| If you think oil and gas industry in the United | | | | big an industry it is, the United States, according |
| States, one word immediately comes to mind: | | | | to the Energy Information Administration, |
| Texas. The state's relationship with oil dates back | | | | produces a fifth of the world's 95 trillion cubic feet |
| at the beginning of the 20th century when old | | | | of natural gas. So there's really a huge market |
| drillers stuck black gold. The first drillings were in | | | | out there and it's no wonder that companies not |
| fact endeavours to look for water. Historians | | | | only drill for oil but also for gas as well. |
| point to Jan. 10, 1901 as the key date that gave | | | | There's no scarcity in the number of oil and gas |
| rise to the modern oil industry in the United | | | | companies that specialize in purchasing gas and oil |
| States. | | | | royalties so idle properties can be liquidated and |
| Before the speculators came, the American | | | | converted into assets. If you think the phone |
| Indians were already using oil that seeped on the | | | | book is too heavy, a quick Google search will do |
| surface for medicinal purposes and even before | | | | the trick. |
| that, explorers from Spain used the oil to wax | | | | It's best to study each company's background to |
| their boots. Perhaps it was providential that a | | | | find out what's best for you. Good companies |
| decade prior to the discovery of oil, changes have | | | | offer signing bonuses, free consultations on the |
| begun to take effect in Texas in the form of | | | | potential gas yield, or covering half of your cash |
| railroads. More than any other innovations, the | | | | needs upfront. But you should also consider their |
| tracks were responsible for building of new towns. | | | | previous transactions to find out if the landowner's |
| As new technologies are introduced in oil | | | | interest is not exploited for profits, or if their |
| production, oil engineers and geologists are able to | | | | practices run in contrast to sound practices for |
| produce natural gas, which has become an | | | | sustainable environment. |
| industry in itself. Today, Texas is the biggest | | | | Lastly, all these don't matter if your margin of |
| producer of natural gas in the United States, | | | | income remains small. Ask for the gas and oil |
| comprising about a fifth of the nearly 400,000 | | | | company's policies on fair market pricing and other |
| gas wells throughout the country. Other states | | | | increments. Take their offer at face value but |
| that produce gas include Arizona, Maryland, | | | | don't be afraid to shop around for best deal. Ask |
| Missouri, New Mexico, West Virginia and Nevada. | | | | for different types of royalties or if you can still |
| Natural gas can also be harnessed to generate | | | | earn out of non-producing properties. Only then |
| electricity, cook food, fertilize plants and even | | | | can you decide which best of them fit your |
| power up cars. Just to give you an idea of how | | | | needs. |