Oil and Gas Industry in Pecos County

Located in the petroleum-rich Permian Basin, Pecos is one of the most prolific oil- and gas-producing counties in Texas. The petroleum business here began about 1900 with the drilling of the Turney well near an ancient "seep", a traditional local source of oil for lubricating and medicinal purposes. A short-lived boom in 1921 caused by the discovery of the "Miracle Well" heralded the arrival of the fabulous Yates oil field (1926), indicating the area's great potential oil wealth. Since that year over 710 million barrels of oil have been produced from the Yates, Fort Stockton and other county fields. The presence of natural gas, known for years, was slow to be exploited because gas was considered an undesirable by-product of the oil business. The first commercial use of gas here was inspired after it was found by workers drilling a water well, in 1925. The discovery, about 1948, of Santa Rosa field spurred exploration that brought in the Puckett field in 1952. Subsequent deep drilling tapped many extensive pools, including in 1963 the prolific Gomez Field, which had produced over 478 billion cubic feet of gas as of 1970. Today petroleum is the single most important economic asset of Pecos County.

Oil and Gas Industry in Pecos County is a historical marker in Ft. Stockton, Pecos County, dedicated in 1973. It is one of 26 historical markers documented in Pecos County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 42 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.8939, -102.8787 near Ft. Stockton. The nearest cataloged historic site is Fort Cemetery, Old (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Old Fort, Fort Stockton Officers' Quarters, and Fort Stockton Guard House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5371003684. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.