Midway Field Well 2-6

The neighbours were making forty and fifty barrels a day. On November 27, 1909 this one came in over the top of its derrick at two thousand, and the Midway field stopped being a modest proposition. Fred Ripley had located it as a wildcat that June, while working oil properties for the Santa Fe; he ran the successor company until 1947. The Petroleum Production Pioneers set the plaque here in 1951. California did not add the site to its own register until 1957, six years after the industry had marked it.

What the plaque says

First Gusher Midway Field - Well No. 2-6 The Well Which Made the Midway Oil Field Famous Near an area of small 40 and 50 barrel wells it blew in over the derrick top November 27th, 1909 with a production of 2,000 bbl. a day and started one of the greatest oil booms California ever experienced. "For a long time it held the rank of the best producer in the whole west side, and before its glory began to wane other celebrities in the gusher line began to crowd the North Midway stage" Morning Echo, Bakersfield, February 28th, 1911. Well 2-6 was located as a wildcat June 1, 1909 by Fred C. Ripley then assistant manager of oil properties, Santa Fe Railway Coast Lines, later manager of its successor the Chanslor Canfield Midway Oil Company with which he was associated 1904 to 1947. Dedicated September 15, 1951 The Petroleum Production Pioneers State Registered Landmark No. 581

Where it stands

More markers nearby

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