Ep 4 | Inside the Illinois Basin: The 110-Year-Old Oil Well Still Producing Today (w/ Neil McCrary)

In this episode of The LandCast, Brandon and Jeremy sit down with Neil McCrary, owner of Scout Check Report, one of the Illinois Basin’s longest-running oil and gas publications.Neil shares his unique journey from horse racing at Churchill Downs to managing oil production operations and ultimately purchasing Scout Check in 2024. The conversation explores the rich history of oil production in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, including the story of a 110-year-old Indiana oil well that is still producing today.They discuss how Scout Check tracks drilling activity across the Illinois Basin, the evolution of oil scouting from binoculars and courthouse records to modern technology, and the challenges of reporting accurate industry information in a rapidly changing energy landscape.Neil also offers his perspective on the current state of the Illinois Basin, industry consolidation, oil prices, and why he remains optimistic about the region’s future.