, enjoy gardening, traveling and spending time with their friends and family. The Petroleum Museum is happy to welcome Suzanne to the ranks of volunteers whose time and talents contribute to the success of our facility!

Suzanne Bechyne Museum Bits & Bytes, Third Quarter 2014

EDUCATION/ PROGRAM

Arlen Edgar Distinguished Lecturer: October 23

Hand Reaching to Jupiter’s Moon

Kevin Hand is desribed as an emerging explorer, planetary scientist and microbiologist. He also works as deputy chief scientist of solar system exploration at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is under contract with NASA. He is researching Europa, Jupiter’s fourth largest moon. Hand will share his plans for preparing to send an orbiting probe to Europa, a body devoid of atmosphere and bombarded by fierce radiation, when he speaks at the Petroleum Museum on October 23 as the Arlen Edgar Distinguished Lecturer. Europa is about 485 million miles from the sun, at times nearly 600 million miles from Earth, and Hand can hardly wait to get there. “I’m trying to understand extremes of life here, so we can better assess and investigate habitable environments on alien worlds like Europa.” He has also explored the north slope of Alaska, the glaciers of Mount Kilimanjaro, the valleys of Antarctica, and ocean depths to see how microbes eek out a living in our world’s harshest climes. “One of my key challenges is figuring out how best to detect, characterize, and map complex organic chemistry out there in the solar system to see if Europa’s ice-covered ocean is, in fact, inhabited. The new tools we’re developing at JPL will evolve and, hopefully, someday wind up bolted to the side of a spacecraft or strapped to the end of a robotic arm,” he said. Join us for an out-of-this-world talk with Hand as he takes us beyond our world into outer space! This is a free ticketed event with limited seating. Please call 432-742-7460 for reservations. Thank you to our sponsor Abell-Hanger Foundation for making this other-worldly event possible.

Family Science Night: “Arctic Adventure”

Family Science Nights are back this fall with a new start time! Help us kick off our 2014-2015 Family Science Nights on September 25 at 6 p.m. with an “Arctic Adventure.” Come chill out with us as we explore this cold ecosystem! Family Nights are sponsored by Chevron.

Meet Our Rita

Meet Rita the Iguana, the newest critter to call the Petroleum Museum home! Rita came to the Museum a few months ago as a hatchling and has already almost doubled in size. She receives a healthy diet of greens and spends her days sunning on her “tree.” The Education Department has been hard at work acclimating Rita to being handled for upcoming Family Science Nights and Animal Programs. Make sure to swing by the Education Hall and give her a warm welcome!

Q A

ASK DR. PETRO

: What is this new non-Newtonian substance D3O that is making its way into the Oil Patch? : First, let’s talk about a non-Newtonian fluids. Non-Newtonian fluids are fluids whose flow properties differ from regular fluids. Salt solutions and molten polymers are non-Newtonian. Soap solutions, butter, jam, ketchup and fun mixtures such as Oobleck are also considered non-Newtonian because of their flow properties. Now these substances are not used in the Oil Patch, but D3O Museum Bits & Bytes, Third Quarter 2014

is! D3O is also a non-Newtonian substance. These materials flow freely in their raw state but when hit, they lock together to absorb and disperse energy. Then the material instantly returns to its original liquid state. The greater the force of the impact, the more the molecules lock together and the greater the protection. This unique technology is being incorporated into hand protection for oilfield workers who are at risk for potential hand injuries. As a soft, light weight and flexible material, it also is adaptable to a range of temperatures. Even though there are many applications for D3O, the use for oil industry hand protection is another great safety item for oilfield workers. Page 3

DEVELOPMENT

Museum Going MAD!

M

ark your calendar for an evening of madcap science on Saturday, December 6, 2014. Mysteries at the Museum isn't your kids’ science night; the fun and merriment are for grown-up scientists! Put on your classiest cocktail attire with a mad scientist twist. Strap on your safety goggles, throw on a lab coat, and make sure that pocket protector is in place because we will be solving scientific mysteries by performing mind-blowing, madcap experiments. No goggles, no lab coat, no problem; you can borrow ours. Local celebrity scientists will be on-hand to facilitate the madness - it's anyone's guess as to who they are. You won't want to miss this evening of exploration and experimentation! This is a ticketed event. For more details or to purchase tickets please contact Luanne Thornton at [email protected] or 432-742-7464.

WELCOME: To Our Newest Members

Summer Science Classes: NewsWest9 meteorologists: Max Crawford & Mariel Ruiz

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The Petroleum recently received a beautiful specimen of Okenite from Bill Haskett. This large and beautiful specimen comes from Puna, India. Okenite is a silicate mineral commonly found as small white “cotton ball” formations within basalt geodes. These formations are clusters of straight, radiating fibrous crystals that are amazingly bendable and fragile. Okenite has a vitreous pearly luster and a hardness of 4.5 to 5.0. The mineral was named in 1828 in honor of the German botanist, biologist, naturalist and nature philosopher Lorenz Oken, (1779-1851). In 1802 he published a small work that quickly established him as a leader in the movement of nature philosophy in Germany. In 1809, while a professor at the University of Jena, Oken created a new classification bysystem to the mineral world, arranging by ores, according to their combinations of oxygen, acids and sulphur. Minerals associated with okenite include apophyllite, gyrolite, prehnite, chalcedony, and many other zeolites. Okenite is found in India, mainly in the state of Maharashtra, but other localities include Bulla Island, Azerbaijan, New Zealand, Chile, Ireland and the Faroe islands.

Welcome to our special newest members: Contributing Members: Jason & Mary Kemp Mr. & Mrs. Justin O’Shay Development Resources, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. William Brad Fitch Ruben & Joann Velasquez Christian West Wilkerson Peggy Worthington

APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

We want to give a round of applause to the following friends, companies and businesses. Their recent in-kind contributions of time, assistance or services are appreciated.

Okenite: Think Cotton Balls

West Texas Astronomers John Curtis with Susie’s South 40 Confections Greg Hinterlong as Dr. Petro Mark Hannafin with Family Scuba Shauna Drebenstedt with Midland Bee Keepers Junior League of Midland

MEMORIALS Memorial gifts to the the Petroleum Museum are deposited in the permanent endowment fund to provide ongoing tribute to the individuals recognized in bold. Donors are listed below the honoree. Contributors as of August 8, 2014, were: IN MEMORY OF... Jack E. Blake, Sr. Fredda Louise Black Mrs. Jack McMillan

Charles A. Dean Mr. & Mrs. Donald Creamer Richard “Dick” Oldham Kathy Shannon

Museum Bits & Bytes, Third Quarter 2014

Sept. 25:

Sept. 30:

Oct. 3:

Oct. 9:

Oct. 23:

Oct. 28:

Notable Dates

SEPTEMBER Family Science Night “Arctic Adventure” 6 to 8 p.m.** (Note extended time) Free admission. Refreshments provided. Sponsor: Chevron

Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series Speaker: Susie Hitchcock-Hall “Susie’s South Forty Confections” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free admission. Drinks & desserts provided. Sponsor: Hahl Proctor Charitable Trust OCTOBER Boy Scout Camp-In Cubs/Webelos “Space” 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Pre-registration required. For information, call the Education Department, 683-4403.

Homeschool Science Class: “Hygiene Hijinks” 10 a.m. to 12 noon Available for children ages 7-12 $18 per student Registration required. For information, call the Education Department, 683-4403.

Arlen Edgar Distinguished Lecture Speaker: Kevin Hand National Geographic lecturer 7 p.m. Admission is free; reservations required. Sponsor: Abell-Hanger Foundation Pumpkin Carving Party 3 to 6 p.m. RSVP to 683-4403

Oct. 28:

Oct. 31:

Nov. 11:

Nov. 21:

Nov. 28: Dec. 6:

Dec. 24-25:

Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series Speaker: Jim Rhotenberry “PBPM Renovation Update” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free admission. Drinks & desserts provided. Sponsor: Hahl Proctor Charitable Trust

Halloween Tricks & Treats 6 to 8 p.m. Free admission. Sponsor: Devon Energy Corporation

NOVEMBER Brown Bag Lunch & Lecture Series Speaker: Tyneal Buckner “Crude Hands Smart Skin/Oil Field Safety Equipment” 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Free admission. Drinks & desserts provided. Sponsor: Hahl Proctor Charitable Trust

Girl Scout Camp-In Juniors/ Brownies “Social Butterfly/Bugs” 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Pre-registration required. For information, call the Education Department, 683-4403.

Museum Closed. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

DECEMBER “Mysteries at the Museum: An Evening of Science Experiments” Ticketed event. For information, call 683-4403.

Museum Closed. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

For more information about any of these programs or events, contact the Petroleum Museum at 683-4403 or www.petroleummuseum.org

Museum Who’s Who

KATHY SHANNON Executive Director LUANNE THORNTON Development Director MARISSA DIAZ Archives/Collections Director HAL COMBS Programs/Events Director MANDI THOMPSON Education/Marketing Director MARA BLAND Education Assistant LETTY RUBIO Office Manager CHANNON GREGG Museum Store Manager

WINNIE KIDD Museum Store Assistant LISA WORDEN Finance Manager JAMES WHITE Facilities Manager AUDIE STEPHENS Facilities Assistant KEITH DOUCET Chaparral Car Specialist LANA CUNNINGHAM Public Relations Consultant STACI HANNA Website/Communications Consultant

Museum Bits & Bytes, Third Quarter 2014

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PERMIAN BASIN PETROLEUM MUSEUM, LIBRARY AND HALL OF FAME 1500 Interstate 20 West Midland, Texas 79701

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permian Basin Petroleum Museum

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Newsletter Underwritten by:

WTG Fuels ~ GASCARD

Museum Bits & Bytes is published quarterly by the Petroleum Museum. For more information call 432-683-4403 or visit the website www.petroleummuseum.org.

9/14

OUR MISSION: We will share the petroleum and energy story and its impact on our lives.

JOIN!

And Get 15% Discount Now

Your membership dollars truly make a distinct difference in the Museum’s quest to continue being a valuable educational resource and community partner. Membership entitles you and your guests to free admission, 15% discount in the Museum Store and discounts on facility rentals. Members also receive advance notice of Museum events and programs. Join the excitement and be a part of the Petroleum Museum. All membership levels are renewed annually and are non-transferable.

Visit the Museum website at www.petroleummuseum.org or call Luanne at 432-683-4403 to join today!

THE MUSEUM STORE

A GREAT DECISION. Want to really stand out among other employees when it comes to National Boss’ Day on October 16? Head out to the Museum Store and pick up a unique gift item like one of these paperweights, books, clocks, pencil holders, or statues. It certainly beats handing the Head Honcho a card. The Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.