When you envision the Los Angeles area in your head, what images come to mind? Probably something like sunny beaches, medically enhanced facial features, and since you're reading Jalopnik, a vibrant car culture. Unbeknownst to many, though, the region hides a much different, dirtier secret, often in plain sight: oil and gas extraction and refinement. In fact, LA once produced around a quarter of the world's oil, and it's currently home to the largest refinery on the west coast. As Los Angeles exploded in size, real estate increasingly outcompeted oil production, and many wells were depleted, abandoned, or concealed to make way for the city's famous sprawl.