Oil in Texas
Oil is a major part of the Texas economy. Texas has consistently been the leading oil producing state in the United States and in 2024, set a new record when 2 billion barrels were produced for the first time ever.[1] It was first detected in 1543 on the water in Galveston Bay.[2] The first oil well was drilled in 1866. Oil in Texas took off in 1901.[3]
History
[edit]The history of oil in Texas dates back to July, 1543 when Spanish explorer Luis de Moscoso Alvarado detected it floating on the on the water in Galveston Bay.[2] The first oil well was drilled by Lyne T. Barret in 1866. Oil in Texas took off in 1901 when Anthony Francis Lucas, an immigrant to the United States from Croatia (Then Austria-Hungary) along with Pattillo Higgins successfully drilled for oil in what is now known as Spindletop.[3]
The Spindletop oil field is considered by some to be the start of the petroleum age.[citation needed]
Oil producing regions
[edit]Major oil producing regions in Texas include the East Texas Oil Field and the Permian Basin. During the first half of the twentieth century, these regions developed around boomtowns such as Longview and Midland.[4]
Regulation
[edit]The production of oil in Texas is regulated by the Railroad Commission of Texas. The commission engages in three main types of regulation: resource conservation, proration of production, and protecting the correlative rights of both producers and royalty owners.[5]
Oil Companies in Texas
[edit]The main commercial hub for the North American Oil industry, notable companies with headquarters or North American Headquarters in Texas include:
- BP (North American Headquarters)[6]
- Chevron
- ConocoPhillips
- Exxonmobil
- Shell PLC (United States Headquarters)
- Tesoro
- Valero
Notable people
[edit]- Bud Adams
- George H.W. Bush
- George W Bush
- T Boone Pickens
- Hugh Roy Cullen
- H.L. Hunt
- Clint Murchinson Sr.
- Sid Richardson
- Autry Stephens
References
[edit]- ^ "032625 Production records press release". www.rrc.texas.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b "Oil Production In Texas". StateImpact Texas. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b Wooster, Robert (July 21, 2016). "Lucas, Anthony Francis". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ McComb, David G. (2015). The City in Texas: A History. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 160–169.
- ^ Prindle, David F. (1981). Petroleum Politics and the Texas Railroad Commission. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 6–9.
- ^ "Texas | Where we operate | bp America". United States. Retrieved 2025-05-23.