On this day, in 1859: First commercially successful oil well. Edwin Drake is famous for pioneering a new method for producing oil from the ground. He drilled using piping to prevent borehole collapse, allowing for the drill to penetrate further and further into the ground. Previous methods for collecting oil had been limited. Edwin Drakes 1859 well near Titusville, Pennsylvania, is popularly considered the first modern well. Drakes well is probably singled out because it was drilled, not dug; because it used a steam engine; because there was a company associated with it; and because it touched off a major boom.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Aug 2014 07:29:39 +0000
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