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Wildcatting: meaning, definitions and examples

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wildcatting

 

[ ˈwʌɪldˌkætɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

oil exploration

Wildcatting refers to the practice of drilling for oil or gas in areas where it has not been discovered before. This type of exploration is typically high-risk, as it involves significant investment without guaranteed results. Wildcatting can lead to the discovery of new oil reserves or, conversely, it may result in failure and financial loss.

Synonyms

exploratory drilling, risk drilling

Examples of usage

  • The company has invested heavily in wildcatting in the remote regions.
  • Many small firms engage in wildcatting to find new oil fields.
  • Wildcatting has reshaped the energy landscape in the past decade.

Translations

Translations of the word "wildcatting" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exploração de petróleo em áreas não concessionadas

🇮🇳 जंगली खुदाई

🇩🇪 Wildcatting

🇮🇩 pengeboran liar

🇺🇦 експлуатація диких свердловин

🇵🇱 dzikie wiercenie

🇯🇵 ワイルドキャッティング

🇫🇷 wildcatting

🇪🇸 wildcatting

🇹🇷 wildcatting

🇰🇷 와일드캐팅

🇸🇦 التنقيب العشوائي

🇨🇿 wildcatting

🇸🇰 wildcatting

🇨🇳 野猫钻探

🇸🇮 wildcatting

🇮🇸 villikettir

🇰🇿 жабайы бұрғылау

🇬🇪 ველური ძებნა

🇦🇿 vəhşi qazma

🇲🇽 wildcatting

Word origin

The term 'wildcatting' is believed to have originated in the early 20th century during the oil boom in the United States. It combines the word 'wildcat,' which was used to describe cats living in the wild, implying danger and unpredictability, with 'drilling' to denote the act of searching for oil. The practice emerged as entrepreneurs and oil companies sought to exploit uncharted territories where oil reserves were assumed to exist. As technology and geology evolved, wildcatting became associated with independent oil drillers who took risks to stake their claims, often in less-regulated areas. The term reflects not only the physical act of drilling but also the adventurous and speculative nature of the industry during that era.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,731, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.