wildcatted
Sought oil blindly
Wildcatted is the past tense of wildcat, meaning to drill exploratory oil or gas wells in unproven territory—areas without established reserves.
The term comes from the speculative, risky nature of such ventures: They wildcatted across West Texas in the 1920s.
By extension, it can describe any speculative or unauthorized venture.
Based on conjecture
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- oilfieldUnderground hydrocarbon reserve area
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
extraction · gusher · leasehold · prospector · exploration · boomtown · roughneck · driller
Involving possible harm
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
- ventureRisky new undertaking
- uncertainNot firmly known
- precariousDangerously insecure
chancy · dicey · hazardous · volatile · adventurous · bold · daring · reckless
Not officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- unlicensedWithout official permit
- unofficialNot formally recognized
unsanctioned · bootleg · outlaw · illicit · underground · maverick · renegade · unsupervised
speculative
Based on conjecture
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- oilfieldUnderground hydrocarbon reserve area
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
petroleum · extraction · gusher · leasehold · prospector · exploration · boomtown · roughneck · driller · dry hole
risky
Involving possible harm
precarious · chancy · dicey · hazardous · volatile · adventurous · bold · daring · reckless · longshot
unsanctioned
Not officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- unlicensedWithout official permit
unofficial · unsanctioned · bootleg · outlaw · illicit · underground · maverick · renegade · unsupervised · unregulated