Anthony Francis Lucas (September 9, 1855–September 2, 1921) was responsible for the first successful oil well at the Spindletop oil field in Southeast Texas, which made Beaumont, Texas one of the first oil boomtowns. September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... An oil well is a term for any perforation through the Earths surface designed to find and release both petroleum oil and gas hydrocarbons. ... Spindletop is an oil field located just south of Beaumont, Texas in the United States. ... Southeast Texas is a region in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Texas. ... Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Jefferson County Mayor Guy Goodson Area    - City 222. ...

Early life

Lucas was born Antun Lučić to the family of shipbuilder and shipowner, Stjepan Lučić, in the city of Split (Croatia), then part of the Habsburg monarchy. Look up Split in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ...

After regular education, already at the age of twenty he completed studies at the Polytechnical Institute, (Technische Hochschule) in Graz, Austria), becoming the mechanical engineer. It was exactly the same time when another famous individual from Croatia, the ethnically Serbian Nikola Tesla, was studying at the same school. After entering the Austrian Naval Academy, serving in Pula and Rijeka, Lucić rose to the rank of the second lieutenant. Main Building, Photo of 1902 Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University (Russian: ; abbreviated SPbSPU) is a major Russian technical university situated in Saint Petersburg. ... Technische Hochschule (acronym TH) is, what a university of technology (i. ... Graz [graːts] (Slovenian: Gradec), with a population of 305,000 (council census 2000) is the second-largest city in Austria and the capital of the province of Styria (Steiermark in German). ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)[1] was a world-renowned Serbian inventor, physicist, mechanical engineer and electrical engineer. ... Pula on the map of Croatia Pula (Croatian Pula, Italian Pola; the city has an official Croatian-Italian bilinguism [1] - in Istriot Pula, German Polei, Slovenian Pulj) is the largest city in Istria, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the peninsula, with a population of 62,080 (2005). ... Rijeka (in local Croatian dialects Rika and Reka; Fiume in Italian and Hungarian, Reka in Slovene; Sankt Veit am Flaum in older German; R(ij)eka and Fiume both mean river) is the principal seaport of Croatia, located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ...

Visit to U.S.

In 1879, Lučić visited his uncle in the United States, (Saginaw, Michigan). He settled here and changed the name to Anthony Francis Lucas, receiving his naturalization papers on May 9, 1885 at Norfolk, Virginia. He married Caroline Weed Fitzgerald, and soon afterwards, with his son, Anthony Fitzgerald Lucas, moved to Washington, D.C. in 1887. First, he found employment in lumber industry. Later, interested in mining he ranged from Colorado peaks to the plains of Louisiana prospecting for gold and rock salt. 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Saginaw is the name of several places in the United States of America: Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw, Texas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Naturalization is the act whereby a person voluntarily and actively acquires a nationality which is not his or her nationality at birth. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... Prospecting is the act of searching for minerals or ore deposits. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ...

In 1893, Lucas started to work in the salt exploration in Louisiana for the New Orleans company at Petite Anse Avery Island). Working at more different locations, (Grand Cote,Anse la Butte and Belle Isle), until 1896 he gained experience of which the most promising was that one of the possible relationship between the salt deposits and the sulfur, (most probably even crude oil), in the tertiary sediments of the Gulf Coast region. Most mainstream geologists disagreed with Lucas's theory. However, as a result of explorations undertaken so far and the experiences gained, he was foremost expert on these formations in the United States. 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A magnified crystal of a salt (halite/sodium chloride) A salt, in chemistry, is any ionic compound composed of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negative ions) so that the product is neutral (without a net charge). ... This Article does not cite its references or sources. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Avery Island (La Saline in french) is a salt dome located in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, about three miles (5 km) inland from Vermillion Bay, which in turn opens onto the Gulf of Mexico. ... 1896 (MDCCCXCVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Atomic mass 32. ... Tertiary period was previously one of the major divisions of the geologic timescale, from the end of the Cretaceous period about 65 million years ago to the start of the Quaternary period about 1. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ...

The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop. Jan 10, 1901

In 1899, Lucas became drilling contractor and leased the land south of Beaumont, Texas from the oil explorer Pattillo Higgins. He believed that the site - Spindletop hill south of Beaumont - was covering a vast pool of crude oil. Drilling began in late 1900 but was extremely difficult. At the depth of 60 m, a layer of sand was found. Later the equipment, (a new rotating hydraulic drilling), collapsed upon reaching a depth of approximately 275 m. Since able to deal with technical difficulties on his own but short on money, Lucas asked for help John Rockefeller, the one of the Standard Oil. Rockefeller denied the assistance but persuaded John H. Galey and James M. Guffey, associates of the Mellon family from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to join the project. Finally, after reaching the depth of 370 m, in 10.30 in the morning of January 10, 1901, gas eruption occurred followed by the stream of crude oil reaching the height of 60 m. The eruption lasted nine days and was stopped by one of Lučić's device, invented before. The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop. ... The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Counties Jefferson County Mayor Guy Goodson Area    - City 222. ... Pattillo Higgins (1863-1955) was a businessman as well as a self-taught geologist. ... The metre, or meter (US), is a measure of length. ... 1917 painting by John Singer Sargent. ... Standard Oil (1870–1911) was a large, integrated, oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. ... Nickname: Steel City, Iron City, City of Champions, City of Bridges, City of Colleges Location in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Coordinates: Country United States State Pennsylvania County Allegheny County Founded 1758 Mayor Luke Ravenstahl (D) Area    - City 151. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A gas is one of the five main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate) and, that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... Eruption can refer to: Volcanic eruption The eruption of teeth through the gum Eruption (band) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Lucas Gusher, (also called the Lucas Spindletop Gusher), produced around 14 000 t of oil a day. The occasion witnessed by about 50 000 spectators was the earliest mass exploitation of the crude oil, in the entire world. Soon, the black gold rush began, and entrepreneurs from all over poured into Texas. The city population mushroomed from 8 000 to 60 000 within a year. With 1902 as many as 285 wells were operating on Spindletop Hill and over 600 oil companies had been chartered. Lucas possessed just a tiny share in company he helped to establish. Because this and other reasons at the end of 1901 he left the company. For other uses, see T (disambiguation). ... The term exploitation may carry two distinct meanings: The act of utilizing something for any purpose. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a thick, dark brown or greenish liquid. ... A California Gold Rush handbill A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of gold. ...

The discovery revolutionized world fuel use and transformed the economy of Southeast Texas. It did help the development of the just recently invented automobile, and it's manufacturing since significant amount of new energy needed for the new kind of transportation became available. With time, the city of Houston become national center of the oil industry, and the United States surpassed Russia as the world's leading producer. Karl Benzs Velo model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race An automobile (or motor car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ... Manufacturing, a branch of industry which accounts for about one-quarter of the worlds economic activity, is the application of tools and a processing medium to the transformation of raw materials into finished goods for sale. ... Two distinct views exist on the meaning of time. ... Houston redirects here. ... The Oil industry brings to market what is currently considered the lifeblood of nearly all other industry, if not industrialized civilization itself. ...

His broad knowledge of geology enabled him to differentiate prospective fields from those considered unsuitable for exploration. He learned about natural properties of petroleum reservoirs, (also mineral deposits), and is also considered to be the founder of modern petroleum reservoir engineering. He later served as a consulting engineer in Romania, Russia, Mexico, Algeria, and United States. As successful businessman and undisputed expert in mining, Lucas was the life long chairman of an American Committee for Oil and Gas. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about minerals in the geologic sense; for nutrient minerals see dietary mineral; for the band see Mineral (band). ... An oil reservoir, petroleum system or petroleum reservoir is often thought of as being an underground lake of oil, but it is actually composed of hydrocarbons contained in porous rock formations. ... A chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ...

Inventions and Applications

Great number of Lucas inventions, scientific or technical knowledges were applied for the first time in the oil exploration, extraction. Most of them are still used. Some of them are: Oil Exploration is the search by petroleum geologists for hydrocarbon deposits beneath the Earths surface. ... In chemistry, liquid-liquid extraction is a useful method to separate components (compounds) of a mixture. ...

• overhead method of mining in salt mines
• surface exploration of underground mineral deposits
• application of hydraulic rotary rig in oil well drilling
• construction and application of back pressure valve
• use of clay for drilling fluids
• construction of blowout, so called "killing" equipment
• designing of well logs

An open surface with X-, Y-, and Z-contours shown. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Hydraulics is a branch of science and engineering concerned with the use of liquids to perform mechanical tasks. ... See: Rotary engine Rotary International Rotary milking shed rotary intersections This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... An oil well is a term for any perforation through the Earths surface designed to find and release both petroleum oil and gas hydrocarbons. ... The use of water pressure - the Captain Cook Memorial Jet in Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. ... // These water valves are regulated by handles. ... The Gay Head cliffs in Marthas Vineyard are made almost entirely of clay. ...

Heritage

Lucas died in Washington, D.C. on September 2, 1921. As to his nationality, he is often mistakenly described as Austrian, sometimes even as the Italian born in Trieste. On his grave in Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. he is said to be of Illyric origin, what was once the standard name for Croatian. Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... In English usage, nationality is the legal relationship between a person and a country. ... Country Italy Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia Province Trieste (TS) Mayor Roberto Dipiazza (since 2001) Elevation 2 m Area 84 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 207,069  - Density 2,480/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Triestini Dialing code 040 Postal code 34100 Frazioni See list... Rock Creek Cemetery (a. ... Illyrians has come to refer to a broad, ill-defined group of peoples who inhabited the western Balkans (Illyria, roughly from northern Epirus to southern Pannonia) and even perhaps parts of Southern Italy in classical times into the Common era, and spoke Illyrian languages. ... Genealogy is the study and tracing of family pedigrees. ...

In 1936 the American Institute for Geological and Metallurgical Investigations founded the Anthony F. Lucas Gold Medal prize for development in the area of oil exploration. The museum with granite obelisk was built to honor the explorer. Related inscription states that his discovery revolutionized industry and transport, changed lives of people in the whole world. As the true pioneer of oil mining, Anthony F. Lucas is with among 200 most deserving Americans in the course of the country's entire history. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Luxor obelisk in the Place de la Concorde in Paris An obelisk is a tall, thin, four-sided, tapering monument which ends in a pyramidal top. ... See also explorations, sea explorers, astronaut, conquistador, travelogue, the History of Science and Technology and Biography. ...

External link

• Anthony Francis Lucas from the Handbook of Texas Online