(2.4 miles north) The first commercial discovery oil well in the Permian Basin was named for W.H. Abrams, leasing agent for the Texas and Pacific Land Trust. The well first produced oil in February 1920 at a depth of 450 feet; but in June 1920, a better showing of oil was found at 2345 - 2410 feet. On July 16, 1920 the well was "shot" with nitroglycerin. As a crowd of 2,000 people looked on, a great eruption of oil, gas, water, and smoke shot from the mouth of the well almost to the top of the derrick. Shortly after, the well flowed at a rate of 129 barrels daily, but soon settled down to 20 barrels per day. From this well and a well nearby the Rio Grande Oil Company laid the first commercial oil pipeline in the Permian Basin. The first load of oil went through the pipeline on April 3, 1922. W.H. Abrams No. 1 was redesignated on May 1, 1968, as Westbrook Southeast Unit No. 701, formed to increase oil recovery from the Westbrook Oil Field by water flooding. This enhanced oil recovery technique has produced 67 million barrels of the more than 100 million barrels of oil recovered from this field. Designated as major fields, only a small number produce 100 million barrels of oil or more. Fifty-six major fields are located in the Permian Basin, the fourth largest oil producing area in the U.S. (1967, 1996)
T&P No. 1 - W.H. Abrams No. 1 Discovery Well of the Permian Basin
The roadside stories worth pulling over for.
T&P No. 1 - W.H. Abrams No. 1 Discovery Well of the Permian Basin is a historical marker in Westbrook, Mitchell County, dedicated in 1996. It is one of 38 historical markers documented in Mitchell County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 55 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 32.3451, -101.0628 near Westbrook. The nearest cataloged historic site is Westbrook School and Church, Site of (historical marker), about 2.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Westbrook Cemetery, Site of Conaway School, and Iatan Cemetery.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5335001230. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
Get Texas Roam — all 28,000 sites in your pocket
See this site and every marker, cemetery, courthouse, museum and landmark across Texas on one live map — find what's near you, get directions, and check in as you roam.
