On July 2, 1920, the Abrams No. 1 oil well blew in on William H. Abrams's 1,650-acre tract in Brazoria County, Texas. Drilled by the Texas Company, which later became Texaco, the well marked the beginning of the West Columbia oilfield. This discovery was a major breakthrough, with early production reaching up to 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The success of the well helped establish the field as one of Texas's major oil-producing areas. That same year, additional discoveries on Abrams's land in Mitchell County sparked some of the first petroleum production in the Permian Basin. Abrams had long been involved in land development through his work with several railroad companies and the Texas Pacific Land Trust.