Anthony F. Lucas: “The Great Oil Well near Beaumont Texas”

… on January 10, 1901, after many difficulties, a layer of rock containing marine shells was reached, at the depth of 1160 feet…. At this time there was about 600 ft. of 4-in. pipe, weighing at least 6 tons, in the well…. When the rock was penetrated the well “blew out,” lifting the whole of the 4-in. pipe…. The pipe was short into the air…to a height of 300 feet above the derrick, the upper works and heavy tackle of which it carried away…. The remaining 4-in. pipe, freed from the weight of the upper portion, followed with greater rapidity, and was shot through the top of the derrick. Simultaneously, the water which filled the well (being used to keep the pipe-lining clear by removing the debris of drilling) was expelled to a great height; and a column of gas, rock-fragments and oil followed it, at first at the rate of about 250 barrels per hour, rapidly increased to 500, 1000 barrels, etc., until on the third day the discharge (by that tie carrying no solid matter and a diminished quantity of gas) was estimated by officials and engineers of the Standard Oil Co., who were naturally the most experienced judges, to be at least 3000 42-gallon barrels of oil per hour, or about 75,000 barrels in 24 hours….