In what year did Marcus Samuel of Shell Transport and James Guffey sign their twenty-year contract at Spindletop?

• A. 1898
• B. 1901
• C. 1903
• D. 1899

Answer: (B)

Understanding this question rests on recognizing a landmark collaboration that helped launch Shell into the global oil business. When Spindletop erupted in 1901, it created a massive opportunity to secure a steady flow of Texas oil. Marcus Samuel, who led Shell Transport and Trading, partnered with American oilman James Guffey to lock in a long-term deal to develop and market that oil. They signed a twenty-year contract in the same year as the Spindletop boom, 1901, which made that moment a turning point for Shell’s international expansion and for the commercial exploitation of Spindletop. The long-term contract signaled both confidence in the field’s prospects and a plan to channel Spindletop oil into global trade, laying the groundwork for Shell’s rise as a major player in the world oil industry.