The Oil History of Chailly-en-Bière
In 1958, the ELF Aquitaine group (now part of TOTAL) discovered an oil field in Chailly-en-Bière, deep underground at 1,585 meters. This oil reserve stretched beneath the Fontainebleau forest. Due to its high quality, the oil required less refining compared to others. Soon, oil extraction became a major activity, with 75 wells drilled in the forest area.
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How the Oil Was Extracted
Oil was extracted using a technique called forced capillarization. Water was injected into limestone layers, causing the oil to rise and be collected in wells. The extracted oil was then transported through underground pipelines to the ELF Antar refinery in Grandpuits. This method allowed efficient extraction for many years.
Production and Decline
The Chailly oil field was active until 1986. At its peak, it produced 100,000 tons of oil per year. However, production gradually declined, making further extraction unprofitable. By the time operations ended, 48 wells had produced a total of 1.5 million cubic meters (9.4 million barrels) of crude oil. This amounted to about 37% of the total oil reserve.
The Legacy of Oil Extraction
Some of the old oil equipment, such as drilling tools and pump units, can still be seen in the Fontainebleau forest today. Various plans have been considered to reopen the wells. After extraction ended in 1986, efforts were made to restore the environment. Authorities, forest management, and oil companies worked together to clean the area and remove any harmful elements.
Geological Background
The region’s geological history dates back 150 million years. Layers of sand and limestone formed over time, creating conditions for oil deposits. In 1958, geologists drilling in Chailly-en-Bière discovered oil trapped in limestone from the Jurassic period. This discovery transformed the region into an important oil site.
Oil Transport and Refining
By 1960, 37 wells had been drilled, with 31 producing oil. Every day, 365 cubic meters of crude oil were pumped and transported through an 18-kilometer pipeline to a collection center in Faÿ. From there, another 7-kilometer pipeline carried the oil to La Rochette, where it was loaded onto barges and transported to refineries in Seine-Maritime.
