Los Angeles: City of Angels...and Black Gold? Not Quite So Golden These Days
Ah, Los Angeles. The land of sunshine, surf, and...oil? That's right, folks, beneath the glitz and the glamour (and the ever-present threat of earthquakes, let's be honest), Los Angeles has a bit of a hidden history – and present – as an oil producer.
From Gushers to Hush-Hush: A Tale of Two Cities
Back in the day, Los Angeles was a veritable oil boomtown. We're talking derricks sprouting like palm trees, fortunes made overnight, and enough crude to fill a Kardashian's swimming pool (multiple times). In fact, the Los Angeles City Oil Field, once a sprawling forest of derricks, was for a time the most productive urban oil field in the entire world! Can you imagine ordering a latte while dodging a geyser?
But as with all good things (or perhaps not-so-good things, depending on your stance on fossil fuels), the easy oil eventually dried up. Today, the situation is more like a trickle than a torrent. There's still some drilling going on in the greater Los Angeles area, but it's a far cry from the heady days of yore. Those hoping to strike it rich with a backyard well are probably better off trying their luck at the lottery.
So, How Much Oil Are We Talking About?
This is where things get a little murky. While Los Angeles County as a whole still produces some oil, the exact figures can be harder to pin down than a greased pig at a rodeo. Some estimates suggest a measly few million barrels a year, while others might make you think there's a secret oil pipeline pumping directly into the Hollywood sign.
The truth is probably somewhere in between. It's enough to keep a few rigs humming, but not enough to power a comeback tour for mullets and acid-wash jeans (thank goodness).
The Future's Not So Oily for LA
Los Angeles, ever the trendsetter, is actually moving away from oil production. There are talks of banning new drilling altogether, and with the rise of renewable energy sources, it seems like the days of black gold in the City of Angels are numbered.
So, if you're ever in LA and see a lone oil derrick amidst the skyscrapers, don't worry, you're not hallucinating. It's just a little piece of history hanging on, like a fanny pack at a music festival.
