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By BOB CHRISTIE
Californian staff writer
One hundred years ago this month, two men hand-dug a 45-foot-deep shaft near the banks of the Kern River below the Panorama bluffs, then bored into the earth with an auger. What they discovered changed the fortunes of Bakersfield and shaped the future of the city.
What's Bakersfield without oil? City being forced to find out
By BOB CHRISTIE
Californian staff writer
For 100 years, the massive Kern River oil field has been fueling the engine of Bakersfield, providing employment, business opportunities and tax revenue, sustaining the growth of a city with a stream of crude-oil cash.
Consolidation, innovation keep Kern River a profitable venue
By BOB CHRISTIE
Californian staff writer
In the past 100 years, 414 oil companies have had operations at the Kern River field. There are 10 today, and the two majors, Chevron and Texaco, accounted for all but 104 barrels of the December 1998 production of 131,529 barrels of heavy crude per day.
50 years and still going for columnist
By BOB CHRISTIE
Californian staff writer
Most would consider 50 years in any job just about enough. Not Bill Rintoul, who has worked as The Californian's oil columnist since 1949.
Field's 1904 peak stood for decades
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
The peak production of 17.2 million barrels of oil that the Kern River field attained in 1904 was not seriously challenged in the period from 1910 until the 1960s. Nor did there seem to be much talk about the field in the period after 1910.
South Belridge first thought a "minor field"
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
The South Belridge field was discovered in April of 1911 with the completion of Well No 101 by Belridge Oil Company, a partnership of Max Whittier and Burton Green. Thirteen years later, the State Mineralogist in a report on California fields described South Belridge as a "minor oil field."
Vast Kern River field quickly started paying dividends
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
During its first 20 months, the Kern River field saw the beginnings of development in an area comprising almost 12 square miles. Before the end of 1900, 130 wells had been drilled.
First reports of oil greeted with skepticism
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
The rumor had it that oil had been discovered at Kern River. According to the story that reached the Bakersfield Daily Californian in May 1899, a couple of men had been poking around out on the Thomas Means place seven miles northeast of town and had found oil.
Famed Lakeview gusher came after 14 months of drilling
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
After 14 months of drilling, it looked as though Lakeview No. 1 well near Maricopa would never produce. In fact, oil company officials had decided to stop drilling and try for production from shallow sands.
Elk Hills initially underestimated
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
Around 1910, an Associated Oil Company geologist visited what he described as an "alleged" oil seep at Elk Hills. He concluded the "seep" was only "AN OCCURRENCE OF ORGANIC MATERIAL, PROBABLY PLANT REMAINS."
Steamflooding marked production breakthrough
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
An oil-field discovery well that played a huge role in Kern County's oil picture was plugged and abandoned in 1995. The well was the discovery well for the Kern River field.
Readers share memories of Kern's oilfields
Two generations donated sweat, ingenuity to field
'52 quake remembered for oil fire
By JACK CHAMBERS
Special to The Californian
With my bed shaking violently and the sound of glass breaking in our fire station living room, I jumped out of bed. Realizing that the whole building was shaking, I knew we were experiencing an earthquake.
Town names part of west side's past
By JOHN SWEETSER
Special to The Californian
Numerous settlements were founded on the west side of Kern County in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a result of the development of the area's petroleum resources.
Automobile race revved up notoriety for Bakersfield
By BILL RINTOUL
Oil columnist
In the spring of 1911, a group of Kern River oil men put forward a scheme they said would make the oil field and the city of Bakersfield known from coast to coast.
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