|
The third annual AOGHS Energy Education Conference & Field Trip will be held Nov. 12 - 14, 2008, in Houston, Texas -- immediately following the Nov. 10-12 Annual Meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
more...
Centennial Issue
"No official act could give me greater pleasure than to dedicate this stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the petroleum industry. The American people have great reason to be indebted to this industry. It has supplied most of the power that has made the American standard of living possible." -- U.S. Postmaster General Arthur Summerfield, Aug. 27, 1959 more... Paraffin Goes to School
Introduced in 1903, Crayola crayons today are sold around the world. The key petroleum ingredient, paraffin, is delivered to the Crayola factory in Easton, Pa. Read the history of this colorful product in our Sept. 2007 "Petroleum Age." more... Astrobleme Museum a Big Hit
In northern Oklahoma, the Ames Astrobleme Museum, which opened Aug. 18, 2007, is an open-ended, A-frame structure featuring high-tech panels that describe an ancient meteor crater -- and the geological significance of the impact, according to the man who discovered oil there, Harold Hamm of Enid, Okla. more... The Petroleum Age
The "Petroleum Age" represents a communication network of energy education resources. First published in 2004, this quarterly newsletter is a collection of interesting (and often unusual) articles about U.S. petroleum exploration and production history, technologies, oilfield pioneers, and oil patch community news. more... Products Made from Petroleum
The Pulse of Earth Science is the 10th anniversary theme for the annual energy education initiative from the American Geological Institute (AGI). The AGI classroom calendar features student activities for each month. more... Historical Society News & Events
A summary of the latest news, events and features in the AOGHS March and June 2007 issues of the "Petroleum Age" quarterly newsletter. more... Asphalt Paves the Way
Ninety-four percent of U.S. roads and streets are asphalt...variously known as blacktop, tarmac, macadam, plant mix, asphalt concrete, bituminous concrete, and Hot Mix Asphalt. Read about the history of asphalt in the June 2007 "Petroleum Age" newsletter. more... Energy Education Experts Share Ideas
Leading energy educators shared strategies and enjoyed a classroom demonstration by the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City. The OERB program, extensive panel discussions that surrounded it, and a field trip to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists Geoscience Center in Tulsa were among the highlights our 2007 Energy Education Conference & Field Trip, May 31 to June 2.
view AOGHS 2007 Conference Schedule
In case you missed our historic gathering, here is a PDF of the schedule of events for the recently concluded Energy Education Conference & Field Trip in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. more... Recollections of the Late Lloyd N. Unsell
The U.S. oil and natural gas industry has lost one of its greatest advocates and historians. Lloyd N. Unsell, past president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America -- and the only recipient of the Lone Star Steel Chief Roughneck Award who was not an oil or gas producer -- passed away April 7, 2007, at age 84. In 2004, AOGHS proudly posted Lloyd's introduction and first chapter of his fascinating "recollections" -- the insights of a man who will be long remembered by his industry. AOGHS expresses its deepest sympathy to the Unsell family. Lloyd was the very first member of this historical society. more... Lloyd N. Unsell Memoir: Chapters 2-5
Our second installment of the serialization of the late Lloyd Unsell's memoir. Here is part two (chapters two through five) in a dozen easily printed pages that will take you to the late 1940s -- and the heart of Oklahoma's oil patch. more... Unlocking the Energy of Oil
From our March 2007 newsletter: The new, 2,000-square-foot permanent exhibit opened Feb. 1 at the Texas Energy Museum in Beaumont. The exhibit tells the story of
the chemistry of hydrocarbon transformation from oil to consumer products.
more... Flight of the Woolaroc
It was a foggy Tuesday morning, Aug. 16, 1927, as eight airplanes prepared for takeoff before a crowd of more than 50,000 at the Oakland Airport. Aviation history was about to be made with a race to Honolulu -- and Phillips Nu-Aviation Gasoline. Read this 430k PDF file from our quarterly newsletter. more... The Conroe Crater
In 1932 wildcatter George W. Strake discovered the prolific Conroe, Texas, oilfield. In January 1933, it erupted in flame. To the rescue came George E. Failing's portable drilling trucks. Then came H. John Eastman, "the father of directional drilling." From the June 2005 issue of the "Petroleum Age." more... Hot & Cool Engines of Coolspring, Pa.
From the September 2005 newsletter: In western Pennsylvania, the Coolspring Power Museum collection of internal combustion engines, including many used in early 20th century oilfields, is the among the most historically significant in the country, according to museum director Paul E. Harvey, a member of the historical society.
more... The Nitroglycerine Factory of Mrs. Alford
From the September 2005 newsletter: In 1899, Mrs. Byron Alford of Bradford, Pa., cooked 3,000 pounds of nitroglycerine every day. She owned her own nitro factory near the first billion dollar oilfield that produced (and still produces) the finest oil in the world. The Penn-Brad Historical Oil Well Park in Custer City tells her remarkable story...and proudly displays a complete 1890s, 72-foot standard cable tool rig outside. more... Last of the Gushers
From the March 2006 newsletter: In 1922, it took Texas wildcatter experience and ingenuity to create a workable device to prevent oil well blowouts and bring an end to the days of gushers. Like wooden derricks and steam boilers, gushers have long receded into the pages of oilfield history. Drilling technology continues to evolve in its quest to recover petroleum. more... Oklahoma Floats & Tulsa's Oil Giant
From the March 2006 newsletter: Anticipating the parade to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Sooner State, artists have been working with the Oklahoma Centennial Commission to bring in this wildcat well in 2007. Also, at 76-feet tall, who is the Golden Driller? more... Indiana's Gas Boom
From the March 2006 newsletter: A brief history of a natural gas boom. Discoveries in the late 1880s led to the Indiana gas boom, which would dramatically change the state. The Trenton Field as it became known, spread over 5,120 square miles. It was the largest natural gas field known in the world. More than 200 companies drilled and sold natural gas. Then the gas ran out. more... Accessible Geo Artifacts
From the March 2006 newsletter: The Geophysical Society of Houston (GSH), a section of the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG), Tulsa, first formed a museum committee in 1960 and started collecting geophysical artifacts used to locate petroleum. The SEG Geosceince Center in Tulsa has many instruments on display and also exhibits them online.
more... Louisiana State Oil Museum
From the Petroleum Age newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 3, September 2005: The Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum in Oil City describes the great 1911 Caddo Parish oil find -- and the rise and fall of a North Louisiana oil town. Director Coe Haygood tells the story. more... Wyoming Oil Pioneers
As the great gold rushes of the West lost momentum, another highly prized resource brought a new wave of explorers – especially Pennsylvania oilmen. By the time Wyoming became the 44th state in 1890, Casper already had a refinery, oil speculators, land controversies and lawsuits. In August 1890, Philip Shannon brought in his first well. By the 1920s, about one-fifth of all oil produced in the United States came from one field – the Salt Creek Oil Field north of Casper. (Article from Vol. 2, No. 4, December Petroleum Age newsletter).
more... Oil on the Brain
One of the articles from our December 2005 Petroleum Age newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 4: Seven 19th century oilfield airs have been given new life in a recording by the Franklin High School Band of Franklin, Pa. The CD is the brain-child of band director Steve Johnston. The songs include Oil Fever Galop, Oil on the Brain, and American Petroleum Polka. more... America's First Dry Hole
Also from Vol. 2, No. 4, December Petroleum Age newsletter: Just four days after the famous Drake well discovery of Aug. 27, 1859 in Titusville, Pa., John Grandin began a well of his own. It achieved many firsts that today are only footnotes in oil history. more... Oklahoma History Center & Devon Energy Oil and Gas Park
The Oklahoma History Center opened Nov. 19
in Oklahoma City, concluding five years of construction. Curators moved thousands of artifacts into the 40,000 square-foot facility. It includes five main exhibit galleries.
Next door is the Devon Energy Oil and Gas Park, which has three types of derricks used in Oklahoma oilfields -- and an extensive collection of other equipment. (from Vol. 2, No. 4, the Petroleum Age newsletter) more... Publications Debut at Convention
AOGHS in the news -- The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) promotes society publications during the June 2004 75th anniversary meeting in Colorado Springs. more... Kentucky Oil in a Bottle
more... East Texas Independents
The East Texas Oilfield celebrated its 75th anniversary in October 2005 -- thanks to the work of Joe White, director of the East Texas Oil Museum, Kilgore. Contact him at (903) 983-8295. more... Appalachian Basin Independents
Additional copies of this new regional series are available for museums, community education programs, association meetings. conventions, trade shows, & etc. Call (202) 857-4785. more... Painting California In Oil
Paintings by JoAnn Cowans
view Oklahoma's First Discovery
The story behind the Oklahoma's first oil well and the city of Bartlesville. Many discoveries would follow this first "commercial" well... more... Preserving the Heritage of Ranger
The derrick-raising efforts of the Ranger Historical Preservation Society; Cisco, Texas, and the first Hilton Hotel... more... Chief Roughneck Hall of Fame
Since 1955, the annual Chief Roughneck Award has recognized individuals "whose accomplishments and character best represent the highest ideals of the oil and gas industry." The award is sponsored by Lone Star Steel, LP, a subsidiary of United States Steel.
On Nov. 8, 2007, John Walker, president and CEO of Enervest Management Partners, Ltd., Houston, was named the 2007 Chief Roughneck during the annual meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America in San Antonio.
The 2006 Chief Roughneck: Mark Papa
President, EOG Resources, Inc. The 2005 Chief Roughneck: Ray L. Hunt, CEO, Hunt Oil Company.
more... The Oilmen of Oblong, Illinois
A new AOGHS museum profile, this time featuring the outstanding effort to build the Illinois Oilfield Museum and Resource Center. more... The First Lone Star Discovery
From Petroleum Age No. 3, a look at the 1866 oil strike near Nacogdoches, Texas. more... A Crude Story of Mabel's Eyelashes
From the March 2005 Petroleum Age newsletter, this is the story of how a patented method for turning a waxy goop from 1870s Pennsylvania oil wells led to a black mixture that today adorns the eyelashes of women aorund the world. more... Museum News & Events
Oil and Gas Museum news and community events for the summer of oil patch tourism. more... Oilfield Artillery
From page 12 of the latest Petroleum Age newsletter: Lightning strikes were frequent and disastrous occurrences in early oilfields. An 1884 magazine article, A Thunder-Storm in the Oil Country, describes how oilmen went about putting out the fires. more... Picture Michigan Oil History
A Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, exhibits decades of Michigan exploration and production history. Here is the story from our September Petroleum Age Newsletter. more... America Exports Oil
The Society is indebted to maritime author Dr. William Flayhart III for his research on the Port of Philadelphia and its contributions to the growth of the American petroleum industry. more... AOGHS Museum News December 2005
The American Oil & Gas Historical Society has made remarkable progress in educating the public. A growing number are expressing interest in the dramatic heritage of U.S. exploration. Through public outreach and education, AOGHS today maintains a communication network linking individuals committed to oil patch preservation. more... AOGHS Museum News March 2006
As our International Oil History Symposium approaches, the March 2006 issue of the Petroleum Age quarterly newsletter offers details -- and includes articles on oilfield technologies that have changed the industry.
more... From the June 2006 Petroleum Age
Special thanks to all who attended, participated and sponsored the April 20-23 Oil History Symposium in Wichita, Kansas. AOGHS features the energy education events in the June issue of the "Petroleum Age." Here is a small sample of the issue's many stories. (1.4 M PDF file) more... AOGHS Museum News & Events
A summer update on historical society and community oil museum news, including efforts to open new oil and natural gas history education centers. (347k PDF file) more... Evolution of an Oilfield Technology
"All Pumped Up" is an article from our September 2006 Petroleum Age newsletter. It describes the history of an American oil patch icon: the pump jack, whose history is one of invention and innovation by industry pioneers. (903k PDF file) more... A Brief History of Drilling
"A cable tool driller knows more knots and splices than any six sailors you can find." The technologies used to drill a modern oil or natural gas well evolved from the simple and ancient spring pole to rotary rigs capable of drilling miles into the earth. But it was the advent of cable tool drilling that introduced the wooden derrick into a changing American landscape. "Making Hole" is from our September 2006 "Petroleum Age." (580k PDF file) more... An Oleaginous History of Wax Lips
When Ralphie Parker and his 4th-grade classmates dejectedly hand over their wax fangs to Mrs. Shields in "A Christmas Story," a generation may be reminded of what a penny used to buy at the local Woolworth's store. But there is far more to these paraffin playthings. The history of Wax Lips is the holiday feature of the society's December newsletter. Learn how paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum distillation, quickly found its way from refinery to marketplace in the form of candles, sealing waxes...and peculiar American candies. more... The Remarkable Nellie Bly
During a 1904 visit to Europe, Nellie Bly saw glycerin containers made of steel. She would later patent her own metal barrel and proclaim that "I am the only manufacturer in the country who can produce a certain type of steel barrel for which there is an immense demand at present, for the transportation of oil, gasoline, and other liquids." -- From our December 2006 "Petroleum Age" newsletter more... |
bravenet.com