William J. “Bill” Barrett, a legendary, award-winning petroleum geologist, company-builder and longtime supporter and leader of the AAPG Foundation, died Sept. 16 at his home in Denver. He was 96.

Barrett was considered one of the profession’s top explorationists throughout his 50-plus-year career – a reputation that was frequently recognized and honored, including his inclusion as an AAPG GeoLegend.

An AAPG Honorary Member, Barrett joined AAPG in 1961 and eventually became an integral part of the AAPG Foundation, including roles as:

  • A Trustee Associates member (joined in 2002)
  • A member of the Foundation Financial Campaign Committee (2005-11)
  • A member of the Foundation Legacy Society since 2011
  • A Foundation Member of the Corporation, starting in 20
  • A Foundation Trustee (2007-11)
  • A Trustee Emeritus since 2011

Appropriately, Barrett received the L. Austin Weeks Memorial Medal in 2011, the AAPG Foundation’s highest honor.

His contributions as a petroleum geologist made headlines far beyond the profession and industry. Barrett, and companies under his leadership, found and developed 10 giant or near-giant size oil and gas fields – and a number of smaller fields – mainly throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

In addition to being named a GeoLegend, Barrett received AAPG’s Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award in 2003, and in 2009 was named one of AAPG’s “100 Who Made a Difference.”

A native of Topeka, Kan., Barrett started his education at Kansas State University, but an initial stint there was interrupted by family business and service in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He returned to KSU on the G.I. Bill, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology.

He started his career as a stratigrapher for El Paso Natural Gas, in Utah and New Mexico, where he developed his expertise on the geology of Rocky Mountain basins – the foundation of his career as a wildcatter.

He then worked for Amoco Corp., in Casper, Wyo., and Denver, before becoming chief geologist for Wolf Exploration, where he made two major discoveries – the 20 million-plus barrel Hilight oil field (Powder River Basin) and the giant Madden natural gas field (Wind River Basin).

In 1969, Barrett partnered with Chuck Shear to form B&C Exploration, and in 1981 launched Barrett Resources, which made major discoveries in North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. Both were subsequently acquired by the Williams Companies.

Other ventures he undertook included Rainbow Resources, Aeon Energy and Barrett Energy Co. (Barrett Resources).

In 2002, he was “once again” lured out of retirement to join his two youngest sons in forming the Bill Barret Corp., which he led until this “third retirement” at age 77.

Barrett received an honorary doctorate in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. He is in both the Western Energy Alliance and Southeast Utah Energy Producers Association halls of fame.

He celebrated his 90th birthday by writing his memoir, “Bill Barrett: Rocky Mountain Wildcatter.”

His GeoLegend video interview can be found on the AAPG website, at https://aapg.to/billbarrett1of2