1938, a natural gas well blew out in Bayliss, CA during drilling operations.
The derrick and associated machinery went down the crater.  
I recall my father talking about this event.
I was looking at the internet and found the following.

Notice the Caterpillar Sixty - the workhorse in those days.  

digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/record/131231#...85%2C-1%2C1060%2C800

 

Wow! wonder if they just let it blow out till it quit? Man! can you imagine what the environmentalist of today would be saying?, lol

Rome,
I can not find anything beyond a few items on the internet - one article said it blew for 23 days!
In the pictures - you can see a steam boiler being pulled from the remains of the operation.
From what my father said years ago - it was still bubbling in places. I believe the crater was finally filled but I have never been to it.

There was another big blow-out on SR 162 between Willows and Glenn Ca. A friend (now passed) was a driller at that time and worked it, they drilled a second hole to intercept the original, pumped mud for several weeks. Last I had heard, there was still a leak in the surrounding area.

Of all the well sites, Caterpillar played a huge part - from building the roads and pads to working the disasters.

 

Here is a great photo of a Sixty working in the oil field. 

Great photo clarity.