Martin, Henry 1985-02-04

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Harry Martin discusses his career in the Texas oil industry, including the fields at Burkburnett and Brownfield, and the wells in the Red River, as well as extensive information relative to the problems encountered when attempting to re-pressure wells.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Henry Martin

Additional Parties Recorded: None

Date: February 04, 1985

Location: Burkburnet, Texas

Interviewer: Richard Mason

Length: 3 hours


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Background, Born: Beaver Dam, Ohio, 1902, Father, Oil production Ohio, circa 1900, Equipment and methodology, Refineries, To Texas (1918), Reasons, Moving rigs with teaming contractor (1917), Equipment and methodology, Portable drilling rigs, Burkburnet (1918), Description, Oil camps, Oklahoma Petroleum and Gasoline Company, Other companies, Open wells in town, Population, Open wells in town (again), Production levels, Loss due to seepage, Refineries.

Tape 1, Side 2: Refineries (continued), OP&G (again), Products, Oil field workers, Duties of service crew, Petroleum market fluctuation, Effect on production levels, Depth of oil, Shooting wells, Brownfield townsite, early days, Muddy streets, Activity, Stock exchange, Problems, Population (again), Northwest extension, Texas-Oklahoma boundary dispute, U.S. Geological Service, OP&G (again), Bell Oil & Gas Company (1920s and 1930s), Brownfield townsite, early days (again), Northwest field (again), Companies involved, Repressuring project, Red River (c. 1934), Size and location of plant.

Tape 2, Side 1: Size and location of plant (continued), Water flooding (1964), Success or lack of, Problems encountered reclaiming wells (1929-1960s).

Tape 2, Side 2: Problems encountered reclaiming wells (continued,) Drilling in the Texas Panhandle with a rotary rig, Problems encountered.

Tape 3, Side 1: Problems encountered (continued), Result, Drilling in Burk with rotary rig, Water flooding in Burk fields ; cropper lease, Problems.

Tape 3, Side 2: Problems (continued), Methodology, Decline in use of powers, Reasons, Cleaning out well on cropper lease, Process and problems, Result, Relationship with oil company.

Range Dates: 1902-1985

Bulk Dates: 1917-1970


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