Midway Field Well 2-6 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Midway Field Well 2-6 |
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Midway Field Well 2-6 First Gusher marker
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| Location | Mocal Road, Fellows, California in Kern County |
| Official name: Midway Field Well 2-6 | |
| Designated | May 1, 1957 |
| Reference no. | 581 |
The Midway Field Well 2-6 is a very important historical site in California. It's known as California Historical Landmark number 581. This special oil well is famous for being the first "gusher" in Kern County, California. A gusher is when oil shoots out of the ground! This happened way back in 1909.
This well helped kick off a huge oil boom in California. It's located in the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, which became a very busy area for oil production. The Midway Field Well 2-6 was officially named a California State Historical Landmark on May 1, 1957. You can find this historic well on Mocal Road, near Fellows, California. Fellows is a small town about 33 miles west of Bakersfield, California. A man named Fred C. Ripley was in charge of building this important well.
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Discovering the Midway Field Well 2-6
The Midway Field Well 2-6 was a big discovery. It was drilled in an area where other wells only produced a small amount of oil, maybe 40 or 50 barrels a day. But on November 27, 1909, something amazing happened. This well suddenly "blew in." This means oil shot high above the drilling rig!
A Huge Oil Gusher
The well started producing an incredible 2,000 barrels of oil every single day. This huge amount of oil started one of the biggest oil booms California had ever seen. People rushed to the area, hoping to find their own oil fortunes.
Fred C. Ripley's Role
Fred C. Ripley was the person who found the spot for Well 2-6. He chose this location on June 1, 1909. At the time, it was considered a "wildcat" well. This means it was drilled in an area not yet known for oil. It was a risky but very successful move!
The Man Behind the Discovery: Fred C. Ripley
Fred C. Ripley played a key role in California's oil history. Before his big oil discovery, he worked for the Santa Fe Railway. He was an assistant manager, helping with their oil properties along the coast.
Ripley's Career in Oil
In 1904, Fred C. Ripley changed jobs. He became the manager of the Chanslor-Canfield Midway Oil Company. He stayed in this important role for a long time, managing the company until 1947. His work helped shape the oil industry in California for decades.
California Historical Landmark
The Midway Field Well 2-6 is recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 581. This means it's a place of great historical importance to the state. Markers are placed at these sites to tell visitors about their history.
What the Landmark Marker Says
The official California State Historical Landmark marker for Well 2-6 explains its significance. It mentions that the well was located near other smaller wells. It then describes how it "blew in" on November 27, 1909. The marker highlights its massive production of 2,000 barrels a day. It also notes that this event started one of California's greatest oil booms. Finally, it credits Fred C. Ripley with locating the well as a "wildcat" on June 1, 1909.
