The North American geologist Walter Karl Link and oil exploratory research at Petrobras (1954–1960)

Abstract

The necessity of petroleum and the challenges related to oil exploration in Brazil caused the country in 1953 to create Petrobras, the Brazilian oil company, and to hire a foreigner work force. The company hired the North American geologist, Walter Karl Link (1902–1982), to be the head of the Department of Exploration, one of the most important and promising departments of Petrobras. In that position, Link faced not just countless technical difficulties but also personal ones during the six years (1954–1960) that he worked for the company. The aim of this article is to demonstrate how the Department of Exploration contributed to the consolidation of Petrobras over the six year period and how Petrobras became a model for other companies.