Grozny oil field was one of the largest oil-industrial regions in the territory of the Russian Empire and then the USSR.
Oil seeps to the surface of the earth in the North Caucasus were noticed long before the beginning of the industrial development of oil fields on the slopes of the relatively low Tersky and Sunzhensky ridges. Since ancient times, local residents have collected oil here, which was used for household needs, medical and military purposes. They lubricated the axes of the supply with oil, treated people and animals, burned it in lamps, etc. In the 19th century, a whole group of deposits was found on the Grozny Range. Oil was extracted from wells no deeper than two arshins, from which it was simply scooped out with a bucket. Since 1811, oil wells have been farmed out. Such a farmer was originally the Mozdok Regiment, and since 1838, all oil sources have become the property of the Caucasian line troops. This army rented oil wells to merchant farmers, wealthy Cossacks, and other entrepreneurs. From 1833 to 1860, about 140 thousand pounds of oil were mastered in this way.[1]
Oil production, which at that time was carried out by artisanal methods, peaked in 1885 at 77,000 poods (1 pood = 16.3 kg). Scientists have undertaken a serious study of Grozny oil. Among them was the outstanding Russian chemist, D. I. Mendeleev. The industrial development of the Grozny oil region began. In 1892, 450,000 barrels of oil were produced. Grozny fisheries occupied second place in terms of productivity in the country.[2]