FIRST OFFSHORE LEASE SALE
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY October 13, 2025 FIRST OFFSHORE LEASE SALE On October 13, 1954, the U.S. government held its first federal offshore oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico, officially launching the nation’s offshore energy era. Conducted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1954, the auction drew more than […]
CNOOC STRIKES HEAVY OIL IN BOHAI BAY
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY October 23, 2025 CNOOC STRIKES HEAVY OIL IN BOHAI BAY On October 23, 2013, CNOOC (China National Offshore Oil Corporation) announced a breakthrough at its Luda 5-2 North prospect in Bohai Bay, marking a key milestone in China’s offshore exploration efforts. The discovery well tested at roughly 1,040 barrels per day, […]
CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE IGNITE GLOBAL OIL CRISIS
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY October 22, 2025 CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE IGNITE GLOBAL OIL CRISIS On October 22, 1973, the U.N.-brokered ceasefire in the Yom Kippur War collapsed, reigniting fighting between Israel and Arab nations. What began as a temporary truce quickly unraveled into renewed hostilities, deepening regional instability and shaking global confidence. In response, Arab oil […]
REMEMBERING NELSON BUNKER HUNT
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY January 22, 2025 REMEMBERING NELSON BUNKER HUNT On October 21, 2014, the energy world lost Nelson Bunker Hunt (born February 22, 1926)—a Texas oil heir who became one of the most influential independent oilmen of his time. Building on his family’s legacy, Hunt expanded exploration beyond U.S. borders, striking success in […]
BIRTH OF KOLA ALUKO, NIGERIAN OIL ENTREPRENEUR
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY October 20, 2025 BIRTH OF KOLA ALUKO, NIGERIAN OIL ENTREPRENEUR On October 20, 1969, Kola Aluko was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Decades later, he would become one of Africa’s most prominent energy entrepreneurs, co-founding Atlantic Energy, a company focused on oil exploration and production across Nigeria’s onshore and offshore fields. Aluko’s […]
BEGINNING OF THE 1973 OIL PRICE CRISIS
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY October 16, 2025 BEGINNING OF THE 1973 OIL PRICE CRISIS On October 16, 1973, just days after the start of the Yom Kippur War, Arab oil producers began to leverage crude pricing and production as a political tool—sending shockwaves through the global energy market. The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries […]
PRESIDENT NIXON LAUNCHES PROJECT INDEPENDENCE
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY November 7, 2025 PRESIDENT NIXON LAUNCHES PROJECT INDEPENDENCE On November 7, 1973, in the midst of the Arab oil embargo, President Richard Nixon launched Project Independence—a sweeping national plan to achieve American energy self-sufficiency by 1980. Modeled after the Manhattan Project, the initiative sought to free the United States from its […]
SEACREST DRILLSHIP CAPSIZE TRAGEDY
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY November 3, 2025 SEACREST DRILLSHIP CAPSIZE TRAGEDY On November 3, 1989, the Seacrest drillship — also known as the Scan Queen — capsized in the Gulf of Thailand during the devastating Typhoon Gay while drilling for Unocal. In just minutes, powerful winds and waves overturned the vessel, killing 91 of the […]
FIRST HORIZONTAL WELL DRILLED IN OKLAHOMA
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY November 4, 2025 FIRST HORIZONTAL WELL DRILLED IN OKLAHOMA On November 4, 1989, B&B Drilling completed Oklahoma’s first horizontal oil well, marking a turning point in U.S. drilling innovation. Unlike traditional vertical wells, horizontal drilling allowed operators to follow the path of the oil-bearing formation, unlocking greater access to resources and […]
ARAB PRODUCERS SLASH OIL OUTPUT BY 25%
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY November 5, 2025 ARAB PRODUCERS SLASH OIL OUTPUT BY 25% On November 5, 1973, Arab oil-producing nations announced a 25% reduction in oil production compared to September levels, escalating the global energy turmoil already sparked by the Yom Kippur War. The coordinated cuts sent shockwaves through oil-dependent economies and further constrained […]