# Lincoln F. Elkins
Lincoln F. Elkins (died 2001) was an American petroleum engineer and a pioneer in enhanced oil recovery, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and an inductee into the Colorado School of Mines Petroleum Engineering Hall of Fame, Class of 2022.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) Over a career of more than 40 years, he published more than 20 papers in the *Journal of Petroleum Technology* on applied reservoir engineering, the discipline of predicting and managing how oil and gas behave inside a producing reservoir.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Field | Petroleum engineering, reservoir and production engineering, enhanced oil recovery |
| Education | Colorado School of Mines, professional degree in petroleum engineering, 1940; graduate work at the University of Texas[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) • [2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) |
| Main employer | Sohio Petroleum Company (now BP), 1947 to 1983; senior consulting engineer at retirement[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) |
| Professional leadership | President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (1965); chairman of the American Petroleum Institute's Executive Committee for Exploration and Production Research (1967)[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) |
| Honours | National Academy of Engineering membership; Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal; SPE DeGolyer Distinguished Service Award; SPE Honorary Membership; SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Pioneer[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) |
| Died | 2001[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) |
## Education and early career
Elkins graduated from the [Colorado School of Mines](https://www.edgepedia.org/colorado-school-of-mines) in 1940 with a professional degree in petroleum engineering; during his studies he was also a four-year letterman on the school's basketball team.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) He then did graduate work in petroleum engineering at the University of Texas.[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins)
He began his industry career as a research engineer with Stanolind Oil and Gas, followed by Continental Oil Company (Conoco).[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) • [2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) The two sources name the post-Stanolind employer slightly differently: the Colorado School of Mines profile says Conoco while the AIME citation says Continental Oil Company.
## Career at Sohio and consulting
In 1947 Elkins joined Sohio Petroleum Company, now part of BP, and remained there for 36 years, retiring in 1983 as senior consulting engineer.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) His positions at Sohio included Special Projects Engineer, Chief Engineer, and Manager of Production Research, and he later served as Technical Advisor to the General Manager.[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) After retirement he worked as a part-time petroleum engineering consultant and served as an adjunct professor at the Colorado School of Mines, teaching a course in applied reservoir engineering.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
## Research and contributions
Elkins worked in enhanced oil recovery. His published work centered on applied reservoir engineering.
His most cited paper, "Determination of Fracture Orientation from Pressure Interference", co-authored with Arlie M. Skov and published in *Transactions of the AIME* in 1960, has 58 citations in the bibliometric profile.
His 1953 paper "Reservoir Performance and Well Spacing, Spraberry Trend Area Field of West Texas" carries 28 citations in the profile. His 1963 *Journal of Petroleum Technology* paper "Cyclic Water Flooding the Spraberry Utilizes 'End Effects' to Increase Oil Production Rate", also with Skov, has 40 citations in the profile.
A later patent attributed to Elkins proposes in-situ shale oil recovery in which a deposit is rubblized before radio frequency energy is applied as a heat generator to recover shale oil.
## By the numbers
His three most cited papers carry 58, 40, and 28 citations respectively. The career figures are firmer: 36 years at Sohio within an industry career of more than 40 years, and more than 20 papers in the *Journal of Petroleum Technology*.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
## Honours and professional recognition
Elkins was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/) His other major recognitions include:
- The Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal from AIME, for contributions to reservoir and production engineering.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
- The SPE DeGolyer Distinguished Service Award and SPE Honorary Membership, an honor the [Society of Petroleum Engineers](https://www.edgepedia.org/society-of-petroleum-engineers) extends to about 0.1 percent of its members, plus recognition as an SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Pioneer.[1](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
- The Colorado School of Mines Distinguished Achievement Medal in 1965 and selection as the SPE-AIME Distinguished Lecturer in 1964.[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins)
His society service was extensive: President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME in 1965, SPE-AIME Vice President in 1951, an AIME Director from 1964 to 1967, Chairman of the SPE-AIME General Editorial Committee in 1970, and Chairman of the AIME Oklahoma City Local Section in 1949 and 1953.[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) In 1967 he chaired the Executive Committee on [Exploration](https://www.edgepedia.org/exploration) and Production Research for the [American Petroleum Institute](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-petroleum-institute).[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins) AIME cited him for his many functions for the Society and his publications on a wide range of subjects pertaining to reservoir analysis.[2](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins)
## References
1. [Lincoln F. Elkins - Petroleum Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines (PE Hall of Fame Class of 2022)](https://petroleum.mines.edu/project/elkins-lincoln-f/)
2. [Lincoln F. Elkins | AIME DeGolyer Distinguished Service Medal citation](https://aimehq.org/what-we-do/awards/aime-degolyer-distinguished-service-medal/lincoln-f-elkins)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Engineers and computer scientists › Engineers and materials scientists › Researchers in civil, environmental, and water engineering; agriculture and food science › Petroleum and reservoir engineering*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license