PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: PGS Onshore’s own living legend

Larry Watt, responsible for Alaska business development and marketing, has worked for PGS for seven years.  This year, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists decided to honor Watt along with more than 40 other Living Legends for their experience, dedication and contribution to the geophysical industry.  The SEG organized a Living Legends booth in the SEG Pavilion at the annual convention in San Antonio.  More than 90 people visited the booth to reminisce, and pay homage to these experts of the industry. 

Watt was born in North Star, Alberta and grew up in Sylvan Lake.  He started his career in 1955 with Geophysical Services Inc. and worked in Canada, South America, Africa, Turkey, and Alaska.

Over the years, Watt has held several senior management positions gaining the majority of his experience in Latin America, the U.S. Rocky Mountains and Alaska.  He has managed and supervised vibrosies and dynamite crews working in multitudes of terrain, including heliportable operations in jungles and on mountain fronts. 

His responsibilities have included scouting, bid preparation and close supervision of the execution of successful tenders.  He was a major contributor in the success of contracts with foreign National Oil Companies, as well as IOC’s. 

While working with GSI and living in Alaska, Watt assisted in the negotiation and management of a long-term contract with the Department of the Navy and later the Department of the Interior on the National Petroleum Reserve.  During this project over 12,000 miles of 2D seismic data was collected using three to five crews annually. 

The relationship Watt fostered with these organizations, as well as the Department of Natural Resources and various Alaskan Native groups has been an integral part of PGS’ success in Alaska. He assembled a PGS management team on the North Slope with a remarkable 300 years experience.  His forethought in recognizing the impact of rubber track solutions in Arctic terrain has given PGS a regulatory and permitting advantage due to the environmental mitigation offered by this innovation.

With almost 30 years experience working in Alaska’s extreme and eco-sensitive conditions, Watt’s contribution to PGS has been paramount.  His dedication to work, his wife of 45 years, and his three daughters is only a part of what makes Watt a Living Legend.

The above was taken from a letter originally written by Kristi Perez Metcalf, PGS Onshore, Houston.