Mid-Continent oil province

The area, which consists of various geological strata and diverse trap types, was discovered and exploited during the first half of the 20th century.

Laws in the early days gave the oil flowing from the well-head to the owners of the well, prompting nearby property owners and lease holders to drill as many wells as possible to ensure they received the profits for the oil under their land.

Also, the resulting influx of thousands of oil field workers led to wild growth of nearby boom towns and the lawlessness that accompanied them.

[citation needed] The states eventually succeeded in regulating the industry and passing laws for the equitable distribution of oil royalties.

Natural gas, which in the early days was vented to the atmosphere or burned off, now accounts for a large percentage of the exploration efforts and profitability of the petroleum industry in the Mid-continent.