With more than 45 years of professional experience, John W. Caldwell III has been recognized as a Top Professional by Marquis Who’s Who. Caldwell has established himself as a leader in the engineering consulting industry. His curiosity, diligence, and adaptability continue to guide him toward success both within and outside his field of expertise.
Education and Career
Before beginning his professional career, Caldwell enrolled at the University of Idaho in 1973. Through diligent study and academic dedication, he graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering (structural engineering) in 1977.
Caldwell then worked as a production engineer at Texaco from 1978 to 1980, which would prove to be a foundational experience. He went on to move between various engineering, supervisor, and production manager roles at Burlington Resources between 1980 and 2002, before eventually rising to the position of senior engineering adviser with the company in 2002.
Caldwell remained at Burlington Resources when the company was acquired by ConocoPhillips in 2006, becoming an operations adviser. Five years later, he became a technical adviser at Solomon Associates. In 2012, Caldwell started Desert Rain Consulting LLC as its president and owner, a position he continues to occupy today.
Key Industry Contributions
Between 1989 and 2012, Caldwell was involved in key benchmarking activities for continuous process improvement across several companies. For one, he led a team that booked a trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural coal seam gas in the San Juan Basin’s Fruitland coal formation. Later, he became involved in evaluating oil and gas operations for companies around the world.
Today, Caldwell is largely focused on the explosion of activity in unconventional horizontal drilling. Recent developments have extended the reach of some wells from two miles to three, and some are drilling four-mile laterals horizontally in the pay zone. The complexity and technical skill required are significant, and Caldwell has begun to recognize several opportunities for the next 25 years.
Reasons for Success
Caldwell attributes much of his industry success to his willingness to be open, always listening to what others have to say, and working hard. He is quick to embrace a challenge, often taking on rotational positions despite his uncertainty. This approach has exposed him to a variety of different experiences, positively influencing his career growth within the engineering industry.
Outside his professional career, Caldwell is actively involved in several civic and membership organizations. He currently serves on the board of the New Mexico State Chapter of the American Red Cross, having retired after five years as board chair. He has been on the board since 2010. Additionally, he is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and is a registered professional engineer in both Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Mentorship for the Future
Moving forward, Caldwell is focused on contributing to and managing younger professionals in the oil and gas industry. He has learned many lessons through the years, ones that seem obvious now but are unfamiliar to some young people. He finds it rewarding to give back through mentorship, helping the next generation. Over the next five years, Caldwell intends to continue leading in his field.
