Our Crew
Appalachian Geophysical Services was started in September 1997 when John Forman purchased the equipment of Paragon Geophysical from their parent company, 3-D Geophysical, who was ceasing operations in Ohio and the Appalachian Basin.
John partnered with Charlie Merchant, who had served as the president of Paragon Geophysical. Charlie has been in the seismic acquisition business for over 30 years, starting out in the field and working his way into ownership positions.
John started his own career working with Seismograph Service Corp of Tulsa, Oklahoma. His background in geology and geophysics lead him into oil and gas exploration for over 25 years, 20 of which were spent with CGAS Exploration of Columbus, Ohio.
Together, John and Charlie have assembled a professional team to serve their customers. The seismic crew consists of a senior observer, four CDL vibe drivers, one CDL vibe electrician, one CDL mechanic, a head linesman, and multiple crew members for geophone layout, pickup, and flagging. In the office, AGS is staffed by two permit agents, a survey crew, an office supervisor, and geophone and cable repair technicians.
AGS is a member of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC), and is licensed by the ATF. AGS is registered to do business in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee.