by Bruce Wells | Jan 12, 2026 | This Week in Petroleum History
Seeking to prove his cars were built better than most, Henry Ford set a world land speed record on a frozen Michigan lake. At the time, the Ford Motor Company was struggling to get financial backing for its first car, the Model T. The automotive pioneer drove his No. 999 Ford Arrow across Lake St. Clair, which separates Michigan and Canada, at a top speed of 91.37 mph. (more…)
by Bruce Wells | Jan 7, 2026 | Petroleum Technology
Petroleum drilling and production technologies, among the most advanced of any industry, evolved as exploratory wells drilled deeper into highly pressurized geologic formations. One idea began with a sketch on the sawdust floor of a Texas machine shop.
On January 12, 1926, James S. Abercrombie (1891-1975) and Harry S. Cameron (1872-1928) received their first patent for a hydraulic ram-type blowout preventer (BOP). Their invention would become a vital technology for ending dangerous oil and natural gas gushers — and saving lives. (more…)
