The Illinois Petroleum Resources Board (IPRB) is a non-profit organization that provides public awareness and education programs regarding the upstream Illinois oil and gas industry. IPRB also works to clean up and restore abandoned oilfield sites throughout the state. IPRB programs are funded entirely by voluntary contributions of oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners in Illinois. Find out more at iprb.org! 🇺🇸🛢️💪

Be sure to check out the latest Southern Illinois Now! magazine issue's feature story on the Southern Illinois oil production industry 🇺🇸🛢💪! Southern Illinois Now! is a great economic development group whose mission to promote the Southern Illinois region as a great place to live, work, and do business. You can read the article starting on page 30 here: southernillinoisnow.org/maga…

We had a great time interacting with more than 250 high school students from Argenta-Oreana, Cerro Gordo, Monticello, Maroa-Forsyth, DeLand-Weldon CUSD #57, Blue Ridge and Bement high schools today at the 3rd Annual Deland Weldon High School Trades & CTE Career Fair! This career fair highlighted career opportunities available to students directly after they graduate high school. Find out more about oil and gas careers at iprb.org: illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

This week's #WayBackWednesday post takes us back to 1960 when an oil boom began within the city limits of West Frankfort. Both the City of West Frankfort and the Frankfort Community School district were bolstered by royalty income from several Tar Springs Sandstone wells drilled in the community primarily in the early 1960s. The well located next to the north parking lot of Frankfort High School has produced more than 100,000 barrels of oil and was still producing six barrels per day as recently as 2024. Find out more about Illinois oil production history at iprb.org!

Applications are being accepted for the Oil & Gas Short Certificate Program Instructor position at Southeastern Illinois College's Carmi campus. Base salary will be $40,000 as well as to yet-to-be-determined additional compensation based on the number of courses the candidate is qualified to teach. A minimum of 2,000 hours of oil and gas production industry work experience is required. The ideal candidate also needs to possess strong communication and organizational skills. Teaching experience and social media proficiency is preferred. The individual chosen for this position will be responsible for being head instructor of Oil & Gas Production I & II, Artificial Lift Systems and SAFELAND USA Training courses, recruitment for and promotion of the SIC Oil & Gas Short Certificate Program, coordinating with local oil and gas companies on internship opportunities for students, and coordinating with IPRB staff on program promotion and recruitment. Interested candidates are asked to send a cover letter and resume to IPRB executive director Seth Whitehead by email ([email protected]) or mail (2229 Lake Hills Drive, Vandalia, IL 62471) by Nov. 13. The program will debut in January 2027 and classes will likely be held from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday at the Carmi campus during the spring 2027 semester.

IPRB recently completed the following abandoned tank battery restoration project in Coles County. These projects are funded by volunteer contributions to IPRB from Illinois oil producers and royalty owners. They are not taxpayer funded. To be eligible for restoration, sites must be listed as legally abandoned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Find out more about our restoration program below 👇 🖥 illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

We had a great time today at the annual Edwards County Schools Career Day. Dozens of students visited our booth at the career fair and we made three presentations on Illinois Basin oil production industry career opportunities to approximately 60 interested students. Huge thanks to geologists Bill Bandy and Bill Dorsch for volunteering their time to share their knowledge and insights with the students! Find out more about oil and gas industry careers at iprb.org: illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

We enjoyed participating in the Mt. Carmel High School career fair today and sharing information about local oil production industry career opportunities and IPRB's annual oil and gas scholarship. Huge thanks to retired Pioneer Oil geologist Bill Bandy and Locust Street Company geologist Bill Dorsch for sharing their insights with the students. Find out more about oil and gas careers at iprb.org: illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

The Illinois Oilfield Museum Illinois Basin Celebration is coming up on Nov. 4! Call or text 618-367-4751 to reserve your seat! 🇺🇸🛢️💪

The 2026 Illinois Oilfield Museum Illinois Basin Celebration is a little more than a month away! 🇺🇸🛢️💪Check out the schedule for the day below 📷 and be sure to RSVP for a chance to win a $250 gift card. 👇

IPRB's latest mini-documentary tells the story of the legendary Lake Centralia/Salem Field. Discovered in 1938, the Salem Field would become THE top producing oilfield in the United States by 1940, propelling Illinois to the status of being the No. 3 oil-producing state, topping the combined production of Iran and Iraq. The timing of the Salem Field's discovery and remarkable production came at a critical period of world history, helping fuel the Allied Forces' victory over the energy-poor Axis Powers in World War II. Legend has it that FDR once stated "Thank God for Salem, Illinois" in reference to its importance to the war effort 🇺🇸 🛢️ 💪 youtube.com/watch?v=vpObtauk…

Did you know? Diesel is one of the most essential refined petroleum products, account for 20% of the more than 20 million+ barrels of petroleum demand every day in the United States. Demand is growing, with the rise of e-commerce (aka Amazon). In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Commodity Flow Survey shows that more than 71 percent of all goods shipped in the United States are transported by predominantly diesel-powered trucks, a figure that is only increasing. The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that diesel engines power “most of the farm and construction equipment in the United States” and “help transport nearly all products people consume.” In addition to soaring demand, many other factors are contributing to record-high diesel prices at the moment 👇 ➡️ Despite growing demand for perhaps THE most essential refined petroleum product, the United States hasn't built a new major refinery since the Carter administration - nearly 50 years ➡️ Refining and distribution costs for diesel have increased due to the transition to lower-sulfur diesel fuels ➡️ Diesel taxes are higher than gasoline taxes. The federal tax on a gallon of diesel is 24.4 cents per gallon, compared to 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline. Illinois taxes on a gallon of diesel fuel is 55.8 cents per gallon, compared to 48.3 cents per gallon for gasoline ➡️ Global conflicts, most recently bombing of Russian refineries, have decreased global diesel supply Find out more about the importance of refined petroleum products at iprb.org! 👇 illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…... 🛢= 🏈👟👕💄🥽🚑✈️⛽️🚤📱💻🕶

Be sure to mark your calendars for Nov. 4 as the Illinois Basin Celebration will return to the Illinois Oil Field Museum in Oblong! All Illinois Basin oil industry professionals are invited. The event will once again feature a complimentary catered lunch, complimentary #IllinoisBasinProud swag (hoodies, stocking caps and coffee mugs) and museum tours. Oilfield safety will again be the theme this year. More details to come soon! Message us to reserve your seat!

Did you know? The typical Illinois oil well is drilled to depths of 2,000 feet or more - exceeding the height of the Willis Tower in Chicago. State-regulated surface casing and cementing protect groundwater, and typically more than 1,000 feet of solid rock separate production zones from freshwater aquifers. A vast majority of wells drilled in Illinois are vertical wells and roughly 75% of these "conventional" wells are completed using hydraulic fracturing. The first Illinois hydraulic fracturing completion was conducted in the early 1950s. Our oil wells are much different than the "unconventional" wells being drilled in places like Texas, North Dakota and New Mexico. The combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing of tight source rock (shale) to effectively create oil reservoirs has become prominent in those states and other basins throughout the United States in recent years. Though Illinois has dozens of horizontal wells and has utilized hydraulic fracturing on vertical wells for decades, the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing of shale formations has not been conducted here. Thank you to the Illinois State Geological Survey for this informative illustration.

One of our 2026 IPRB Summer Teachers Program participants submitted this awesome recap of her experience learning about the Illinois oil production industry to the @dailyherald , a widely-read suburban Chicago newspaper. Nearly 900 Illinois teachers - including dozens from the Chicago area - have attended our summer teachers program since it debuted in 2010. Our 2027 program is tentatively scheduled for the final week of June. Message us if you are interested in attending! 🏫 🇺🇸 🛢️💪

We enjoyed making a Petro Pros presentation for about 40 students at Irvington Grade School on Tuesday. Huge thanks Illinois Basin oil industry veteran Mike Payne for sharing his knowledge with the students. Click below to if you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your students 👇 illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

We enjoyed making our first Petro Pros presentation of the 2026-27 school year today to students from Oakdale Grade School. Huge thanks Illinois Basin oil industry veteran Mike Payne for sharing his knowledge with the students. Click below to if you are interested in scheduling a presentation for your students 📷 illinoispetroleumresourcesbo…

What is the most iconic single oil well in Illinois history? Cast your vote below 👇

We’ve spent the last few months highlighting Illinois’ rich oil production history. The oil industry has become synonymous with many Southern Illinois communities. But which town is the most “oilfield” of them all? Cast your vote below! 👇