THE NORTH FIELD

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After the oil boom of the 1920s in Montague County, production declined to a level of around two million barrels per year until another steady increase began in 1938. The field reached its zenith in 1952 when over nine million barrels were produced out of 35 oil discoveries. During the 1950s there were 179 discoveries, which far exceeded that of any other ten year period.

By 1960, oil production in Montague County had declined to about five and a half million barrels annually, with another modern resurgence in the mid-1960s to over seven million barrels. During the following decade there was another moderate resurgence in production again with over seven million barrels produced in 1965. There followed yet another decline until 1977 when production amounted to two and a half million barrels from over 400 wells.

This “boom and bust” oil and gas cycle has repeated itself over and over again, having a dramatic impact on local and even global economies.