Wildcatter

A wildcatter is an individual who drillswildcat wells, which are exploration oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields.

The term was used in the early oil industry in western Pennsylvania. Oil wells in unproven territory were called "wild cat" wells from mid-1870, and those who drilled them were called "wild-catters" by 1876. For instance, the TitusvilleHerald noted in 1880: "The discovery of the fluid in New York State was the signal for a general exodus of wildcatters from all parts of the oil country ..."