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For Immediate Release
July 1, 2008
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White Resolution Recognizing August 2008 as "Oil Heritage Month" Adopted by Senate

Part of the buildup to 150th anniversary of oil industry in 2009.

Harrisburg – The state Senate has adopted a Senate Resolution sponsored by Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) recognizing August as "Oil Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.

The senator said the designation aims to encourage residents of the region and Pennsylvania – as well as tourists – to observe and take pride in the commonwealth's continuing oil legacy.

"On August 27, 1859, 'Colonel' Edwin L. Drake drilled the world's first commercial oil well near Titusville, striking oil at 69.5 feet. The world's modern oil and gas industry was thus born on the banks of Oil Creek," said White. "The men and women of this region and across Pennsylvania were leaders building the United States through the development of the petroleum industry, which continues to this day. Oil and gas are currently produced in 31 of the commonwealth's 67 counties."

White noted that Pennsylvanians were the pioneers of the world's oil industry, creating the first oil tank car, oil pipeline, methods of refining oil and other industry innovations.

Pennsylvania oil producers currently operate more than 17,000 wells, producing more than 3.5 million barrels of Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil each year. Natural gas producers operate at least 50,000 wells in the state, satisfying approximately 25 percent of the commonwealth's annual demand. 

In 1994, a 708-square-mile area in Venango and eastern Crawford counties was designated as the Oil Region Heritage Park. In 2004, Congress designated the same territory as the Oil Region National Heritage Area. 

"Oil and gas will continue to play a vital role in this commonwealth's future since Pennsylvania currently has approximately 14 million barrels of proved crude oil reserves remaining to be produced and an estimated 2.8 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves in the ground awaiting development," White said. 

Randy Seitz, CEO of the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism agreed with Senator White and said, "The continued development of the oil and natural gas resources of the Commonwealth will play an increasing role in the economic development of our region.  We are very pleased with the support we have received from Senator White and the Pennsylvania Senate in adopting this resolution in support of the local oil and gas industry, the Oil Heritage Region and the celebration of OIL 150." 

The Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism is sponsoring Oil 150, the 150th anniversary celebration of the oil industry, which occurs in 2009. Details can be found at www.oil150.com.