COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 333132

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1895–1997founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedCooper Cameron CorporationFoundedCooper Cameron Corporation
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHalliburton Company
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedNewpark Resources, Inc.FoundedNewpark Resources, Inc.
1932
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedSmith International, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedMcDermott International, Inc.FoundedMcDermott International, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedSchlumberger Limited
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedGlobal Industries, Ltd.FoundedGlobal Industries, Ltd.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedGrant Prideco, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBaker Hughes IncorporatedFoundedBaker Hughes IncorporatedFoundedNational Oilwell, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1989
EnvironmentThe Exxon Valdez spill reshapes energy and shipping rules.
1990
EnvironmentThe Clean Air Act amendments tighten emissions limits.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO TatneftFoundedOAO Tatneft
1994
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedGulfMark Offshore, Inc.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
EnvironmentThe Deepwater Horizon spill triggers sweeping energy rules.
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Cooper Cameron Corporation →
Active · founded 1895
Cooper Cameron Corporation operates as a leading manufacturer of oil and gas industrial equipment and services.
Cooper Cameron Corporation →
Active · founded 1895
Cooper Cameron Corporation operates as a leading manufacturer of oil and gas industrial equipment and services.
Halliburton Company →
Active · founded 1924
Halliburton Company is a world leader in energy services, as well as engineering and construction.
Halliburton Company →
Active · founded 1924
Halliburton Company is a world leader in energy services, as well as engineering and construction.
Newpark Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Newpark Resources, Inc.
Newpark Resources, Inc. →
Active · founded 1932
Newpark Resources, Inc.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
1920s:Smith's company, now known as H.C.
McDermott International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
McDermott International, Inc.
McDermott International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
McDermott International, Inc.
Schlumberger Limited →
Active · founded 1956
As oil is explored for and developed all around the world, so is Schlumberger Limited providing a range of oilfield…
Schlumberger Limited →
Active · founded 1956
As oil is explored for and developed all around the world, so is Schlumberger Limited providing a range of oilfield…
Global Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973
Global Industries, Ltd., headquartered in Carlyss, Louisiana, is a major constructor of offshore oil and gas drilling…
Global Industries, Ltd. →
Active · founded 1973
Global Industries, Ltd., headquartered in Carlyss, Louisiana, is a major constructor of offshore oil and gas drilling…
Grant Prideco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Grant Prideco, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of piping…
Grant Prideco, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Grant Prideco, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of piping…
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
Baker Hughes Incorporated →
Active · founded 1987
Baker Hughes Incorporated is the product of the 1987 merger of two oilfield-services companies with surprisingly…
National Oilwell, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
National Oilwell, Inc.
National Oilwell, Inc. →
Active · founded 1987
National Oilwell, Inc.
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
1970s:Oil production in Tatarstan reaches its peak.
GulfMark Offshore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
GulfMark Offshore, Inc.
GulfMark Offshore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
GulfMark Offshore, Inc.
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