Petroleum Discovery at Rantau Pandjang in May 1875 was first recorded European observation of oil seepages in landscape Peureula, at place north-west of Peureula.
Narrative
Officers of warship Timor led by Atjeh heads found petroleum source where oil welled, source enclosed with fence. Underground oil ran in wooden collection tank with lid closed. Raw oil collected twice day from water with buckets of pisang leaf. Through hole under in buckets meegeschepte water ran away and as soon brown-green oil wanted run away held bucket above hollow bamboo. One man could carry 2-3 hollow bamboos on back to Rantau Pandjang where oil sold to traders Peureula and elsewhere. Further transport in large stone pots. Who walked with bamboo full oil needed no tiger attack fear because animals Peureula shun smell oil. Yield source earlier 60 gantang been, in 1875 still 40 gantang i.e., over 1 picol, which at Rantau Pandjang brought almost 6 dollar. Head monthly income 200 dollars. Besides main there were in Peureula three sources. Pebbles near visited source proved consisting weathered granite, quartz, quartzite, quartz conglomerate and siliceous sandstone per J. A. Kruyt account pages 33-34.
Later development
Now drilling terrains of Perlak Petroleum-Maatschappij exploited by Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij, and terrains of famous Zuid-Perlak Petroleum-Mij. Bataafsche processes oil not at place but pumps through pipeline 120 km to Pangkalan Brandan. Only gases at Rantau Pandjang compressed to oil likewise pumped away. Settlement with about 30 Europeans.
Oil cijns made oeléëbalang rich; after 1912 petroleum accijns in landscape treasury and oeléëbalang fixed income.
See Also
- Peureula
- Rantau Pandjang
- Perlak Petroleum-Maatschappij
- Bataafsche Petroleum-Maatschappij
- J. A. Kruyt
Source
Atjeh als land voor handel en bedrijf, by Dr. R. Broersma, Gebrs. Cohen, Utrecht, 1925, pp. 33-35.