oil well

a well that yields or has yielded oil.

Origin of oil well

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

This frequently causes explosions, tearing out the side of the well or blowing out the casing, and making the oil-well useless.

Checking the Waste |Mary Huston Gregory
He was getting figures of oil-well machinery, and also trying to become better acquainted with the whole oil proposition.

The Rover Boys in the Land of Luck |Edward Stratemeyer
I told you, quite truthfully, that I had put part of your money into options in an oil-well.

Winsome Winnie and other New Nonsense Novels |Stephen Leacock
He has been in half a dozen oil-well propositions, selling stocks and leases.

The Rover Boys in the Land of Luck |Edward Stratemeyer

Because of its extensive application in the oil-fields it is generally designated in the United States as the “oil-well system.”

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 |Various

oil well

a boring into the earth or sea bed for the extraction of petroleum