Many valuable minerals are produced in Texas, the most valuable minerals produced in Texas is
oil and gas. Oil and Gas has been produced from majority of geologic eras in Texas. All major
sedimentary basins in the state of Texas have produced oil or gas. Texas yields large quantities of oil that
dates back long before the Europeans arrived. History of oil and gas has made a large impact in our
modern day infrastructure, and way of living. Texas produces more oil than majority of the states in the
US, and more often than not Texas produces the most petroleum annually. There is a relatively large list
of oil fields discovered in Texas compared to other states. Early oil field discoveries profoundly altered
the culture of the state, oil and gas began to drastically displace agriculture, due to some large discovers
in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and was the new drive that boosted the economy.
Lyne T. Barret is responsible for the first well to produce oil in Texas. According to the Article
titled “First Lone Star Discovery” Barret used simple drilling technology such as “an auger fastened to a
pipe and rotated by a steam-driven cogwheel” (September 11, 2017, No Author).
1
Although the first well
to produce oil in Texas was founded in 1866 inside of Nacogdoches County, it wasn’t until June 9, 1894,
that Texas had accidently landed on its first recorded major oil discovery, while drilling for water to help
end the lengthy agricultural depression. Although the drillers were looking for water at “1,027 feet, the
drillers noticed unmistakable signs of crude oil filling the well shaft and slowly rising to the surface”
(King, 505).
2
Following this great discovery the first well equipped refinery in Texas was built. Corsicana
being the home for the refinery shipped its first production in 1899. The refinery was known for the
production of illuminating oil, which is used for burning and providing light, and refined fuel oil, which is
used for transportation. In 1899 the government got involved in the Corsicana oil industries forcing all
abandoned wells to be plugged. Also in 1899 the legislators passed the “Pipe line act of 1899” which
allowed companies that transport oil the right of eminent but the act also stopped those companies
from practicing in the fabrication of oil.
