Zumaque I, First oil well in Mene Grande, Venezuela.
Zumaque I is the first oil well in Mene Grande and reaches approximately 135 meters deep into the ground. The pumping station extracts crude oil with an API gravity of 18 degrees from this depth.
Caribbean Petroleum Company, a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, discovered and inaugurated this pioneering oil well on July 31, 1914. This inauguration marked the beginning of Venezuela's petroleum production.
The site witnessed the formation of Venezuela's first oil workers union in 1925 and became a center for labor movements. Workers organized here to demand better conditions and fair wages.
The well still operates with its original extraction mechanism and produces approximately 20 barrels of crude oil daily. The site is relatively accessible if you plan ahead and approach respectfully.
The well site was chosen based on early observations of natural oil seeps visible at the base of Cerro La Estrella mountain. These natural surface signs helped early prospectors understand where petroleum could be found underground.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
