Early Humble Camp in Permian Basin
McCamey, Upton County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The World's largest complex of oil wells in the 1920s was developed in this area. Key to success of this vast petroleum field lay in finding ways to convey oil to growing fuel markets. First efficient transportation came in 1925 with the laying of the Humble pipeline from Kemper Station, near Big Lake, to Comyn Station (a distance of about 500 miles), to connect with existing Comyn-Baytown system. Early camp for pipeline construction crews was built here 1926 when Humble extended its line west from Big Like Field. Camp's site led to growth of McCamey and building of a refinery. McCamey became important center of oil production and operation. A constant flow of oil went through Humble's pipeline on its long journey to the Gulf Coast. Even with use of pipeline and railroad tank cars, more oil was produced than could be marketed. New practices had to be used to prevent overproduction and waste. Thus Humble pipeline became involved in the first voluntary proration in Texas, when in 1928 producing capacity of local wells was reduced to a level consistent with transportation facilities. Today in Texas, Humble has 15,000 oil and gas wells; 9,545 miles of pipeline; and one refinery.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the 1920s this stretch of West Texas held what boosters called the world's largest complex of oil wells, and the problem was never finding oil but moving it. In 1925 the Humble company laid a roughly 500-mile pipeline to link the field to Gulf Coast refineries, and the construction camp built here in 1926 seeded the town of McCamey and its refinery. So much crude flowed that in 1928 the line took part in Texas's first voluntary proration, deliberately curbing output to match what could actually be shipped and sold.
Why it matters
The camp marks a turning point in the Permian Basin oil boom, when the industry learned that pipelines and production limits — not just gushers — would govern the wealth of Texas petroleum.
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Related events
- · First voluntary oil proration in Texas, 1928
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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