November 16, 1907 On the Pipeline – 109 Years Ago: Oil-rich Oklahoma becomes the 46th state. Oklahoma territory and Indian Territory collectively entered the Union, becoming the 46th state, and one possibly most known for its oil and gas industry. However, Oklahoma was a well-known producer of oil before statehood. “Oklahoma oil history began when…

November 9, 1880 On the Pipeline – 136 Years Ago: Edwin “Colonel” Drake died Pioneering oilman Edwin “Colonel” Drake died. Drake famously drilled the first commercial oil near Titusville, Pennsylvania on August 27, 1859.  It wasn’t long after Drake struck the black gold that the oil rush began in Pennsylvania. “Within a few years the…

October 18, 1867 On the Pipeline – 149 Years Ago: the US purchased Alaska. Though some called it Seward’s Folly it would prove in time to hold valuable resources. The United States formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the 586,412 square miles of territory from Russia for $7.2 million. Even though it was called…

  September 23, 1933 Forming the Oil Giants of the Middle East Pipeline – 83 Years Ago: A group of geologists from Standard Oil breakup successor Standard Oil of California, which later became Chevron, arrived in Saudi Arabia after receiving a concession from the Saudi government that allowed them to explore for oil. After many…