Oil springs gushing from layers of rocks more than 10 million years old, in Beciu village, Scortoasa commune from Buzau county, have recently been transformed into a tourist attraction of the Buzau Land UNESCO Global Geopark, after the natural phenomenon had previously been reported to the authorities as an environmental accident.

A rare geological phenomenon both in Romania and in Europe takes place in the area of Scortoasa commune. It is a natural oil outcrop in Beciu village, where oil spectacularly comes to the surface in a crude state.

'This phenomenon is more than just a natural curiosity. It is living proof of the geological richness of the Curvature Sub-Carpathians, a natural heritage that deserves to be protected, studied and responsibly valorised. The oil outcrop in Beciu is part of our local identity, a natural heritage that we pass on to future generations. Scortoasa Town Hall, in partnership with environmental protection and geological specialists from the Buzau Land UNESCO Global Geopark, is closely monitoring the evolution of the phenomenon, making sure that it does not pose any risks to the community. At the same time, we want to integrate this site in a larger project to promote geological and ecological tourism in the area, together with attractions such as the mud volcanoes of Beciu, Paclele Mari si Mici/Large and Small Mud Volcanoes, the Living Fire or the Trovants of Ulmet,' informs the Town Hall of Scortoasa.

According to local authorities, the oil springs initially raised concerns, with specialists being alerted to the possibility of an environmental accident in the area, given the commune's history of close ties with the exploitation of oil. Later, after some research, it turned out that the oil had come to the surface due to a natural phenomenon.

'The development of the oil springs was carried out under the guidance of the Buzau Land Association, initially following a number of complaints about an environmental accident, but which was proved after research by OMV Petrom and Environmental Agency specialists that it is in fact a natural phenomenon, an outcrop that has been occurring since ancient times and which I believe should have been valorised. This was the place where the locals used to come and make small pits where oil was accumulating and over time they used it to light fires and treat animal diseases. The oil has reached the surface of the ground by itself, helped by natural gas, it is a phenomenon similar to that of the mud volcanoes, except that there it meets water and sandy clay, here it is the oil that natural gas brings to the surface of the earth. Without spoiling the specificity of the area, we have tried to make slight arrangements so that tourists can get there easily and enjoy the beauty of the area. The phenomenon takes place over an area of about 100 square metres. Tourists who come here, bearing in mind that it is a flammable place, must be careful,' the mayor of Scortoasa, Vasile Sacuiu, told AGERPRES.

The Scortoasa area - in particular Beciu village - has a long history of extracting oil. The commune currently has no water or sewage system, but locals dig wells at shallow enough depths to avoid finding oil.

'In the area of the Buzau Land Geopark, especially in the southern part where we have the communes of Berca, Scortoasa, Beceni, there have always been oil reserves. In medieval times people used to extract them from there. The pressurised oil reached the surface, the ground was imbibed and people dug pits to have it accumulate. From there, they used to pick it up and grease the axles, it was used for wounds, for burns, they used to light up the monasteries with oil. We had some of the biggest exploitations in Romania, at least in Beciu where the oil springs have now emerged. Last week we built a stone path, we also have a wooden bridge, panels telling the story of oil exploitation in the area, we have a new site that looks very good and can be visited as part of a one-day tour, when you go to the Large and Small Mud Volcanoes where there is the highest mud volcano in Europe, then on the way you see the oil springs and the Boilers from Beciu. At Vulcani we shouldn't light a fire because there is methane gas, the springs burn,' Razvan-Gabriel Popa, manager of the Buzau Land UNESCO Global Geopark, told AGERPRES.

Experts advise tourists to visit the oil springs in the afternoon, when they reflect different colours, but also to keep in mind that they are not allowed to light any source of fire to avoid an accident.

'It's a totally natural phenomenon, there are still oil deposits that accumulate over time and then come to the surface. For us, it's a source of tourism, in how many areas can one see oil springs, it's something unique and we said let's tap into it. The oil itself is like an earth macerate, it accumulates in organic matter on the seabed, especially plankton, it is covered under sediments, in an oxygen-depleted environment, it slowly turns into oil or gas, depending on the depth or temperature. Gas comes at greater depths, oil at shallower depths and takes millions of years to form. The rocks in which these reserves are found are, let's say, around 10 million years old roughly speaking, it is an ancient liquid that was formed over millions of years. They also exist in the Colti area, but the ones at Beciu are the most spectacular. The best time to visit them is at midday because when the sun shines you can see different shades of red, blue and green,' emphasises Razvan Popa.

Buzau county is, as matter of fact, recognised for its oil industry. Today a historical monument, the Sarata-Monteoru Oil Mine is the oldest oil exploitation in the county (second half of the 19th century) and a rarity in Europe and the world, with wells dug at depths of 240 - 320 metres and a system for exploiting oil deposits using mining methods. In 1923 oil was still being extracted through wells, and since 1925 by tunneling, a method still used today. Since 1931, horizontal wells have been drilled from these galleries. The oil flowed in the galleries to the main well from where, with a pump, it was pushed to the surface. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Florin Zafiu; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)