Petroblog

Somewhere in Romania...

2012-01-27T18:07:00.006+02:00

Working to extinguish an oil well.

Installation for capturing and closing the eruption.

The notorious flame warriors .

The Drader Well in Moreni

2012-01-27T17:35:00.006+02:00

The Drader Well in Moreni oilfield,Romania.This well was producing 20,000 barrels daily when it caught fire(interwar photo).

Bohrtürme im petroleumfeld von Bustenari

2012-01-20T11:03:00.002+02:00

Gahita & Pitagaia oil wells

2012-01-01T18:19:00.008+02:00

Campina-Moreni and Steaua Romana oil wells at Campina in 1906.

In the left oil well nr.8 in eruption at Pitagaia oilfields .

In right the Gahita oilfields can be seen .

Constanta oil tanks

2012-01-01T17:23:00.000+02:00

Constanta, Statia de Petrol, Erdölförderung

Moreni gusher

2011-12-29T16:02:00.002+02:00

Romania 1916 Prahova eruption oil fileds Schela Bana Moreni .

Urlati oilfield

2011-12-29T15:58:00.002+02:00

ROMANIA - Prahova - URLATI - Schela Scorus in 1928 .

Bana oil tanks

2011-12-24T14:04:00.000+02:00

Oil tanks at Bana,Moreni in the 80's .

Drilling at Moreni

2011-12-24T14:01:00.001+02:00

Oil well nr.6000bis in drilling at Moreni,Romania in the 80's .

Campina oilfield

2011-12-19T14:33:00.001+02:00

Campina oilfield in the 30s .

Ticleni oilfield

2011-12-18T20:56:00.004+02:00

''Petroleum is the backbone of Rumanian industry and of the country’s general economy.In the peak pre-war year of 1936 production ran at 8,700,000 tons,but in the immediate post-war years it amounted to only half this,but it is now claimed that with the discovery of new oilfields production has recovered and in 1961 reached the new peak of 11,582,000 tons''-source Agerpres ,1963.

Above the oil wells at the Ticleni oilfield in the Oltenia Region of Romania.

Moreni - oil field view

2011-11-17T10:33:00.007+02:00

Moreni oil field -the most important romanian oil production center at that time.Photo taken in 1937.

View from Bana hill with wooden derricks.In the distance can be seen Tuicani Plateau and oil wells on Pleasa&Cristianu hills.

Gushing fire at Campina

2011-11-17T10:10:00.003+02:00

Oil wells ablaze.Campina.Romania

Moinesti oil field

2011-11-16T12:23:00.000+02:00

Romania,Moinesti,Schela Steaua Romana-oil derricks

Moreni oil men's.

2011-11-03T18:09:00.002+02:00

Constantin Constantinescu and his team of oil men's.
Gulden engine assembly oil well at 47 Pascov in 1930.

Puits de petrole de Bustenari

2011-10-12T08:53:00.001+02:00

''Avec la culture des cereales,le petrole est la richesse de la Roumanie.Les puits s’allongent au pied des Karpates,sur une bande d’environ 10 kilometres de large,en Valachie.Naguere rudimentaire,l’exploitation se fait aujourd’huiavec une technique irreproachable.Bien qu’un partie soulement des cites soit actuellement exploitee,la Roumanie est le second producteur de petrole en Europe;elle en vend notamment a la France''

(Photo Chusseau-Flavians).

Petroleum Quellen,Campina

2011-10-05T14:19:00.001+02:00

Eruption einer Erdöl Sonde - Campina 1918

Petroleum quellen - puits de pétrole 1918

Petroleum Quellen,Campina

Astra Romana - Les raffineries de pétrole

2011-10-03T14:14:00.001+02:00

Les raffineries de pétrole de la société Astra Romana prise par le directeur de

Banca Minelo et de Romana-Africana.

Moreni erdöl

2011-10-02T09:08:00.003+02:00

Panorama der Petroleumfelder von Moreni (1918 ) .

Astra Romana workshops

2011-10-01T09:19:00.007+02:00

View over the Astra Romana Central Workshops.
Photos made in 20s and 70s

Ploiesti oil industry

2011-10-01T08:49:00.001+02:00

Oil refinery in Ploiesti,1979.

Petroleum exploitation in Pascov

2011-10-01T08:20:00.000+02:00

Moreni,Pascov town district.

Moreni oil center

2011-09-25T16:25:00.003+02:00

Photo of Moreni ,Romania Oil Fields. Photo dated Feb 18, 1939. It shows the oil fields in Moreni, Romania that the Germans said they intended to seize .

Oil eruption on fire

2011-09-25T16:21:00.001+02:00

Oil well nr.26 on fire - Regatul Roman Society,Moreni

Moreni oil Tanks

2011-09-14T17:36:00.006+02:00

Regatul Roman oil deposit in the S-V side of Moreni ( photo from 1912 )

Oil deposit Regatul Roman - view from Tuicani Plateau

Regatul Roman oil tanks , Park 2 Astra Romana and Astra Roman Workshops

The end of Regatul Roman in Moreni - oil tanks scrapped

Campina Oil Refinery

2011-09-14T17:20:00.005+02:00

Steaua Romana oil refinery at Campina in 1966.

160 RA fire

2011-09-06T18:03:00.006+02:00

Moreni oilfield under the light of 160RA well ferocious fire

Bustenari oilfield

2011-09-06T17:34:00.010+02:00

Bustenari,Romania - oilfield with wooden derricks

Bustenari old wells

2011-08-31T18:06:00.001+02:00

Bustenari wooden derricks on Mislisoara Valley.

Campina old well

2011-08-26T17:31:00.000+02:00

Campina,Romania - old well

Bustenari hand dug oil well

2011-08-19T11:16:00.001+02:00

Bustenari,Romania - hand dug oil well in 1905.

Romanian oil

2011-07-31T19:09:00.000+02:00

Romanian petroleum well in 1960.

Ploiesti oil refinery bombed

2011-07-23T19:27:00.002+02:00

Ploiesti oil refinery bombed by americans in 1944.

Campina oil industry

2011-07-23T18:51:00.003+02:00

Tintea wooden derricks

2011-07-23T18:49:00.001+02:00

Ploiesti refinery

2011-07-23T18:41:00.002+02:00

Constanta - oil tank on fire

2011-07-23T18:30:00.001+02:00

Moreni - Cricov oil wells

2011-06-23T18:38:00.000+02:00

Prahova Valley petroleum wells

2011-06-19T18:57:00.000+02:00

Drilling a petroleum well

2011-06-19T18:42:00.003+02:00

Romanian oil well in drilling

Astra Romana offices

2011-05-24T14:35:00.000+02:00

Moreni,1930.

Interwar oil industry

2011-05-08T13:18:00.002+02:00

Romanian oilfield drilling towers.

Working in an oilfield-Romania,1923.

Photo from 1923 showing women dressed in rags standing hot oil shoveling up the refuse to a terrace above them and then into cars so that not a speck of oil is wasted .

Group of people skimming refuse off the surface of hot oil.

Drilling towers of European companies enclosed while those of the Americans are open in Roumania,1923.

Americans involved in romanian oil bussines.

Ploiesti petroleum refinery

2011-05-08T12:09:00.000+02:00

This is an original 1943 photogravure of the refineries in Ploiesti, Romania. Ploiesti was one of the leading oil refining areas in the mid 19th century.

Campina&Bustenari oil rigs

2011-05-03T18:24:00.004+02:00

Baicoi oilfield

2011-04-21T09:36:00.005+02:00

Steaua Romana Society in Baicoi -prewar petroleum wells

Campina wooden derricks

2011-04-10T15:38:00.026+02:00

Wooden derricks at Campina in 1918.

Old postcard-Campina wooden derricks.

Oil wells gusher at Campina-well 45 Steaua Romana(1906).

Wooden derricks in 1928 at Campina.

Constanta petroleum tanks

2011-04-05T17:08:00.005+02:00

Oil storage tanks at Constanta-mid 20.

Romanian Oil Industry-aspects

2011-04-01T17:55:00.025+02:00

Workshops Romania Petroleum Region. Repairs at crude oil pipeline Romania,1916. Romanian oil storage tanks . Creditul Minier Moreni oil wells-1927.

Petroleum region in Romania.

Romanian oil wells - wooden derricks

2011-03-16T17:27:00.008+02:00

Romanian oil wells-wooden derricks at beginning of oil exploitation .

Crude oil storage

2011-03-10T17:20:00.002+02:00

Crude oil storage in wooden tanks and open pit.Moreni,1910.

Vega refinery

2011-03-04T17:10:00.008+02:00

Ploiesti-Vega oil refinery in 1910.

Concordia Vega refinery after bombing

2011-03-04T16:45:00.002+02:00

Ploiesti,Romania-Concordia Vega oil refinery after bombing by 15th air force in 24 September 1944 .

Onesti oil refinery

2011-03-04T13:19:00.002+02:00

Onesti,Romania oil refinery in 1964.

Campina oilfield

2011-02-27T14:19:00.001+02:00

Campina oilfield in 1914.

Moreni oilfield

2011-02-18T08:14:00.012+02:00

Moreni petroleum field.

View over the Cricov Valley-Moreni oilfield,1932.

Wooden oil wells on Tuicani Plateau,1927.

Oil wells in Pascov,Moreni,1922.

Closing an oil well from the distance -Moreni,1940.
Intervention in oil well .

Tunnel dug fighting and capture oil well 298AR - Moreni.

Moreni wooden derricks.

Rumänien Moreni Sonden Ölfelder.

Ölfelder in Moreni,Rumänien.

Campina Workshops&Refinery

2011-02-12T19:52:00.004+02:00

Campina,Romania-Regatul Roman workshops in 1930.

Campina refinery in 1924.

Electrical measurements inside the derrick.

2011-02-09T18:57:00.003+02:00

Gura-Ocnitei, Romania, in 1935.
The measurement of resistivity and spontaneous potential required two recorders that can be seen here, with a blower, inside the derrick.

Winch intervention

2011-02-07T18:36:00.005+02:00

Moreni-Aspect des sondes

2011-02-01T05:56:00.010+02:00

Roumanie,Moreni-Aspect des sondes in 1927.

Brennende Petrolquelle, Moreni, Rumänien

2011-01-15T19:34:00.004+02:00

Brennende Petrolquelle, Moreni, Rumänien, brennt seit 05.10.1929

Ölquelle 160Romano-Americana

Erdölfeldern bei Campina in Rumanien

2011-01-15T17:45:00.002+02:00

Wilhelm 2 und Mackensen auf den erdölfeldern bei Campina in Rumanien 1917.

Moreni - oil well on fire

2011-01-11T20:21:00.004+02:00

Oil well on fire in Moreni,Romania,1925.

If you like to see more
click below

- Petroleum eruption in flames at Moreni,Romania -

Moreni oil tanks

2011-01-05T19:13:00.002+02:00

Regatul Roman oil storage tanks in Moreni,Romania,1912.

Petroleum oelfelder bei Campina

2011-01-05T19:05:00.004+02:00

Petroleum Oelfelder bei Campina Borturm Bergbau

Campina Petroleum Raffinerie zerstörte Tanks ca. 1918

Petroleumtank Ploiesti

2011-01-05T19:00:00.001+02:00

BRAND DER PETROLEUMTANK PLOESTI ZEICHNUNG 1917

Campina - oil well eruption

2011-01-01T05:15:00.003+02:00

Campina(1909) - eruption at oil well number 34

If you like to see more
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- Oil eruption at Campina oilfield-old postcards -

Ploiesti - Vega oil refinery

2011-01-01T04:09:00.002+02:00

If you like to see more
click below

- Romanian oil refiney -

Moreni - petroleum old postcards

2010-12-18T17:53:00.011+02:00

Cricov Valley oil wells.

The entrance in Astra Romana workshops(A.I Cuza street).

Astra Romana oil wells on Pascov Valley.

Pascov-The exploitation by Astra Romana.

Astra Romana offices in the left.In center oil wells on Pleasa Hill.In the right Astra Romana Colony and the bridge over the Cricov.

Cezeanu Valley oil wells.

Original postcards from Mr.Adrian Defta(Moreni).

Orsova oil refinery

2010-12-15T18:04:00.001+02:00

This oil refinery to make petrol was commissioned by Singer and Company of Orsova in 1892 and completed in 1893, with additions in 1905 and 1909. The equipment for the refinery was supplied by the company now known as Technoexport Czech Republic who supplied the majority of the equipment for the complete refinery.

Romanian oil tanker

2010-12-12T10:47:00.028+02:00

Oltenia - was built for Steaua Romana SA Pentru Industria Petroleului, Bucharest,Romania. In 1941 was seized by Britain and renamed Oltenia II SS. She was a Steam Tanker of 6,394 tons built in 1928. On the 8th january 1943 when on route from Trinidad to Gibraltar carrying a cargo of 9,086 tons of furnace oil, a consignment of 732 barrels of lubricating oil, 1,000 sten guns and 500,000 rounds of ammunition and tobacco she was torpedoed by German submarine U-436 and sunk by gunfire.

Independenţa(The Indepence) - was the first of a series of five Romanian supertankers which were constructed by Santierul Naval Constanţa in the 1980s.Independenţa was a 1977 Romanian-flagged crude oil carrier, the biggest ship of the Romanian commercial fleet at that time. She collided in 1979 with a Greek freighter at the southern entrance of Bosphorus, Turkey and exploded. She caught fire and grounded.From 17 to 27 November, there was slight leakage from the tanker. Another major explosion occurred onboard the vessel on the night of 6 December at 10:40 p.m., which resulted in more oil spillage.The slick from the vessel drifted towards the Port of Haydarpaşa, and the booms across its entrance could not prevent approximately 50 tons of oil entering the harbor. The tanker continued to burn until 14 December. Heavy oil contamination formed on the surface of the sea and on the heavily built-up shores and the recreational beaches of the Sea of Marmara and the Istanbul Strait.It was estimated that 30,000 tons of crude oil burned and that the remaining 64,000 tons spilled into the sea. Because of the rapid evaporation of the light components, the crude oil quickly sank to the bottom of the sea in an area approximately 5.5 km in diameter.

Unirea (The Union) - broke up and sank at the beginning of the 1980s in Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. Official reports claim that the accident was caused by a collision with a World War II mine. Unirea was a Romanian-flagged crude oil carrier, one of the biggest ships of the Romanian commercial fleet. She broke up and sank in 1982 in the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea, 40 nautical miles (74 km) south-south east of the Cape Kaliakra at a depth of 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) after a mysterious explosion.The exact cause of accident is unknown but official reports suggest that during a vapor evacuation of the central number 3 tank an explosive mixture formed alongside the evacuation hole that could have been ignited by multiple sources but especially electrostatic energy. The explosion of the central number 3 tank had a devastating effect on the integrity of the ship triggering a series of explosions that destroyed the separating wall of the central and starbord tanks favoring the expansion of the volatile elements across the ship. The fire that followed also contributed to the vertical breaking of the ship's shell and the eventual sinking. Other official reports claim that the accident was caused by a collision with a World War II mine. A different opinion (unofficial) came from some naval architects and marine engineers stating that the ship broke up because of incorrect ballasting (the ship had no cargo at the moment of the accident). The Romanian shipping company "Navrom" claimed the insurance payout, amounting to US$ 36.6 million. This action resulted in a thorough inspection of the ship's wreck by independent survey teams, employed by the insurance company from Lloyd's Register, Japan. As the inspection did not reveal any major faults in construction, the insurance was finally paid.

Biruinţa (The Victory) - Owned and managed by the then Romanian state owned Shipping Company (Navrom). In the 1990s the ship was passed to the Romanian private shipping company "Petromin", changing its name to Iris Star. Finally the ship was bought by the Romanian shipping company Histria Shipmanagement having its name changed again to Histria Crown. The ship was finally decommissioned after more than 20 years of service in 2006.

Libertatea (The Liberty) - had the same history (including ownership) as her older sister Biruinta with the only exception that the ship is still in operation under the name Histria Prestige.

Pacea (The Peace) - was never fully completed. At the end of the 1980s it was passed to Czechoslovakia as a part of Romania's foreign debt.

Bustenari - oil tanker(39000TDW) built in Galati.

Bucsani - oil tanker built in 1987(actual name is Histria Topaz)

Moreni - oil tanker built in 1971 at Giurgiu Shipyard .

As a matter of fact-There was an American oil tanker named after Moreni(notorious Romanian oil center) sunk in battle on June,12 1917 .
Standard Oil Steamer Moreni with a cargo of gasoline was fires 150 shots at U-Boat before she goes down.

The American tanker "Moreni", seen outbound river Douro, Oporto, 1914, Loa 113m/Lpp 108,1m/4.045gt, completed 11/1913 as "Meppen" by Seebeck Werft, Geestemunde, for Deutsche Amerikanische, Petroleum Ges., Hamburg; 1914 Moreni, Standard Oil Co., New York; 12/06/1917 attacked and sunken near Tabarca Island, near Santa Pola, Spain, Mediterranean Sea, after a two hours hard battle, from which were fired 150 shots against 200 from U-64, while on passage Baton Rouge for Leghorn, 43 saved and 4 lost: German captain congratulated the Moreni’s captain by his fight. The Steamship Moreni, owned and operated by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, an American national, sailed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 19, 1917, with a cargo of gasoline consigned to the Italian-American Oil Company at Savona, Italy, to call at Gibraltar for orders. She was armed for defensive purposes with two 4-inch guns, one fore and one aft, and manned with a civilian crew of 35 and a naval gun crew of 12. After calling at Gibraltar for orders she sailed from that port June 10, 1917,and on the morning of June 12 was fired upon and finally sunk by a German submarine after a running fight in which the Moreni endeavored to escape and in which 200 to 250 shots were fired by the submarine and about 150 shots by the Moreni.It is apparent that the Moreni was at the time of her destruction being privately operated for private profit as a merchant vessel, and for the reasons heretofore given the Commission holds that she does not fall within the excepted class.

Moreni-Romanian oil wells

2010-12-10T18:43:00.003+02:00

Old oil extraction system at Bustenari

2010-12-04T07:12:00.004+02:00

Ploiesti oil refineries

2010-12-04T06:34:00.000+02:00

Picture made from an airplane during ww2

Petroleum wells in Moreni,Romania.

2010-12-01T18:21:00.010+02:00

If you like to see more

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- Moreni oil field - old photos and postcards -

The burning geyser of oil

2010-11-24T18:41:00.005+02:00

The ferocious fire at well 160 Romano-Americana(1929-1931) .

Moreni,Valea Frasinului(Ash Valley) .

Oil industry in Romania after the WW2

2010-11-20T07:28:00.028+02:00

Company oilfield equipment - Targoviste. (1977)

1 May oil-equipment factories Ploiesti.(1970)

Brazi oil refinery -1968.

Oilmens from Boldesti (Ploiesti region) in 1955.

Drilling for oil - Moreni,1955.

Stone column thermal cracking plant, oil refinery workers rebuilt following the destruction caused by bombing. (Ploiesti,1948)

People from Ploiesti working on recovery- they remove the bombing aftermath of war - 1945.

Moreni oil wells in 1931 - night vision

2010-11-20T07:24:00.001+02:00

Original photo from Mr.Daniel Paun(Moreni).

Columbia-Aquila refinery during construction

2010-11-18T06:40:00.009+02:00

Columbia-Aquila refinery during construction in Ploiesti,1931.

Original photographs owned by Mr. Daniel Paun from Moreni .

Bustenari oil field-old photos

2010-11-13T13:12:00.024+02:00

Bustenari,1916.This oilfield was spread over a large expanse of territory situated between the Telega and Doftana villages and contains the sections known as Telega - Calinet - Grusar - Mislisoara - Gropi - Chiciura - Bustenari—Stejar and Bordeni. It was very old field and oil has been extracted until the point of exhaustion. Between 1900 and 1919 the wells do not fluctuate too much in their production and many wells have been steadily producing with no appreciable diminution . In 1916 the number of oil wells reached 402 in production and 190 in drilling held by 80 companies or private owners.

Transport of petroleum equipment

2010-11-13T11:27:00.005+02:00

Transport of petroleum equipment in Romania in the early 20th century.

The hand dug oil wells

2010-11-13T10:41:00.004+02:00

First manually dug wells in Romania were made in the mid 19th century in the Păcureţi – Prahova, exploitation of oil wells was being done by hand wells with pulley and hecne with horse.The depth of these wells typically reached up to 150 meters by hand digging a well with a diameter of about 1.5 meters and alternative crossing of layers of clay, sandy clay, sandstone and oil-bearing sand.Lighting in the first phase is achieved through a system of mirrors and an advanced miner's lamps were used. In case of gas infiltration those lamps stopped flickering and so it had the advantage of preventing any explosion.

Roumanie-Puits de petrole(Campina,1910).

To ventilate the shaft in the beginning were used forging swell and, much later, primitive pumps.Descending into the well was made with the help of a bucket that was also used to evacuate the detritus resulted from excavations. This bucket connected to a rope was operated by a pulley or by a mule. Because of the stifling heat that increased in the depth, workers descended into the well dressed summary and they wore a heavy and uncomfortable metal hat on their head, a precursor to future helmets. Walls of the dug well were lined with impermeable clay and osier wicker against water infiltration. Wood was used as raw material in strengthening wells by using special hence. When the source of oil was reached the extraction began, oil being pull out using large buckets. When a bucket of oil was extracted another one was lowered into the well. With these primitive methods there could be extracted up to 10 tons of oil per day. The deepest wells dug by such means were in Breaza (320m) and at Popeşti – Urlaţi.

Ploiesti oil factories

2010-11-09T17:42:00.002+02:00

Oil factories, Astra Romanian and Orion, 1924 .

Gahita oil field

2010-11-07T08:16:00.009+02:00

298Gahita oil well in flames-Campina,1920.

Gahita oil field in Campina-Steaua Romana Company(1924).

Oil eruption at well nr.49 in Gahita oil field Breaza,Campina.

Oil gusher in Gahita,1918.

Flaming oil torch

2010-10-17T18:19:00.017+02:00

For more than 850 days '' the torch of Moreni," a burning geyser of oil, has illuminated the countryside, even to the capital, 100 Km away from "Well 16O, Moreni-Standard". All efforts to extinguish the flames have been in vain and thousands of dollars worth of oil and gas has being consumed , many lives have been lost, and there remains the danger of the fire spreading to hundreds of nearby wells.......

Flaming oil torch seen from the Bana hill.

Moreni,1929 - a small village in the heart of the romanian oil district, which yearly produces 4,282,377 tons of crude petroleum, one-sixth of the world's output. After years of surface exploitation, the large companies, including the Standard, the Romano-American, and the Dutch Shell, began extensive subterranean digging, and it was from well 16O RA, now a roaring pillar of flames and smoke, that the Standard had anticipated a huge supply . The digging had been completed, pumps and pipes had been laid and everything was prepared for the first gush from a depth of 1453 metres. Everything went well, albeit the initial burst was so terrific that the villagers and engineers, although used to happenings of this kind, were anxious. The pressure, was 200 atmospheres, and the first shock carried light, machinery and structural scaffolding hundreds of metres into the air to be scattered as so much debris. Five minutes later workmen and engineers ran in all directions. The pillar of gas and oil had become one of fire and smoke, so forbidding that it was futile to attempt to get anywhere near it.

The ferocious fire at well 160 Romano-Americana(1929-1931)

Moreni,Valea Frasinului(Ash Valley)

The steel and wooden towers of six near-by wells ignited almost instantly, and were consumed or transformed into writhing metal skeletons. While the red, black, and yellow torch of Moreni is

seen day and night within a radius of many miles, 10,000,000 tonnes of oil have been destroyed since the well caught fire. All methods of extinguishing the blaze have proved useless. First an attempt was made too put out the fire, by means of a huge iron bell weighing many tons, but this was blown into the air and shattered and torn as if it had been a paper hat. The next step was to tunnel, in order that the gas and oil path might be diverted to a new course. The first tunnel was blown in, and four workmen were killed.

A second tunnel was likewise blown in and three more workers were killed. For the third time engineers directed the work of digging a tunnel 100 metres away from the burning well and some 80 metres deep to divert the underground gases before they can be ignited, and thus not only save the well itself, but practically the entire district. All sorts of fantastic plans have been received from individuals who declare they know how to extinguish the fire. They suggest pumping vinegar, throwing asphyxiating bombs, and employing many sorts of intricate machinery to save the well. The danger was, however, that should the fire be put out, the entire valley would become a charged bomb, which might explode at any time and entirely annihilate the valley. One hope remains for some engineer : to devise a means for cutting the "main" and thus arresting the flow of gas .......

Oil refinery in Ploiesti in the early 20th century

2010-10-15T09:19:00.005+02:00

1.AQUILA FRANCO ROMANA - This french-owned refinery was constructed in the year 1907-08,and was capable of an output of 600 tons per day.It was of modern construction and endowed with all the auxiliary plant,such as rectifiers,agitators and refiners,equal to its working capacity.
2.ASTRA ROMANA - Originally a small refinery in the suburbs of Ploiesti,since taken over by dutch owners.In 1905 the plant was practically rebuilt,and it was enlarged from a working capacity of 100 to that of 1,000 tons per day. The owning company was an " offshoot " of the Royal Dutch and Shell Trading and Transport company.The refinery, was situated immediately behind the Ploiesti station,and along side the Orion,Lumina and Norris refineries.
3.ORION - This refinery,which was burnt with the Astra in 1916 was Dutch owned. Capable of working 600 tons of crude oil per day.In addition to the ordinary refining plant it possessed valuable lubricating oil works and large storage tanks.
4.LUMINA - A small refinery, also included in the large Astra destruction, with a working capacity of 80 tons per day.
5.NORRIS - A small refinery having a working capacity of 90 tons per day."Baneasa" Refinery Company bought it from its previous german owners shortly before Romania entered the first war.
6.PREDINGER - This refinery,originally belonging to a native,changed hands several times up to the year 1911,when it came under french control.It was enlarged from time to time,and was capable of an output of 120 tons per day.
7.STANDARD - This refinery was ostensibly bought in 1912 by a british company.The refinery was equipped for working 300 tons of crude oil per day,and had large storage tanks.An important lubricating oilplant was installed.
8.MITRANY - This refinery,situated on the eastern boundary of the town,was increased to a daily working capacity of 50 tons per day in 1915.Generally,the plant was old and worked by the owner for all it was worth,without renewing any parts.
9.ROUMANIAN CONSOLIDATED OILFIELDS,LIMITED - This was an old refinery having a working capacity of 25 tons per day.
10.ANGLO-CONTINENTAL - This was a new refinery,built in 1913/14,and had a working capacity of 100 tons per day and storage for 6,000 tons.
11.VEGA - This german-owned modern refinery,situated on the northern boundary of Ploiesti,had a working capacity of 1,000 tons per day,and was well designed and equipped for making the best lubricating and other special kinds of oil.The refinery and tanks covered about 40 acres.
12.ROMANO-AMERICANA - This was the largest refining plant and storage station in or around Ploiesti.In the construction of these works great care had been taken to provide against fires spreading from one reservoir to another,or to the distilling machinery.For complete destruction during the Romanian army's withdrawal in 1916 some dams, closing in the east end of the refinery,were filled with residues and fired.One hundred reservoirs were fired individually,and,finally,the installations were fired and each vessel and boiler exploded.The spectacular sight was remarkable and the heavy volumes of smoke,which stretched for some 100 kilometres or more, must have considerably inconvenienced the enemy who was then on the outskirts of the town on the windward side.The quantity of oil destroyed was 120,000 tons.
13.FRATIA - This refinery was situated in the town itself.

The destruction of Moreni oil field in 1916.

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MORENI .This field was the largest producing one in Roumania, covering an area of about two thousand acres. It has been developed on modern lines and was equipped with first class plant machinery and well designed workshops. Here was encountered flowing wells highly charged with gas, so much so that the ordinary workman trembles at the idea of even a match being lit anywhere in the field.

Oil wells destroyed.

The development here commenced in.the year 1904, on the right bank of the River Cricov, at the places known as Stavropoleos and Tuicani, where excellent results were obtained . Wells at the shallow depth of 250 metres yielded 200 tons daily by bailing.At 430 metres larger sources were encountered and flowing wells were brought in,yielding from 300 to 700 tons daily . At 600 metres an even more prolific sand was struck and one particular, well known as the
" Colombia," produced from this spurce 400,000 tons . A large number of other wells produced over 100,000 tons, and were still producing from the 600 metre sand when they were destroyed during the Romanian army's withdrawal in 1916 . Deeper sources were also reached at 800 metres and these were in the course of development in 1917 . Difficulty was anticipated in rendering useless flowing wells . One of the strongest flowing wells, belonging to the Romano-Americana Company. at Moreni. was so completely plugged that the flowing oil burst up between the casing and appeared oozing through the earths surface at various points surrounding the wellhead where it was ignited . It is believed that the oil will, block itself and cease from this ooze. In 1910 the eastern side of the River Cricov, which intersects the oilfield, was also developed and rich oilsands were met with at 300 metres yielding from 20 to 30,000 tons: of oil per well . This source became exhausted and, in 1913, a new sand was discovered at 760 metres yielding a flowing production of from 300 to 600 tons per day . The Moreni field consisted in 1916 of 112 producing wells and 72 drilling, wells with a daily production of 1,650 tons owned by 19 companies and private owners . Since Roumanian entry into the war, however, the production fell considerably owing to lack of material and labour . On the morning of te 28th November 1916,two masses of floating oil caught fire on the river (each about 600 yards in length) and were drifting down towards the two main wooden bridges over the Cricov river, on which the army relied for the passage of their men and guns from Dambovita to Prahova . The 29th of November was spent in completing the preparations for firing Moreni . Large gangs of men were employed with sledge hammers and other tools demolishing every conceivable piece of machinery, and even the breakable spares in the central stores. The wells were again visited and further plugging was carried on . On the evening of the 30th November it was obvious that the Roumanian Government Cornmission were still bent on blocking tactics and intended to postpone the actual firing,and it was here that the small British staff commence the firing of the derricks and their adjoining machine houses.

The destruction of Moreni oilfield.

The greater work of firing the oil reservoirs, store houses, power plants, workshops,gas and water installations, casting furnaces, and other plant necessary to a big industry commenced the next day. Several large explosions which resulted left the field clear of the native human element . The trails of straw saturated with oil and laid for the purpose of communicating fires were found to have been rendered ineffective through a heavy storm . It was here that the greatest fire risks were encountered . The quantity of oil burnt in this district was 42,000 tons.

The destruction of oil refineries in Targoviste

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The following refineries were destroyed,at Targoviste, during the Romanian army's withdrawal in 1916:
1.ROUMANIAN CONSOLIDATED OILFIELDS, LIMITED . This refinery had a working capacity of 350 tons of crude oil per day. Storage capacity 35,000 tons, distributed over an area of 14 acres. It contained a battery, of 6 stills, with ephlegmators and preheaters, refining and rectifying plant,electric light installation, boiler plant, workshops and stores, stocks in reservoirs,when fired, 18,000 tons.This refinery was situated in the immediate vicinity of the railway station.
2.HAIMAN . A small, old refinery enlarged to a working capacity of 35 tons per day. Storage capacity, 3,500 tons, distributed over an area about 1 1/2, acres. Contained 3 stills, refining and small rectifying plant. Stocks in reservoirs when fired, 2,000 tons.A large dam was built outside the refinery and a trench cut to the storage tanks, which were inside the refinery. The valves of the reservoirs were then opened and the oil fired which wrecked both reservoirs and refinery, as well as firing the surrounding installations. It was here that the first work of the Roumanian Commission was seen to consist of an uphill gradient resulting in the flooding of the refinery. This was most suitable to us,as it was intended to carry the oil away in the opposite direction and so avoid wreckage of the refinery.
3.GRIGORESCU. A small refinery enlarged to a working capacity of 60 tons per day. Storage capacity, 4,000 tons, distributed over an area of about 2 ½ acres. Contained stills, refining and rectifying plant, all fairly old. Stocks in reservoirs when fired,1,300 tons.The refinery,was situated immediately on the left,bank of the River Ialomita. The authorities feared the, escape of oil down the river,and a special dam had to be built round the refinery before it was fired.Bitches were carried into the workshops and pump-houses, to convey oil for fiting purposes, after pumps and all machinery had been smashed with sledge hammers. The oil was then fired and the reservoirs exploded, firing the adjoining buildings.
4. AURORA . A very old and obsolete refinery, originally owned by a, Dutch concern but in 1916 controlled by the German Steaua Romana group. Working capacity,100 tons per day. Storage capacity,5,000 tons.It was equipped with a small lubricating plant, but all the machinery was old and the buildings in a state of ruin. The refinery contained stocks of 2,780 tons, of which 780 tons were lubricating oils. In view of avoiding the possibility of exaggerated claims for compensation it was decided not to fire, but to run off the oil, allowing it to percolate into the ground, and wrecking machinery of any value.All these fires lasted several days, the smoke hung heavily over the town and te flames, which at times rose to great heights, illuminated the neighbouring districts, thus allowing the enemy for the first time to become aware of our work.

Moreni oil field - old photos and postcards

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A Romanian welth-oil wells at Moreni(interwar period).

Oil wells in the district Stavropoleos from Moreni.

Pascov Valley oil wells(original photo from Mr.Daniel Paun-Moreni).

Oil well with wooden towers in Moreni,Romania.

Too see more click here...Oil wells at Pietris.

Pascov oilfieds.

Astra Romana Workshops-Moreni,Prahova

Oil wells on Tuicani Plateau.

The oil well in the middle of Moreni.

Section two of the oil company Astra-Pascov,Schela Mare.
Schela Mare(Pietris) oil wells,Moreni,Romania.
Cricov.Creditul Minier.Moreni Prahova (from Tuicani to Bana hill).
Overview of Moreni oilfield.

Oil deposit(The old ”Regatul Roman”)

Moreni(A.I.Cuza street).

Moreni,Pascov-view from the south to nord.

Astra Oil Company Workshops from the Moreni-interwar.
Workshops and steam batteries of the Romanian-American Society.

Moreni,Prahova - drilling for oil.

Moreni-flaming petroleum field

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Roumanie,Moreni-puits de petrole en feu

Great disaster at an oil well in Moreni,Romania.

On Tuicani Plateau- 160RA(Romano-Americana) in flames.

Oil wells in flames on Tuicani Plateau,Moreni,Romania.

Romanian oil well explosion.

Petroleum wells in Campina

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Interwar oil wells on Prahova Valley-Campina,Romania.

Moreni - ” The black gold ”

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Moreni,Romania,October,1930.

Burning for over two years

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The 160 Romano-Americana oil well at Moreni, Romania, which had been burning for nearly 28 months, was extinguisned on September 18,1929.The fire started on May 28, 1929, when the well was being drilled and a stratum of gas was struck, by accident.The pressure of the gas was so great that it blew out the drill and, with it, masses of stone and dirt.

10 000 000 tones of oil lost.

Stones striking on metal caused a spark, which ignited the gas and thus started the fire. Every effort was made for months to put the fire out. Vast sums of mones were spent, and several lives were lost as a result of accidents. At first the engineers tried to dig tunnels in order to tap the well and draw off the gas, but all that they could achieve was to diminish the pressure without actually extinguishing the fire.

A fire-fighhting specialist(Myron Kinley) went from the United States and tried to put the fire out by dynamiting it, but this method also failed. He was to have made another attempt with a bigger charge of dynamite, but in the meantime it was decided to draw off some more gas. One of the old tunnels was used for the purpose. Some machinery had got stuck in it on a previous occasion, but it was successfully extricated. This made the task of pumping the gas out easier, and the pressure diminished so greatly that the fire went out. In its early stages the fire was so big that it could be seen at night at Bucharest, 100 Km away, and the inhabitants of Moreni were able to read at night by its light. Later it diminished in height considerably, as succeeding explosions had made craters in the ground, through which the burning gas was escaping, giving it fire aspect of a small volcano. The Romano-Americana after the fire went out had still a difficult task in front of it, as the leakage of gas, which had to be stopped, continued. This was to be done by pumping water and dirt at high pressure into the aperture. By this means the dirt would be forced into all the crannies and thus prevent the gas from filtering through.

The work of extinguishing the outbreak.

Methan gas eruption in flames

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Photos taken in Moreni,Romania,1937.

Aurora company

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Liability company “Aurora“ was founded in 1898 in Ploiesti with a capital of 150,000 francs. In 1899, Romanian international oil company in Amsterdam has merged with Aurora, which the store name, moved its headquarters in Bucharest, currently Paleologu street, and increases its capital to 6.5 million francs. The company held a refinery in Băicoi, which can process up to 900 tonnes of oil per day, and another in Targoviste.The company used at 1900, 282 cars and 89 reservoirs have a capacity of 34,987,000 liters. The capital account was in 1900, the sum of 1,420,899 francs, and in 1906, 7,699,680 francs. Dividends paid were 5.50% in 1900 to 7.87% in 1904 and 6% in 1905.

Ploiesti-oil wells

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Wooden derricks at Ploiesti.

A field of derricks supporting the drilling machinery over the oil wells near Ploiesti, Romania-1945

Petroleum quellen bei Ploesti

Oil tanks in flames

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1916-Romanian retreat from Constanta-huge oil tanks burning.

Moreni-The heart of Romanian oil production

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Pictures taken in 1939 on Cricov Valley.

”Forest” of oil wells in Moreni,in the heart of the rumanian oil producing belt.

Oil being extracted from hand dug well at Bustenari oil field in Romania.

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Oil being brought up to the surface from a hand dug well . Two buckets running on a pulley being operated by a mule as it moves in a circle around the well.This video was taken in 1926.

Oil workers in Bustenari

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Oil being extracted at Bustenari oil field in Romania in 1926.Women workers manually operate a pipe at a derrick.

Bustenari oil field

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View of the Bustenari oil field in Romania,1926.

Romania,Bustenari-old postcard(1906).

Oil wells at Bustenari in 1906.