ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to acknowledge my contributors, Mr. Bob Cudd, Mr. Jerald L.

Shursen, and Mr. Richard Carden. As a close and personal friend and asso-
ciate for more than 30 years, Bob Cudd contributed not only to this writing
but also much more to the total experience in this work. I once reflected that
Bob knew more than anyone about various aspects of well control. I later
realized that he knew more than everyone else combined. Bob represented
a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise. Bob has passed away and
is sorely missed every day.
I would also like to acknowledge Jerry Shursen for his contributions. As a
close and personal friend, business partner, and associate, Jerry and I worked
very closely together to pioneer many of the concepts presented in this
book. Jerry is the best drilling engineer I ever encountered in the industry.
There is no one I’d rather have beside me in a tough situation than Jerry
Shursen.
Richard Carden has been my friend and associate since his student days at
Montana Tech. He is an outstanding engineer, and we have worked
together on some very tough projects. I have yet to find anything he can’t
do. Rich is technically solid and has worked diligently to contribute to this
book and ensure the quality of the work.
For his inspiration, I would like to acknowledge my lifelong friend Dr.
Preston L. Moore. No one has contributed more to drilling than Preston. He
was my mentor in college more than 50 years ago. Though he has passed
away, he continues to inspire me today. In the late 1960s, in Preston’s
world-renowned Drilling Practices Seminar, he and I were pioneering many
of the well control concepts and techniques now considered classic in the
industry.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the staff at GSM who have worked
diligently and with professional pride to ensure the quality of this work. Par-
ticularly, I must mention and thank my friend, assistant, and secretary
Ms. Angie Vigil. Among many other things, she patiently worked through
the many details. Finally, I would like to acknowledge my grandson, Quinn
Spellmann. At this writing, Quinn is a junior in Petroleum Engineering at
Colorado School of Mines. Using his knowledge of modern technology,
Quinn worked diligently to improve the quality of the figures, photos,
and illustrations.

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