Innovation & Technology in Oil & Gas – Cable Rigs 1918 to Rotary Rigs 1928

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Crew working on a rotary rig 1928

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Replacing cable tool technology, (see below from 1918) the rotary rig was a steadily evolving technology by the beginning of the 20th century using a new drilling system including a hollow square fitting to hold the pipe, a belt-driven rotary machine, a fishtail bit, and circulating fluid to remove the cuttings. The patent for this technology was originally issued in 1844 to Robert Beard with an improved version credited to Captain Anthony F. Lucas when he went to Texas to drill for oil at a well-known site called Spindletop. After a series of setbacks, Lucas hit oil on Jan. 10, 1901, and his rotary drilling rig was on its way to becoming an alternative to the standard cable-tool rig. Courtesy of The Sloane Gallery – www.sloanegallery.com – 281-496-2212

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The Sloane Gallery contains images of Houston from the early 1900s thru the 1980s. The emphasis will be on black and white photography created during the building boom era of mid 1920 - 1936.  Located at 1570 South Dairy Ashford, Suite 113, Houston, TX 77077. Gallery Hours - Tuesday - Friday 12PM - 6PM and Saturday 12PM - 4PM.

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