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FL oil exploration history (1901-1943)

Record

p09-FL-rec-03

State

FL

Category

historical_context · historical_note

Status

collected

Period

current

Quality

Unreviewed

Review state

Pending review

Native ID

FL-OIL-HISTORY

Fields

discovery 1943

discovered an oilfield in 1943

falling waters attempt

drilled to a depth of 3,900 feet

first commercial attempt

began in 1901, not far from the Gulf Coast panhandle town of Pensacola

first two wells

Two exploratory wells, the first drilled to a depth of 1,620 feet and the second reaching 100 feet deeper, were abandoned.

state bounty

$50,000 state bounty

Evidence

1. first commercial attempt: began in 1901, not far from the Gulf Coast panhandle town of Pensacola
   https://aoghs.org/petroleum-pioneers/first-florida-oil-well/ · article body paragraph 1; quote Q14 in evidence file · source p09-FL-src-11 · visit p09-FL-visit-11
2. first two wells: Two exploratory wells, the first drilled to a depth of 1,620 feet and the second reaching 100 feet deeper, were abandoned.
   https://aoghs.org/petroleum-pioneers/first-florida-oil-well/ · article body paragraph 1; quote Q15 in evidence file · source p09-FL-src-11 · visit p09-FL-visit-11
3. discovery 1943: discovered an oilfield in 1943
   https://aoghs.org/petroleum-pioneers/first-florida-oil-well/ · article subheading; quote Q16 in evidence file · source p09-FL-src-11 · visit p09-FL-visit-11
4. state bounty: $50,000 state bounty
   https://aoghs.org/petroleum-pioneers/first-florida-oil-well/ · article subheading; quote Q17 in evidence file · source p09-FL-src-11 · visit p09-FL-visit-11
5. falling waters attempt: drilled to a depth of 3,900 feet
   https://aoghs.org/petroleum-pioneers/first-florida-oil-well/ · article body (1920 attempt); quote Q18 in evidence file · source p09-FL-src-11 · visit p09-FL-visit-11

Provenance

Collected 2026-10-05 by agent p09-FL.