First Commercial Oil Well In California

First Commercial Oil Well In California (HM256T)

Location: Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381 Los Angeles County
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Country: United States of America
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N 34° 22.219', W 118° 37.759'

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Inscription

Pico #4

On this site stands CSO-4 (Pico #4), California's first commerically productive well. It was spudded in early 1876, under the direction of Demetrius G. Scofield, later to become first president of Standard Oil Company of California, and was completed at a depth of 300 feet on September 26, 1876, for an initial flow of 30 barrels of oil a day.

Later in the same year, the well was deepened to 600 feet, using what was perhaps the first steam rig employed in oil well drilling in California. Upon this second completion, it produced at a rate of 150 barrels a day, and is still producing after seventy-seven years.

The success of this well prompted formation of the Pacific Coast Oil Company, a predecessor of Standard Oil Company of California, and led to the construction of the state's first refinery nearby. It was not only the discovery well of the Newhall Field, but was, indeed, a powerful stimulus to the subsequent development of the California Petroleum Industry.
Details
HM NumberHM256T
Additional InformationAfter producing oil for 114 years, Pico #4 shut down in 1990. Half way between Mentryville and Pico #4 is the oil company picnic area Johnson Park, with displays of old drilling equipment.
Series This marker is part of the California State Historical Landmark series
Tags
Historical Period20th Century, 19th Century
Historical PlaceTown, Park, Other
Marker TypeHistoric Object
Marker ClassHistorical Marker
Marker StyleFree Standing
Marker Number516
Year Placed1953
Placed ByStandard Oil Company of California, and Petroleum Production Pioneers Inc
Marker Condition
6 out of 10 (5 reports)
Date Added Friday, February 2nd, 2018 at 1:02pm PST -08:00
Pictures
Photo Credits: [1] CRAIG BAKER   [2] CRAIG BAKER   [3] CRAIG BAKER   
Locationbig map
Directions InformationFrom Interstate 5, drive west on Pico Cyn Rd to the end, pay to park at historic Mentryville, and walk 1.5 miles up the canyon along the paved trail. Pico #4 is on the right, before the pavement ends.
UTM (WGS84 Datum)11S E 350184 N 3804419
Decimal Degrees34.37031667, -118.62931667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 34° 22.219', W 118° 37.759'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds34° 22' 13.1400" N, 118° 37' 45.5400" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)661, 818, 626
Can be seen from road?No
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling West
Closest Postal AddressAt or near Pico Canyon Service Rd, Stevenson Ranch CA 91381, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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I Saw The Marker

Good condition.

Feb 7, 2018 at 9:00pm PST by craig baker

I Saw The Marker

Good condition.

Feb 7, 2018 at 8:59pm PST by craig baker

I Saw The Marker

Good condition.

Feb 7, 2018 at 8:59pm PST by craig baker

I Saw The Marker

Good condition.

Feb 7, 2018 at 8:59pm PST by craig baker

I Saw The Marker

Good condition.

Feb 7, 2018 at 8:38pm PST by craig baker

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