COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 333132

Oil and Gas Field Machinery and Equipment

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

12companies1895–1997founding years12still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCooper Cameron Corporation
1895
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedHalliburton Company
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedNewpark Resources, Inc.
1932
FoundedSmith International, Inc.
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedMcDermott International, Inc.
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedSchlumberger Limited
1956
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedGlobal Industries, Ltd.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedGrant Prideco, Inc.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBaker Hughes IncorporatedFoundedNational Oilwell, Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedOAO 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.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
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.
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.
Smith International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1937
Smith 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…
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…
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.
OAO Tatneft →
Active · founded 1994 · Russia
OAO Tatneft produces approximately 8 percent of all oil extracted in Russia, with an annual production of approximately…
GulfMark Offshore, Inc. →
Active · founded 1997
GulfMark Offshore, Inc.
Build It Today

Starting a oil and gas field machinery and equipment company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.