production in the western panhandle began with the discovery of the jay field in june 1970. jay is the largest oil field discovered in north america since the discovery of the giant prudhoe bay oil field on the alaskan north slope in 1968. since then, six more oil fields have been discovered in the western panhandle of florida. north florida has dominated florida oil production since the discovery of the jay field. north florida oil fields account for 83 percent of the state’s production, with the jay field alone producing 71 percent.