Abstract: Early Riparian Wells Along Oil Creek, Northwest Pennsylvania

Samuel T. Pees

The early oil booms beginning in the 1860's in Northwest Pennsylvania saw a multitude of derricks crowding the narrow flats of Oil Creek between Titusville and Oil City. Oil Creek is a shallow watercourse with gravel bars and islands. At low water one can wade it without wetting the kneecaps. In wet seasons the stream can quickly become a torrent, flooding its banks. In winter it can pile high with jagged ice blocks creating crystal mountains, especially at its mouth where it empties into the Allegheny River at Oil City.

Well spacing in the bottoms finally became so close that some oil men headed for the gravel bars and small islands. Others drilled directly in the creek. The objectives were the Upper Devonian Venango Group sandstones, particularly the Third sand, at depths of only 450-550 feet (137-168 m). Early initial production rates of the best wells were 1000, 3000, even 4000 barrels per day. This was the incentive.

Piles of rocks and logs were made for some wells on floodable land along Oil Creek. The jacks and well heads stood high above the flats on these artificial mounds. Protective V walls of wood or concrete were made for creek and bank wells. The V pointed upstream and the wooden separator tank was nuzzled inside it. Another approach was a pier built out into the creek to support drilling.

Some of these silent reminders of earlier days are still out there.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90954©1995 AAPG Eastern Section, Schenectady, New York