Well, Hill 4 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Well, Hill 4 |
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Lompoc Oil Field map site of Well, Hill 4
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| Location | Unocal Corporation, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, California |
| Official name: Well, Hill 4 | |
| Designated | May 1, 1957 |
| Reference no. | 582 |
The Well, Hill 4 is a special place in Lompoc, California. It's an old oil well located in the Lompoc Oil Field, which is part of the Purisima Hills. This well is famous because it was the very first oil well to use a clever new method called "pumping cement." This method helped to properly seal the well and install a special "shutoff valve."
Well, Hill 4 became a California Historical Landmark on May 1, 1957. It was given the number 582. You can find this historic well at a Unocal Corporation site in the Mission Hills area of Lompoc. The actual well and its historical marker are about 1.6 miles inside a gated area, hidden away in a canyon.
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What Makes Well, Hill 4 Special?
Well, Hill 4 is important because of its new way of sealing an oil well. When drilling for oil, it's important to keep water out of the well. Water can mix with the oil and make it harder to get out. It can also damage the well.
The Pumping Cement Method
Before Well, Hill 4, sealing oil wells was tricky. But engineers at this well came up with a smart idea:
- They pumped liquid cement down a pipe inside the well.
- The cement then flowed back up around the outside of the pipe, filling any gaps.
- Once the cement dried, it created a strong, waterproof seal.
This method was a huge step forward for the oil industry. It made oil wells safer and more efficient. It also helped protect the environment around the well.
History of the Well
The story of Well, Hill 4 began a long time ago.
Drilling for Oil
The Union Oil Company of California started drilling this well on September 26, 1905. They drilled very deep, going down 2,507 feet into the ground. On April 30, 1906, they successfully found oil!
A Long-Lasting Well
Thanks to the new cementing technique, the well was sealed very well. This strong seal helped the well produce oil for a very long time. It kept pumping oil for over 45 years, finally running dry in 1951.
Who Was Frank E. Hill?
The well is named after an engineer named Frank E. Hill. He was the leader of the team that successfully used the pumping cement method for the first time. His work helped change how oil wells were built and sealed forever.
California Historical Landmark Plaque
The official plaque for California State Historical Landmark No. 582 tells the story of Well, Hill 4:
- NO. 582 WELL, HILL 4 - This well, started on September 26, 1905, and finished on April 30, 1906, was the first oil well where water was successfully kept out by pumping cement through the tubing and behind the casing. This was the start of the modern cementing technique we use today.
- It was drilled 2,507 feet deep by Union Oil Company of California. About 1,872 feet of 10-inch casing and 2,237 feet of 8-inch casing were sealed so well with cement that the well produced oil for more than forty-five years.
