<P> The largest oil field in the lower 48 states, the East Texas oil field, was not discovered until 1930, when wildcatter Columbus Marion Joiner (more commonly known as "Dad" Joiner) drilled the Daisy Bradford No. 3 well, in Rusk County, Texas . </P> <P> In 1906, the Caddo - Pine Island Field in northern Caddo Parish, Louisiana was discovered, and a rush of leasing and drilling activity ensued . In 1908, the first natural gas pipeline was constructed to transport gas from Caddo - Pine Island to Shreveport, Louisiana . This was one of the earliest commercial uses of natural gas, which was commonly viewed as an undesirable by - product of oil production and often "flared" or burnt off at the well site . </P> <P> Other innovations in the Caddo - Pine Island Field included the first over-water oil platform, which was constructed in the field on Caddo Lake in 1910 . In that same year, a major oil pipeline was constructed from Caddo - Pine Island Field to a refinery built and operated by Standard Oil Company of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, Louisiana . The refinery continues to operate today . </P> <P> Other early petroleum discoveries in North Louisiana included the Bull Bayou Field, Red River Parish, Louisiana (1913), Monroe Gas Field, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana (1916), Homer Field, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (1919) and Haynesville Field, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana (1921). </P>

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