Oil Capital: The History of American Oil, Wildcatters, Independents and Their Bankers

The history of oilmen and the energy bankers who loan them capital is inextricably bound together. Energy bankers have reacted, adjusted and evolved alongside the same business cycles, regulatory changes and commodity-price gyrations that have challenged the generations of oilmen they banked. In many respects, however, it is remarkable how little has changed during the past 100 years in the fundamentals of lending against collateral that has been hidden underground for millions of years. Nor has there been much change in the relationship between the early wildcatters willing to risk their--and their banker's--last dime and the bankers who cautiously evaluate the oilmen and their collateral.

Along with manpower, rigs and drill pipe, capital has always been a critical tool in the exploration for and development of oil and gas. From the earliest days of the industry, producers have required more start-up capital for acquisition, drilling and development of oil fields than can be generated out of cash flow from existing production. The accomplishments of oil companies were and are as dependent upon access to capital as access to the hydrocarbons they seek to exploit. This book tells the story of the enduring relationship of oil and gas producers and oil and gas bankers in the context of the evolution of the two industries.

Author: Bernard F. Clark Jr.
Publisher: Bernard F. Clark, Jr.
Published: 01/01/2017
Pages: 446
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.78lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.13d
ISBN: 9780692709436

About the Author
Clark, Jr. Bernard F.: - Bernard F. (Buddy) Clark, Jr. grew up in Houston, Texas, well aware of the needs producers face for capital. As chief financial officer for Mitchell Energy & Development Corp. for 45 years, his father was often flying to New York and Chicago to meet with commercial and investment bankers for funds to finance Mitchell Energy's constant need of capital. Following graduation from University of Texas Law School in 1982, Clark joined the established Houston oil and gas firm of Butler & Binion LLP as a member of its energy-finance group, working with producers and bankers, principally Allied Bank of Texas and its successors, First Interstate and Wells Fargo, as well as working in the late 1980s with the FSLIC in its takeover of Dallas-based savings and loan institutions and as special counsel to the Emergency Oil and Gas Guaranteed Loan Board in 1999-2000. In 1999, he joined the Houston office of national law firm Haynes and Boone LLP where he chairs the firm's energy practice.

This title is not returnable