Mexican operations, Sinclair's first venture in foreign production, were good training for later explorations in South America and Africa. Everything was imported, from food to the 35,000 board feet of lumber in each derrick. All the technicians also were Americans. Most of the Mexican oil was almost as heavy as asphalt. Sinclair Gulf's potential was vast. Several wells on the 300 square miles of Mexican leases flowed 30,000 barrels a day. The fields were capable of 150,000 barrels daily without further development. In Mexico the problem was not to find oil, but to get it to market.

With American entry into World War I, all but two of Sinclair Gulf's tankers were preempted for war duty. The Tamesi and Panuco, of 20,000 barrel capacity, cruised at only eight knots, too slow for convoy. Sinclair's bulk exports from Mexico were limited to the capacity of these vessels.

Actually Sinclair Gulf did not need any imports at that time. The Houston refinery was unfinished. Ample crude oils were available in the prolific Healdton field of Oklahoma, augmented by a new discovery in Hominy, Oklahoma, where the oil was of such high grade that it brought a 25¢ per barrel price premium.

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