Oil PipeLines & Tanks

In the early days of local oil boom (1880's-into the 1900's) the producers & royalty holders (usually landholders & investors) were not the only people to make money. The real profiteers of the early days were the PipeLine Companies that transported the oil.

Although the Railroads were set up early to transport the oil production it was necessary to run oil into storage until tank cars could be arranged to transport the crude oil to a refinery or pump it long distances through pipelines to refineries. Early on PipeLine companies organized to create a "direct from well" delivery system right from the oil lease to the refinery via pipelines. These companies made the "big bucks!!"

One of the interesting "Tank Farms" which the pipeline company owned was located about a mile outside Wellsville on what is now State Route 417 where the Joyce Family has recently constructed their Otis Eastern headquarters in new buildings. (Note: I hope to follow-up later with more history on this.) At the rear of the property remains the old original brick structure of the pipeline company. Below is a picture of the pipeline being laid.

Tanks were one of the hazzards (amongst many) of the oil industry as-well-as a real necessity. The crude oil flowed into the tanks for storage from pipelines direct from the production tanks on leases. Along with the crude oil there was a large amount of very combustible natural gas that seeped into the air. Many tanks went up in flame during my lifetime, some on leases before leaving in the pipeline and some when they reached storage/transport tanks.

The pictures that I am showing below are only two of the hazzards of having an oil tank in your backyard. One, heating the oil in a lease tank so it would flow through the pipeline, and two, Mother Nature's lightning strike!