# Oklahoma City Field: A Century of Urban Oil Production and Mineral Ownership

**TL;DR:** Discovered in December 1928, the Oklahoma City field became the largest U.S. oil discovery of its era, producing over 1 billion barrels cumulatively from beneath the city's urban surface. The field's unique urban setting created thousands of fragmented townsite-lot mineral interests that continue generating royalty income nearly 100 years later, though ownership chains are often complex and trace back to original 1900s plats.

## Key Takeaways

- The Oklahoma City field was discovered December 4, 1928, with the Oklahoma City No. 1 well producing 5,000 BOPD from the Wilcox sand at approximately 6,500 feet depth.
- Cumulative production has exceeded 1 billion barrels, making it one of the largest oilfields in U.S. history, with peak production exceeding 200,000 BOPD in 1930-1931.
- The field underlies more than 14,000 acres of urban surface in southern Oklahoma City, including beneath homes, businesses, and the Oklahoma State Capitol building.
- Mineral ownership is fragmented into thousands of individual townsite-lot interests, often with homeowners owning minerals beneath their property or minerals reserved by previous surface owners.
- The Oklahoma State Capitol grounds host Petunia No. 1, an active production well drilled in 1942 that remains one of the most photographed wells in the country.
- Active production continues through long-life waterfloods, vertical recompletions, and limited horizontal activity, sustaining ongoing royalty income nearly a century after discovery.
- Modern Oklahoma City field mineral interests have unusual valuation characteristics including very long production history, fragmented surface ownership, and complex chains of title requiring specialized evaluation.
- Operating in the field remains complex due to urban surface use, requiring coordination with property owners and city ordinances for every workover operation.

## Page Highlights

**Discovery Context (1928):** The Oklahoma City No. 1 well was drilled by Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company (ITIO) and Foster Petroleum on a one-acre lot at the southeastern edge of Oklahoma City limits. The discovery came at the peak of Oklahoma's post-Glenn Pool, post-Burbank, post-Greater Seminole oil boom era.

**Field Extent and Production:** The field spread under the southern half of Oklahoma City within months, eventually covering more than 14,000 acres beneath urban surface. Peak production occurred in 1930-1931, followed by primary decline in the late 1930s and transition to long-life tail production from Wilcox and Simpson zones.

**Urban Mineral Ownership Complexity:** Because the field underlies city surface, mineral ownership is divided into thousands of townsite-lot interests. Some homeowners own minerals beneath their residences, while others have minerals owned separately by previous owners who reserved them during surface conveyances. Block-level buyers during 1928-1932 assembled some of the most concentrated mineral interests in U.S. history.

**Modern Mineral Interest Types:** Current Oklahoma City field mineral owners may hold townsite-lot interests beneath their own property, inherited block-level interests from early-1900s buyers, or royalty interests from historic ITIO, Sunray, or Phillips conveyances.

**Current Operations:** Active production continues through waterfloods, selected vertical recompletions, and limited horizontal activity. Operations require careful coordination with surrounding property owners and compliance with city ordinances due to urban surface constraints.

**Valuation Considerations:** Oklahoma City field mineral interests require specialized evaluation accounting for very long production history, fragmented surface ownership, complex chains of title often tracing to original 1900s townsite plats, and ongoing but modest royalty income with limited new-development potential.

## Related Topics

- [How to Sell Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/how-to-sell-mineral-rights)
- [What Are My Minerals Worth?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/what-are-minerals-worth)
- [Should I Sell My Mineral Rights?](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/should-i-sell)
- [Beginner's Guide to Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/beginners-guide)
- [Getting a Fair Price for Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/fair-price)
- [Mid-Continent Operators List](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mid-continent-operators)

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**About Buckhead Energy:** Buckhead Energy is a direct mineral rights acquisition company with 18+ years of experience purchasing producing and non-producing mineral interests across major U.S. oil and gas basins. The company specializes in complex title work and century-old Mid-Continent mineral interests with long production tails.

**Ready to discuss your Oklahoma City field mineral interests?** [Get your free written valuation today](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell) — no obligation, specialized expertise in historic urban oilfield minerals.