North American drilling activity in 1979
Total drilling activity in North America increased in 1979 compared with 1978. The 59,085 total wells drilled in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is an increase of 5.3% compared with 1978, and the 52,101 mi of footage drilled is a 7.9% increase over 1978. Canada showed an increase of 4.4% in total wells drilled (7489) and a 13.4% increase in the amount of footage drilled (25,687,844). The 277 new-field wildcat discoveries represented a success of 52.7%. The new-field and new-pool wildcats accounted for 73.6% of the 1831 exploratory discoveries. In Canada, 61.3% of the 2986 exploratory wells drilled were successful. Mexico drilled a total of 333 exploratory and development wells, 83 exploratory and 250 development. This number represents a 21.9% decrease compared with 1978. New-field wildcat drilling accounted for 25 discoveries with a success of 50.0%. Overall exploratory success was 36.1%, resulting in 30 discoveries. In the United States total drilling activity increased 5.7% (51,263 wells) and footage drilled increased 5.3% (46,062 mi) compared with 1978. There were 1162 new-field discoveries - an 18.2% increase over 1978. The ratio of dry holes to producers was 4.52:1, and the success was 18.1%, which is substantially higher than the normal 9 to 11% and exceeded last year's success rate by a full 3%. Estimates of ultimate reserves discovered in 1979 in the United States showed a decrease in volume of gas and a decrease in volume of liquids over those discovered in 1978. The new fields in 1979 discovered an estimated 454.62 million bbl of oil and condensate and 4.1 Tcf of gas. However, 1979 production remains significatly greater than the amount found.
- Research Organization:
- Chevron USA Inc., San Francisco, CA
- OSTI ID:
- 6737533
- Journal Information:
- Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 64:9
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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North American drilling activity in 1975. [Statistical data on number of wells drilled and total footage of these wells in U. S. , provinces of Canada, and geologic provinces in Mexico]
Drilling activity in North America during 1980
Related Subjects
CANADA
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
MEXICO
EXPLORATION
USA
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
RESERVES
WELL DRILLING
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DRILLING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
INDUSTRY
LATIN AMERICA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
RESOURCES
020200* - Petroleum- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production