Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

120 promotion of research on Trinidad and the compilation of a Geological Map of Trinidad in 1961, earned him the title “Father of Trinidad Geology”. Fifty-one species contain the scientific designation kugleri named in honour of their discoverer. He mapped the “Apex anticline” for the Apex Oil Company, leading to record-breaking oil finds. He moved on to the Trinidad Petroleum Development Company in 1925, and with his guidance, it too struck oil in Palo Seco. In 1928, Kugler invited Conrad Schlumberger to demonstrate his electrical logging method in Trinidad on behalf of Trinidad Leaseholds Limited (TLL), which became routine oil well drilling practice. His suggestions led to the establishment of a biostratigraphic laboratory in Pointe-à-Pierre in 1929, after he was appointed Chief Geologist of TLL. Also at Kugler’s prompting, TLL introduced aerial photo- interpretation to Trinidad in 1936, and built new laboratories. In 1939, Kugler was involved in border settlement negotiations over the ownership of Patos Island and Soldado Rock in the Gulf of Paria and the location of the Trinidad/Venezuela border. The settlement that followed won Trinidad drilling rights in the Gulf of Paria, a drilling zone which later turned out to be extremely productive. He also organised the first Caribbean Geological Conference in 1939. In 1956, Texaco took over TLL and Kugler left Trinidad for Switzerland in 1959, leaving behind his masterpiece – a 1:100,000 map of Trinidad that accounted for years of geological mapping, research and photo data. Officially published in 1961, the map was the geological standard for 35 years. JOHN LEE LUM (1842-1921) B orn in China, he arrived in Trinidad in 1880 and set up his own general store, Lee Lum and Company, in Port of Spain five years later which grew into a chain of general stores in the country areas. He was a large cocoa planter as well. But it is in the area of oil exploration that he made an important contribution when he partnered with Randolph Rust. He provided the money needed for this venture and in 1906 they formed General Petroleum Properties of Trinidad.