Robert M. Sneider Memorial
by Arthur E. Berman, Thomas J. Feldkamp and Lynne D. Feldkamp
Robert M. Sneider passed away on October 29, 2005. He was 76 years old and is survived by his daughter and two sons. Bob was a great petroleum geologist and a role model and mentor of the highest level of integrity and standards.
Bob lived a life above all of service to the profession of geology, science, his many friends and protégés, and the public. He likely learned that mindset of professional service and mentorship from his own mentor, Gus Archie. He had a long career of exploration successes and dedication to teaching, exemplified by receiving the AAPG’s Sydney Powers Medal in 2001, the Association’s highest award and honor.
I first met Bob on a recent-clastics sedimentation class he taught along with his colleague Larry Meckel in 1981. During the week, as we traveled from Houston to New Orleans, Bob shared not only his vast knowledge of clastic geology but also his unique and systematic approach to learning and living. While participants in that class learned much about the topic of sedimentation, I, for one, learned most about how to be an effective person and geologist.
The first stop on that field seminar was in the floodplain of the Brazos River near Sugar Land, Texas. Bob explained how the Brazos River had changed its course several times over the past 18,000 years and advised us to buy flood insurance if we ever bought a house anywhere near this area. He explained that the greatest danger to homeowners was not from flooding of the river but from slow-moving tropical storms that could produce large amounts of rain in low-lying areas. As it turned out, I bought a house in the exact area of that first field trip stop when I moved to Houston many years later. To the confusion of my Realtor and family, I bought flood insurance despite the fact that our house was outside the 500-year floodplain of the Brazos. I had learned what nearly everyone did: always pay attention to Bob Sneider’s advice. Bob took his own advice when he purchased a condominium on Galveston Island some years ago: he made sure it was above the seventh floor (above the highest tidal surge reported from the 1900 hurricane) and that the building’s foundation was anchored into the Pleistocene rather than just the Holocene sand.
Bob was generous with his time and always found a way to get together to talk. I once went to Bob for advice on a job change that I was considering. He said, “I understand why you want to make the change and I don’t disagree with your reasons, but I ask you to take the weekend and think, is there is anything else that you can still learn from your present employer before you make the decision?”
I thought this was an odd request, but I took Bob’s advice and thought about his question all weekend. I called him Monday morning and said, “Bob, I can still learn to run a workstation and the company will give me the opportunity to learn Spanish.” I stayed in that job for 5 more satisfying and productive years. Knowing how to use a workstation and speak Spanish have defined my career since talking to Bob that afternoon.
Bob and Ramona Sneider at the dedication of the Bureau of Economic
Geology Houston Research Center, June 4, 2004.
Bob often reminded his many students and protégés, “Run your business like you plan to stay in business.” In many ways, that characterized his life. He did everything with great thoroughness, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. He believed in cataloging and updating information. Bob would commonly read or hear some piece of information about reservoir pressure or quality and he was soon adding it to a graph that he just happened to have with him and was continually updating.
He appreciated and understood complexity, but also believed that geology and life ultimately reduced to relatively straight-forward situations and decision. He taught his students that most reservoirs, in all their variety, generally could be thought of as either bars or channels. Like much of Bob’s wisdom, his observations have stayed with those he taught and mentored because of their fundamental truth and usefulness.
Bob Sneider’s 48-year career began in 1957 at Shell Oil Company, where he worked for nearly 18 years. During those years, Bob and his family moved often but settled in Houston in 1967. In 1974, Bob started Sneider and Meckel Associates, Inc. with Larry Meckel. He formed Robert M. Sneider Exploration, Inc. in 1981. Bob was involved in worldwide exploration, production, property acquisition, research, training and management.
During Bob’s career, he and his associates helped client companies by finding new opportunities through the application of integrated geological-geophysical-petrophysical and petroleum engineering techniques in both frontier and mature areas. He led the industry in cataloging geological, petrophysical and engineering properties of reservoir, seals and flow barrier rock types from around the world.
Bob actively participated in many professional societies, receiving numerous professional accolades, and was a mentor to countless professionals during his career. He was a distinguished lecturer for the AAPG, PESA and SPE. In 2000, he became a member of the National Academy of Engineering. He was an honorary member of the AAPG and named the 2001 recipient of the Sidney Powers Medal, AAPG’s highest award.
Bob and his wife Ramona were full partners in life. Bob often acknowledged that his success was due to the steadfast support and assistance of his wife. They raised a family of three children. They were enthusiastic grandparents. After their children were grown, Bob and Ramona enjoyed time together, much of it traveling the world and seeing friends. Ramona passed away just two weeks before Bob and those who knew Bob and Ramona Sneider find no mere coincidence in this.
Bob will be greatly missed by the Houston Geological Society and by all who knew him.