March 2, 1944
The first gasoline transported in the "Little Big Inch" pipeline arrives in New Jersey. The 1200 mile long pipeline was built in response to tankers being lost to German U Boats operating off the east coast. The "Little Big Inch" was a 20" refined products pipeline. It carried gasoline, heating oil, diesel and kerosene separated by solid rubber balls called "pigs". Its companion pipeline, the "Big Inch" was a 24" pipeline that carried crude oil and was completed soon after.
For comparison, the Trans Alaska Pipeline is only 790 miles long. The Keystone XL pipeline is 1200 miles long and 36" in diameter.
After the war, the two pipelines were sold as surplus government property. Texas Eastern Transmission Company was formed for the sole purpose of bidding on the pipelines and converting them to carry natural gas. Their winning bid was over $143,000,000. They operated the pipelines for the next 40 years. In the 90s there was a flurry of sales and reorganizations in the oil industry. The pipelines are now owned and operated by Spectra Energy.
Showing posts with label oil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oil. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
This Week in Oil and Gas History
February 25, 1919
Oregon places a 1 cent tax on gasoline. Within 10 years every state will have a gasoline tax. In 1932, Herbert Hoover will get the federal government into the act by adding another penny for the feds.
February 23, 1942
Japanese submarine I-17 fires shells into the refinery at Ellwood, California. 17 shells were fired over a period of about 20 minutes. The gunnery was wildly inaccurate and did little damage but it did spark panic and invasion rumors. The following night, anti aircraft batteries in LA would fire over 1000 rounds based on a UFO sighting. The "battle" lasted about 30 minutes. Proving that what goes up must come down, over 10 tons of shrapnel and unexploded ammunition fell on Los Angeles.
Oregon places a 1 cent tax on gasoline. Within 10 years every state will have a gasoline tax. In 1932, Herbert Hoover will get the federal government into the act by adding another penny for the feds.
February 23, 1942
Japanese submarine I-17 fires shells into the refinery at Ellwood, California. 17 shells were fired over a period of about 20 minutes. The gunnery was wildly inaccurate and did little damage but it did spark panic and invasion rumors. The following night, anti aircraft batteries in LA would fire over 1000 rounds based on a UFO sighting. The "battle" lasted about 30 minutes. Proving that what goes up must come down, over 10 tons of shrapnel and unexploded ammunition fell on Los Angeles.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
BLEVE
Commenters reminded me that using cannons to punch holes in burning oil tanks was done to prevent a BLEVE (Burning Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). Here's a video of one:
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Fighting Oil Field Fires with Artillery
I ran across an interesting piece of oil field history the other day. It was a first person account of fighting an oil tank fire in 1884. Lightening had struck an oil derrick and ignited a small storage tank. This tank leaked and the resulting pool fire spread to a battery of large storage tanks. The fire then became uncontrollable. The fire fighting method of the day for oil tank fires was to fire a cannon into the tank in order to punch holes and drain the tank before the fire caused the oil to boil over. Several of thee cannon can be found in various oil field museums.
The story was printed in MIT's newspaper, "The Tech". A link to it is here. Be sure to browse the paper for other news of MIT and advertising of the era.
The story was printed in MIT's newspaper, "The Tech". A link to it is here. Be sure to browse the paper for other news of MIT and advertising of the era.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Fracking History
On December 10, 1967, the US Government, in cooperation with El Paso Natural Gas Company, experimented with fracking using atomic bombs.
Two other test sites were "fracked" as well. The gas was too radioactive to distribute thus ending the experiment.
Two other test sites were "fracked" as well. The gas was too radioactive to distribute thus ending the experiment.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
Nov 14, 1947. The first offshore oil well drilled out of sight of land was started. A wooden platform in 20 feet of water about 10 miles from shore was built by Brown and Root for Kerr McGee. That area is known today as Ship Shoal 32.
The wooden platform supported the derrick. Support equipment, power and quarters was on a tender barge that was moored to the platform. This barge began life as a Navy utility barge in 1945. It was built at the Boston Naval Shipyard near the end of the war as YFN-893. It was sold to Kerr McGee and renamed "Ker Mac Drilling Tender No. 1", a utilitarian name if there ever was one. In 1978 she was sold to Norman Offshore, an offshore pipeline contractor and named "Pipeliner 8". This is where I first encountered her. I was the Project Engineer for Mobil Oil and had contracted her to lay some pipe.In 1983 she was sold to Global Industries,another offshore contractor, and renamed "Delta 1". At this point in her career she had reached 40 years and was near the end of her useful life. She was eventually sold for scrap.
WW II surplus provided a great deal of equipment to the fledgling offshore oil industry. Submarine diesel engines were used for generator sets on floating drill rigs. Their electric motors were installed in the lower hulls of semi submersible drilling rigs and used to propel them from location to location. Gun tubes were used as piles to support fixed platforms. Liberty ships were converted to drill ships by cutting a moon pool in the hull and adding a derrick. And it all started this week in 1947.
The wooden platform supported the derrick. Support equipment, power and quarters was on a tender barge that was moored to the platform. This barge began life as a Navy utility barge in 1945. It was built at the Boston Naval Shipyard near the end of the war as YFN-893. It was sold to Kerr McGee and renamed "Ker Mac Drilling Tender No. 1", a utilitarian name if there ever was one. In 1978 she was sold to Norman Offshore, an offshore pipeline contractor and named "Pipeliner 8". This is where I first encountered her. I was the Project Engineer for Mobil Oil and had contracted her to lay some pipe.In 1983 she was sold to Global Industries,another offshore contractor, and renamed "Delta 1". At this point in her career she had reached 40 years and was near the end of her useful life. She was eventually sold for scrap.
WW II surplus provided a great deal of equipment to the fledgling offshore oil industry. Submarine diesel engines were used for generator sets on floating drill rigs. Their electric motors were installed in the lower hulls of semi submersible drilling rigs and used to propel them from location to location. Gun tubes were used as piles to support fixed platforms. Liberty ships were converted to drill ships by cutting a moon pool in the hull and adding a derrick. And it all started this week in 1947.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
June 15, 1954
Mr. Charlie, the first true mobile offshore drilling rig, was launched. Mr. Charlie was the concept of "Doc" Laborde who formed Offshore Drilling and Exploration Company (ODECO). The rig was built by J. Ray McDermott. It is now a museum and training center, the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition in Morgan City, La.
I worked for both of those companies
June 20, 1977
Oil begins flowing in the 800 mile long Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS). I was in Anchorage when it was started up. The oil was pushing a pig with a noisemaker on it so its progress could be tracked. The location of the pig was a subject of the news every night.
Mr. Charlie, the first true mobile offshore drilling rig, was launched. Mr. Charlie was the concept of "Doc" Laborde who formed Offshore Drilling and Exploration Company (ODECO). The rig was built by J. Ray McDermott. It is now a museum and training center, the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition in Morgan City, La.
I worked for both of those companies
June 20, 1977
Oil begins flowing in the 800 mile long Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAPS). I was in Anchorage when it was started up. The oil was pushing a pig with a noisemaker on it so its progress could be tracked. The location of the pig was a subject of the news every night.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
June, 9, 1894
The oil industry started in Texas with the discovery oil in Corsicana, Texas. In the ultimate irony, the contractor was drilling water! For you trivia buffs, Wolf Brand Chili got its start in Corsicana during the oil boom in 1895.
June 11, 1816
The city streets of Baltimore are lit with manufactured gas by Baltimore Gas and Electric, the first gas company in the new world. The gas was manufactured from coal, tar and wood. Save the Whales breathes a sigh of relief.
June 14, 1938
The US Government passes the Natural Gas Act of 1938. This was the first instance of direct federal regulation of the oil and gas industry. The intent was to regulate transportation fees on interstate pipelines.
The oil industry started in Texas with the discovery oil in Corsicana, Texas. In the ultimate irony, the contractor was drilling water! For you trivia buffs, Wolf Brand Chili got its start in Corsicana during the oil boom in 1895.
June 11, 1816
The city streets of Baltimore are lit with manufactured gas by Baltimore Gas and Electric, the first gas company in the new world. The gas was manufactured from coal, tar and wood. Save the Whales breathes a sigh of relief.
June 14, 1938
The US Government passes the Natural Gas Act of 1938. This was the first instance of direct federal regulation of the oil and gas industry. The intent was to regulate transportation fees on interstate pipelines.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
June 4, 1872
Robert A Chesebrough receives a patent for Vaseline. The 22 year old noticed that that there was a waxy buildup on well heads on a visit to the Pennsylvania oi fields. This material was called "rod wax" and the oil field workers used it for treatment of minor cuts and abrasions. He took a sample with him, purified it and called it petroleum jelly. You have probably used some of it at some time during your life.
June 6, 1967
The first oil embargo was attempted. One day after the start of the Six Day War, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Algeria agreed to stop exporting oil to countries friendly to Israel. The emargo lasted about 2 months before it fell apart. They would get better at it later.
It happens that my family was making a cross country drive during this period. We never noticed any shortage of gasoline.
June 4, 1979
The well "Ixtoc One" blows out in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. It took almost 10 months to kill it. During this period, the well spewed out over 3 million barrels (126 million gals) of oil making it second only to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Robert A Chesebrough receives a patent for Vaseline. The 22 year old noticed that that there was a waxy buildup on well heads on a visit to the Pennsylvania oi fields. This material was called "rod wax" and the oil field workers used it for treatment of minor cuts and abrasions. He took a sample with him, purified it and called it petroleum jelly. You have probably used some of it at some time during your life.
June 6, 1967
The first oil embargo was attempted. One day after the start of the Six Day War, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya and Algeria agreed to stop exporting oil to countries friendly to Israel. The emargo lasted about 2 months before it fell apart. They would get better at it later.
It happens that my family was making a cross country drive during this period. We never noticed any shortage of gasoline.
June 4, 1979
The well "Ixtoc One" blows out in the Bay of Campeche, Mexico. It took almost 10 months to kill it. During this period, the well spewed out over 3 million barrels (126 million gals) of oil making it second only to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
May 17, 1882
A well in Cherry Grove, PA flows at an unheard of rate of 1000 barrels per day sending oil price shock waves through the 25 year old industry. What became known as the Pennsylvania 646 Mystery Well caused oil prices to fall to 50 cents per barrel. It's the Law of Supply and Demand in action.
A well in Cherry Grove, PA flows at an unheard of rate of 1000 barrels per day sending oil price shock waves through the 25 year old industry. What became known as the Pennsylvania 646 Mystery Well caused oil prices to fall to 50 cents per barrel. It's the Law of Supply and Demand in action.
Monday, May 11, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
May 15, 1911
The Supreme Court orders the break up of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Standard Oil was broken up in to 34 companies and they have been slowly getting back together ever since.
The Supreme Court orders the break up of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey for violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Standard Oil was broken up in to 34 companies and they have been slowly getting back together ever since.
Monday, May 4, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
May 4, 1869
Thomas Fitch Rowland was issued a patent for an offshore drilling concept. The owner of Continental Iron Works of NY, his idea consisted of a 4 legged iron structure with a ship moored alongside for the drilling equipment. It was capable of drilling in water depths up to 50 feet.
Thomas Rowland has other claims to fame - his Continental Iron Works built the USS Monitor during the Civil War and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) named an award after him. It has been awarded annually since 1882.
May 5, 1889
Standard Oil begins construction of the largest refinery in the US near Chicago. Now owned by BP, it is still the largest.
May 7, 1920
Erle Halliburton starts his oil well cementing business. His red cementing trucks are still working.
Thomas Fitch Rowland was issued a patent for an offshore drilling concept. The owner of Continental Iron Works of NY, his idea consisted of a 4 legged iron structure with a ship moored alongside for the drilling equipment. It was capable of drilling in water depths up to 50 feet.
Thomas Rowland has other claims to fame - his Continental Iron Works built the USS Monitor during the Civil War and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) named an award after him. It has been awarded annually since 1882.
May 5, 1889
Standard Oil begins construction of the largest refinery in the US near Chicago. Now owned by BP, it is still the largest.
May 7, 1920
Erle Halliburton starts his oil well cementing business. His red cementing trucks are still working.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
May 1, 1860
The oil industry of (West) Virginia began with a well drilled to 303 feet and producing 100 barrels per day. It was drilled near Burning Springs, so named because of the natural gas seeps in the area. Wirt County, where the lease was located, became part of a new Union state in 1862. The oil field was attacked and destroyed by Confederate troops in 1863.
May 1, 1916
The Sinclair Oil and Refining Company was formed. They used an Apatosaurus as their logo. It was featured in their exhibits in the 1934 and 1964 World's fairs.
May 1, 1931
The Texas Railroad Commission moves to limit production from the East Texas oilfield in an effort to shore up the price of oil which was as low as $0.10 per barrel. The East Texas field was one of the United States largest and has produced 5 Billion barrels to date.
During WW II, the then largest pipeline (24" diameter) in the country was built to the east coast to carry oil to refiners there. It had become too dangerous to ship oil on the seas.
The oil industry of (West) Virginia began with a well drilled to 303 feet and producing 100 barrels per day. It was drilled near Burning Springs, so named because of the natural gas seeps in the area. Wirt County, where the lease was located, became part of a new Union state in 1862. The oil field was attacked and destroyed by Confederate troops in 1863.
May 1, 1916
The Sinclair Oil and Refining Company was formed. They used an Apatosaurus as their logo. It was featured in their exhibits in the 1934 and 1964 World's fairs.
May 1, 1931
The Texas Railroad Commission moves to limit production from the East Texas oilfield in an effort to shore up the price of oil which was as low as $0.10 per barrel. The East Texas field was one of the United States largest and has produced 5 Billion barrels to date.
During WW II, the then largest pipeline (24" diameter) in the country was built to the east coast to carry oil to refiners there. It had become too dangerous to ship oil on the seas.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
April 25, 1865
A patent was issued to Civil War veteran Col.Edwin Roberts for an explosive device used for fracturing oil bearing formations in wells to improve flow. In order to avoid his fees, some oilmen hired unlicensed practitioners who used their own devices, usually at night. This is how the term "moonlighting" came into the lexicon.
April 20, 1892
Los Angeles oil field discovered. A well drilled between two tar pits located near the current Dodger Stadium, yielded 25 barrels per day. By 1897 there were 500 wells pumping oil. By 1925, California was producing half of the worlds oil supply. Hard to imagine that today.
April 24, 1911
Magnolia Oil Company was founded in Texas. This is personally interesting because Magnolia became the Mobil Oil Corporation - my employer for almost 20 years. The company was headquartered in the Magnolia Building in Dallas in 1934. The building was topped with their iconic logo of a red Pegasus which became a local landmark and even was an aid to aviation.
April 20, 2010
Deepwater Horizon blowout. We all know what happened there.
A patent was issued to Civil War veteran Col.Edwin Roberts for an explosive device used for fracturing oil bearing formations in wells to improve flow. In order to avoid his fees, some oilmen hired unlicensed practitioners who used their own devices, usually at night. This is how the term "moonlighting" came into the lexicon.
April 20, 1892
Los Angeles oil field discovered. A well drilled between two tar pits located near the current Dodger Stadium, yielded 25 barrels per day. By 1897 there were 500 wells pumping oil. By 1925, California was producing half of the worlds oil supply. Hard to imagine that today.
April 24, 1911
Magnolia Oil Company was founded in Texas. This is personally interesting because Magnolia became the Mobil Oil Corporation - my employer for almost 20 years. The company was headquartered in the Magnolia Building in Dallas in 1934. The building was topped with their iconic logo of a red Pegasus which became a local landmark and even was an aid to aviation.
April 20, 2010
Deepwater Horizon blowout. We all know what happened there.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
April 14, 1865
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln. Why is this related to the oil field, you ask? We know that Booth was a well known actor but what isn't well known is that he took his substantial earnings from acting and invested them in an oil well in Pennsylvania. He bought a 3.5 acre lease near Franklin, Pa and formed the Dramatic Oil Company in 1864. His first well produced about 25 barrels per day. His mistake was attempting an early form of fracking called "shooting" where explosives were dropped into the well and detonated. Unfortunately for Booth, his shooting destroyed the well. He lost his money in his oil venture.
Irony, however, knows no bounds. About two months after he caught and killed for the assassination of Lincoln, a well was drilled near his lease that came in at 500 barrels per day.
April 19, 1897
The Duryea brothers present the first commercially available motorcar powered by gasoline. A total of 13 were produced. Environmentalists protest. Global temperature increases several degrees.
It took a while for gasoline to catch on. Three years later, most automobiles were powered by either steam or electricity.
April 13, 1974
The worlds deepest oil well was drilled in Oklahoma. The Bertha Rogers #1 was drilled for gas to a depth of 31,441 feet. It took 504 days to drill and held the record until 2004.
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln. Why is this related to the oil field, you ask? We know that Booth was a well known actor but what isn't well known is that he took his substantial earnings from acting and invested them in an oil well in Pennsylvania. He bought a 3.5 acre lease near Franklin, Pa and formed the Dramatic Oil Company in 1864. His first well produced about 25 barrels per day. His mistake was attempting an early form of fracking called "shooting" where explosives were dropped into the well and detonated. Unfortunately for Booth, his shooting destroyed the well. He lost his money in his oil venture.
Irony, however, knows no bounds. About two months after he caught and killed for the assassination of Lincoln, a well was drilled near his lease that came in at 500 barrels per day.
April 19, 1897
The Duryea brothers present the first commercially available motorcar powered by gasoline. A total of 13 were produced. Environmentalists protest. Global temperature increases several degrees.
It took a while for gasoline to catch on. Three years later, most automobiles were powered by either steam or electricity.
April 13, 1974
The worlds deepest oil well was drilled in Oklahoma. The Bertha Rogers #1 was drilled for gas to a depth of 31,441 feet. It took 504 days to drill and held the record until 2004.
Monday, April 6, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
April 18, 1866
James and Amos Densmore patented a method to transport oil by rail. They built two vertical tanks (wooden) on a flat car. This became a more efective method of transporting oil than in individual barrels.
Amos also has a connection to something else you use every day, In 1875 he helped to re-arrange the typewiter keyboard into the now familiar "QWERTY" arrangement that prevented commonly used keys from jamming each other.
April 7, 1902
Texas Company formed. One of the few companies that became successful out of the Spindletop oil boom. It later became known by the telegraph address of it's New York office - TEXACO.
James and Amos Densmore patented a method to transport oil by rail. They built two vertical tanks (wooden) on a flat car. This became a more efective method of transporting oil than in individual barrels.
Amos also has a connection to something else you use every day, In 1875 he helped to re-arrange the typewiter keyboard into the now familiar "QWERTY" arrangement that prevented commonly used keys from jamming each other.
April 7, 1902
Texas Company formed. One of the few companies that became successful out of the Spindletop oil boom. It later became known by the telegraph address of it's New York office - TEXACO.
Monday, March 30, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
April 2, 1980
President Carter signs the Windfall Profits Tax on oil companies. The idea was typical liberal Democrat plan to tax the eeevil oil companies from profiting on the price run up of oil. Eight years later, domestic oil production is at a 20 year low. In August 1988, the tax was repealed. Another failed tax program from the Dems. Now it's called "sharing the wealth".
April 1, 1986
The price of crude oil hits a low of $10 per barrel. (Where did those windfall profits go??) Those of us who survived the 80s remember the oil mans prayer...."Lord, just give me one more boom and I promise I won't screw it up".
President Carter signs the Windfall Profits Tax on oil companies. The idea was typical liberal Democrat plan to tax the eeevil oil companies from profiting on the price run up of oil. Eight years later, domestic oil production is at a 20 year low. In August 1988, the tax was repealed. Another failed tax program from the Dems. Now it's called "sharing the wealth".
April 1, 1986
The price of crude oil hits a low of $10 per barrel. (Where did those windfall profits go??) Those of us who survived the 80s remember the oil mans prayer...."Lord, just give me one more boom and I promise I won't screw it up".
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
March 29, 1819
Edwin Drake was born. He is credited for drilling the first oil well in 1859 in.....wait for it......Titusville, Pennsylvania! The well was drilled because it was discovered that kerosene could be distilled from oil as well as coal.
March 27, 1855
Kerosene was invented by Canadian chemist Abraham Gesner. Distilled from coal, it was called coal oil and was the primary source of illumination until electricity. My old company, Mobil Oil, sold kerosene in China. They would give away the lamp for free knowing that they would then sell lots of kerosene.
March 28, 1886
For a brief period of time, Indiana became the world largest natural gas producer with the discovery of the Trenton Field near Portland, Indiana. Yep, the first oil and gas fields were in the north.
March 27, 1975
First joint of pipe laid for the Trans Alaska Pipeline.
March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez runs aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Think of the irony that it happened on the anniversary of the start of the pipeline construction.
Edwin Drake was born. He is credited for drilling the first oil well in 1859 in.....wait for it......Titusville, Pennsylvania! The well was drilled because it was discovered that kerosene could be distilled from oil as well as coal.
March 27, 1855
Kerosene was invented by Canadian chemist Abraham Gesner. Distilled from coal, it was called coal oil and was the primary source of illumination until electricity. My old company, Mobil Oil, sold kerosene in China. They would give away the lamp for free knowing that they would then sell lots of kerosene.
March 28, 1886
For a brief period of time, Indiana became the world largest natural gas producer with the discovery of the Trenton Field near Portland, Indiana. Yep, the first oil and gas fields were in the north.
March 27, 1975
First joint of pipe laid for the Trans Alaska Pipeline.
March 24, 1989
Exxon Valdez runs aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Think of the irony that it happened on the anniversary of the start of the pipeline construction.
Monday, March 16, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
March 17, 1890
Sun Oil Company of Ohio (SUNOCO) is incorporated. Yep, the original oil companies were based in the north.
March 16, 1911
Mobil Oil's Pegasus was trademarked. Later a lighted version of the red flying horse was installed on the company HQ in Dallas and it became a landmark for early travellers.
March 20, 1919
The eeevil American Petroleum Institute (API) was formed. Environmentalists complain.
March 18, 1937
There was a natural gas explosion at the New London HS in east Texas. It killed 298 people. This accident was the reason that natural gas now smells the way it does. Natural gas has no odor and its accumulation in the high school basement went undetected. Since then, a chemical called mercaptan has been added so that small amounts of it assault the nasal membranes. One of the reporters who covered the story was a young Walter Cronkite.
March 17, 1949
The first hydraulic frac takes place near Duncan, Oklahoma. No aquifers were damaged.
Sun Oil Company of Ohio (SUNOCO) is incorporated. Yep, the original oil companies were based in the north.
March 16, 1911
Mobil Oil's Pegasus was trademarked. Later a lighted version of the red flying horse was installed on the company HQ in Dallas and it became a landmark for early travellers.
March 20, 1919
The eeevil American Petroleum Institute (API) was formed. Environmentalists complain.
March 18, 1937
There was a natural gas explosion at the New London HS in east Texas. It killed 298 people. This accident was the reason that natural gas now smells the way it does. Natural gas has no odor and its accumulation in the high school basement went undetected. Since then, a chemical called mercaptan has been added so that small amounts of it assault the nasal membranes. One of the reporters who covered the story was a young Walter Cronkite.
March 17, 1949
The first hydraulic frac takes place near Duncan, Oklahoma. No aquifers were damaged.
Friday, March 13, 2015
This Week in Oil and Gas History
March 12, 1943
A group of oil field roughnesck were secretly sent to the UK to help the Brits drill for oil in Sherwood Forest and provide a submarine-proof source of fuel. You can read more about this little known piece of history here.
March 12, 1968
Prudhoe Bay oil field discovered by ARCO and Exxon. It was 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle and remains the largest oil field in North America.
March 9, 1974
Construction of the 800 mile Trans Alaska Pipeline began. It will cost $8 billion and take three years. I was actually in Alaska when they started up the pipeline. Progress of the "pig" was a daily news item. Note that took less than 10 years from discovery to delivery for North Slope oil - that is an example of American ingenuity.
March 12, 1974
OPEC ends the oil embargo
A group of oil field roughnesck were secretly sent to the UK to help the Brits drill for oil in Sherwood Forest and provide a submarine-proof source of fuel. You can read more about this little known piece of history here.
March 12, 1968
Prudhoe Bay oil field discovered by ARCO and Exxon. It was 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle and remains the largest oil field in North America.
March 9, 1974
Construction of the 800 mile Trans Alaska Pipeline began. It will cost $8 billion and take three years. I was actually in Alaska when they started up the pipeline. Progress of the "pig" was a daily news item. Note that took less than 10 years from discovery to delivery for North Slope oil - that is an example of American ingenuity.
March 12, 1974
OPEC ends the oil embargo
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