The black gold of Alsace (France puts old oil wells back into production)

Reuters ^ | October 2, 2014 | Merkwiller-Pechelbronn

[Olog-hai]

A rusty truck and abandoned oil pumps form part of the French Oil Museum in Alsace. In the mid-18^th century, the region was the cradle of the oil industry and provided 5 percent of French needs before fading into insignificance in the 1960s when the barrel lingered around $15.

Now with oil prices hovering around $100, a dozen fields are pumping again.

The activity near the Rhine on the German border does not amount to an oil boom. The region provides 1 percent of French oil production, which is just under 2 percent of European output. Nonetheless, 13 wells are pumping, two exploration permits have recently been granted and more are being reviewed by the French administration. …

[Army Air Corps]

Ping

[Fiji Hill]

In the mid-18th century, the region was the cradle of the oil industry

Was petroleum production a major industry in the 1700's?

[T-Bird45]

As confirmed in the article, the French banned hydraulic fracturing and have thus volunteered to freeze to death in the dark when Putin cuts off Western Europe from Russian gas.

[TalBlack]

Was petroleum production a major industry in the 1700’s?

That and : Was oil at 15 during the 60’s?

[2banana]

Wonder why the Nazis never used the oil there despite severe fuel shortages?

[monkeyshine]

Of course! How else could they have flown their jets across the Pacific to help us defeat the Spanish in our civil war?