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1785 General William Irvine reported "Oil Creek, PA, has taken its name from an oil or bituminous matter floating on its surface"
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1806 David & Joseph Ruffner drilled first salt well using spring pole, drive pipe, casing & tubing near Kanawha River in western Virginia, well produced oil instead of salt water
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October 7 - Drake's well ignited by gas and destroyed - first oil well fire on record,
well house rebuilt and oil equipment replaced
