On August 27, 1859, the first successful US oil well was drilled near Titusville, Pennsylvania by Edward Drake. He pioneered the use of pipes to drill oil. He devised the idea to drive a pipe into the ground to prevent the drill hole from collapsing. Until then, oil production was limited to collecting surface oil. The ability to drill for oil launched the oil industry. The drilling of Drake’s first well was slow, only progressing about three feet per day. Crowds would gather and jeer at his well, calling it “Drake’s Folly.” He drilled down to a depth of 69.5 feet (21 m) before striking oil, which was then hand pumped out of the well.