Leidy Natural Gas Boom
Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Against expert advice, Dorcie Calhoun drilled Leidy Township's first successful deep gas well about a quarter-mile south of here. On January 8, 1950, the well hit natural gas at a depth of 5,659 feet, and for a time it brought up an estimated 15 million cubic feet per day. This news attracted national attention, and within months more than 30 companies and independents were drilling here before production ceased.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In the winter of 1950, wildcatter Dorcie Calhoun ignored expert opinion and drilled deep into the hills of Leidy Township in search of natural gas. On January 8 his well struck gas at more than 5,600 feet, briefly gushing an estimated 15 million cubic feet a day. The strike made national news and set off a frenzy: within months more than thirty companies and independent operators were drilling across the township, chasing the boom before the field's production wound down.
Why it matters
The Leidy strike was a landmark in Appalachian deep-gas exploration, foreshadowing the region's later emergence as one of America's great natural-gas provinces.
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Related people
- · Dorcie Calhoun
Related events
- · Leidy natural gas boom of 1950
Themes & tags
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