[2] The geyser released more than 1.2 million short tons (1,100,000 t) of crude oil, far more than any other single leak on land or water.

According to legend, Fried had picked the spot because of an assumption that clumps of red grass indicated good oil land.

When drilling reached a well depth of 2,440 ft (740 m) on 15 March 1910,[6] pressurized oil blew through the well casing above the bit.

[8] The initial daily flow was 18,800 barrels (2,990 m3), creating a river of crude that crews rushed to contain with improvised sand bag dams and dikes.

Peak flow reached 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) per day, diverted via a pipeline to storage tanks 2.5 miles (4.0 km) away, where an 8-inch (200 mm) line led to Port Avila on the coast.