North American drilling activity in 1974

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1975 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6919724

Wagner, F J

Total drilling activity in North America increased in 1974 compared with 1973. The 37,502 total wells drilled in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is an increase of 14.9% compared with 1973, and the 32,405 miles of footage drilled is a 7.3% increase over 1973. Canada showed a decrease in drilling activity, both in the number of wells drilled and in the total footage. The 175 new-field wildcat discoveries accounted for a 25.7% success, an all-time high. Exploratory success in Canada was 36.4% of the 1,754 exploratory wells drilled. Mexico in 1974 drilled 408 wells, exploratory and development. This number was a 3% decrease compared with 1973. Overall exploratory success was 21%, resulting in 19 discoveries, 9 of which were in the Salina Basin. For the U.S., drilling activity increased 19.2%, and footage drilled increased 10.2%, compared with 1973. The new-field discoveries, 805, were the highest since 1956. The ratio of dry holes to producers was the lowest in history--6.02:1, and inversely the success was the highest--14.24%, which is substantially higher than the normal 9 to 11%.

• Research Organization: Skelly Oil Co.
• OSTI ID: 6919724
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Vol. 59:8; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CANADA
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPLORATORY WELLS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
LATIN AMERICA
MEXICO
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRODUCTION
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCES
USA
WELL DRILLING
WELLS