The Petroleum Development (Palestine) Ltd., an exploration subsidiary of the Iraq Petroleum Company had drilled a 3,464 feet hole near Hulayqat in 1947-1948, before they left Mandatory Palestine in February 1948 because of the conflict.

The Oil and Gas Journal printed an overview of exploration activity across Israel in the 1955-10-03 issue.

7,000 barrels per day) to the nearby railhead at Beit Shikma, from where it was shipped to the Haifa refinery, replacing the previous mode of transport by tanker trucks.

[6] Natural gas was found 11 miles south of Heletz in late August or early September 1957.

Upon discovery a flame erupted and reached a height of 120 feet and burned for 24 hours.