24 MARCH 2021 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Hobbs: Singular Oil Find in New Mexico Adapted from Information by the American Oil & Gas Historical Society Although it was discovered six years after the first oil production well, the Hobbs discovery was soon called by petroleum geologists the most important single oil find in New Mexico’s history. The Midwest State’s No. 1 well, which was spudded in late 1927 using a standard cable tool rig, revealed first signs of oil from the giant oilfield at a depth of 4065 feet on June 13, 1928. Geologists noted that finding commercial amounts of oil in southeastern New Mexico was difficult to predict because the land was flat. This was unlike West Texas with its surface formations giving oilmen clues where underground formations with oil might be. The flat, level land in Lea County, New Mexico, gave no hints what might lie underneath. Because oilmen had to make guesses about where to explore, it was expensive in these vast and remote locations. Just by the end of 1928, between $15 million and $18 million was spent for exploration, leases, and tests in the county. Because of oil discoveries in Winkler County, Texas, exploration for oil moved north into southwestern New Mexico. The Midwest Refining Company, later becoming Amoco, drilled the Hobbs discovery well in a remote farming pasture. Drilling this well was not easy. Using the cable tool rig proved to be a challenge from the start. At a depth of 1500 feet, disaster struck when exhaust from the Franklin 85 engine ignited the engine house with fire and quickly consumed the wooden derrick. After this, a steel derrick was set up while the engine was rebuilt by local mechanics, and cable tools were fished from the hole. After the first signs of oil came at 4065 feet, the well was drilled to 4330 feet to increase production. Finally completed in November 1928, it produced 700 barrels of oil per day on state land leased by the Will Terry Ranch. Soon, production from the Hobbs oilfield drew many investors and encouraged more exploration. According to the 1930 census, this quickly transformed the town from “sand, mesquite, bear grass, and jack rabbits” to the fastest growing town in the U.S. Today, the Midwest State No. 1 discovery well for the Hobbs oilfield is commemorated with a cable tool rig placed there by the American Petroleum Institute in 1952. In 1976, the Hobbs Daily News-Sun reported, “This historic well still produces quietly near the intersection of Grimes Street and Stanolind Road in Hobbs, with most passersby unaware of the furor its gestation and birth created nearly half a century ago.” The Midwest State No. 1’s production ended in 2002, but New Mexico remains a major petroleum producer, actually the third-largest oil producing state, due to other major oil finds producing more than 5.5 billion barrels of oil since its first wells. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, the WWDRTeam prepares an electronic newsletter called E-News Flash. This newsletter is filled with articles not included in our print issue. Based on readership, this was the most popular article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com 302-684-3197 FAX: 302-384-0643 142 Broadkill Rd. • Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com email: atlantic@ce.net Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe ranging from ½” to 24” diameter Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. • Well Rehab. Products • Manholes • Bentonite • Filter Sock • Inline Chemical Mixers • Sampling Bailers • Clear PVC Pipe • Locking Caps G&O Photo courtesy HobbsHistory.com
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