wildcatting
Risky oil exploration
Wildcatting is drilling for oil or gas in unproven territory—areas without established reserves.
The term captures the speculative, high-risk nature of the venture: most wildcat wells come up dry, but a strike can be enormously profitable.
By extension, wildcatting describes any risky entrepreneurial venture into unexplored territory: He made his fortune wildcatting in West Texas.
Stake on uncertain outcome
- riskPossibility of harm
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- ventureRisky new undertaking
uncertainty · speculative · long shot · jackpot · strike · bonanza · risk-taker · promoter
Searching for mineral wealth
- frontierEdge of settlement
- unchartedNot yet documented
- discoveryAct of finding something
- leaseTemporary use contract
acreage · landman · mineral rights · scout · mapping · geology · reconnaissance · remote
Equipment arrangement or vehicle
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
- drillbitRotating hole-making implement
- boreholeDrilled underground passage
- casingEnclosing cover or frame
completion · roughneck · dry hole · gusher · blowout · rotary · perforation · wellhead
Not officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- unlicensedWithout official permit
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- unofficialNot formally recognized
unlawful · guerrilla · outlaw · bootleg · clandestine · underground · black-market · illicit
gamble
Stake on uncertain outcome
- riskPossibility of harm
- high-stakesInvolving significant consequences
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
venture · uncertainty · speculative · long shot · jackpot · strike · bonanza · risk-taker · promoter
prospecting
Searching for mineral wealth
lease · acreage · landman · mineral rights · scout · mapping · geology · reconnaissance · remote · venture
rig
Equipment arrangement or vehicle
- derrickMovable boom apparatus
- drillbitRotating hole-making implement
- boreholeDrilled underground passage
casing · completion · roughneck · dry hole · gusher · blowout · rotary · perforation · wellhead · kelly
unsanctioned
Not officially permitted
- illegalForbidden by statute
- unlicensedWithout official permit
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
unofficial · unlawful · guerrilla · outlaw · bootleg · clandestine · underground · black-market · illicit · prohibited
- oil industrypetroleum, oil fields, oil well, oil rig, oil production
- resource explorationprospecting, drilling, geological survey, core sampling, bore holes
wildcattingsafe bet
Likely winning wager
sure thing · playing it safe · hedging · diversification · capital preservation
wildcattingrisk aversion
Preference for certainty
due diligence · guaranteed returns · playing it safe · hedging
wildcattingcollective bargaining
Joint worker-employer talks
wildcat, wildcats, wildcat strike, wildcatters, wildcatter, wildcatted