Discovery Well in the Wasson Field

The Bennett well reached the San Andres formation at 5,085 feet, where the hole filled with 700 feet of oil. Deepened and shot with nitroglycerine, it tested 234 barrels a day. Getting the oil out was harder: no pipeline or railroad came near, trucking it sixty miles to Andrews County ate into profits, and West Texas crude averaged only 84 cents a barrel in 1936. Humble Pipe Line built a six-inch line to Hobbs in November 1937. On December 1, 1939, the Railroad Commission joined the scattered pools into one Wasson field of 62,500 acres.

What the plaque says

Discovery Well in the Wasson Field L. P. and Ruth Bennett moved to Yoakum County in 1916 to take over the ranching operation they had inherited from Ruth's father Dr. J. R. Smith of Munday. In 1927 they leased part of the ranch to the Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company for the drilling of exploratory oil wells. By the mid-1930s the Bennett's cattle business was declining as a result of the economic depression and a severe area drought. They were in danger of losing their property through foreclosure when oil was discovered on the ranch. The find was made on October 10, 1935 at the Ruth Bennett No. 1-678 (6 mi. NE), a well supervised by Fort Worth wildcatter Red Davidson and crews of the Honolulu Oil Company. With the discovery, the Bennetts were able to pay all claims against their land. Increased drilling activity in the area created a "boom town" atmosphere and led to the founding of Denver City (6 mi. S) in 1939. Petroleum remains the major industry in Yoakum County, a national leader in the production of crude oil. In 1964 Gene H. Bennett, the youngest son of L. P. and Ruth Bennett, donated this portion of the Bennett Ranch to the county for use as a park. (1981)

Where it stands

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