††An oil well is a hole drilled into the ground through which oil can be obtained.
The first commercial oil well was drilled in 1859 in Titusville in the United States by Edwin Laurentine Drake. It is still in operation and produces 1600 litres of oil per day, from a depth of 23 metres.
Modern drills are powered by diesel or electric engines. A kind of artificial mud is pumped down the drill bit to clear away debris and reduce friction. This helps to prolong the life of the bit. The hole is later lined with steel and cement to stop it from collapsing, so that a permanent well is created.
