Seminole Oil Field, unveiling monument, 1977

Item — Box: PH 6

Identifier: CAC_CC_31_15_6_0000_599

Staff Only

Press release states: "Echo of a Boom - A monument that recalls the story of the Seminole Oil Field has been erected in Seminole by the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Petroleum Council near the site of a planned oil museum. Officiating at the unveiling were (left to right) Jack Wettengell, Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director; D. A. McGee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kerr-McGee Corporation; Warren Jensen, Continental Oil Co. Vice-President; Governor David Boren; Bill Snell, Seminole Historical Society President, and Melvin Moran, Seminole Mayor. McGee, who worked as a geologist in the Seminole Field, delivered the monument presentation address." These 6 men stand beside the monument. An oil derrick is in the background. Engraving on monument states: "The Greater Seminole Oil Field. The greater Seminole Oil Field was one of several fields discovered in the mid-1920's that swung the United States' oil inventory from scarcity to surplus. Discovery of five prolific Seminole area oil pools in 1926 and 1927 glutted the market, resulting in voluntary reductions in oil production and a slowdown in field development. The Seminole City Pool led the discovery race with the Hunton Lime discovery by Indian Territory illuminating Oil Co. on March 7, 1926. It was followed on July 6, 1926 by discovery of the Wilcox Sand Production by Amerada Petroleum Co. nearby. The Fixico well of R. F. Garland and independent oil co. penetrated the Wilcox Sand on July 16, flowing 1,500 barrels of oil daily. This well revealed the potential of Wilcox production in the area and started the greater Seminole oil boom. In rapid succession came the Searight, Earlsboro, Bowlegs, and Little River pools. Peak production of greater Seminole was 527,400 barrels on July 30, 1927. Production has continued for more than 50 years and totaled 201,246,000 barrels by the start of 1977. Oil discoveries brought an estimated 20,000 oil field workers to the area, transforming Seminole into the last of the oil boom towns with several satellite tent and shack towns nearby. Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Petroleum Council." Seminole, Oklahoma. July 20, 1977.

Dates

1977

Language of Materials

English

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