University of Wyoming
John M. Parker, explorer, geologist, geophysical interpreter, and oil finder, was born in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1920. He received a B.S. in geology from Kansas State University in 1941. He also attended undergraduate courses at the University of Minnesota and the University of Wyoming and completed graduate courses at Kansas State.
After a short period as a geologist with the Kansas Highway Commission, Parker worked with the United States Public Roads Administration on the Alaska Highway. He then did field work on the Canol Project with Imperial Oil Ltd. in the Northwest Territories of Canada. In 1944 he became district geologist with Stanolind Oil and Gas Company. Parker joined Kirby Petroleum Company in 1952 as manager of their Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast Operations and subsequently became Vice-President—Exploration in Houston, Texas. He then moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1974 where he served as Vice-President—Exploration for Northwest Exploration Company. In 1975 Parker began a private geological consulting business in Denver. He gained broad experience in exploring many geologic provinces, including areas outside North America such as Ecuador and Jamaica.
Parker is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, serving as president during 1982-83. He is also a past-president of the Billings Geological Society and Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists. In 1979 the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists honored him with the Explorer of the Year Award, and Kansas State University presented him with a Distinguished Service in Geology Award in 1983. Parker has published many papers relating to the occurrence of oil and gas, including many structural and stratigraphic papers in the Rocky Mountain Region.
The John M. Parker papers, 1943-1997, contain documents relating to a 1982-1985 legal case in which Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company filed suit against Marathon Oil Company and Double M Oil Company in Lincoln, Nebraska. Marathon and Double M operated a number of oil and gas wells adjacent to K-N’s Huntsman Storage Field located near Sidney, Nebraska. K-N alleged that gas produced at Huntsman Field had migrated to the Marathon/Double M-operated West Engelland Field. K-N claimed that Marathon then treated and sold the gas back to K-N. John Parker was brought in as a consulting geologist on the plaintiff’s side. In 1985 the litigation reached a settlement when Marathon Oil agreed to pay $10 million to K-N and assign to K-N its oil and gas leases in the West Engelland Field. In addition, Double M assigned its interest in the West Engelland Field to K-N in 1984.
The legal documents include many geological studies, reports, and maps that were created or used by the plaintiffs as evidence in their research and litigation. John Parker authored several of the reports and maps; these are noted on the inventory. The Deposition exhibits contain maps, charts, and records used during depositions.
Series II (Personal Material) contains biographical material about John Parker and several of his recent papers. In addition there is a folder containing material regarding Parker’s 1943 expedition to map the Mountain River area in Northwest Territories, Canada.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no other known archival collections created by John M. Parker at the date of processing.
The John M. Parker papers were donated to the American Heritage Center by John M. Parker in several shipments between
The collection was processed by Susan Horan in June 1999. Several of the reports and scientific studies were taken out of three-ring binders and notebooks. Original order was preserved where possible, but the bulk of the collection was arranged as seemed most useful to the researcher.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, John M. Parker papers, 1943-1997, Collection Number 09584, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Arranged alphabetically.
Correspondence between Parker and the law firm of Vinson & Elkins.
Various studies and reports regarding the Huntsman/West Engelland Field, and legal papers documenting various motions and actions during the litigation.
Article on Salt Creek Field, Wyoming.
Correspondence and Map.
By Dennis Coleman. (2 drafts)
By Donald C. Swanson.
By Core Laboratories.
By Dennis Coleman.
For Ohio Oil Company.
By John M. Parker.
By Kenneth A. Weikel.
By John D. Haun.
By Dr. Craig W. Van Kirk.
By Scientific Software Corporation.
Notes by J.A. Momper.
By M.R. Tek.
By John M. Parker.
By Donald L. Katz.
By P.L. Essley.
Depositions and testimony of witnesses and consultants, and exhibits used during depositions (arranged in original numerical order).
Nos. 46, 63, 69, 84, 90-93, 100, 103, 106, 110, 111, 121, 125, 126, 141, 152, 153, 185, 186, 190, 191, 193, 260-262, 293, 295, 296, 325-327, 329, 330, 336, 368, 370, 373, 374, 376, 377, 379, 380-384, 386-389, 391-395, 397, 398, 405, 415, 417, 418, 485, 550.
Arranged in original numerical order. Records and descriptions of various oil wells in the Kansas-Nebraska area.
Nos. 4, 7, 8, 20-35, 69-78, 80, 81, 99, 126, 127.
Unknown Numbers.
Includes biographical information on witnesses and consultants, newspaper clippings and notes regarding the lawsuit.
Structure maps, cross-sections, and grid maps of the area compiled by the Scientific Software Corporation, KN Energy, Marathon Oil, and John M. Parker.
“Interpreted hydrocarbon migration pattern through J sandstone at present time”—Patrick Tainter.
Permeability and Porosity—John M. Parker.
“Structure and J sand thickness as presented in vol. 1, geological and petrophysical analysis & structure as initially interpreted”—John M. Parker
Structure and J sand thickness in Model II.
Oil (Bosworth) Creek, Bear Mt. Range, Norman Wells- Canol Area.
Structure Maps 1-18 Accompanying Study.
Cross-Sections Accompanying Study, Plates 1-14.
North Sidney Area, Sioux Ordinance Depot, Huntsman-West Engelland Fields.
JA and JB Structures, E-3-E-6.
Porosity and Sand Thickness, E-7-E-10.
Permeability, Porosity, Sand Thickness.
Arranged alphabetically. Includes biographical material on Parker and several papers and publications. Also includes a folder regarding his 1943 Mountain River Expedition in Northwest Territories, Canada.
Notes, Diary Excerpts, Geological Report, Photographs, Map.
“Politics and Oil and Gas, How Much is Left to Discover? An Example—The Wind River Basin;” “Seismic Exploration in the Rockies—Some Reflections;” “Bonanza”
Teledyne Isotopes & Petroleum tracers, Inc.