Drilling for oil in Palmetto. University of South Florida Tampa Library still image eng There were actually 3 oil wells attempted in Palmetto between 1924 and 1928. George E. Wallace was president of the Tri-County Oil Company and W.E. Robinson was on the Board of Directors. Captain B. F. Alley was general manager and E.L. Bell was secretary of the Tri-County Oil Company. The first well reached a depth of 1,300-1,400 feet when the drilling tools broke off and the well was abandoned. All was not lost, however, as the well produced a large volume of flowing water. This is the first well, with its 2-post drilling derrick. A new 4-post derrick was built for the 2nd and 3rd wells. The second well is what most people think of as The Palmetto Oil Well. It reached a depth of 2,600 feet, where traces of oil were found. Workers installed casing to stop water flow, which would block the oil from entering the well. The well was "swabbed" with a piston-like device to start the oil flowing. But water flowed into the well as the casing string was broken when the workmen tried to seal it better. Oil samples from this well were given to Dr. Larrabee and were tested in his hospital's laboratory where it was found to have a paraffin base rather than asphalt base like all other Gulf of Mexico oil. Odd, but the workmen from well #2 were impressed enough to try well #3. The drilling rig was moved to a Mr. Smith's property in Palmetto. This well reached 700 feet when the drillig cable broke and the tools fell to the bottom of the well. The rig was abandoned and later cut up for scrap. The well was used to irrigate Mr. Smith's farm. [Information from Harris E. Cannon of Myakka City, a well driller and grandson of one of the workmen on the well.] There were actually 3 oil wells attempted in Palmetto between 1924 and 1928. George E. Wallace was president of the Tri-County Oil Company and W.E. Robinson was on the Board of Directors. Captain B. F. Alley was general manager and E.L. Bell was secretary of the Tri-County Oil Company. The first well reached a depth of 1,300-1,400 feet when the drilling tools broke off and the well was abandoned. All was not lost, however, as the well produced a large volume of flowing water. This is the first well, with its 2-post drilling derrick. A new 4-post derrick was built for the 2nd and 3rd wells. The second well is what most people think of as The Palmetto Oil Well. It reached a depth of 2,600 feet, where traces of oil were found. Workers installed casing to stop water flow, which would block the oil from entering the well. The well was "swabbed" with a piston-like device to start the oil flowing. But water flowed into the well as the casing string was broken when the workmen tried to seal it better. Oil samples from this well were given to Dr. Larrabee and were tested in his hospital's laboratory where it was found to have a paraffin base rather than asphalt base like all other Gulf of Mexico oil. Odd, but the workmen from well #2 were impressed enough to try well #3. The drilling rig was moved to a Mr. Smith's property in Palmetto. This well reached 700 feet when the drillig cable broke and the tools fell to the bottom of the well. The rig was abandoned and later cut up for scrap. The well was used to irrigate Mr. Smith's farm. [Information from Harris E. Cannon of Myakka City, a well driller and grandson of one of the workmen on the well.] Tri-County Oil Company United States Florida--Manatee County--Palmetto. Manatee County Public Library Historic Photograph Collection
Drilling for oil in Palmetto.
University of South Florida Tampa Library
still image
eng
There were actually 3 oil wells attempted in Palmetto between 1924 and 1928. George E. Wallace was president of the Tri-County Oil Company and W.E. Robinson was on the Board of Directors. Captain B. F. Alley was general manager and E.L. Bell was secretary of the Tri-County Oil Company. The first well reached a depth of 1,300-1,400 feet when the drilling tools broke off and the well was abandoned. All was not lost, however, as the well produced a large volume of flowing water. This is the first well, with its 2-post drilling derrick. A new 4-post derrick was built for the 2nd and 3rd wells. The second well is what most people think of as The Palmetto Oil Well. It reached a depth of 2,600 feet, where traces of oil were found. Workers installed casing to stop water flow, which would block the oil from entering the well. The well was "swabbed" with a piston-like device to start the oil flowing. But water flowed into the well as the casing string was broken when the workmen tried to seal it better. Oil samples from this well were given to Dr. Larrabee and were tested in his hospital's laboratory where it was found to have a paraffin base rather than asphalt base like all other Gulf of Mexico oil. Odd, but the workmen from well #2 were impressed enough to try well #3. The drilling rig was moved to a Mr. Smith's property in Palmetto. This well reached 700 feet when the drillig cable broke and the tools fell to the bottom of the well. The rig was abandoned and later cut up for scrap. The well was used to irrigate Mr. Smith's farm. [Information from Harris E. Cannon of Myakka City, a well driller and grandson of one of the workmen on the well.]
There were actually 3 oil wells attempted in Palmetto between 1924 and 1928. George E. Wallace was president of the Tri-County Oil Company and W.E. Robinson was on the Board of Directors. Captain B. F. Alley was general manager and E.L. Bell was secretary of the Tri-County Oil Company. The first well reached a depth of 1,300-1,400 feet when the drilling tools broke off and the well was abandoned. All was not lost, however, as the well produced a large volume of flowing water. This is the first well, with its 2-post drilling derrick. A new 4-post derrick was built for the 2nd and 3rd wells. The second well is what most people think of as The Palmetto Oil Well. It reached a depth of 2,600 feet, where traces of oil were found. Workers installed casing to stop water flow, which would block the oil from entering the well. The well was "swabbed" with a piston-like device to start the oil flowing. But water flowed into the well as the casing string was broken when the workmen tried to seal it better. Oil samples from this well were given to Dr. Larrabee and were tested in his hospital's laboratory where it was found to have a paraffin base rather than asphalt base like all other Gulf of Mexico oil. Odd, but the workmen from well #2 were impressed enough to try well #3. The drilling rig was moved to a Mr. Smith's property in Palmetto. This well reached 700 feet when the drillig cable broke and the tools fell to the bottom of the well. The rig was abandoned and later cut up for scrap. The well was used to irrigate Mr. Smith's farm. [Information from Harris E. Cannon of Myakka City, a well driller and grandson of one of the workmen on the well.]
Tri-County Oil Company
United States
Florida--Manatee County--Palmetto.
Manatee County Public Library Historic Photograph Collection