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]

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7340512

Johnston, R R

Total drilling activity in North America increased in 1975 compared with 1974. The 43,692 total wells drilled in the United States, Canada, and Mexico is an increase of 16.5 percent compared with 1974, and the 36,962 mi of footage drilled is a 14.1 percent increase over 1974. Canada showed an increase of 1 percent in total wells drilled (4,242) but a 4.4 percent decrease in the amount of footage drilled (13,928,589). The 142 new-field wildcat discoveries accounted for a 27.3 percent success, an all-time high. Of these discoveries, 112 were in Alberta and 15 were in Saskatchewan. The new-field wildcats and new-pool wildcats accounted for 495 of the 667 exploratory discoveries. Exploratory success in Canada was 40.4 percent of the 1,649 exploratory wells drilled. Mexico in 1975 drilled 353 wells, exploratory and development. This was a 13.5 percent decrease compared with 1974. Of the total wells, 87 were exploratory and 266 were development. New-field wildcat drilling accounted for 6 discoveries and a success of 11 percent. Overall exploratory success was 17 percent, resulting in 13 discoveries, 8 of which were in the Salina basin. For the United States, drilling activity increased 18.8 percent, and footage drilled increased 16.4 percent, compared with 1974. The new-field discoveries, 876, were the highest since 1956. The ratio of dry holes to producers was the lowest in history, 596:1, and inversely the success was the highest, 14.35, which is substantially higher than the normal 9.11 percent. Estimates of ultimate reserves discovered in 1975 in the United States showed an increase in volume over that discovered in 1974. The new fields in 1975 discovered an estimated 579.9 million BO and condensate and 6.3 TCFG. However, 1975 production still remains significantly greater than the amount found.

• Research Organization: Standard Oil Company of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 7340512
• Journal Information: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull.; (United States) Vol. 60:8; ISSN AAPGB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
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& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
CANADA
DATA COMPILATION
DRILLING
EXPLORATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MEXICO
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
RESOURCES
USA
WELL DRILLING
WELLS