 When settlers from the eastern United States arrived in California, they discovered a number of natural oil seeps. The oil collected from the seeps was used to grease wagon wheels and was distilled into lamp oil. The first recorded person to distill oil was Andreas Pico, who in 1850, collected oil from a seep in Pico Canyon, near Newhall, to light the San Fernando Mission. Settlers in Northern California discovered many oil seeps in Humboldt, Colusa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties and in 1855, oil was privately sold from a Humboldt County seep. In 1856, a San Francisco based company began distilling oil from the tar pits at La Brea Ranch for home use and in subsequent years, other private companies began to distill oil from open seeps and pits. The majority of these undertakings were short term however, because operation and transportation costs were high. Oil seeps were also depleted rapidly, as many seeps had only small source beds of oil. It was not until the technology for drilling and pumping oil became available oil became an industry in California. Sources: Department of Conservation. 2005. "Oil and Gas Production: History in California". California Department of Conservation-Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources. |
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