1966 Oil Well

The oil well was drilled by Atlantic Richfield in 1966. This exploratory well yielded water instead of oil. Although the Gherinis would enter into a lease with Union Oil in 1969, the devastating Union Oil spill in January of 1969 off the coast of Santa Barbara mobilized the environmental movement against further oil exploration on the island.The Speedstar 83 was made by GEFCO. Established in 1931 by Mr. George E. Failing, the company manufactures Failing, SpeedStar and King Oil Tools equipment. GEFCO, Located in Enid, Oklahoma, is a manufacture of portable drilling rigs and related equipment for the water well, environmental, groundwater monitoring, construction, mining and shallow oil & gas exploration and production industries.