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HEZZIE RAYMOND (RAY)
1926-1994
BY CLAUDE R. HOCOTT
BRANNON
H.RAYBRANNON was a research scientist ant! engineer for Exxon
Production Research Company from 1952 to 1986. He retiree! as
senior research scientist (the major technical classifications in
August 19~36. It was that career of versatile, imaginative, and
pioneering accomplishments that earned him the distinction of
election to the National Academy of Engineering.
Ray was born January 23, 1926, in Midland City, Alabama, en c!
attenclecl Auburn University in that state. He received a B.S. in
engineering physics in 1950 and an M.S. in physics in 1951. While
at the university he was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Pi Sig-
ma, Sigma Xi, anct Tau Beta Pi honorary societies. Shortly after
graduation he began his career with Exxon. From the outset, his
work demonstrated versatility and practicability in a broact area,
including radiocarbon dating of recent earth sediments and gam-
ma-ray logging of bore holes into these sediments of importance
to geologists anct engineers in exploration and development of
petroleum deposits. lie also developed the first gravity meter for
the measurement of sediment density in shallow bore holes. This
meter was most useful in the detection of foundation support
for heavy construction. His numerical analysis methods for of!
and gas reservoirs were a significant contribution to the emerg-
ing technology of modeling and prediction that forms the heart
of modern reservoir management of of! fields.
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
In 1968 Ray moved into the rapidly growing areas of
oceanography and marine technology, the application of
which formed the basis for development of the nation's
offshore petroleum deposits. His analysis of storm waves and
the application of random noise analysis to storm waves led to
the development of design technology in common use today.
This work formed the basis for improved calculation of wave
forces on offshore structures and enabled the design of
platforms in ever deeper water for petroleum development
and production. He led and supervised the engineering
design of one of the earliest deep-sea, surface-piercing drilling
and production platforms. His early development of the
gravity meter for bore measurement of the density of
sediments helped in the identification of suitable foundation
support for the heavy platforms needed in this endeavor. Ray
was involved in practically every development in offshore
structures: platforms, pipelines, and submerged and bottom-
founded drilling and production systems. It was these
inventions and innovations that formed the basis for the
overall petroleum industry and marine technology that is used
today around the world. Ray held four patents and was the
author or coauthor of ten publications.
Ray was especially active in cooperative efforts of both in-
dustry and professional societies through publications,
consultation, and advisory groups. He was a member of the
Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Society of Exploration
Geophysicists, and the Arr~erican Physical Society. The crown-
ing effort of his career was his participation in panels,
workshops, and committees of the National Research Coun-
cil. His work on the Marine Board in the Commission on
Engineering and Technical Systems (formerly the Assembly of
Engineering) from 1976 to 1986 included service on the Pan-
el on Civil/Navy Ocean Engineering in 1982 and 1983. In the
Assembly of Engineering, Ray served on the Committee on
Assessment of Safety and Outer Continental Shelf Activities
(19S0 and 1981) and on the Panel of Verification Guidelines
for Offshore Structures (1978 and 1979) and the Panel on
Offshore Structures Certification (1976 and 1977) of the Com-
mittee on Offshore Energy Technology.
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Representative terms from entire chapter:
storm waves
