History of Natural Gas

Both oil and natural gas were discovered in western Virginia by the first explorers in the mid-1700s. George Washington acquired 250 acres in what is now West Virginia because it contained an oil and gas spring. This was in 1771, making the father of our country the first industry speculator.

A thriving commercial oil industry was in process as early as 1819 with the first major wells drilled at Petroleum, outside Parkersburg, early in 1859; and Burning Springs a year later in 1860. Natural gas was moved in wooden pipes from wells to be used as a manufacturing heat source by the Kanawha salt manufacturers as early as 1831.

These events truly mark the beginnings of the oil and gas industry in the United States. With oil selling for $30.00 a barrel in 1860 and natural gushers being drilled at only 100 feet, the West Virginia oil field quickly made local millionaires. The wealth of the first oil barons was used politically in bringing about statehood for West Virginia during the Civil War.

Many of the founders and early politicians were oil-men-governors, senators and congressmen – who had made fortunes at Burning Springs in 1860-1861. On May 9, 1863, the important Burning Springs oil field was destroyed by Confederate raiders led by General Jones. This was the first of many oil fields destroyed in the war. After the war, the industry was revived and during the next fifty years the gas booms spread over almost all the counties in the state. Drilling and producing of both oil and natural gas continues throughout the state to this day.

This exciting history is on display at the Oil and Gas Museum, 119 3rd Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, 26101 – phone (304) 485-5446. This history is also documented in the book Where It All Began, which is available through IOGA and the Oil and Gas Museum.