The American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation

Grants-in-Aid Program

David Worthington was born in Worchester, Massachusetts in 1941. He attended Marietta College in Ohio, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in geology.

Two years later, Worthington obtained his master’s degree in geophysics from Virginia Tech, where he conducted a number of ultrasonic seismic wave model studies. His professional affiliations include membership in both the AAPG and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

In the same year that he finished his studies at Virginia Tech, Worthington began a 12-year career with Shell Oil. Worthington’s involvement with the company concluded with his becoming the general manager of both Shell’s Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic divisions.

Worthington used the knowledge gleaned from the Shell experience to form his own offshore exploration firm, afterwards taking on an ownership role with the TGS Geophysical Company. In 1980, he laid out the company’s first offshore seismic program before officially joining the company in 1981. TGS would later be re-named TGS-Calibre, with Worthington holding a majority ownership and chairman position. This company then merged with the Norwegian firm Nopec Geophysical, becoming TGS-NOPEC. Worthington was CEO of TGS-NOPEC until stepping down in 1996. He joined the TGS-NOPEC Board in 1998, becoming Chairman in June 1999 and serving in this capacity until 2004, when he was replaced by Claus Kampmann of Schlumberger Ltd. Worthington remains a Director on the TGS-NOPEC Board.

At present, Worthington’s passion for all things geological had been applied to a Colorado dinosaur quarry, where he is an active partner. The site is devoted to the discovery and preservation of natural history.

The David Worthington Family Named Grant is awarded annually to a deserving student studying paleontology through the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Grants-in-Aid Program, and is endowed by the AAPG Foundation with generous contributions from David and Beverly Worthington.