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Journal Guide to Texas Oil
| Citation: Journal Guide to Texas Oil. Tulsa: Petroleum Publishing Co., 1951. Accession and Location: 91-1600@98/7 | |||
 | Information | ||
| Narrative (natural, cultural, political, and technological encounters). | |||
| Images | |||
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Narrative
Background
The growth and development of the oil industry shaped the Texas economy in a major way in the twentieth century. With the discovery of the Spindletop field in the Beaumont area in 1901, the search for oil quickly expanded from the coastal regions of Texas west. Texas became the leading oil producing state in the country. By 1950, Texas had 15,000 miles of gas lines and 26,000 miles of crude oil lines criss-crossing the state. After the close of World War II in 1945 and the lifting of federal regulations on pricing and production, there was a flurry of exploration, drilling, and production. This map depicting the location of oil fields and gas and oil pipelines was published at the height of the post-war oil boom. The map was a supplement to The Oil and Gas Journal’s, issue of June 21, 1951. The Journal was a publication produced for the people who worked in the oil industry.Related Sources
Clark, James Anthony and Michael T. Halbouty. The Last Boom. New York: Random House, 1972; Yergin, Daniel. The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991.Natural Encounters
Map depicts relatively few physical features, though it does show the Texas coastline, bays, rivers, and the location of oil and gas deposits. Gas deposits are shown in red and oil pools in black.Topics Covered
Oil and gas deposits and salt domes with producing oil and gasActivities/Tasks
1. Based on research, compare the oil and gas pools found on this map in 1951 to those in present day Texas. Then compare a section or region of the Middle East from the 1950s to a present day section or region from the Middle East. You may next compare both Texas and the Middle East in the 1950s and then again in the present. Students can develop charts showing the production of each area. This will help the students understand the importance of the Middle East to industrial nations like the United States. 2. This activity or task is more scientific, and a science teacher should be encouraged to help out with it: Have the students examine the map and give observations about it. They should observe that the oil and gas is scattered throughout Texas, and that there are some areas that have little or no oil. If they cannot reach any conclusions, then ask them, “why is the oil here anyway?” “Where did it come from?” “What determines the locations these oil deposits?”SubjectArea
World Cultures/GeographyTexas Essential Knowledge and Skills
7.8, 7.9, 7.10, 7.21, 7.22, 7.23Format
Cultural Encounters
The map, with its emphasis on oil and gas deposits, reflects a culture bent on economic development, financial gain, and industrial growth. This may be a stretch for students in the lower grades, but for students with some knowledge of history, economics, and political science, we think the connection can be made. Oil only became important with the industrial revolution and the development of machines and engines that depended on it to run. Western capitalist cultures embraced the industrial revolution and supported the search for the resources, both human and natural, to sustain it.Topics Covered
The underpinnings of the western cultures that initiated the industrial revolution.Activities/Tasks
1. Ask the students to look at counties in Texas with oil and gas pools. Have the students select one of the counties with oil and gas, and then research population statistics for that county beginning with 1950 and ending with 1990. Have the students suggest reasons for the increase or decrease in population. 2. Next, have the students’ research oil production in the same county. Also, have them look at any oil or gas based industry in the area. For example, did oil refineries close in the area? If so, in what years? Did population grow at this time? Why? Why not? Have students propose theories based on their work.SubjectArea
World cultures/GeographyTexas Essential Knowledge and Skills
7.1, 7.2, 7.10, 7.11, 7.21, 7.22, 7.23Format
Political Encounters
The map shows political entities such as towns, cities, counties, and the state. The map’s insets display two types of pipelines -- natural gas pipelines and “crude-oil and products” pipe lines. Both are regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission, which some would classify as a political body. Perhaps the most important political feature on this map is the grids depicted along the Texas coast. These grids show lands off the Texas coast claimed by the state. These lands were called the tidelands. After oil was discovered off shore, the United States government began to assert national, not state, ownership of these lands. The tidelands controversy became a national issue that involved government at several levels – it took three Supreme Court decisions against the states, three acts of Congress in favor of the states, two presidential vetoes against the states, and a major issue in a presidential campaign -- before the states, and Texas, finally won victory and got to keep the tidelands.Topics Covered
County development, government regulation of industry and state vs. federal control over the offshore tidelandsActivities/Tasks
1. Have the students research the tidelands controversy during the 1940s and 1950s. Divide the class into two camps. One group will represent the federal government’s claim, the other the Texas/state claim. Also have an additional group serve as a jury. Have the federal and state groups argue their cases before the jury based on their research. Have the jury decide the outcome of the case based on the evidence presented. 2. Ask the students to examine the two insets on the map. Why, in their opinion, is the state regulating pipelines? Hypothesize first, then have them do basic research to determine how and why the Texas Railroad Commission regulates the pipelines. 3. Ask the students to redraw Texas’ political boundaries, making Texas two political entities instead of one entity. If their goal is to have a majority of the oil fields in one entity, where and how would they draw the boundary?SubjectArea
Political subdivisions and agencies. Political boundaries.Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
7.7, 7.21, 7.22, 7.23Format
Technological Encounters
This map depicts the technology of the oil and gas industry. The insets, as noted above, show the location of natural gas pipelines and crude-oil and products pipelines. These pipelines are used to move oil and gas from fields and refineries to locations both inside and outside of Texas. The grids off the Texas coast imply that offshore drilling is taking place in the mid-20th century. Offshore drilling involves considerable technology, for the rig must be carefully anchored to avoid too much movement while the oil is being removed.Topics Covered
Oil and natural gas pipelines, offshore drillingActivities/Tasks
1. Have the students examine the “crude-oil and products pipelines” inset. Ask them to speculate on what is the “products” pipelines compared to “crude-oil” pipelines. What is carried in both? Where are they located? Why are they in those locations? 2. Have the students compile a list of the ten counties with the most oil fields. What about the counties with the largest number of gas pools? 3. Write a brief paper on offshore drilling. When did it begin in Texas? Why?SubjectArea
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
7.20, 7.21, 7.22, 7.23Format
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