RMS Geological Consulting
RICHARD M. SMITH
PRINCIPAL GEOLOGIST
Education:
B.A., Geology, University of Texas at Austin, 1970
M.A., Geology, University of Texas at Austin, 1978
Professional/Technical Registration:
Registered Professional Geologist, #TN0180, State of Tennessee
Registered Professional Geologist, #PG0750, State of Florida
Experience:
Principal Geologist, RMS Geological Consulting
Senior Hydrogeologist, Espey, Huston & Associates, Inc., Austin, Texas, 1989-1996
Senior Hydrogeologist, SP Environmental Consulting Services, Inc., Austin, Texas, 1987-1989.
Senior Geologist, State of Texas, Texas General Land Office, Austin, Texas, 1986-1987.
Exploration Manager, Felmont Oil Corporation, Houston, Texas, 1984-1985.
Exploration Manager, Towner Petroleum Corporation, Houston, Texas, 1981-1984.
Senior Exploration Geophysicist, Pennzoil Exploration and Production, Houston, Texas, 1978-1981.
Hydrogeologist, Texas Department of Water Resources, State of Texas, Austin, Texas, 1975-1978.
Hydrogeologist, Center for Research in Water Resources, University of Texas, Balcones Research Center, Austin, Texas, 1972-1975.
Fields of Experience:
While employed as a hydrogeologist for the Center for Research in Water Resources, University of Texas, Mr. Smith conducted numerous research projects on surface effects of flood flows and developed methods to forecast stream flows. Modeling techniques included statistical methods such as probability distributions, frequency analyses and autocorrelation routines.
As a hydrogeologist at the Texas Department of Water Resources, Mr. Smith conducted ground-water studies throughout the State of Texas. The studies included developing data for subsurface models of ground water on the Gulf Coast and the Edwards Aquifer. He developed and implemented statistical and finite difference models to determine future water resources and water use levels.
He also generated oil and gas prospects in Louisiana and offshore California during his employment with Pennzoil Exploration and Production as a Senior Exploration Geophysicist. He was responsible for seismic data acquisition and interpretation in prospect areas.
As Exploration Manager for Towner Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Smith was responsible for supervising and generating prospects for exploration programs in Texas, Michigan, Montana, Rocky Mountains, California and Louisiana. During Mr. Smith's employment with Felmont Oil Corporation, his responsibilities included supervising and generating Gulf Coast oil and gas prospects, both onshore and offshore. He participated in state and Federal lease sales with joint venture partners Santa Fe Energy, Belnorth, Ranger Oil, and Elf Aquitane. He also supervised and evaluated prospects developed by joint venture partner Hrubetz Oil Company in Louisiana, Permian Basin, Montana, Rocky Mountains, Williston Basin, and California.
During his employment at the Texas General Land Office, Mr. Smith was responsible for evaluating and assessing the geologic potential of all state lands including ground water, oil, gas, and hard mineral potential. He established and maintained databases used in pricing state tracts for lease sales. He also installed and supervised a remote access computer system used by State field inspectors. In addition, he analyzed the hydrogeologic potential of far West Texas including the hydrothermal potential.
While employed as Chief Hydrogeologist at SP Environmental Consulting Services, Inc., Mr. Smith performed environmental assessments primarily on leaking underground storage tanks and property acquisitions for National Convenience Stores, Inc., Lone Star Ice and Food Stores, Inc., Iowa Beef Processors, Inc., the City of Austin, Travis County, Charter Stores, Inc., General Services Administration, and numerous private entities. These assessments included collecting soil samples, evaluating the hydrogeology of the sites, mapping the ground-water table, and providing a detailed report to the client and all necessary governmental agencies. Recommendations for remediation were made and then conducted by Mr. Smith.
As a Senior Hydrogeologist with Espey, Huston & Associates, Inc. (EH&A), Mr. Smith's areas of expertise included ground water hydrology and hydrodynamics, hazardous waste transport, hydrologic and hydrogeologic computer modeling, geophysical data and well log interpretations, data management, site investigation design and design of site remediation plans. His professional background is composed of 19 years as an environmental hydrogeologist and 10 years as an oil company exploration geologist and geophysicist.
Finally, Mr. Smith is one of a small group of geologists considered qualified by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to conduct the geologic assessment of karst terrains necessary for Water Pollution Abatement Plans (WPAP) required by the State for all development on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. His thesis "The Geology of the Buda-Kyle Area, Hays County, Texas" written in 1978 is still used as the basis for most geologic maps of the Edwards Aquifer in northern Hays County including the USGS Map of the Edwards Aquifer hydrologically associated with Barton Springs produced in 1986. His interest in caves and karst terrains extends back over 30 years. His first professional publication was a geological study of the Ahuacatlan Area in the Sierra Madre Oriental in 1972. This region in the central Mexican highlands is a massive limestone plateau with some of the largest and deepest caves in the world. He has conducted WPAPs for Trammell Crow Company, Inc., the city of Austin, Travis County Road District, Capitol Aggregates, the Lower Colorado River Authority, USAA Realty, Murfee Engineering, Lockwood Engineering, Circle C Ranch and Bury Pitman Consulting Engineers.
As an independent consultant, Mr. Smith has conducted ground water analyses for the LCRA, Texas Industries, Capitol Aggregates, Travis County and provided subcontracting services to other consultants such as LBG-Guyton & Associates, in addition to WPAPs for numerous developers and engineering firms.
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