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The Raccoon Point Oil Wells are an extraction inside the Everglades Big Cypress preserve, originally conducted by Exxon in 1978. These sites produce comparatively little oil, about 1,800 barrels a day from 5 operating wells, and the crude oil is generally low-grade and high in sulfur content. The deposits are located about 2 miles below the surface, known as the Sunniland Trend, and is extracted by Calumet of Florida who lease drilling rights from Collier Enterprises.

Once the oil is extracted, a 4,000-foot pipeline transports the oil to the Miccosukee Indian Reservation north of Interstate 75, and from there it is trucked to Port Everglades. It is then barged to Gulf Coast refineries. At the site, holding tanks, storage areas and pumps are arranged around a central staging area, with brine surrounding the platforms to catch any spillage. The wells at Raccoon Point are powered mostly by natural gas, a petroleum byproduct. The excess gas is fired off in a stack a short distance away. Because there is little natural gas here, it is not economical to market.

The major concern from environmentalists is of further human and industrial incursions into this delicate ecosystem. Collier Resources Company, proposed the construction of a landing strip and conduct seismic testing in the interest of building several new oil wells. In mid-2006, the Colliers withdrew their request for more oil drilling, as the amount of oil produced versus its costs were unprofitable. With offshore drilling becoming a local and national topic once more, drilling for oil in Big Cypress is likely “on hold” for now.

http://wikimapia.org/1079408/Raccoon-Point-Oil-Wells