In this book, Alan Taylor reveals that the history of Dorset's oil
starts in the 1850s with attempts to extract oil and gas from mined oil
shale at Kimmeridge. By the early twentieth century exploration
geologists had realised the significance of oil seeps and other
geological features found along the Dorset coast. It seemed that oil
might lie in the rock strata at specific locations deep under the Dorset
countryside.The author tells how exploration drilling, during a period
of eighty years, led to the discovery of four producing oil fields by BP
and others. The unfolding of the development of each field in such an
environmentally sensitive area is described. One oilfield, Wytch Farm,
has turned out to be the largest producing onshore oilfield in Western
Europe.Access to databases held by HM Government's Oil and Gas Authority
has enabled the author to produce a set of unique maps and diagrams to
illustrate the historical development of Dorset's oil. Packed with
interesting facts and stories, this is an essential book for those
interested in Dorset's industrial history.