E&P definition of 'doodlebug' and other seismic terms
MINDBENDER
bu...@probe2.phys.ualberta.ca (Michael Burianyk) writes:
Does anyone know the definition and origin of the terms
'doodlebug' and 'doodlebugger'? I know it has something
to do with seismic reflection crews (referring to the observer
and/or other technical people on the crews?).
What about the origin of 'doghouse' (recording truck), 'jug'
(geophone - this may be self evident for anyone who has
seen an old geophone).
Having been an old "Jug man" stringing geophones I can only guess that it
is because we ran in many circles like the doodlebugs that we so often
came across. The dog house was always where the "top Dogs" hung out, but
i suspect that it too goes further back to the change room and general all
purpose shack at a drilling site also called the dog house.
There were a good many names that we used too, But I can't remember too
many now either.
Hope it helps,
Walt Bowser
Mindb...@aol.com
glenn r morton
>Does anyone know the definition and origin of the terms
>'doodlebug' and 'doodlebugger'? I know it has something
>to do with seismic reflection crews (referring to the observer
>and/or other technical people on the crews?).
When I got into the business, I had an old timer, who had been in the
geophysical business since the 30's tell me that a doodlebug was a
derogatory term for a well witcher. Since geophysicists were doing the
same thing, they too were doodlebugs. I also seem to recall something
he said about the doodlebug was a particular means of water witching.
I would suggest calling the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in Tulsa
Oklahoma and asking them.
Glenn
Michael Burianyk
'doodlebug' and 'doodlebugger'? I know it has something
to do with seismic reflection crews (referring to the observer
and/or other technical people on the crews?).
What about the origin of 'doghouse' (recording truck), 'jug'
(geophone - this may be self evident for anyone who has
seen an old geophone).
Any other terms that have slipt my memory?
Thanks
--
Michael Burianyk Office: P602
Seismology Laboratory Phone : (403) 492 4125/4128
Department of Physics
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA T6G 2J1
e-mail: bu...@phys.ualberta.ca
David Crane
: In Message-ID: <32drr0$u...@quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca> Michael Burianyk writes:
: >Does anyone know the definition and origin of the terms
: >'doodlebug' and 'doodlebugger'? I know it has something
: >to do with seismic reflection crews (referring to the observer
: >and/or other technical people on the crews?).
...
: I would suggest calling the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in Tulsa
: Oklahoma and asking them.
Surely that's in Bob Sheriff's "Dictionary of Geophysics", isn't it?
(Sorry, but my copy is still in boxes from a recent move).
Doug Hart
OK, from the Second Edition of Sheriff's dictionary:
doodlebugger: A geophysicist engaged in field work. Originally used
derisively to mean unscientific.
Doug Hart
doug...@wg.waii.com
Larry Weiss
>|> : In Message-ID: <32drr0$u...@quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca> Michael Burianyk writes:
>|> : >Does anyone know the definition and origin of the terms
>|> : >'doodlebug' and 'doodlebugger'? I know it has something
>|> : >to do with seismic reflection crews (referring to the observer
>|> : >and/or other technical people on the crews?).
>|> ...
>|>
>OK, from the Second Edition of Sheriff's dictionary:
>doodlebugger: A geophysicist engaged in field work. Originally used
>derisively to mean unscientific.
Webster's Collegiate (5th Ed):
doodlebug: Any unscientific device with which it is claimed that minerals
may be located.
--
Larry Weiss, l...@oc.com
214/888-0471
Michael Burianyk
> glenn r morton (xde...@oryx.com) wrote:
> : In Message-ID: <32drr0$u...@quartz.ucs.ualberta.ca> Michael Burianyk writes:
>
> : >Does anyone know the definition and origin of the terms
> ....
>
> : I would suggest calling the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in Tulsa
> : Oklahoma and asking them.
>
> Surely that's in Bob Sheriff's "Dictionary of Geophysics", isn't it?
> (Sorry, but my copy is still in boxes from a recent move).
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics by R. E. Sherrif (1st Edition)
'doodlebugger' - A geophysicist engaged in field work. Originally used derisively,
meaning unscientific.
But ... ANY geophysicist engaged in field work? I've only seen it used in reference
to reflection seismology. And does it refer only to field geophysicists - how about
the seismic observer? Who, at least these days, is definitely NOT a geophysicist.
Was the word coined originally with geophysics (seismic) crews or was it used
earlier for some other endeavor (as someone suggested that 'doghouse' was
borrowed by seismic crews from drilling crews).
Sorry, but I want DETAILS ... I suppose calling SEG in Tulsa might be an idea,
but then again, do any geophysicists actually work there? Isn't it just composed
of administrative types????
Todd Ratcliff
I recall reading a novel by Orson Scott Card, based heavily on the folklore
of Applachia, where doodlebugs and dowsers (well-witchers) and others with similar
skills, were important to the story.
So, doodlebugs may go back a bit into folklore...
Todd
Larry N Osborne
>But ... ANY geophysicist engaged in field work? I've only seen it
>used in reference to reflection seismology. And does it refer only to
>field geophysicists - how about the seismic observer? Who, at least
>these days, is definitely NOT a geophysicist. Was the word coined
>originally with geophysics (seismic) crews or was it used earlier for
>some other endeavor (as someone suggested that 'doghouse' was borrowed
>by seismic crews from drilling crews).
>Sorry, but I want DETAILS ...
Okay, I've been keeping out of this, hoping someone with better
sources would answer, but I guess that's not to be. I've got no
sources, but that just puts me in the mainstream in USENET.
I remember back in the early 60's a discussion of this topic in my
Intro to Geology text. As I remember the derivation was that along
with rainmakers there were new-fangled dowsers who used what were
essentially wheelbarrows equiped with alledgedly scientific apparatus
(can you say "psionic device" ... I knew you could). These men
trundled their wheelbarrows across, as I remember, Oklahoma at the
turn of the century, making a buck off people wanting to find oil on
their land. Their movements with the wheelbarrow resembled that of
the dung beetle (or doodlebug) with a ball of dung. Hence the name.
I think there was also a comment implied on what they were working
with and/or producing for their clients. When the geophysicists
started doing the same thing (with, we hope, more rigor) they
inherited the name. There was even a picture of a doodlebug (the
human kind) with his wheelbarrow. If only I could remember the name
of the text.
I know this is undocumented, but I hope it helps.
-oz
osb...@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu (preferred) | Larry N Osborne
osb...@uhunix.bitnet | SLIS, 2550 The Mall
fax +1 808 956 5835 | University of Hawaii at Manoa
or via W.A.S.T.E. | Honolulu, Hawaii 96822
Michael Burianyk
> ... folklore of Applachia ... doodlebugs and dowsers (well-witchers) and others with similar
> skills, were important....
>
> So, doodlebugs may go back a bit into folklore...
and
osb...@uhunix3.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Larry N Osborne) writes:
> I remember back in the early 60's a discussion of this topic in my
> Intro to Geology text. .... There was even a picture of a doodlebug ...
> with his wheelbarrow. ...
>
> I know this is undocumented, but I hope it helps.
It does, thanks!
I just want to thank everyone who's responded to this thread (and
to those who still will!).
I also want to add that I tried looking up 'doodlebug' (and 'doodle bug'
and 'doodle-bug') on the UofA's copy of the on-line OED. I had very
little success with any direct information.
Now, just to take a slightly different tack here, I'm still unsure as to
how the term is commonly, and currently, used in reflection seismic.
Is it used to refer only to a field GEOPHYSICIST (i.e. a trained professional),
who is rarely on a seismic crew anyway, or does it also include the technical
people on a seismic crew (observer, party manager) and also non-technical
people (the juggies - i.e. line crew)?
--
David Crane
: to...@artemis.ess.ucla.edu (Todd Ratcliff) writes:
: Now, just to take a slightly different tack here, I'm still unsure as to
: how the term is commonly, and currently, used in reflection seismic.
: Is it used to refer only to a field GEOPHYSICIST (i.e. a trained professional),
: who is rarely on a seismic crew anyway, or does it also include the technical
: people on a seismic crew (observer, party manager) and also non-technical
: people (the juggies - i.e. line crew)?
Unofficially, my recollection of field work in the late 50's was that
"doodlebugger" referred to the field crew, especially the jug hustlers,
the driller, and the shooting/recording crew. It did not seem to apply
to me (the "computer" back at the office) or apply much to the party
chief, though that may have been more from the fact that he spent a lot
of time in the office than "resprct" for his authority.
Probably the best sources from which to collect the information under
discussion would be old party chiefs, a few of whom still can be seen at
the SEG convention. A call or letter to the editor of "The Leading Edge"
might also get results.
Dave Crane
Scott A. Baker
: Michael Burianyk (bu...@probe2.phys.ualberta.ca) wrote:
: : to...@artemis.ess.ucla.edu (Todd Ratcliff) writes:
: : Now, just to take a slightly different tack here, I'm still unsure as to
: : how the term is commonly, and currently, used in reflection seismic.
: : Is it used to refer only to a field GEOPHYSICIST (i.e. a trained professional),
: : who is rarely on a seismic crew anyway, or does it also include the technical
: : people on a seismic crew (observer, party manager) and also non-technical
: : people (the juggies - i.e. line crew)?
Sheriff's "Encycolpedic Dictionary of Exploration Geophysics," states a doodlebugger as
a, "Geophysicist engaged in field work." My experience as a juggie, observer, party-manager
etc, we thought of everyone in the field as a doodlebugger, not just geophysicists.
^^^^^^^^
I would think of anyone in the process of looking for hydrocarbons utilizing the
seismic method(possibly others) as a doodlebugger.
Scott