The history of American oil and gas industry tells a sometimes forgotten story of innovation and progress. It not only serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come in the last century but also highlights our capacity for improving energy technology for the future.
1901 North American Oil Boom
The first oil “gusher” blows in Texas at the Spindletop field, boosting annual American oil production from thousands to millions of barrels per year. Interest in oil surges, ushering in the modern age of petroleum.
1913 New Methods of Refining Oil
In Germany, chemist Freidrich Bergius introduces a process known as high-pressure hydrogenation, significantly improving gasoline output from the refining process.
1930-1940 Nylon and Polyester Invented and Commercialized
Led by research at American DuPont Chemical, chemists develop groundbreaking synthetic materials from oil-refining byproducts. Within a few years, nylon, and polyester are used to produce clothing, parachutes and a variety of industrial materials.
1942 Fluid Catalytic Cracking
Exxon implements the world’s first commercial Fluid Catalytic Cracking system. FCC revolutionizes oil refining by creating a lighter, more usable product. FCC remains an important part of the oil refining business and is still used in refineries today.
1950-1970 Synthetic Oil
AMSOIL and Mobil Oil lead development of synthetic oils designed for high-performance military jets. In response to the success in military applications and a worldwide oil crisis, petrochemical companies introduce synthetic oils for automobiles in the 1970’s.
1970 Wave and Pulse Technology
US Department of Energy’s, National Energy Technology Laboratory aids in introducing seismic technology and mud pulse telemetry to the industry. Using seismic wave to locate oil and mud pulse telemetry to measure while drilling, oil companies save millions while locating and drilling for oil.
1990-2011
Fueled by the US Energy Policy Act of 1992, companies implement more efficient methods for producing and using alternative energy sources. These new energy efficiency standards lead to a surge in research and development and investments in alternative fuels and natural gas production.