The History of Hanna Oil & Gas

Our patriarch and founder, Jim Hanna, grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, the son of hard-working parents who were strong providers. His entrepreneurial journey began in the oil and gas fields of the Arkoma Basin in the early 1960s, when Joseph Bridwell sent Jim to Arkansas to help expand Bridwell’s business — with Jim as his only employee.

Throughout the 1960s, Jim bought and sold leases while learning the geology, the risks, and the opportunities of the basin. Those early years were lean, but they built the foundation of the disciplined, opportunity-driven approach that would define the company.

Everything changed in 1970 when Jim purchased a prospect from JM Huber Company. The deal included acreage with potential in the risky, downdip Hale Zone. While others might have hesitated, Jim believed in the geology. He raised outside capital, invested his own money, and drilled the well.

The result was historic. Read More…