Santa Rita No. 1
Big Lake, Reagan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Discovery well for Big Lake oil field. First gusher in Permian Basin; first University of Texas producer. On land once thought almost worthless. Fruit of the faith of Big Lake lawyer Rupert Ricker. Though in 1919 no oil had been found within 100 miles, Ricker got leases on 431,360 acres of University of Texas land in Crockett, Irion, Reagan and Upton counties. Soon working with him were P. G. Stokes, Big Spring; Frank Pickrell and Haymon Krupp, El Paso; and others. Their wildcat well, 1/2 mile south of this site, on Ollie Parker's Ranch, was drilled by Carl Cromwell. Dee Locklin was tool dresser. Slow and hard drilling made crew name well for Santa Rita, Patronness of the Impossible. 4 years, 2 months and a day after permit was filled, and at 3,055 feet, well pressure tossed the rig's bucket high into the air. Santa Rita was a producer, the date was May 28, 1923. This day the Permian Basin, since acclaimed one of the greatest oil regions in the world, had its first big find. Other spectacular fields were to follow. Multi-millions in royalty dollars have since made the University of Texas one of the world's most heavily endowed schools. Original rig that brought in Santa Rita now is on the university campus.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On land long dismissed as nearly worthless, Big Lake lawyer Rupert Ricker gambled in 1919 on leasing hundreds of thousands of acres of University of Texas land—even though no oil had been found within 100 miles. His partners' wildcat well, drilled by Carl Cromwell and named for Santa Rita, the patroness of the impossible, finally blew in on May 28, 1923. It was the first great strike of the Permian Basin.
Why it matters
Santa Rita No. 1 launched one of the world's greatest oil regions and, through its royalties, made the University of Texas one of the most heavily endowed schools on earth.
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Related people
- · Rupert Ricker
- · Frank Pickrell
- · Haymon Krupp
- · Carl Cromwell
Related events
- · Permian Basin oil discovery
Themes & tags
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