<P> The first successful oil well in North America was established in Oil Springs, Ontario, Canada in 1858 . The field is still in production although quantities are low . </P> <P> The history of the petroleum industry in the United States goes back to the early 19th century, although the indigenous peoples, like many ancient societies, have used petroleum seeps since prehistoric times; where found, these seeps signaled the growth of the industry from the earliest discoveries to the more recent . </P>

When was the first oil well drilled in the united states