-
early oil spill
1785 General William Irvine reported "Oil Creek, PA, has taken its name from an oil or bituminous matter floating on its surface" -
oil srike
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 -
oil fire dissaster
October 7 - Drake's well ignited by gas and destroyed - first oil well fire on record,
well house rebuilt and oil equipment replaced
