Midland in Midland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Oil Patch

An Exhibit of Antique Oil Field Equipment

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 12, 2015

1. The Oil Patch Marker

Inscription. There was great variety in the oil fields (the “oil patch”, if you will) of the 1920's and 1930's. Steam, gas, and electric powered drilling rigs, spudders and pulling machines, bandwheel pump units, and much more contributed to the excitement of an industry growing to meet mushrooming demand.

This exhibit of drilling rigs and related equipment is, perhaps, the largest collection of its type in the world. Begin your tour into history on the path to the right. The equipment is described along the way.

Erected by Petroleum Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 31° 58.433′ N, 102° 5.148′ W. Marker is in Midland, Texas, in Midland County. Marker can be reached from Interstate 20, 0.7 miles west of Rankin Highway, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located north of the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 West Interstate 20, Midland TX 79701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Wichtex 18 Spudder (a few steps from this marker); Wichtex 66 Spudder (within shouting distance of this marker); Forth Worth “Super D” Spudder (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Star Spudder (within shouting distance of this marker); Keystone No. 5 ½ Traction (within shouting distance of this marker); National Portable Drilling Machines (within shouting distance of this marker); Texas Petroleum in World War II (approx. ¼ mile away); Midland Christian College (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Midland.

Also see . . . The Petroleum Museum. A visit to the Petroleum Museum is an amazing journey through over 230 million years of history. (Submitted on August 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.)

The Oil Patch image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 12, 2015

2. The Oil Patch

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 407 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.