Western Geophysical
Encyclopedia
Western Geophysical was a company founded in California
in 1933 by Henry Salvatori
for the purpose of using reflection seismology
to explore for petroleum
.
The company prospered and was sold by Salvatori to Litton Industries
in 1960. In 1987, Litton and Dresser Industries
formed a joint venture comprising Western and Dresser Atlas
. The joint venture, Western Atlas
, was spun off as a public company in 1994. Western then purchased Halliburton
Geophysical Services, which had been formed from Geophysical Service Incorporated
, Geosource and several other companies. In 1998, Western Atlas was acquired by Baker Hughes
. In 2000, Western Geophysical became part of a joint venture between Baker Hughes and Schlumberger
called WesternGeco
and ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Western Geophysical built a number of significant seismic survey vessels over the years, in different classes depending on the role. The majority of Western Geophysical vessels were named for geographic features, such as:
Recent vessels including the Western Trident and Western Neptune passed to WesternGeco when the new company was formed. There were numerous Western Geophysical (WGC) or "Westerns" was affectionately known over many years by many of its employees as the "circus without a tent".
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1933 by Henry Salvatori
Henry Salvatori
Henry Salvatori was an American geophysicist, businessman, philanthropist, and political activist. Salvatori founded Western Geophysical in 1933, and after selling the company in 1960, pursued a second career as a philanthropist and conservative political activist...
for the purpose of using reflection seismology
Reflection seismology
Reflection seismology is a method of exploration geophysics that uses the principles of seismology to estimate the properties of the Earth's subsurface from reflected seismic waves. The method requires a controlled seismic source of energy, such as dynamite/Tovex, a specialized air gun or a...
to explore for petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
.
The company prospered and was sold by Salvatori to Litton Industries
Litton Industries
Named after inventor Charles Litton, Sr., Litton Industries was a large defense contractor in the United States, bought by the Northrop Grumman Corporation in 2001.-History:...
in 1960. In 1987, Litton and Dresser Industries
Dresser Industries
Dresser Industries was a multinational corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, United States, which provided a wide range of technology, products, and services used for developing energy and natural resources...
formed a joint venture comprising Western and Dresser Atlas
Dresser Atlas
Dresser Atlas is a provider of oil field and factory automation services, formed in 1968 through the merger of PGAC and Lane Wells Company. In 1987, the company merged with Western Geophysical to form Western Atlas, and in 1998, Western Atlas was acquired by Baker Hughes, and, since then, was named...
. The joint venture, Western Atlas
Western Atlas
Western Atlas was formed in 1987 through the merger of Western Geophysical and Dresser Atlas. The resulting company was a joint venture of Litton and Dresser Industries until it was spun off as a publicly traded company in 1994....
, was spun off as a public company in 1994. Western then purchased Halliburton
Halliburton
Halliburton is the world's second largest oilfield services corporation with operations in more than 70 countries. It has hundreds of subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, brands and divisions worldwide and employs over 50,000 people....
Geophysical Services, which had been formed from Geophysical Service Incorporated
Geophysical Service Incorporated
Geophysical Service Inc. was founded by John Clarence Karcher and Eugene McDermott in 1930 for the purpose of using refraction and reflection seismology to explore for petroleum deposits. It became one of the most successful seismic exploration contractors in the industry for many years...
, Geosource and several other companies. In 1998, Western Atlas was acquired by Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes Baker Hughes provides the world's oil & gas industry with products and services for drilling, formation evaluation, completion, production and reservoir consulting. Baker Hughes operates in over 90 countries worldwide mainly based in countries with a mature petroleum industry as is...
. In 2000, Western Geophysical became part of a joint venture between Baker Hughes and Schlumberger
Schlumberger
Schlumberger Limited is the world's largest oilfield services company. Schlumberger employs over 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities working in approximately 80 countries...
called WesternGeco
WesternGeco
WesternGeco is a geophysical services company. It is headquartered in the Schlumberger House on the property of London Gatwick Airport in Crawley, West Sussex, in Greater London.-Background:...
and ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Western Geophysical built a number of significant seismic survey vessels over the years, in different classes depending on the role. The majority of Western Geophysical vessels were named for geographic features, such as:
- Western Anchorage (200', West Coast and Alaska)
- Western Cape (small, Gulf of Mexico)
- Western Cay (small, Gulf of Mexico)
- Western Glacier (200', West Coast and Alaska)
Recent vessels including the Western Trident and Western Neptune passed to WesternGeco when the new company was formed. There were numerous Western Geophysical (WGC) or "Westerns" was affectionately known over many years by many of its employees as the "circus without a tent".