George V. Chilingar
Encyclopedia
George V. Chilingarian is an American-Armenian Professor of Civil and Petroleum Engineering
at the University of Southern California
(USC). He is one of the best-known petroleum geologist
s in the world and the founder of several prestigious journals in the oil and gas industry.
Chilingar has published 61 books and hundreds of articles on geology, petroleum engineering and environmental engineering
. He serves as president of the U.S. branch of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
and 17 of his books have been translated into Russian. In recognition of these contributions, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences has honored him as a Knight of Arts and Sciences.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering and a Ph.D. in geology (with a minor in petroleum engineering), all at USC.
His greatest contribution to the petroleum industry
may be a means of identifying oil-rich rock by analyzing the ratio of calcium to magnesium in core samples. This method was used in discovering one of Iran
’s largest oil fields, which was then named after Chilingar.
He also played a key role in the development of Thailand
’s offshore oil reserves
. Chilingar saw natural gas bubbles in the Gulf of Siam
and redirected exploratory efforts, thus saving the nascent Thai oil industry.
In 2001, King Fahd
of Saudi Arabia
acknowledged Chilingar’s significant contributions to the success of Saudi Aramco
as well as the discovery and extraction of oil reserves around the world. The Saudi consul general in Los Angeles
, Ambassador Mohammed A. Al-Salloum, presented the award, a globe signifying the worldwide reach and importance of the petroleum industry and Saudi Aramco.
He served as senior petroleum engineering adviser to the United Nations
from 1967 to 1969, and then again from 1978 to 1987. He was also an energy policy adviser to California
Governor
Ronald Reagan
in 1973.
His recent research work concentrated on:
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Subsurface activities are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, which are the activities of...
at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC). He is one of the best-known petroleum geologist
Petroleum geologist
A petroleum geologist is an occupation that involves all aspects of oil discovery and production in the field of petroleum geology. Petroleum geologists are usually linked to the actual discovery of oil and the identification of possible oil deposits or leads. It can be a very labor intensive task...
s in the world and the founder of several prestigious journals in the oil and gas industry.
Chilingar has published 61 books and hundreds of articles on geology, petroleum engineering and environmental engineering
Environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the natural environment , to provide healthy water, air, and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites...
. He serves as president of the U.S. branch of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
Russian Academy of Natural Sciences is a Russian public organization, an academy of sciences, founded on August 31, 1990 in Moscow....
and 17 of his books have been translated into Russian. In recognition of these contributions, the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences has honored him as a Knight of Arts and Sciences.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering and a Ph.D. in geology (with a minor in petroleum engineering), all at USC.
His greatest contribution to the petroleum industry
Petroleum industry
The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting , and marketing petroleum products. The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline...
may be a means of identifying oil-rich rock by analyzing the ratio of calcium to magnesium in core samples. This method was used in discovering one of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
’s largest oil fields, which was then named after Chilingar.
He also played a key role in the development of Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
’s offshore oil reserves
Oil reserves
The total estimated amount of oil in an oil reservoir, including both producible and non-producible oil, is called oil in place. However, because of reservoir characteristics and limitations in petroleum extraction technologies, only a fraction of this oil can be brought to the surface, and it is...
. Chilingar saw natural gas bubbles in the Gulf of Siam
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
and redirected exploratory efforts, thus saving the nascent Thai oil industry.
In 2001, King Fahd
Fahd of Saudi Arabia
Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was King of Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005...
of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
acknowledged Chilingar’s significant contributions to the success of Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco , officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.Saudi Aramco is the world's largest and most valuable privately-held company, with estimates of its value in 2011 to be $7 trillion USD.Saudi Aramco has both the largest proven crude oil reserves,...
as well as the discovery and extraction of oil reserves around the world. The Saudi consul general in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Ambassador Mohammed A. Al-Salloum, presented the award, a globe signifying the worldwide reach and importance of the petroleum industry and Saudi Aramco.
He served as senior petroleum engineering adviser to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1967 to 1969, and then again from 1978 to 1987. He was also an energy policy adviser to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1973.
His recent research work concentrated on:
- Environmental aspects of oil and gas production
- Petrophysical properties of rocks and drilling fluids
- Surface and subsurface operations in petroleum production
- Subsidence due to the fluid withdrawal, testing and storage of petroleum products
Selected honors and awards
- Distinguished Achievement Award for Petroleum Engineering Faculty (The Society of Petroleum EngineersSociety of Petroleum EngineersThe Society of Petroleum Engineers is a not-for-profit professional organization whose mission is to collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge concerning the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources and related technologies for the public benefit and to provide...
) in recognition for outstanding contributions in the field of petroleum engineering education, 1984 - Editor of Sedimentary Geology (one of the founders)
- Special Issue of Energy Sources Journal, Vol. 21, Nov. 1-2, 1999, A Tribute to Professor George V. Chilingarian
- Crown and Eagle Medal of Honor from the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, 2000
- Gold Medals of Honor from Iran, Thailand, Taiwan, Honduras, El Salvador, Armenia and Russia
- Honorary Professor of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and GasGubkin Russian State University of Oil and GasThe Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas is a university in Moscow. The university was founded on 17 April 1930 and is named after the geologist Ivan Gubkin. The university is affectionally known as Kerosinka , meaning "kerosene stove"...