# The 1936-1937 Wasson and Slaughter San Andres Discoveries — Permian Basin Northern Shelf Giants

**TL;DR:** The 1936 Honolulu Oil Wasson discovery and 1937 Slaughter discovery opened the Permian Basin Northern Shelf San Andres carbonate play in West Texas. Combined cumulative production from Wasson, Slaughter, and related fields exceeds 6 billion barrels. Today, Occidental Petroleum (OXY) operates most of these mature fields as CO₂-flood EOR units with decades of remaining productive life. Mineral owners inherit interests from 1930s-era leases, often receiving stable royalty income from world-class carbonate reservoirs.

## Key Takeaways

- **The Wasson discovery (1936, Honolulu Oil) and Slaughter discovery (1937, J.E. Guerry No. 1) established the Northern Shelf San Andres play**, a world-class carbonate trend across Yoakum, Gaines, Hockley, and Cochran counties in West Texas.
- **Combined cumulative production from Wasson, Slaughter, Levelland, Robertson, and Cedar Lake fields exceeds 6 billion barrels**, making this one of North America's largest combined oil resources.
- **Occidental Petroleum (OXY) operates the modern EOR portfolio** using CO₂ flooding to extend productive life by decades, providing stable cash flow and excellent operator quality for mineral owners.
- **Wasson Field alone has produced over 4 billion barrels** from San Andres and Grayburg carbonates; Slaughter Field has produced over 2 billion barrels, both now managed as consolidated units.
- **Mineral ownership is typically 3-4 generations deep**, with current royalty recipients descended from original 1936-1945 lease signers in Yoakum, Gaines, and Hockley counties.
- **Unit consolidation under OXY has simplified title** by replacing fragmented small leases with single operating units, making it easier to verify decimal interests and value future cash flow.
- **Northern Shelf San Andres unit decimals often generate meaningful monthly royalty checks** due to active CO₂ flood operations and long reserve life on mature carbonate positions.

## Page Highlights

**Discovery Facts:** The Wasson Field was discovered by Honolulu Oil Company in 1936; Slaughter Field followed in 1937 with the J.E. Guerry No. 1. Both produce from Permian San Andres dolomitized carbonates deposited in shallow shelf-margin environments. Together with the 1926 Yates discovery, these fields established the Permian Basin as a world-class oil province.

**Combined Resource Base:** Wasson Field has produced 4+ billion barrels cumulative; Slaughter Field 2+ billion barrels. Related Northern Shelf San Andres fields include Levelland, Robertson, Cedar Lake, Seminole, and Fullerton—all part of the same giant carbonate trend.

**Modern OXY EOR Portfolio:** Through decades of consolidation, Occidental Petroleum now operates most Northern Shelf San Andres production. OXY uses CO₂ injection as primary tertiary recovery, maintaining long reserve life, stable operations, and one of the cleanest operator profiles in the Permian Basin. Unitization consolidates fragmented mineral interests under single operating units.

**Mineral Owner Implications:** Current mineral owners typically inherit from 3-4 generations back to original 1936-1945 lessors. OXY's operator quality is excellent, supporting long reserve life and stable cash flow. Unit consolidation simplifies title verification and valuation. Royalty checks are often substantial for owners on actively-flooded tracts.

**Selling Options:** Mineral interests tracing to the 1936-1937 Wasson-Slaughter discoveries can be valued by direct buyers like Buckhead Energy. Many owners are out-of-state; the process can be handled remotely. No broker commissions, listing fees, or auction premiums apply when working with direct buyers.

## Related Topics

The page links to the following internal Buckhead Energy resources:

- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/how-to-sell (How to Sell Mineral Rights guide)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/what-are-my-minerals-worth (Mineral valuation guide)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/should-i-sell (Decision framework for mineral owners)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/beginner-guide (Beginner's guide to mineral rights)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/getting-fair-price (Fair pricing guide)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell (Main selling page / CTA)
- https://www.buckheadenergy.com/texas-oilfield-history (Texas oilfield history hub)

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**About Buckhead Energy**  
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer of mineral rights with 18+ years of experience in Permian Basin and national acquisitions. We provide free written offers with no broker commissions, listing fees, or auction premiums.

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