Oil and gas developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast Onshore in 1984

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · AAPG Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6480493

Borowski, W S; Wilson, D H

A decrease in operating and exploration costs prompted a rise in drilling, leasing, and geophysical activity in the south Louisiana onshore region in 1984. However, because of a persistent gas surplus and uncertain oil prices, operators adopted a conservative strategy for reserve replacement that included an increase in development drilling, an acceleration of enhanced oil recovery projects, and a concentration of extension and exploration drilling in the established Miocene and Oligocene trends. Operators drilled 1,447 wells in 1984, an increase of 15% over the 1,230 wells drilled in 1983. Total footage also rose from 13,453,752 to 15,324,733 ft. Oil companies drilled 245 wildcats, 302 other exploratory tests, and 900 development wells (development drilling increasing 18%). Seven newfield discovery wells were completed in 1984, of which 4 produced from Wilcox (Eocene) sandstones, 2 were perforated in the Oligocene, and 1 well was completed in the Austin Chalk (Cretaceous). There were 36 significant extensions, of which 33 found production in rocks of Miocene and Oligocene age. Leasing activity increased 10% to 885,903 ac. This level is far below that of 1980, 1981, and 1982 when more than 1 million ac were leased each year. Leasing activity was heaviest in Lafourche, St. Tammany, Vermilion, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes. Geophysical activity also had a slight increase of 4% in 1984. A total of 1,259 crew-weeks of seismic shooting was recorded as compared to 1,212 crew-weeks in 1983. Cameron, St. Martin, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, and Vermilion Parishes recorded the highest levels of geophysical activity.

• Research Organization: Atlantic Richfield Company, Lafayette, Louisiana
• OSTI ID: 6480493
• Journal Information: AAPG Bull.; (United States), Vol. 69:10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
LOUISIANA
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
EXPLOITATION
EXPLORATION
EXPLORATORY WELLS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GULF COAST
LAND LEASING
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ONSHORE SITES
WELL DRILLING
DRILLING
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LEASING
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
SURVEYS
USA
WELLS
020000* - Petroleum
030000 - Natural Gas
294002 - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas