Innovation News

Tulsa’s energy industry has always been shaped by change. The region’s Indigenous tribes recognized natural oil and gas seeps, using it as medicine long before modern oil companies existed. Early oil gathering was simple, collecting what pooled aboveground. That changed in 1897, when Oklahoma’s first commercially successful oil well struck in Bartlesville–miles north of Tulsa’s city center. Only two years later, the introduction of railroads made it possible to transport crude oil across the American West and ignited the Oklahoma oil boom.

For decades, oil and gas powered Tulsa’s economy, built its workforce and defined its identity. But as global energy markets shift and new technologies emerge, Tulsa continues to adapt and evolve.

Over the next three decades, Oklahoma rose to become a national leader in oil production. By 1920, Tulsa alone housed more than 400 oil companies, attracting people from around the globe. The surge of wealth fueled new businesses, banks and the city’s iconic Art Deco architecture, earning Tulsa its reputation as the “Oil Capital of the World.”

As time passed, Tulsa leveraged its deep technical expertise, infrastructure and talent to broaden its energy sector beyond traditional oil and gas. Established leaders like Williams, ONEOK and AEP-PSO expanded their operations and capabilities, helping drive innovation and efficiency across the region.

The industry continued to advance, with companies increasingly focused on improving performance through automation, data analytics and operational technology. These tools have helped modernize processes, increase reliability and strengthen Tulsa’s position as a hub for energy innovation. Tulsa’s energy sector is a powerful economic engine, supporting more than 24,000 jobs and generating a $10 billion direct impact today. 

The region's energy future is being shaped by a new generation of entrepreneurs working in tandem with established energy leaders. Organizations like Rose Rock Bridge are investing in startups that are rethinking how energy companies operate, grow, and continue to scale. Businesses such as Safety Radar, Kinitics Automation and Fluid Efficiency—alumni in Rose Rock Bridge’s pilot-deployment studio program—highlight the continued momentum of innovation in technology across the sector, made possible by corporate partnerships with companies like Devon Energy, H&P, ONEOK and Williams. 

Tulsa’s energy industry has experienced booms and busts, but one thing is certain: the city is resilient and ready for what’s next. With strong leadership and a growing ecosystem of technology and talent, Tulsa remains a key player in the evolving energy landscape.