Midland in Midland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
National Portable Drilling Machines
Model #2
| | National #2 Cable Tool Rig | |
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 12, 2015
1. National Portable Drilling Machines Marker
Date of Manufacturer: Approximately 1910-12
Rated Depth: 2,500 feet
National advertised this as “The Rig that Displaced The Old Standard (wooden) Derrick.” These and similar rigs were widely used to drill shallow holes until they themselves were displaced by portable spudders in the 1920's.
Unlike the others, this rig was still in use until 1972. The Woodcock Brothers of Bradford, Pennsylvania used it to drill 39 wells to an average depth of 1600 ft., between 1960 and 1972, when it was used by the Pennzoil Company in breaking ground for their Houston office.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.
Location. 31° 58.407′ N, 102° 5.166′ W. Marker is in Midland, Texas, in Midland County. It can be reached from Interstate 20. 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.
Regionally, this marker is in West Texas. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Comancherνa, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Forth Worth Super D Spudder (a few steps from this marker); Wichtex 18 Spudder (within shouting distance of this marker); The Oil Patch
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. The last National #2 Rig
In 1972 I was a teenager living on Coleville Road, RD3 Smethport, Pennsylvania.
this same drilling rig was in use most of that summer on the neighboring vacant property.
It wasn't uncommon to see drilling rigs in use, this was a productive oil field area. There were numerous pumping jacks and roustabouts tending to the wells in this area. What was very different about this rig when they were done drilling, was the fancy fleet of low boy tractor trailers that arrived with a team of white hard hats. We watched the Woodcock Brothers crew tear down the rig, as if they had never seen anything like it.
We learned why and knew then they were taking it to a
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 12, 2015
2. National #2 Cable Tool Rig
— Submitted December 20, 2024, by Sam Madine of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 936 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
