First
offshore drilling rig in the U.S. was
in 1891, over the Mercer County, Ohio,
Reservoir. At that time, this was largest
man made lake in the country.
Ohio
lays claim to the first discovery of
oil from a drilled well. In 1814, two
men drilled 475 feet in search of salt
in Olive Township of Noble County. They
cursed when a black liquid oozed into
the pit. In 1859, the first commercial
well in the United States was completed
in Titusville, Pennsylvania by Colonel
Drake. Ohio's first commercial oil and
gas well was put into production in
1860 at Macksburg in Washington County.
From 1860 through 1998, over 267,000
wells have drilled in Ohio, ranking
it fourth nationally behind Texas, Oklahoma
and Pennsylvania. Ohio's oil and gas
wells are located in both rural areas
and highly populated residential areas
of the state. Wells produce in 68 of
the state's 88 counties.
Since
its early days, oil and natural gas
production has played a key role in
Ohio's industrial development.
Ohio's
oil and gas industry includes independent
producers, landowners, geologists, drillers,
contractors, engineers, attorneys, accountants,
and many others in allied fields. This
vital industry employs over 14,000 people
throughout the state.
Drilling
for oil and natural gas in Ohio is a
business with a high degree of risk.
Unlike the gushers sometimes seen in
the movies, Ohio wells produce an average
of one barrel of oil a day. Most wells
are classified as marginal wells, which
means they produce less than ten barrels
of oil a day. Ohio ranks first in the
number of marginal (low volume) gas
wells and fifth in the number of marginal
oil wells in the United States.
Though
the oil and natural gas produced in
Ohio is not enough to meet the States
total consumption requirements, its
impact on Ohio's economy is significant
in helping to meet our energy needs.
Ohio oil and natural gas production
annually pays out millions of dollars
in royalties to Ohio landowners and
farmers, which contributes significantly
to the reserve base of local economies
and local school districts.
Ohio's
oil and gas producers truly are
Ohio's
energy farmers. Because they choose
to participate in a high-risk business,
they are used to working long hours
and operating under adverse conditions.
Innovation, perseverance, and plain
hard work are key to their survival
in an industry built on uncertain conditions
- geologic, operational, and economic.
Learn
more about the first oil well in North America!
Read
the 1901 edition of The Ohio
Journal of Science article on
the Corning Oil and Gas Field!
Ken
Miller Supply's Oil, Gas, Car & Truck
Museum
Shreve, OH
Tour
arrangements upon request:
(330) 264-9146 or (330) 263-7890
