The joint venture, Western Atlas, was spun off as a public company in 1994.
In 2000, Western Geophysical became part of a joint venture between Baker Hughes and Schlumberger called WesternGeco and ceased to exist as a separate entity.
Western Geophysical built a number of significant seismic survey vessels over the years, in different classes depending on the role.
The company was often referred to as "Westerns" and was affectionately known over many years by many of its employees as the "circus without a tent".
Dean Walling was the operating President of Western Geophysical for his entire working life and retired when the company was sold to Litton Industries in 1960.