MAY 2005 ISSUE
OBITUARY
James Kemp Ziegler, P.Eng.
Editor's Note: Due to an oversight, we neglected to publish this obituary when it was first received. Because of Mr. Ziegler's importance in Alberta's resource development, we're printing a condensed version of it now, even though his passing was some time ago.
BY AUBREY KERR, P. GEOL.
James (Jim) Kemp Ziegler, P.Eng., an APEGGA life member and a geophysicist, played a critical role in the seismic identification of the famous Leduc Number 1 in 1946. He passed away last year in Lethbridge on July 25 at 89 years of age.
Born in Golden, Colo., and educated at the Colorado School of Mines, Mr. Ziegler came to Canada in 1946, through a transfer by Heiland Geophysical. He joined the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists in the early 1950s, and joined APEGGA (then the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta) in 1949 as a P.Eng., which was the universal designation of the day.
Mr. Ziegler became a life member in 1984. He also received a Pioneer Award from the Hon. Peter Lougheed, who was premier of Alberta at the time.
Shortly after arriving in Canada, Mr. Ziegler was given the most important job of his life: doing the detailed seismic shooting for Imperial Oil over a one-point seismic “high” just west of Leduc. The high had shown up on a reconnaissance seismic survey.
The detailed results from Mr. Ziegler's survey were astounding, though the full geological meaning would be left for Imperial Oil to figure out. Based on the results, Imperial Leduc Number 1 was located in the fall of 1946 and hit the Devonian D-2 Nisku Reservoir on Feb. 13, 1947.
Shortly after the Leduc discovery, Mr. Ziegler became manager of Century Geophysical Co., based in Calgary. His main associate, APEGGA Life Member Peter Bediz, P.Eng., P.Geoph., recalled Mr. Ziegler as an astute bargainer and a sales expert, excelling in public relations. He was also an enthusiastic big game hunter, a trader in firearms and a dabbler in gemology.
Predeceased by a brother, Mr. Ziegler is survived by his wife, Edith “Charlee” Ziegler, his daughter, a stepdaughter, three stepsons, a sister and many others.
Aubrey Kerr, P.Geol., is the self-published author of seven non-fiction books on the history of the oilpatch, including Leduc, published in 1991.