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An Oil Well in Civilization V
Game Info
Advanced production improvement. Requires Biology.
- Access:
- Oil strategic resource (land-based)
- Effect:
- +3
Production Production
- +3
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Strategy
The Oil Well grants access to land-based sources of Oil and gives a large production bonus to nearby cities.
Historical Info
The earliest known oil wells were drilled in China in 347 CE. These wells had depths of up to about 240 metres (790 ft) and were drilled using bits attached to bamboo poles. The oil was burned to evaporate brine and produce salt. By the 10th century, extensive bamboo pipelines connected oil wells with salt springs. The ancient records of China and Japan are said to contain many allusions to the use of natural gas for lighting and heating. Petroleum was known as Burning water in Japan in the 7th century.