This Week April 30 to May 6 April 30, 1955 – “Landmen” form
Trade Association The American Association of Petroleum Landmen
is organized in Fort Worth, Texas. Landmen research records to
determine ownership, locate mineral and land owners and
negotiate oil and natural gas leases, deals, trades and
contracts as well as ensuring compliance with governmental
regulations. The association has grown into an organization with
about 12,000 members and 43 affiliated associations in the
United States and Canada. May 1, 1860 – Brothers Launch West
Virginia Oil Industry In the early 1800s, salt-makers in what is
now West Virginia sometimes found oil or natural gas during
their drilling. Using that frontier experience to search for oil
in Wirt County, Virginia, the Rathbone brothers’ spring-pole oil
well near a stream called Burning Springs Run reaches 303 feet –
and begins producing 100 barrels of oil a day. By the end of
1860, more than 600 oil leases are registered in the county
courthouse. After Federal forces occupy