“Borislav Oil Fields” collection has gathered the photographs from oil and mineral wax fields of the beginning of the 20th century made in the small place called Borislav. According to the old sources “rock oil”, “kipyachka”, i.e. oil, was known in Galichina as far back as the 13th century. There are many documentary proofs of oil being used as a medicine and liquid for cart’s wheels oiling during the following ages. That is why since long ago hundreds of mineshafts which afterwards have turned into the first oil wells grew on the lands of Borislav.  
Borislav is a town in Lvov region in the Ukraine, and that was just in Western Ukraine where they started to mine oil in 1771, ahead of everyone else. The oil products distillation method was also invented here and has led to the beginning of large scale oil production. The raw stock was even exported to the neighbor countries. 
 “Ropa” – as the locals called the oil – was leaking through the soil in the kitchen gardens of the locals, making it impossible to cultivate land for centuries in such villages as Ripnoe, Ropitsy, Rosyanki and others. Many of the ponds and small rivers were covered with red greasy oil spots. That is why it was not a surprise to anyone when black oily liquid was found at a depth of 25 meters in one of the largest salt-mines of the region. Oil production development has begun. At the end of 19th century Galichina was on the third place in production volume after Russia and the USA.  
1907-1913 were the years of the highest production of “the valuable treasure” of all times, when Borislav gave 5% of total world production. The most unique derrick in the oil history – “Oil city” derrick – was holed in 1908. It was 1016 meters deep and gave 3000 tons of oil and 900 000 m3 of gas daily. 
At the same time Borislav oil fields were always on fire which has led to great human losses. Accidents, severe injuries and deaths were quite common as industrial refining safety measures were kept on a very low level. That is why at those times Borislav was called “the town of cripples”. 
And now we introduce it to you – Borislav – the industrial centre famous for producing and refining oil, ozocerite (earth wax) and gas. 


 

Borislav. Tyshkevich oil field. Beginning of the 20th century	Borislav. Oil-derricks near the stubble-fields. Beginning of the 20th century	Borislav. Korpatski oil field. Beginning of the 20th century
Borislav. Joint-stock association oil field. Beginning of the 20th century	Borislav. Oil tank construction. Photo by V. Russ, beginning of the 20th century	Borislav. Oil derricks valley view. Beginning of the 20th century