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Melrose
First drilled well to produce oil in Texas. -
George Dullnig
George Dullnig, a Bexar County rancher, discovered a small quantity while drilling for water, but it was not sufficient to justify additional development. -
First major refinery
The first well-equipped refinery in Texas was built in Corsicana in 1898 shipped its first production in 1899. State’s first refinery, despite the earlier efforts. -
Beaumont Spindletop
Spurting drilling pipe, mud, gas and oil, the Lucas No. 1 well blew in at Spindletop near Beaumont. -
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Oil Fever
Oil fever spread through North Central Texas, with finds at Brownwood, Petrolia and Wichita Falls. -
Offshore
The first offshore drilling was in shallow northern Galveston Bay, where the Goose Creek Field was discovered in 1908. -
West Texas
The most significant subsequent oil discoveries in Texas were those in West Texas. In 1936, oil was discovered west of Lubbock in the Duggan Field in Cochran County. -
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Austin Chalk
The Giddings Field on the Austin Chalk in Lee, Fayette, and Burleson counties had significant drilling in the 1970s that continued into the 1980s.