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The Petroleum Landman: a Sociological Analysis of an Occupation

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The Petroleum Landman: a Sociological Analysis of an Occupation Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1964 The etrP oleum Landman: a Sociological Analysis of an Occupation. Clifton Dow Bryant Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Bryant, Clifton Dow, "The eP troleum Landman: a Sociological Analysis of an Occupation." (1964). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 909. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/909 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been 64—8799 microfilmed exactly as received BRYANT Clifton Dow, 1932- THE PETROLEUM LANDMAN: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF AN OCCUPATION. Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1964 Sociology, general University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan THE PETROLEUM LANDMAN: A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF AN OCCUPATION A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Sociology by Clifton Dow Bryant B. A*, University of Mississippi, 1956 M. A., University of Mississippi, 1957 January, 1964 DEDICATION Viork is a mighty moulder of men. Their occupa­ tional milieu helps shape their view of the world, the routine of their work directs their daily behavior, and their occupational specialty gives them an identity in society. Work in some instances brings out the worst in a man, but in many instances brings out the very best in a man. The latter, we feel, is the case with Petroleum Landmen. This dissertation is affectionately dedicated to them in general, and to one in particular, my father, Clifton E. Bryant. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Several individuals must be thanked for their encouragement and in­ valuable aid in the undertaking and completion of this dissertation. The author wishes to express his gratitude to Dr. Frederick L. Bates, under whose guidance and direction this work was written. Special thanks are due to Dr. Roland J. Pellegrin, presently Director of the Institute for Community Studies at the University of Oregon, who initially directed this study, while Chairman of the Department of Sociology at Louisiana State University. Dr. Waifrid J. Jokinen, Dr. Rudolf Heberle, and Dr. Vernon J. Parenton all generously provided counsel and constructive criticisms to the author during his graduate training at Louisiana State University. For their aid, the author is ever grateful. This study could not have been undertaken without the cooperation and assistance of the members of the American.Association of Petroleum Landmen and numerous other persons in the petroleum industry. Mr. C. D. Fleet, Jr., Executive Vice President of the American Association of Petro­ leum Landmen, devoted time and effort above and beyond the call of duty, from the very beginning. To him, the landmen, and others too numerous to mention who provided information, aid, and encouragement, we again say thanks. Dr. Robert G. Brown, now Associate Professor at George Washington University, provided encouragement and many helpful suggestions, as friend and colleague during the past three years at the University of Georgia. iii Dr. Raymond V. Bowers, while Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Georgia, generously made available some financial assistance and offered his advice and counsel on numerous occasions. The author will be eternally appreciative of the many contributions of his wife, Patty, who labored long and hard in helping him bring this dissertation to fruition. iv‘ TABLE OF CONTENTS pace; DEDICATION ..................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................. „ ill LIST OF T A B L E S .................................................. ix ABSTRACT ............... xiv CHAPTER I, INTRODUCTION ........................................ 1 Statement of the problem «•....»••• 1 Review of the literature • •••.••... 3 Methodology 11 Theoretical framework • 11 Personal experience .................. • . 14 Acquaintances within the occupation . ............. 14 Participant observation • • 15 Historical sources 15 Interviews • •••••••...••• 15 The questionnaire • 16 Organization of the study II. THE HISTORY OF PETROLEUM AND THE EVOLUTION OF THE OCCUPATION OF PETROLEUM LANDMAN...................... 22 The history of petroleum .......... 22 Petroleum in ancient times • 22 Petroleum in Europe • • • • ............... 26 Petroleum in the New World ......... 28 Petroleum in the Pre-Drake era 30 The American petroleum industry .<>.o...» 32 Petroleum and the Drake era ••.•.••• 32 Subsequent petroleum developments in Pennsylvania . 34 The beginnings of the petroleum industry in California • 36 The Texas discoveries . 38 The occupational history of petroleum landwork . 42 The need for new skills • •••...«.<> 42 The complexity of land ownership « 42 Oil leasing presents new problems • «•«.« 46 Landwork keeps pace with the developing petroleum industry ....a......... 48 v CHAPTER PAGE III. THE INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM............................ 52 The work complex ......................... 52 The makeup of the petroleum i n d u s t r y ........... 52 Internal structure of the petroleum company . 54- Exploration and production activities ........... 56 The work structure •••••••••••• 57 Division of labor in the exploration department . 57 The mechanics of oil l e a s i n g............. 59 The lease contract 61 The varied dimensions of landwork ...... 62 The company man and the independent.............. 69 Economic complex ........... ........ 70 How payment received................ 70 Payment in kind................................. 71 Payment in m o n e y ............................... 73 IV. THE C A R E E R ....................................... 76 Social selection ....... 77 Geographical origin . 77 Demographic background .......... 83 Landmen's fathers’ educational background .... 85 Landmen's fathers' occupational background . 88 General educational background of landmen .... 94 Professional educational background of landmen . 94 General social characteristics of landmen .... 96 Summary ................... 102 Recruitment ............................ 107 Means of gaining entrance to oil business .... 107 Initial specialty in oil business. ...... Ill Present landwork specialty .............. 114 S u m m a r y .......................................... 116 Career patterns................ 117 Longevity in oil business............. 117 Longevity as petroleum l a n d m a n ................ ■ 117 Continuity of employment within the oil business. • 119 Continuity of employment within oil business since becoming landman. ....... 119 Sequence of company/independent employment . 121 Inter-company mobility .......... 127 Promotional patterns 131 Summary ......a........ 134 V. THE STRUCTURE AND IDEOLOGY OF THE OCCUPATION .... 137 vl CHAPTER PAGE The culture of the petroleum industry.............. 137 The early tradition ..............................137 The cultural transition.......................... 143 Occupational roles and socialization ...... 145 The occupational roles .......... 14-5 Status relationships • ••.••••... 154 Teaching and learning 156 The occupational control system ........ 162 Folkways and mores .••••••.... 162 Sanctions 166 The clientele • 168 Summary 174 ■ VI. THE OCCUPATIONAL COLLEAGUE GROUP AND THE WORK GROUP , . 177 Colleagueship and occupational identification • • • 177 Informal interaction 181 Lunching and coffee klatsching patterns . , . * 182 Hobby activity patterns . • • • • ................ 185 Closest friends.......................................188 Neighborhood propinquity a ........ 189 Entertainment patterns .......... 192 Wives' associational patterns 195 Assessment of social l i f e .............. 199 Assessment of forced interaction • ••...• 202 Summary 205 Mechanisms for facilitating informal interactions among colleagues .................... 207 The local landmen's association . ............... 208 The petroleum club ............ • • . 215 Wives' auxiliary organizations . 219 Summary • ..........................................222 Formal occupational organizations • ••.••• 225 Early o r g a n i z a t i o n .................... 226 The American association of petroleum landmen . 227 Petroleum land management curriculum ..... 230 The local landmen association ........ 233 Summary . ............................. 234 VII. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ........... 237 Summary .............. « 237 The research project ........... 237 The history of petroleum . ...... 240 The history of landwork • • . • 242 The institutional system of the petroleum industry . 244 vii CHAPTER PAGE The career ......................... 251 The structure and ideology of the occupation . • 258 The occupational colleague group and the work group 260 Conclusions......................... 264 The trend toward professionalization , . 264 General conclusions • • . ......... 269 The future of petroleum landwork •••••• 272 Need for further r e s e a r c h .............. 273 BIBLIOGRAPHY...... .......... 275 a p p e n d i x: a . ......................................
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