The East Texas oil and gas industry dates from the 1930s, and continues to this day to be an important part of the economy and job market of Tyler, as well as Longview, Kilgore, Marshall, Gladewater, Van, Jacksonville and other cities and towns.

The industry spans a wide spectrum of businesses and occupations, including geophysical operations, exploration, drilling, production, oil transportation, natural gas pipelines, refining and allied businesses.

The East Texas area supports a large number of jobs and careers in the oil, petrochemical, natural gas, drilling and refining business sectors. The workforce consists of thousands of seismologists, petroleum engineers, geologists, wireline operators, welders roughnecks, rustabouts, drillers, truck drivers, oilfield rig mechanics, electricians, and dozens more occupations.

The oil industry in Texas remains a vital element in our nation's energy exploration and production, as we were reminded with the recent explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. While we must continue to explore in the waters of the Gulf, the importance of onshore drilling here in Texas has been underlined.

The history of oil and gas exploration in Texas is a long one, dating from the first major discovery at Corsicana in 1894. Years later, the Lucas No. 1 well blew at Spindletop near Beaumont in 1901 and the industry took another huge step forward in becoming a dominant feature in the Texas economy and lifestyle.

In October 1930, the Daisy Bradford No. 3 well blew in Rusk County close to Turnertown and Joinerville, opening the East Texas field. This giant East Texas oil field extended into parts of Smith, Upshur, Gregg, Cherokee and Rusk counties. The discoveries and production of oil have led to the creation of many Texas towns, and to the organization of companies which have become national and international players in the oil industry.

Our connection with the oil industry stretches back to Louisiana, where we worked in the periphery of the oil business in the technology field. So our interest in this industry has been strong, and remains so, and we have a keen interest in the history of oil and gas in Tyler and all of East Texas.

For more on the history of the oil and gas industry in Texas, we recommend you visit the Texas Almanac published by the Texas State Historical Association. We also recommend visiting the renown East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore.

Shown below are a few quick images of East Texas oil and gas operations, and history...

Snavely #1 - The Gladewater Discovery Oil Well
On April 7, 1931, this wildcat well drilled by Selby Oil and Gas Company of Tulsa, OK, came-in. It was located in the Sabine River bottom one mile south of Gladewater. It connected Gladewater to the vast East Texas oil field stretching from Longview's Lathrop Well to Kilgore's Crim well
Gladwater Heritage Society Marker - Downtown Gladewater, Texas

Oil equipment, downtown Gladewater Texas, located on U.S. Highway 80

Oil derrick, downtown Gladewater Texas

Oil production, Van, Texas (Photo 2007)

Oil field near Tyler, Texas - Historic Postcard

Oil field, Longview, Texas - Historic Postcard

Oil Derricks in Downtown Kilgore, Texas

East Texas Oil Field - Historic Postcard