An Oil Scout in the Permian Basin

A most intriguing adventure, the discovery of oil in the Permian Basin of West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. The Author, an oil scout for Sun Oil company, was on the ground as one big well after another came in, and thus gained an intimate knowledge of significant developments in the various fields. He was one of three organizers of the West Texas Oil Scouts association, the members of which performed a key role in obtaining information that made sound company decisions possible. Clarence later became a land-man for Sun Oil and handled successfully many leasing and other transactions for his company in West Texas. In the book, he explains the functions of both the land-man and the oil scout. Topics include; life as an oil scout – the oil fraternity – nature’s desert kingdom – black gold in the Permian Basin – the wildcatter – from oil scout to land-man – and the trailblazers. Besides explaining the different aspects of the oil industry int he Permian Basin, the account characterizes typical leaders associated with the business directly or indirectly – ranchers and landowners like J.M. Shannon and Ira Yates, and operators like Fred Turner, C.J. (“Red”) Davidson, C.W. Brown, and George T. Abell.

By Clarence Pope