Birth of Gulf Oil, Canada Approves Northern Gateway Pipeline & Elk Hills Naval Activation
Energy History, Innovation, and Insight for the Independent-Minded who are Living The Crude Life
Welcome back to Petro Playback, your daily chronicle of oil and gas history, science, and insight—where past milestones meet today’s market moves. On July 17, we trace the rise of Gulf Oil, revisit wartime energy strategy, and spotlight a Canadian pipeline that stirred global conversation.
We’ll also explore how petroleum shapes everything from coloring books to carbon capture, and feature a powerhouse quote from T. Boone Pickens. Plus, get the scoop on a major upcoming energy event in Oklahoma and the top three headlines energizing the industry today.
Let’s dive into the power behind the barrel.
🛢️ HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS – JULY 17
1902 – Birth of the Gulf Oil Company
On this day, Gulf Oil Company was incorporated, eventually becoming one of the "Seven Sisters" that dominated global petroleum production. Gulf pioneered branding at the pump, introduced drive-in gas stations, and helped fund major offshore drilling innovation in the mid-20th century.
1942 – Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve Activated
President Roosevelt activated California’s Elk Hills Reserve as a critical wartime oil supply. The field sat dormant until the 1970s when U.S. oil crises led to its commercial development. Its production became pivotal in later debates on government-held reserves vs. privatization.
2013 – Canada Approves Northern Gateway Pipeline
After years of negotiation and environmental review, Canada’s federal government conditionally approved the Northern Gateway pipeline—a twin line set to carry oil sands bitumen to the Pacific coast. While ultimately blocked, the project highlighted tensions between energy independence and environmental sovereignty.
🧴 PETRO PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – Crayons
Crayons are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum derivative, and colored pigments. The paraffin holds the color, creates smooth application, and prevents smudging—making your child’s artwork a byproduct of refined hydrocarbons. From art to asphalt, paraffin’s versatility is underappreciated.
🔬 SCIENCE FACT OF THE DAY – Thermal Conductivity in Drilling Mud
Drilling mud does more than remove cuttings—it plays a key thermodynamic role. Proper thermal conductivity helps regulate bottomhole temperature, protecting downhole tools and preventing blowouts in high-pressure wells. Advanced formulations now include nanoparticles and synthetic polymers to tailor heat transfer by basin.
🌾 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT – Bottineau County, North Dakota
At the edge of the Bakken formation, Bottineau County quietly supports energy growth through saltwater disposal wells, maintenance yards, and rural staging pads. Though less drilled, it’s a logistical heartbeat for frack fleets and pipeline right-of-way teams—another reminder that infrastructure beats geology in the long game.
🤝 PUBLIC‑PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP SPOTLIGHT – CarbonSAFE Illinois
Led by the Illinois State Geological Survey, this DOE-backed project is investigating CO₂ storage in deep saline reservoirs beneath the Illinois Basin. Partnered with universities, utilities, and ethanol producers, the project could store millions of tons of carbon annually—a Midwestern model for integrated carbon strategy.
💬 PROFESSIONAL QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan.”
— T. Boone Pickens
Pickens understood that capital, timing, and a disciplined plan mattered more than IQ. Whether investing in shale or betting on wind, his plays were bold but always calculated. A model of intentional disruption in a chaotic market.
🛢️ OIL & GAS EVENT SPOTLIGHT – MidContinent Energy Forum (July 24, Oklahoma City)
Get ready for MidContinent Energy Forum, happening July 24 at The Jones Assembly, OKC—a non-technical gathering ideal for upstream, midstream and policy professionals.
Keynote: Cameron Brown, CEO of Validus Energy, on "Midcontinent Energy Strategy in 2025"
Sponsors: Collaborative sponsorship by industry associations and service providers
Format:
12:00 pm–2:00 pm: Keynote and industry panels
2:00 pm–6:00 pm: Interactive roundtables & networking
Special Features: Young Professionals forum, tech demos, operator–vendor meetups
This event is ideal for energy professionals seeking market insight and networking in the Midcontinental energy hub.
🔝 TOP PETRO‑POWERED HEADLINES – JULY 17
1. “Good Trouble Lives On” Nationwide Protests Honor John Lewis Legacy
Tens of thousands are set to participate in “Good Trouble Lives On” protests across all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico today (July 17), marking the fifth anniversary of civil rights leader John Lewis’s passing. Organized by groups like Black Voters Matter and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the demonstrations carry the rallying cry “March in Peace. Act in Power,” spotlighting ongoing demands for voting rights and social justice.
2. STL Launches India’s First Green Hydrogen Plant for Optical-Fiber Manufacturing
Sterlite Technologies Ltd (STL) has partnered with Hygenco to announce Maharashtra’s first green hydrogen and oxygen production facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. This landmark “Project Photon Leap” aims to decarbonize STL’s optical-fiber production by replacing fossil-based fuel inputs, targeting a ~30% annual cut in carbon emissions. The initiative furthers India’s Net Zero ambitions by 2030.
3. Zoho Debuts “Zia LLM,” Its In-House Large Language Model
Zoho Corporation has officially unveiled Zia LLM, its proprietary large language model developed entirely in-house. The announcement highlights enhancements in AI-powered features across Zoho’s suite—such as writing assistance, customer service tools, and intelligent analytics—marking a significant step forward in enterprise AI adoption.
🧭 FINAL THOUGHTS
July 17 reminds us that the strategy of energy—from paraffin in crayons to subsurface CO₂ storage—requires foresight, partnerships, and above all, a plan. Like Boone said: better a fool with a plan than a genius wandering in the dark.
This has been your Petro Playback for July 17. Keep your boots dirty and your plans clean.
Petro Playback prepared and written by Jason Spiess. Spiess is an multi-award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, producer and content consultant. Spiess, who began working in the media at age 10, has over 35 years of media experience in broadcasting, journalism, reporting and principal ownership in media companies. Spiess is currently the host of several newsmagazine programs that air across a 22 radio stations and podcasts worldwide through podcast platforms, as well as a combined Substack and social media audience of over 500K followers. Connect with Spiess on LinkedIn
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