History of alaska oil industry book

In 1784, the first russian settlement in alaska was established on kodiak island at three saints bay. The use of oil and gas has a long and fascinating history spanning thousands of years. Discovery at prudhoe bay is the story behind the greatest north american oil discovery success ever the prudhoe bay discovery in alaska and the building of the trans alaska pipeline. Full story on may 8, david wilkins, senior vice president of hilcorp alaska. The book finds, contrary to popular belief, that if oil companies had been able to foresee the future. More oil was discovered in prudhoe bay in 1968 and the government began the construction of the transalaska pipeline, which was completed in 1977. How building the transalaska pipeline transformed life in americas last. Before coming to alaska in the early 1920s, shield had been a cablerig tool pusher in montana. The author provides the first full account in english of the controversial oil magnate sir henri deterding, the founder and chief architect of royal dutchshell, and the history of the powerful oil company. Of these migrant groups, the athabaskans, aleuts, inuit, yupik, tlingit, and haida remain in alaska. New book explores exxons alaska history, from prudhoe bay to.

Texas oil and gas postcards of texas petroleum history. Offers a chronological timeline of important dates, events, and milestones in alaska history alaska s modern history is very short. Api history of northern alaska petroleum development. The truly first alaska oil well with commercial production arrived in 1902 in rugged territory where oil seeps had been known for years. But when you talk to people in the oil industry, and to plenty of alaskas elected officials, there is a way out of it. The swanson river oil field in kenai is discovered after 166 consecutive dry holes were drilled in alaska production begins 1961. At that time a land bridge extended from siberia to eastern alaska, and migrants followed herds of animals across it. The katalla discovery well, drilled on private land owned by the alaska development company, marked the first unsteady steps of alaskas petroleum industry. The history of alaska dates back to the upper paleolithic period around 14,000 bc, when foraging groups crossed the bering land bridge into what is now western alaska. Any attempt to understand the oil business in alaska is incomplete without this book. Ever since, tensions have run high between wildlife preservation groups against the expansion of the oil industry and those in favour of further development.

Alaska made billions of dollars from its oil reserves. Alaska, in this business, was a great place to grow up, she said. So, now you know that alaska oil has a history that is more than a 100 years old, and katalla played a key part. It was one of the worst manmade environmental disasters in u. In the summer of 2008, republican presidential nominee john mccain chose sarah palin to serve as his running mate. He provides us with an intriguing history of the oil industry in alaska along with fascinating portraits of the unforgetable personalities who lived it. The 1968 discovery of oil at prudhoe bay and the 1977 completion of the trans alaska pipeline led to an oil boom. Abridged alaska oil history 1990s to present exploration continues at a slowerpace on the north slope, as well as in the cook inlet basin. Homepage for petroleum news providing coverage of alaska. Construction of the trans alaskan pipeline began in the year 1975 after the biggest oil strike in united states history took place in 1968. Bill oneill, a local mining engineer and university of alaska regent, and partner c. While the high costs of labour and transportation and complicated environmental and landuse constraints still tend to discourage outside investment, major improvements in infrastructure have lowered the costs of economic transformation significantly. Over 100 million acres are set aside for preservation and protection throughout alaska. Among alaskas vast resources, gold and oil were the rich twins that put the territory on the map near the turn of the last century, noted tricia brown in a 2012 article.

Alaska sold its rights and made agreements with oil companies so they can create a pipeline and drill for oil. History of northern alaska petroleum development in the early 1970s, as petroleum production from the lower 48 states entered a decline, a new discovery of oil at prudhoe bay on the north slope of alaska offered the u. The historical background of the oil industry in alaska and how the women were part of it was new to me. Extraction and production in alaskas oil rich north slope has been the powerhouse of the states economy for decades. Jun 10, 2019 spindletop was an enormous geyser of oil that exploded from a drilling site at spindletop hill, a mound located in southeastern texas, in 1901. Although alaskas petroleum history dates back to 1902 with a commercial oil discovery near cordova in the south of the state, its true success story began after earning statehood in 1959. In 1964, the massive good friday earthquake killed 1 people and leveled several villages. The hardy folks who found gold in shale political books, oil industry, best oils. In addition, taxes from the industry supply the vast majority of the states general fund. This book was very interesting in the way that it was organized. A small but very successful energy exploration company, caelus energy llc, announced its discovery of a new oil field on alaska. In the 20 fishing season, alaskan fishers were able to accumulate a total of 5. Alaska airlines history by decade 1930s the company that we grew out of to become alaska airlines was born in 1932 when linious mac mcgee painted mcgee airways on the side of a threepassenger stinson and started flying out of anchorage, and mine owner wesley earl dunkle loaned money to pilots steve mills, charlie ruttan, and jack.

Wildcat women is the first book to document the life and labor of pioneering women in the oil fields of alaskas north slope. The field is still in production although quantities are low. The scottish chemist james young in 1847 noticed a natural petroleum seepage in the riddings colliery at alfreton, derbyshire from which he distilled a light thin oil suitable for use as lamp oil, at the same time obtaining a thicker oil suitable for lubricating machinery. February 1, 2011 abstract this paper surveys the history of the oil industry with a particular focus on the events associated with significant changes in the price of oil. The discovery of the prudhoe bay oil field on alaskas north slope in 1968 was the turning point for the united states last frontier to eventually become an oil state. Author and geologist john sweet was a district explorationist with the company that made the discovery, and his book details and celebrates the colossal oil. It profiles fourteen women who worked in the fields, telling a littleknown history of the transalaska pipeline. Download data xls file alaska field production of crude oil thousand barrels per day year jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep. The iron and steel industry spawned new construction materials, the railroads connected the country and the discovery of oil provided a new source of fuel. This paper examines newspaper accounts, legislative history, and alaska history books to construct a narrative of. A history third edition the largest by far of the fifty states, alaska is also the state of greatest mystery and diversity. Nine years later, one of the worlds largest pipeline systems began transporting oil from.

Transforming energy, 19732005 offers an indepth look at some of the oil majors history in the last frontier. Alaska field production of crude oil thousand barrels per day. Alaskas petroleum history began long before statehood in 1959 and a major oil discovery two years earlier. History of alaskaintroduction wikibooks, open books for an. Politics in alaska have changed significantly since the last major book on the subject was published more than twenty years ago, with the rise and fall of sarah palin and the rise and fall of oil prices being but two of the many developments to alter the political landscape. Despite steadily declining oil production, alaska still provides for about 67% of us internal oil demand and was the fourth largest producer of crude oil among. What are some good books about the history of alaska. Commercial production began with a 1902 oilfield in region long known for its natural oil seeps. Alaska timber industry history alaska forest association. Alaskas main export product after oil and natural gas is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, pollock and crab. Today, the oil and natural gas industry still remains a key part of alaskas economy, with the north slope containing half a dozen of the 100 largest oil fields in the united states. The role of the oil and gas industry in alaskas economy.

Year jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec. The role of the oil and gas industry in alaskas economy mcdowell group, inc. In 1989, the exxon valdez hit a reef in prince william sound, spilling between 11. Tiny shield, a giant of a man, believed they could find oil in the copper river basin, explains jack roderick in his 1997 book, crude dreams. New book explores exxons alaska history, from prudhoe bay. More oil was discovered in prudhoe bay in 1968 and the government began the construction of the trans alaska pipeline, which was completed in 1977. The alaskan economy is conditioned strongly by the states continuing status as a frontier. As early as 1700, native peoples of siberia reported the existence of a huge piece of land lying due. Alaska timber industry history southeast alaska summary from the 1867 purchase of alaska until after the 1907 proclamation establishing the tongass national forest, only small amounts of the timber resources in southeast alaska were harvested for local use. I really liked how the author included first accounts from women of different ages and work positions who were a part of the oil boom. Subzero temperatures, whiteout blizzards, and even the lack of restrooms didnt deter them. At the time of european contact by the russian explorers, the area was populated by alaska native groups. The modern history of petroleum began in the 19th century with the refining of paraffin from crude oil. History us history 1900 to present on march 24, 1989, an oil tanker called the exxon valdez hit a reef off the coast of alaska and dumped millions of gallons of oil into the ocean.

The development of oil and gas has evolved over time and its numerous uses have also expanded and become an integral part of todays global economy. History of the oil and gas industry library of congress. In 1989 an oil tanker known as the exxon valdez runs into a reef in the prince william sound, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil along 1,500 miles of coastline. Subsequent to 1907, the newly established forest service. Alaska oil and gas association in 1974, the building of taps began, the largest construction project in the world. The exxon valdez oil spill was a manmade disaster that occurred when exxon valdez, an oil tanker owned by the exxon shipping company, spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into alaskas prince. Way back in 1896, a prospector by the name of thomas white recognized the importance of natural oil seeping out of the ground near katalla, located along the gulf of alaska east of cordova. Sep 28, 2016 alaska, in this business, was a great place to grow up, she said. Offers a chronological timeline of important dates, events, and milestones in alaska history alaskas modern history is very short. The alaska oil and gas association along with industry analyst reacted. The oil and gas industry is the single largest driver of the alaskan economy, responsible for over a quarter of the states gdp. The discovery of the spindletop geyser in 1901 drove huge growth in the oil industry.

The prize became a bestseller, helped by its release date in december 1990, four months after the invasion of kuwait ordered by saddam hussein and one month before the u. In recent years, however, the oncemighty alaskan oil industry has been. Alaskas beleaguered oil industry has finally found a lifeline. This book builds on his earlier work in dutch, henri deterding. What many alaskans and outsiders dont know is where and when the alaska oil story began. Mavericks, and mayhem in alaska, a new book about alaska oil and. Alaska history timeline important dates, events, and milestones in alaska history. Weiss was working in the alaska oil patch in the 1980s when world oil prices slumped, as they are doing now. The 19th century was a period of great change and rapid industrialization. The first successful oil well in north america was established in oil springs, ontario, canada in 1858. Alaska field production of crude oil thousand barrels per. New book chronicles the crude relationship of oil and politics in alaska.

The book should be read by every petroleum geologist, geophysicist, and petroleum. The book eventually went on to win a pulitzer prize. For comparison, texas, louisiana, and oklahomaother states with large oil pumping operationsreceived 19. History of the petroleum industry in the united states. History 1950s the swanson river oil field in kenai is discovered after 166 consecutive dry holes were drilled in alaska production begins 1961.

During 1888, more than 60,000 people arrived in alaska in search of gold. More than 80 percent of alaskas revenues generally come from oil revenues. Oct 01, 2006 so, now you know that alaska oil has a history that is more than a 100 years old, and katalla played a key part. The changing face of the oil industry in alaska anchorage. A history provides a full chronological survey of the regions and states history, including the russian period. This also helped stimulate the economy financially by increasing the amount of wellpaying jobs in the oil sector. The alaskan pipeline was formed because of history and also made history.

Natural oil seeps such as this in the mckittrick area of california were used by the native americans and later mined by settlers. Page 3 executive summary alaskas oil and gas industry started with the discovery of the swanson river oil field on the kenai peninsula in. Alaska s main export product after oil and natural gas is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, pollock and crab. Oct 06, 2016 alaskas beleaguered oil industry has finally found a lifeline.