Abstract: A pair of electrodes is floated on the surface of the oil at the base of a oil well. An AC high frequency current is imposed across the gap in the electrodes to develop microfine carbon which serves as a catalyst for the electrolytic decomposition of petroleum by a plurality of elongated, nonspark-generating field electrodes which develop a high energy field at the base of the well, such elongated electrodes also being immersed in the oil at the base of the well. The developed gases, consisting primarily of hydrogen, serve to both repressurize the well and diffuse within the oil bearing strata to laterally displace sufficient oil to adjoining wells for recovery at such adjacent sites. The combination of repressurizing and by means of low molecular weight gases, effects by diffusion, this lateral displacement of petroleum in recoverable amounts to adjacent pumping sites.