§ 52-51. Oil companies must comply with statute - "Petroleum" defined.

Every corporation, joint stock company, partnership or other person, exercising or claiming the right to carry or transport crude oil or petroleum, or any of the products thereof, by or through pipelines, for hire or otherwise, or exercising or claiming the right to engage in the business of producing crude oil or petroleum, or of refining it, or manufacturing any of the products thereof, or of storing crude oil or petroleum produced by it, or any other person, or engaging in the business of buying, selling or dealing in crude oil or petroleum, within the limits of this state, shall not have or possess the right to conduct or engage in said business or operation, in whole or in part, as above described, or have or possess the right to locate, maintain, or operate the necessary pipelines, fixtures and equipment thereunto belonging, or used in connection therewith, concerning the said business of carrying or transporting crude oil or petroleum as aforesaid, on, over, along, across, through, in or under any present or future highway, or part thereof, within this state, or have or possess the right of eminent domain, or any other rights, concerning said business or operations, in whole or in part, except as authorized by and subject to the provisions of this article, and except such rights as may already exist which are valid, vested, and incapable of revocation by any law of this state or of the United States.  The word "petroleum" as used herein means all crude oil and its manufactured products, not including natural gas.

R.L. 1910, § 4304.