Oil in Oklahoma facts for kids

Oil in Oklahoma has a long and interesting history, starting with an accidental discovery. In 1859, people were drilling for salt near a place called Salina. This area was known as Indian Territory back then, long before Oklahoma became a state. Instead of salt, they found oil! This was the very first time oil was discovered in this region.

Oklahoma quickly became a major player in the oil world. In 1907, the same year Oklahoma officially became a state, it was producing more oil than any other state or territory in the United States. For many years, from 1907 to 1930, Oklahoma and California often traded places as the top oil producer in the country.

Oklahoma's Oil Journey

Oklahoma's oil production reached its highest point in 1927. At that time, it was producing an amazing 762,000 barrels of oil every single day! A barrel is a large container, and this shows just how much oil was being pulled from the ground.

After this peak, oil production slowly went down over many years. By 2005, it had dropped to 168,000 barrels per day. But things started to change again! By 2014, Oklahoma's oil production had more than doubled. It reached 350,000 barrels per day, making it the fifth-highest oil-producing state in the U.S.

Sometimes, oil production goes up and down. In the late 1900s, there was a period when oil production in Oklahoma slowly decreased. However, new drilling efforts helped it increase for a few years in the early 1980s before declining again.

Where Oil is Found Today

Oil and natural gas are found all over Oklahoma. As of 2012, 72 out of Oklahoma's 77 counties had active oil or gas wells. This means that most parts of the state have energy being produced from underground.

Some of these wells go very deep into the Earth. The deepest natural gas well in Oklahoma is in Beckham County, reaching down about 24,928 feet. That's almost five miles deep! The deepest oil well is in Comanche County, going down about 15,500 feet.

People Who Shaped the Oil Industry

Many people have played important roles in Oklahoma's oil history. One active oil driller was Fred M. Manning.

It's also important to know about Lulu M. Hefner. She was a very special person in the oil industry. Lulu Hefner was the first woman to operate an oil business in Oklahoma. She was also the first woman to drill a successful oil well on her own property. This was a big achievement for women in business at that time.

See also

• Oil industry in Cushing, Oklahoma
• Oil City, Oklahoma
• Oklahoma City Oil Field