The world’s first-ever mechanically drilled oil well (World’s First Oil Well), located in the Bibi-Heybat settlement 10 kilometers west of Baku. The well produced the first gush of oil in 1847 and was just 21 meters deep at that time. On 26 April 2017, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) completed the reconstruction of this first oil well.
By the end of the 19th century, Baku has become the world’s main oil extraction centre, providing half of the world’s oil production.
For the first time in history, the industrial production of oil started in Baku. This event was known in Azerbaijan but documentary evidence has been found recently in the archives. As a result, the world’s first oil well of 21m deep and drilled in 1847 in the village of Bibiheybat near Baku was found and restored, which became an open-air museum.
“We must propagate this event in the world. I have repeatedly said that the first industrial production of oil has taken place in Azerbaijan but the actual location has remained unknown. Therefore, I gave an instruction to determine this location. Of course, we knew that it was on the territory of Bibiheybat, but now this place is clarified and a wonderful monument is created here. I think that it is a wonderful moment for both the oilmen and tourists visiting our country,” said President Ilham Aliyev at the opening ceremony of the monument. He noted that although Azerbaijan was known as an oil province at the turn of the 19-20th centuries, the resources had not been used to increase the well-being of the people.
At that time we were part of the tsarist Russia and the local natural resources had not any tangible effect on the public welfare. Poverty and misery were prevailing. Our people possessed great wealth but could not use it. Azerbaijan also proved itself as an oil country during the Soviet period. Without the efforts of Azerbaijani oil workers during the Second World War, the outcome of events could be quite different. Our oil industry played a decisive role in the victory over fascism. This year we will celebrate the extraction of 2 billion tons of oil. Imagine if Azerbaijan were an independent country, now it would be one of the richest countries in the world. Today our oil serves our people, strengthens our state,” said Aliyev.
Today Azerbaijani oil serves our people and strengthens our state, said Ilham Aliyev.
“Look, the whole territory is still full of oil rigs, and the first well was drilled here. There are photos, video footage of this territory. These are the frames of recent history. There was a zone of ecological catastrophe here. Everything from oil dams to old towers was polluted with oil. Now this territory has turned into one of the most comfortable places of our city. That is, we use oil revenues for the development of our country, invest in human capital and infrastructure projects, and today oil provides development of the Azerbaijani people,” he noted.
President Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan, which exists for 25 years as an independent state, is now stands firm on the ground.
“Oil is our natural wealth, a great asset of our people, and we, using it, are developing our country. Of course, oil workers’ working here is also worthy of special evaluation. I always appreciate the work of the oil workers, their courage. They work in difficult conditions and they work for the development of our country. They strive to strengthen our country with their labor,” President said.
Source: AzerNews