career were
Dr. Francis Van Tuyl, head of the geology department at Colorado School
of Mines; and J. Lawrence Muir, VP-Exploration for Champlin.
When John Miller left Champlin to join Grahamehart-Miller, Walter became
District Geologist and helped hire C. W. Smith, and later Virgil
Tucker. Champlin was sold to The Chicago Company in 1955. Walter
stayed with them a few months and then succumbed to the lure of an independent’s
life and joined up with Eugene Carter for two years. Their lone discovery
was not enough to sustain them and Walter went to work for Skelly Oil Co.
in 1957 and Eugene Carter went to Michigan to get in on the Scipio “boom.”
Skelly was one of the most active majors in Kansas at that time.
Harold Smedley was District Geologist in Wichita and Howard Bryant was
Division Geologist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Both men were past KGS presidents.
The oil business in Kansas began to change in the early 1960’s. The
majors started concentrating more and more on Canada, the Gulf Coast, and
foreign countries. Harold Smedley, just a short time from retirement,
was transferred to Columbus, Ohio. Walter took his place as District
Geologist , but could see “the hand-writing on the wall.” Not wanting
to leave Kansas, he resigned in October, 1963 to go into business for himself
as a consultant.
Walter had sort of an embarrassing moment while watching a well for Rains
& Williamson in Hodgeman County in the middle 60’s, Walter refused
to give a bearded-man information on the well, which was being drilled
as a tight hole. The tool-pusher said, “It’s OK, Walter; this is
Jay Mull and he’s got a pretty big interest in this well.” Walter
knew Mull, but had failed to recognize him with the beard.
As time progressed, Walter shifted the emphasis of his consulting work
from well-sitting to originating deals and turning them to companies or
independent operators, while retaining an override and/or working interest.
. He was fortunate in finding production at several spots in central
and south-central Kansas. Numerous people played a helpful part in
these endeavors but he would particularly like to give some credit for
his success to Bill Shelton, landman; Charles Carlock, operator, and Grant
Canaday, petroleum engineer and operator.
Walter has no regrets on his choice of career and believes there is still
a “market” for geologists that have enough interest and desire. He
thinks there are probably more opportunities in geologic fields other than
petroleum, but in all cases a good working knowledge of computer software
and seismic would be essential.
Walter has been a member of KGS and AAPG since 1951. He has
served KGS as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, and on several committees.
Walter authored papers on “Developments In North Mid-Continent” for AAPG
for three years.
Mostly retired now, he enjoys reading, playing a little golf, and “tinkering
around” on the computer. He would like to thank Tyler Sanders for
introducing him into the computer age and getting him started with his
first computer in 1993 (250 MB hard drive). Walter believes that
three of the biggest changes for a petroleum geologist in the last 50 years
have been the introduction of geologic trailers (ahh, luxury!), copy machines,
and the computer.
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November - December 2002