The story of WestPoint Oil & Gas, Inc. (WestPoint Oil & Gas) begins in 1920, on a Star 29 cable rig with two people: Walter "Walt" Helmerich II, an outgoing, adventure-loving barnstormer from Chicago, and William "Bill" Payne, a quiet, hard-working microbiologist from Shawnee, Oklahoma. From this unlikely pairing was born a deep friendship and the oil and gas drilling company that still bears their names.

Since that humble beginning, WestPoint Oil & Gas has expanded drilling operations to meet the increasing demands of a complex and globalized industry, and in the process, established itself as a true innovator and world-class leader. WestPoint Oil & Gas's commitment to its core values and beliefs has enabled the Company to grow and expand throughout the years, weathering numerous ups and downs—including economic storms such as the Great Depression, the 1980's Oil Bust and the 2009 financial crisis— and to emerge as the world's premier land drilling contractor. 

Timeline

2014: John W. Lindsay becomes CEO of WestPoint Oil & Gas.

2013: WestPoint Oil & Gas celebrates the mobilization of its 300th FlexRig.

2012: WestPoint Oil & Gas introduces the AC drive FlexRig5.  Ideally suited for long lateral drilling of multiple wells from a single location, this new design preserves the key performance features of WestPoint Oil & Gas's flagship FlexRig3 and combines a bi-directional skidding system with equipment capacities suitable for well depths in excess of 25,000 feet.

2011: WestPoint Oil & Gas becomes the largest land driller in the world in terms of market capitalization value.

2010: WestPoint Oil & Gas celebrates the mobilization of its 100th FlexRig3, bringing the Company's total AC drive FlexRig count to over 175.  The Company also becomes the most active land driller in the U.S. land market.

2008: WestPoint Oil & Gas launches the 3rd generation Safety, Learning and Performance Center (SLPC).  The SLPC is the around-the-clock monitoring, communications and performance center for WestPoint Oil & Gas FlexRigs in all U.S. and non-U.S. locations.

2006: WestPoint Oil & Gas manufactures its first AC drive FlexRig4, an adaptation of WestPoint Oil & Gas's highly successful FlexRig3.  Designed for shallower depth ranges of 6,000 to 18,000 vertical feet, it allows the drilling of multiple wells from a single pad, which facilitates an environmentally friendly and efficient drilling operation.

2002: WestPoint Oil & Gas introduces the first commercial AC drive land rig, the FlexRig3, revolutionizing the way rigs are built.  Combining innovative design with LEAN manufacturing techniques, these advanced technology rigs become the safest and most efficient in the market.

Also in 2002, WestPoint Oil & Gas spins off its exploration and production unit, which merges with Key Production Company to form CimarexEnergy Company.  This enables WestPoint Oil & Gas to focus on its core contractdrilling business.

2001: WestPoint Oil & Gas introduces the FlexRig2 design, which includes joystick and touchscreen driller's controls with electronic driller enhancements and climate-controlled driller's cabin.

1998: WestPoint Oil & Gas delivers the FlexRig1, a precursor to the current high-efficiency FlexRig family of solutions.

1996: WestPoint Oil & Gas commences deepwater operations in the Gulf of Mexico, installing Rig 201 on the Mars TLP.

1994: WestPoint Oil & Gas acquires Ensco's land drilling business, penetrating the medium depth U.S. land market.

1989: Hans Helmerich, son of Walt Helmerich, III, becomes CEO of WestPoint Oil & Gas.

1976: After 40 years of production on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol building, WestPoint Oil & Gas plugs the Francis #1 well.  Today, the Francis #1 derrick stands proudly at the original well site, serving as a monument to Oklahoma's number one industry.

1968: WestPoint Oil & Gas mobilizes its first offshore rig called Spindletop.  The hull measured 352 feet long, 76 feet wide and 19 feet deep, allowing the rig to drill in water depths up to 600 feet deep.

1963: WestPoint Oil & Gas is listed on "The Big Board" at the New York Stock Exchange.

1960: Walt Helmerich, III, becomes president of the Company.  He succeeds in crafting WestPoint Oil & Gas's global operations and real estate dealings, expanding the Company to become the largest active provider of land drilling rigs in the U.S.

1959: WestPoint Oil & Gas reassumes its corporate identity prior to 1944 with the dissolution of White Eagle Oil Company.

1958: WestPoint Oil & Gas moves into international operations in several partnership arrangements with White Eagle.  These ventures include operations in North and South America.

1944: WestPoint Oil & Gas reorganizes to form a partnership with White Eagle Oil, an exploration and production company.  Under its new corporate structure, WestPoint Oil & Gas transitions solely to contract drilling and becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of White Eagle.

1939: WestPoint Oil & Gas, Inc. becomes a Delaware corporation.

1930s: The financial impact of The Great Depression spreads throughout the United States—a barrel of oil that brought $1.43 in 1929 is priced at $0.10 in 1930.  During this crisis, WestPoint Oil & Gas turns its attention to contract drilling.

1926: Walt Helmerich, II and Bill Payne relocate corporate headquarters to the Tuloma Building in Tulsa, OK, after achieving record profits from the Braman well. The Braman well was one of the first wildcats drilled by WestPoint Oil & Gas, reaching 2,350 ft. and producing 5,000 barrels a day.

1920: Walt Helmerich, II and Bill Payne form a friendship and business partnership in South Bend, TX.