Spudded September 26, 1905, and completed April 30, 1906, this was the first oil well in which a water shut-off was attained by pumping cement through the tubing and behind the casing, a forerunner of modern cementing technique. It was drilled by Union Oil Company of California to a total depth of 2507 feet, with 1872 feet of 10-inch casing and 2237 feet of 8-inch casing, and was so securely cemented off that the well subsequently produced for over 45 years. The development of oil well cementing was one of the most significant events in the history of petroleum technology, increasing the productive life of thousands of oil wells and making available millions of barrels of oil that might otherwise have remained in subterranean storage. Under the direction of Frank F. Hill, Hill No. 4 was drilled, and the petroleum industry is indebted to him for initiating the oil well cementing process.

Photo: Michael Kindig

Photo: Michael Kindig

Vandenberg Village, California · USA