Santa Rita #1

Frank T. Pickrell, who had no experience in oil, considered himself lucky to have hired an experienced driller, Carl Cromwell,for fifteen dollars a day and stock in the company. Cromwell moved his family to the lonely drilling site beside the tracks of the Orient Railroad. For 646 days the cable-tool rig pounded, and the two-man crew bailed the hole. They averaged only 4.7 feet a day. Late on May 27, 1923, the bit drilled into the dolomitic sands, called "Big Lime," just above the 3,050-foot level. Cromwell shut down the well when he saw gas bubbles escaping from the casinghead. The driller and his tool dresser, Dee Locklin, were convinced they had an oil well and left the site to lease surrounding mineral acreage while the discovery was yet unknown.	SANTA RITA OIL WELL. Santa Rita No. 1, located in Section 2, Block 2, University of Texas lands in Reagan County, came in on May 28, 1923
The Santa Rita #1 within site of the Memorial Stadium on the University of Texas Campus	This was the first major discovery of oil in West Texas. It made a rich school of the University of Texas. The original "walking beam" is located on the University of Texas campus is Austin, Texas.
Kansas City Orient Railroad adjacent to the well Currently abandon (Update: Railway is being activated 9/2004)	The Santa Rita #1 as it looks today. October 26th 2001
Texas Bob The Santa Rita #1 was recently featured in the movie, "The Rookie"	More Information Santa Rita #1 is located in Texon, Texas. No there is nothing in Texon. Texon is 13 miles west of Big Lake, Texas on U.S. 67. (The lake is dry) Where is Big Lake? It's 70 miles west of San Angelo, Texas on U.S. 67. 10/26/2001