Oil Operations
Overview
For nearly a century, Long Beach has been home to one of the largest urban oil fields in the United States. Beneath the harbor, beneath the port, and beneath four palm-lined artificial islands, the Wilmington Oil Field has helped fund City services, support thousands of local jobs, and keep the ground beneath Long Beach from sinking.
The City of Long Beach, through its Energy & Environmental Services Department, serves as the operator of this field. Revenue from oil operations goes directly to public services, infrastructure, and the community's long-term benefit.
These pages tell the full story: how the field was discovered, how it works today, and how the City is planning thoughtfully for the future.
See The Islands For Yourself
The THUMS Islands in Long Beach Harbor are one of California’s most remarkable pieces of hidden infrastructure. Watch Huell Howser explore them.
Our Story: What We've Done
Long Beach was not always a place where oil islands stood quietly in the harbor. The story behind them spans decades of discovery, innovation, and legislation. Here is how one of the nation’s most remarkable urban oilfields came to be.
How It All Began
Building The Islands
Stopping Subsidence
How We Operate: What We're Doing
The Wilmington Oil Field is one of the most complex urban oilfields in the world. It operates beneath a working port, beneath miles of city streets, and alongside some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the country. Here is a look at how it all works.
Islands & Facilities
Underground Science
Keeping Ground Stable
Safety & Environment
Planning & Partnerships
What's Next: Where We're Headed
Long Beach has operated this field responsibly for nearly a century. The questions the City is working through now are just as consequential as any that came before: how much longer will the field produce, what happens when it stops, and what comes next for some very unusual pieces of waterfront property?
Field Life Outlook
After the Last Drop
What Happens to the Islands
