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OCR for page 141
LEROY WALLACE HOLM
1923-1989
BY H E N RY J . RAM KY, JR.
WALLY HOLM, an of} recovery research pioneer and pro-
lific inventor of enhanced oil recovery methods, died Octo-
ber 23, 1989, of cancer at age sixty-six. Wally Holm retired
in 1986 after forty years with Union Oil Company of Cali-
fornia (UNOCA..L). He began work on enhanced of] recovery
processes after becoming an authority on lubricating oils.
His innovative approach to solving problems led to sixty-
four patents and more than forty publications. His patents
and publications cover a broad spectrum of of] recovery
methods: carbon dioxide waterflooding, hydrocarbon-alcohol
miscible displacement, nitrogen and steam flooding, steam
and carbon dioxide processes, chemical flooding with sur-
factants and polymers, and use of foam for mobility con-
trol. His interests were always on the cutting edge of the
technology. He used producing of} fields as his laboratory,
and his efforts will aid human movement on planet Earth
for years to come. His work led to greater prosperity for
many parts of the United States and other nations in the
world.
Wally Holm was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 19,
1923. He received a B.S. in chemical engineering from
Northwestern University in 1945. He served three years in
the U.S. Navy reaching the rank of lieutenant. He married
Vivian Lorenz of Chicago, Illinois, in 1945, and they had
141
OCR for page 142
142
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
three children: Lawrence, Carol, and Jeffrey. Wally was
encouraged by his loving family; six grandchildren; and
brothers, Willard and Marvin.
In 1946 Wally joined the Pure Oil Company in Illinois,
where he became a senior research engineer in petroleum
refining. Because of original innovative talents, he became
an expert on refining of lubricating oils and enhanced of}
recovery. He received eighteen patents assigned to the
Pure Oil Company. In 1965 the Pure Oil Company was
purchased by the Union Oil Company. Wally continued
his career with UNOCAL, serving as senior research engineer
of petroleum production, research section supervisor, research
engineering and senior research associate, and staff consultant,
the highest scientific position at the Fred L. Hartley Research
Center, Brea, California. Perhaps Wally's greatest gift was
his unflagging, youthful enthusiasm for investigation. He
was articulate and inspiring. For the Society of Petroleum
Engineers (SPE) of the American Institute of Mining, Met-
allurgical and Petroleum Engineers, he was one of the SPE
Distinguished Lecturers in 1972. He was an invited lecturer
at many universities.
As a researcher, Wally was extremely creative and inno-
vative. He was an experimentalist and always had several
programs going simultaneously. His curiosity and tremen-
dous energy drove him to investigate many different areas.
He made significant contributions to miscible flooding, foam
applications, and micelIar/polymer flooding. He had a
great ability to generate enthusiasm and a spirit of cooperation
among his coworkers. This came from his friendly nature
and his generosity in sharing ideas and credit for results
throughout his career. This is demonstrated by the great
number of collaborators Wally had at Pure Oil, Union Oil,
and other companies. It was his generosity with both time
and ideas that attracted so many good people. Many consider
the time spent working with Wally as the most enjoyable
times of their careers. He was honored and loved by his
colleagues. He greeted everyone with a ready smile. He
OCR for page 143
LEROY WALLACE HOLM
143
was describer} as one of the top three pioneers of enhanced
of] recovery in the world.
The SPE honored Wally as a Distinguished Member (1984),
a Distinguished Author (1981), an Enhanced Oil Recovery
Pioneer (1984), and by the John Franklin CarI} Award (1985~.
His citation for the CarI] Award inclucled "for distinguished
achievement in contributions to petroleum engineering and
the technology of fluid mechanics, oil recovery processes
and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)." His service to the
SPE included all local section offices through chairman of
the Chicago Section and many national chairmanships. Wally
was also recognized nationally. At a joint SPE-Department
of Energy symposium on FOR in 1984, Wally was designated
FOR Pioneer. He was elected to the National Academy of
Engineering in 1986.
In addition to his professional career, Wally had many
interests outside of work. He was an avid sailor and tennis
player and spent many weekends at his mountain cabin.
He was an excellent athlete and played senior league softball
into his sixties. Wally and Vivian were superb round danc-
ers ant! they often sought out local dances when travelling
on business. Wally was also closely involved with the Pres-
byterian Church. He served the First Presbyterian Church
of Fullerton, California, faithfully for many years as deacon
and elder and as member and chairman of key committees.
Wally initiated a program through the church to promote
international peace, and this program continues today with
his vision. We will all miss him.
OCR for page 144
Jo ~ ~~
Representative terms from entire chapter:
pure oil
