Ector County's First Dry Hole

Drilled in 1924 near this site. Geologists were forecasting oil and urgently-needed potash, but Pennsylvania experts (using a chilled shop core drill) gave up the well at 900 feet, on "Red Bed" Rock--A substance new to them. Loss in this and a second drilling was $150.000. In 1927 a well was brought in just west of Odessa, and in a few years oil was found within yards of the first dry hole. By 1964 Ector County had 9,600 oil and 22 gas wells. However, the U.S. average is 8 dry holes out of 9 wells such as that drilled here in 1924.

Ector County's First Dry Hole is a historical marker in Odessa, Ector County, dedicated in 1965. It is one of 37 historical markers documented in Ector County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 39 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.8631, -102.3470 near Odessa. The nearest cataloged historic site is Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett (historical marker), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Ector County, Site of Blackshear High School, and Ector County Newspapers.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5135001384. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.