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By M. C. Cheney

The active development of the vast East Texas oil field, the attendant effects of the rapidly increasing flow from its prolific wells and the efforts to bring order out of chaos precluded or dwarfed other oil development in Texas during 1931. In a paper by Dr. F. H. Lahee1 presented at the October, 1931, meeting, the early history of the East Texas oil field is described and the sequence of events in connection with its development and efforts to control its production up to Sept. 25 is narrated. At that time the Railroad Commission of the state reduced the production of the field to a maximum of 400,000 bbl. per day by restricting the allowable daily production per well to 185 bbl. By further reduction in the daily production per well to 100 bbl., the field was held below that maximum figure during the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, as a result of an injunction against the Railroad Commission, its authority in the field was superseded on Oct. 13 by the Governor of the state, and after that date production was controlled directly by his orders issued under authority of martial law. Suits to contest this authority were brought in the Federal courts and were pending at the close of the year. On March 5, 1931, as a result of the East Texas production, posted prices for Mid-Continent 40' A.P.I. crude slumped from $1.07 to $0.67. As East Texas production continued to mount, posted prices in East Texas were reduced to $0.37 on June 3 and $0.22 on July 8, although in that field most of the oil was sold for much less, bringing the producer and royalty owner as low as $0.025 per barrel. Northeast Texas To the information contained in Dr. Lahee's paper, it can now be added that the East Texas field has produced over 105,000,000 bbl. and registered about 3700 successful completions during 1931. There may be some merit to the recent prediction that a large part of the field will have passed its flowing period by the middle of 1932 unless

Jan 1, 1932

By H. E. Crum, W. E. Hubbard

This review covers the northern 32 counties of the Texas Panhandle, an area 180 miles square. The westerly three-fourths of the district lies wholly within that great area known as the Llano Estacado or "staked plains." Six of the counties produce oil and gas and three produce gas alone. All of the production is associated with the Amarillo arch, a huge anticline superimposed upon a buried mountain range which is undoubtedly a continuation of the Wichitas of southwestern Oklahoma. Oil Production The production of the Texas Panhandle up to Jan. 1,1930, was slightly over 157 million barrels, 90 per cent. of which came from Hutchinson and Gray counties. About 33,000,000 bbl. was produced during 1930. Though this was about 9 per cent. above the 1929 production, it was over 8,000,000 bbl. less than was produced during the peak year, 1928. The present daily production is slightly over 40,000 bbl., which is the allowable production under state-wide proration. The assumed potential for the purpose of proration is 124,500 bbl. and the actual capacity of the wells probably would be in the neighborhood of 100,000 barrels. The total initial production of the oil wells completed in 1930 was 157,289 bbl. from 308 wells, or 511 bbl. per well, as compared to a 734-bbl. average from the 350 oil wells drilled during the preceding year. The completions in Gray County numbered 232, with an average initial of 614 barrels. Completions During 1930, 526 wells were completed in the Panhandle as compared to a total of 503 during 1929. Of the year's completions, 308 were oil wells, 169 produced gas and 49 were dry holes. Of the 3027 wells drilled in the Panhandle to date, 2780 have produced oil, gas or both, making the ratio of dry holes to producers about 1:11.3. Ignoring the 63 dry holes drilled in nonproductive counties, the ratio becomes 184:2780 or 1:15.1 which is slightly less favorable than that which obtained at the end of 1929.

Jan 1, 1931

By M. G. Cheney

The purpose of this paper is to review the more important developments in the production of petroleum during 1930 in Texas, excluding the Panhandle and Gulf Coast districts, giving emphasis to trends rather than to statistics. Outstanding Developments Aside from increasing curtailment of drilling operations and general prorating of production by state authority the most noteworthy developments for the year appear to have been: 1. Demonstrations of the fictitiousness of potentials as shown first by Darst Creek pool, rated at 180,000 bbl. and having actually 78,000 bbl. daily, and especially by the Hendricks pool of Winkler County, with potential of about 1,000,000 bbl. daily in mid-year and production of only 52,000 bbl. daily when opened to continuous full production in December. 2. Rapid development of the Darst Creek pool under competitive drilling. 3. Orderly and highly successful development of the Van pool under unit operation. 4. Failure of several highly rated structures southwest and northeast of Van. 5. Extension of the deep Simpson production at Big Lake and increased interest in these pre-Mississippian pays in North Central Texas and West Texas. 6. Discovery of prolific wells in northwest Rusk County from sands of Upper Cretaceous age, portending a rapid and extensive development campaign around the northwest margin of the Sabine uplift. North Central Texas It appears logical to discuss the new developments by districts as set out by the American Petroleum Institute, but North Texas and West Central Texas districts will be treated together. Pre-Mississippian,.—The pre-Mississippian beds, which in previous years yielded a few large wells in Young, Cooke and Callahan counties,

Jan 1, 1931

By L. P. Teas

Although 1930 has been a year of stagnation, proration and curtailment, the Gulf Coast has measured up to its tradition in the matter of interesting and significant discoveries. Only 2 domes and 7 new structural areas were brought into the producing column in 1930, whereas, in 1929, 13 domes and one structure were added to this list, yet a total of 14 new producing horizons were proved on various domes and structures. On 5 domes new flanks were successfully tested for commercial production. The year 1930 has shown at Barber's Hill that oil in commercial quantities may exist below salt or cap. Numerous wells have been drilled through cap, or even salt itself, into good producing sands. The past year has been particularly notable in the interest and in the number of deep holes drilled. Two wells have gone below 8000 ft. in each of the states of Texas and Louisiana, and in the two states together 14 wells have gone below 7000 ft At the beginning of the year only one well was producing below 6000 ft. in coastal Texas, while at its end, 19 wells were producing or had produced. Geophysical discoveries and activity on the Coast have waned and this type of work has moved further inland. The peaks of production at Pettus, Barber's Hill, Raccoon Bend, Refugio, Orchard and at Humble, in Texas; and at Lake Barre, Port Barre, Black Bayou, White Castle and Vinton in Louisiana, were seen this year. These were new peaks for Humble and Vinton, of course, these fields having previously gone through periods of peak flank production. In Table 1 the completions listed are for the entire month of December in both years. It is remarkable that in 1930, a year of overproduction and proration, there were actually more wildcat operations at its end than at the end of 1929; but it is gratifying that the operations in the proven fields were exactly one-half what they had been at the end of 1929. The price of A grade coastal crude, or oil below 25" Bé., has been cut from $1.30 at the beginning of the year to $1.00 at its close; and B grade, or oil above 25o Bé., has been reduced from a price range of $1.15 to $1.63 down to a range of from $0.75 to $1.22. In spite of these reductions there has been no proration program on the Coast. Systematic

Jan 1, 1931

By L. P. Teas

The year 1931 has been one of unusual interest in Gulf Coast petroleum development, not so much because of the number of new prospects discovered, for apparently none of any present distinction have been found, but because of the discovery of so many new oil fields and the proving of so many old prospects. During the year 10 new oil fields have been found on the Coast; five in Louisiana and five in Texas. Two suspected salt domes were proven by the drill. Production dropped from a daily average of 192,000 to 162,670 bbl., or an average of 58 bbl. for each producing well, and active operations from 189 to 119. During 1931 the Coast produced approximately 48,600,000 bbl., or 44 per cent less than in 1930, when 86,500,000 bbl. were produced. The daily return at the beginning of the year was $192,000 and at the end only $126,780, the price having dropped from $1 for A grade and a range of $0.75 to $1.22 for B grade to a price range of 70 to 86c, or an average of 78c $ per barrel at the end of 1931. The average Coastal well produced 17,400 bbl. of oil during 1931. During the year development in the old fields has continued active at Barber's Hill only, although some work is in progress at Humble, Pierce Junction, Refugio and Pettus. Clear Lake is active but the large ownerships will prevent the "boom" type of field. Production is being held fairly steady at Barber's Hill and Pierce Junction, but has declined rapidly during the year at Refugio, Humble, and to a lesser degree at Pettus. The 6000-ft. production at Barber's Hill has shown a decided drop during the year and has not measured up to expectations.

Jan 1, 1932

By H. Vance

In 1932, as in 1931, the East Texas area outside the Gulf Coast exerted ' its influence over the entire petroleum industry. Practically 60 per cent of the oil wells completed in the United States during 1932 were in this area, development being chiefly confined to the East Texas oil field in Upshur, Gregg, Rusk, Smith and Cherokee counties. This East Texas area is geologically an interior salt dome basin, along the western edge of which are located the fault line fields as represented by Mexia and Powell. Production occurs on salt domes in the interior of the basin as represented by Boggy Creek and possibly Van, although no salt has actually been discovered in drilling at Van. Shore line conditions on the east side of this basin along the flanks of the Sabine uplift have been responsible for the East Texas oil field. Many known salt domes in the center of this basin have been tested but as yet have failed to produce oil in commercial quantities. The main producing horizon throughout the area is lowermost upper Cretaceous and is known locally as the Woodbine sand. The East Texas Oil Field Development.—Approximately 6000 producing wells were completed during the year in the East Texas oil field. No accurate estimate of the total initial production of these wells is available because few initial production tests were made as the wells were completed. The writer estimates the average initial production of these completed wells at 2500 bbl. per day while flowing wide open through tubing. Based on this estimate, the total initial production of the wells completed during the year is 15,000,000 barrels. At the close of 1932 there were approximately 9500 completed wells in the East Texas field. Of this number 176 were without pipe line connections. The oil produced from these unconnected wells could be marketed for $0.30 per barrel while the price paid for oil run from the connected wells was $0.75 per barrel.

Jan 1, 1933

By L. C. Aycock, J. Hunter, P. M. Lyons

In view of the unfavorable discovery trend that has set in during the past few years, it seems permissible to infer that the large, more easily found crude reserves in Louisiana are now known. Without doubt, many new producing areas will be located, but in the light of development during the past few years the majority of new areas probably will be found at greater depths and from relatively poorer sands. f Although sufficient reserves exist in Louisiana to last at the present rate of production for a considerable period, additional reserves must be found in more intensive development of the presently known structures. In order to ensure the greatest ultimate recovery from such structures, the most advanced technical methods must be employed in their exploitation. Wherever possible, cycling and repressuring plants should be installed. 'here are presently in Louisiana, especially in south Louisiana, a great many fields that contain gas-condensate reservoirs. These reservoirs cannot be produced for their liquid hydrocarbon content under present conditions without wasting an enormous quantity of gas and creating underground waste. Although some of these reservoirs are being produced, such production must be considered in the nature of a salvage operation rather than as a sound economic proposition. Such reservoirs, however, can become profitable ven- tures through the use of cycling and repressuring plants. Cycling operations now operating in Louisiana have increased the ultimate recovery from gas-condensate reservoirs anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent. Cycling operations will also provide a considerable reserve of gas, without which Louisiana cannot hope to develop any program of industrialization. During the past year, Louisiana attained the rank of third among the oil-producing states of this country. With a proper program of exploitation and development, and with emphasis on conservation, Louisiana can maintain this position for a great many years. Production On Dec. 31, 1943, oil and/or gas were being. produced in 52 parishes, or 81 per cent of all the parishes in the state. Thirty-three of the parishes produced oil and gas, 14 produced oil, and 5 produced solely gas. Tensas Parish in north Louisiana and Assumption Parish in south Louisiana formerly contained no producing fields but during 1943 joined the ranks of the producing parishes. Twenty-three new fields, including one rediscovery, were found during 1943-—a rate of discovery almost comparable to that of the preceding year. Eleven of these new discoveries were either gas or gas-condensate fields. Thus, the trend of development in finding new reserves was also comparable to that of 1942. Many reasons of considerable merit have been advanced to account for the discouraging lack of crude-oil reserves found during the past year. None are, however, completely satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1944

By J. Hunter, P. M. Lyons, L. C. Aycock

In view of the unfavorable discovery trend that has set in during the past few years, it seems permissible to infer that the large, more easily found crude reserves in Louisiana are now known. Without doubt, many new producing areas will be located, but in the light of development during the past few years the majority of new areas probably will be found at greater depths and from relatively poorer sands. f Although sufficient reserves exist in Louisiana to last at the present rate of production for a considerable period, additional reserves must be found in more intensive development of the presently known structures. In order to ensure the greatest ultimate recovery from such structures, the most advanced technical methods must be employed in their exploitation. Wherever possible, cycling and repressuring plants should be installed. 'here are presently in Louisiana, especially in south Louisiana, a great many fields that contain gas-condensate reservoirs. These reservoirs cannot be produced for their liquid hydrocarbon content under present conditions without wasting an enormous quantity of gas and creating underground waste. Although some of these reservoirs are being produced, such production must be considered in the nature of a salvage operation rather than as a sound economic proposition. Such reservoirs, however, can become profitable ven- tures through the use of cycling and repressuring plants. Cycling operations now operating in Louisiana have increased the ultimate recovery from gas-condensate reservoirs anywhere from 10 to 30 per cent. Cycling operations will also provide a considerable reserve of gas, without which Louisiana cannot hope to develop any program of industrialization. During the past year, Louisiana attained the rank of third among the oil-producing states of this country. With a proper program of exploitation and development, and with emphasis on conservation, Louisiana can maintain this position for a great many years. Production On Dec. 31, 1943, oil and/or gas were being. produced in 52 parishes, or 81 per cent of all the parishes in the state. Thirty-three of the parishes produced oil and gas, 14 produced oil, and 5 produced solely gas. Tensas Parish in north Louisiana and Assumption Parish in south Louisiana formerly contained no producing fields but during 1943 joined the ranks of the producing parishes. Twenty-three new fields, including one rediscovery, were found during 1943-—a rate of discovery almost comparable to that of the preceding year. Eleven of these new discoveries were either gas or gas-condensate fields. Thus, the trend of development in finding new reserves was also comparable to that of 1942. Many reasons of considerable merit have been advanced to account for the discouraging lack of crude-oil reserves found during the past year. None are, however, completely satisfactory.

Jan 1, 1944

By C. J. Bonnecarrere, P. A. Jr. Bloomer, J. Hunter

Since 1941 not more than 15 per cent of aii wildcat wells drilled in Louisiana have been successful. This figure is not too discouraging, especially in view of the fact that during the same period approximately 80 per cent of all wells (average 701 wells per year) drilled in or adjoining producing areas were successfully completed. However, a somewhat discouraging aspect concerning Louisiana's wildcat completions is that in 1942 only 12 out of 20 fields found were oil fields; in 1943, only 13 out of 24; and in 1944, only 8 out of 21. This means that an operator has less than a 50:50 chance of finding an oil field. In other words, it is more likely that he will find a gas-condensate field. This fact has become increasingly evident as the data for each year are compiled and compared. Yet, strangely enough, operators are reluctant to accept this fact and plan accordingly. Certainly they cannot continue to search for oil fields and, for the most part, end with shut-in gas-condensate wells. The reason for shutting in is that there is no immediate and satisfactory market for all the gas being discovered. The solution, and it is a very satisfactory one, as experience in Louisiana has already demonstrated, is cycling. The advantages of this type of operation of gas-condensate fields, especially where the entire field is pooled and unitized, should be self-evident. These advantages will become increasingly more important, especially now that legislatures, regulatory bodies, royalty owners, and others are beginning to realize that "reasonable development" in a field is not indicated by the number of wells completed, but rather by the method of development. To complete a great many wells that can produce at only, partial capacity is waste. Producing hydrocarbons from these wells and not subjecting them to processing by surface operations, in order to recover all liquefiable hydrocarbons, is waste. Permitting bottom-hole pressures to drop or gas-oil ratios to increase because of excessive production is waste. Loss of leases and of wells because of inability to produce or to meet lease obligations is waste. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a reservoir entirely pooled and unitized with a minimum number of completions, but over which there is exerted careful control so as to provide maximum recovery and the processing of all hydrocarbons brought to the surface, is the only logical and reasonable method of developing a gas-condensate field. Oil Production Twenty-one new fields, including three rediscoveries, were found during 1944. Three of these new discoveries—Delhi in northeast Louisiana, Good Hope in southeast Louisiana, and West Tepetate in southwest Louisiana—should add considerably to Louisiana's oil reserves. The other discoveries were either gas condensate or of apparently little consequence. State-wide productioll for 1944 was 1366 million barrels of crude oil and condensate; amounting to about 8.1 per cent of the

Jan 1, 1945

By R. B. Newcombe

Despite abnormal economic conditions and the unhealthy state of the petroleum industry, 1930 closed without any marked decline in total production of oil in the Middle Western States. The most accurate figures available would indicate for this district an output of close to 25,000,000 bbl. for 1930 as compared to 26,000,000 bbl. for 1929. This can be accounted for by the settled nature of a great many of the wells producing in this area and the favorable geographical position, which affords adequate refining and marketing facilities. The only new flush production field discovered in the area was the Legrande oil pool in southeastern Hart County in western Kentucky, where wells up to 1000 bbl. initial have been reported from a shallow depth. Important extensions have been found in a number of central Ohio fields, and activity in the central Michigan area resulted in new pools along the northwest trend of the Mt. Pleasant structure. These new districts, known as the Leaton and Vernon pools, have not yet reached the scope of the Mt. Pleasant field proper, and although the structure is similar, sand conditions are not strictly analogous. Wildcatting was retarded somewhat by the scarcity of market for oil and many important wells were shut down for several months. This has not shown such a profound effect on production as the reticence of operators to drill inside proven locations. The major companies have not been able to dispose of their oil and the smaller operating units are having trouble financing their projects. The result is that oil in sight is not being produced and output is suffering accordingly. Another important effect on production was the introduction of proration by the major crude purchasers and a voluntary shut-down by Kentucky operators. This step became necessary because of the glutting of lake port refineries with Mid-Continent oil, and was not fostered by regulating state bodies, as in the case of the southwestern states. Small refining units have sprung up to meet this situation in a number of instances but they have experienced some difficulty in disposing of their product because of "dumping" tactics from other quarters. New refinery outlets on the Great Lakes and new pipe line connections should tend to alleviate this difficulty during the coming year. The

Jan 1, 1931

By H. F. Smiley, Fred Sehmann

The production of the North Central Texas area comes entirely from the Pennsylvanian section with the exception of one pool in Cooke County and one in Young County where oil has been, produced from the weathered surfaces of Pre-Pennsylvanian peaks overlapped by oil-bearing strata of Pennsylvanian age. In the southern part of the area the Strawn and Bend groups furnish the production, the Strawn sands being the predominating horizons at depths from 1500 to 3000 feet. In the northern part of the area including North Young, Archer, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Clay counties, the Cisco group has produced consistently for nearly 30 years from sands ranging in depth from 700 to 2500 ft. To our knowledge there are 13 separate producing sands in t,he Cisco group ranging from 200 to 1800 ft. in Wichita County. During the past three years, deeper drilling has opened three new producing horizons. A Canyon sand in Central Archer County has produced from 400 to 800 bbl. per well at a depth of 2200 ft.; and in the same pool, owned jointly by the Deep Oil Development Co. and Lindsay Drilling Co., a Strawn sand was found at 3600 ft. which produced 75 bbl. per day. In Southern Wichita County the Bend group has been found productive. A very oolitic sandy lime series from 3675 to 3942 ft. has produced in three wells drilled to date. During the past year the district has been producing under an extreme proration which accounts for the small production figures for 1932, as well as the few drilling activities at the end of the year. Table 1 presents the available drilling and production data compiled by the North Texas Oil and Gas Association.

Jan 1, 1933

By William Victor Vietti

West Texas and New Mexico have been overshadowed by the dcvelopment in East Texas to such an extent that the area has been placed on a settled production basis by most of the operators. Considerable develop-mCnt work on both proven and unproven acreage remains to be carried 011, but the incentive, a ready and profitable market, has been lacking. The main characteristics of the fields in this area are so well known that they are not described again in this paper, which thus resolves itself into a statistical review of the more important production features of the area. Proration has been in effect during the year and has been rigorously applied with the full cooperation of all producers. Proration in West Texas and New Mexico is based in the more productive fields on a potential and acreage distribution of the allowance to the individual wells or acreage units. Potentials are determined generally by a short production test of from 1 to 4 hr.; and the hourly rate is multiplied by 24 to obtain the 24-hr. production or rated potential of the separate wells. The potential values thus set up have been questioned by many production men who are not willing to concede that the instantaneous (hourly) capacity of a well to produce is its potential capacity for a day with all other wells in the pool producing at their capacity. However, the potential of a well determined as above remains its chief rating as a measure of the permeability in place and as an indication of the possible reserve feeding that well. The acreage factor has made it unnecessary to overdevelop properties in order to obtain an allowance proportionate to neighbors who are willing to drill an excessive number of wells on a piece of acreage in the hopes of a quick drainage and a corresponding profit. Proration has resulted in an orderly development of many of the pools in this area on the base as outlined above, resulting in more reasonable spacing of wells and the more even withdrawal of oil and the ensuing expectation of high recoveries. Big Lake.—Production from the shallow or 3000-ft. pay at Big Lake totaled a little more than 3,000,000 bbl. during the year, and we may expect a smaller recovery for 1933. The deep or Ordovician production

Jan 1, 1933

By Henry A. Ley

Kansas ranked fourth on the list of oil-producing states during the year 1930. Progressive statistics show that total production for the year will approximate 42,729,085 bbl. When final figures are compiled for Kansas the production may exceed this estimate, and thereby threaten the all-time record of 43,253,470 bbl. in 1918. Throughout the year the cumulative volume of potential drilled-up production has been increased by new discoveries and by extensions to proven areas in the territory west of the Nemaha (granite ridge) Range. Scattered drilling and leasing operations of a constructive nature occurred, but completions declined to the lowest levels in more than 11 years. Average initial production of current completions climbed to a new all-time high of 512 bbl. to the well. Proration measures were applied to the flush pools. The resulting shut-in potential production, as of December 15, is estimated at 110,000 bbl. This estimate is a wild guess. If all wells of the state were permitted to flow wide open for a period of six months production would not exceed 150,000 bbl. a day. The outstanding development of the year was an intensive drilling campaign in southwestern Kansas, which contributed at least 1,000,000 acres of contiguous natural-gas lands to the natural-gas resources of the United States. Production and Development Prospecting for oil in Kansas began shortly after the initial prospecting at Titusville. Operations and interest in the potentialities became active about 1870. This development was restricted to the shallow districts of northeastern Kansas. By 1895 operations had extended southward to the Oklahoma state line and sufficient prospecting had taken place to prove the potentialities of the state. Active prospecting was extended westward by the discovery of oil on the Nemaha Range in Butler County about 1916. The discovery of oil in Russell County added an extensive borderland province in 1923. The important discoveries of oil in Sedgwick County revived interests and operations throughout this territory in 1928. The development of widespread natural-gas lands in extreme southwestern Kansas during 1930 carried active exploration to the western boundary of the state.

Jan 1, 1931

By Henry A. Ley

Oklahoma produced about 40,000,000 bbl. less crude oil in 1930 than it did in 1929, but developed the largest initial production from current well completions ever recorded in its history. The output of this year would have exceeded all previous years had it not been for state-wide production curtailment. The record initial production of 5,911,982 bbl. from new oil wells completed during the year is accounted for entirely by the rapid development of the Oklahoma City field. Completions declined to the lowest levels since 1909, as a result of a marked reduction in number of dry holes incident to reduced wildcat exploration. Leasing was most active in western and northern counties of the state west of Oklahoma City, but on a much smaller scale than in the preceding year. Geological and geophysical surveys were likewise most active in this western territory. The urge to deeper objectives resulted in the discovery of oil on the Cement fold. Changing economic conditions have created a distress situation among the marginal operators in northeastern localities of the state. Elsewhere in the state production records and successful exploitation of new supplies have been eclipsed by a new social concept of the industry in accord with natural economic developments. Many of the producers of crude oil have organized for a voluntary stabilization of the industry by regulating the output of wells. To enforce their measures these operators have sought for and secured the support of the state. Consequently, the current position of the crude-oil producer is not unlike that of the natural-gas producer—withdrawal of supplies in accordance with market needs. And while the industry as a whole is artificially stabilized by these measures individual operators and some of the integrated concerns suffer hardships. Oil Developments and Production The early operations in Oklahoma were confined to northeastern and eastern localities, beginning in 1885. The first commercial oil wells were completed in 1894, near Chelsea in Craig County, from Cherokee sands in the lower portion of the Pennsylvanian section. Scattered

Jan 1, 1931

By J. R. Wylie, L. C. Huntley

Drilling for oil in the eastern producing states was fairly active during the first part of 1931, although less so than in 1930. With low prices development declined during the year, until the low prices of the summer resulted in an almost complete shut-down of drilling. This coincided with the action of the Conservation Board of the Pennsylvania Crude Oil Producers Assn, in limiting pipe line runs to 50 per cent of the 1930 normal for the Bradford district and upper country, and to 70 per cent for the balance of the region. Not only was new drilling halted but in many cases oil-producing properties were shut in. In November crude prices were partly restored, and all oil offered was being taken except in the Bradford district which was restricted to 80 per cent of the 1930 normal. During the latter part of the year drilling was being resumed on a moderate scale, and new production indicated a resumption of the proration order. The interest in gas development which has been under way for several years, maintained its supremacy over the search for oil in 1931. New reserves of importance were developed during the year in the Western Kentucky Coal Basin, in the Eastern Kentucky shale gas territory, in Stark County, Ohio, as well as the Oriskany sand development in northern Pennsylvania and central New York. A gas line was completed to the Eastern Seaboard serving Washington and Baltimore, and other lines were under construction designed to serve portions of the territory not hitherto supplied with natural gas. The low price of fuel oil at seaboard is understood to be the deterrent factor against further extension of natural gas lines to these markets at present. The development of these new reserves, as well as those developed by intensive drilling in old areas, resulted in the building up of large potential gas production and a lowering of rates paid to the producer. This, coupled with the country-wide tendency to lower the consumer rates of all public utilities, resulted in a general threat to reopen rate cases before various state commissions. Oil Development The past year was marked only by the almost complete shut-down of new development, reaching its low point during the summer, with its

Jan 1, 1932

By Wallace Ralston

The East Texas district includes the northeast 38 counties of the State of Texas. It still remains one of the most important oil-and-gas-producing areas of the United States, since it includes within its boundaries the large East Texas field. Other fields of importance are: Van, Rodessa, Talco, Cayuga, Long Lake and Sulphur Bluff. Production is from the Nacatoch, Blossom, and Woodbine of the upper Cretaceous and the Paluxy and Glen Rose of the lower Cretaceous. Of these, the Woodbine is the most important, since it is the producing horizon iri the East Texas field. Fields East Texas Field.—There were 2471 oil wells, 1 gas well and 84 failures completed during the year of 1936 in the East Texas field; that is, 1565 fewer than in the year of 1935. The total number of producing wells is now 22,031, of which 50 are temporarily shut down; 18,435 wells flowing their production; 3150 pumping; 293 on gas-lift, and 82 operated by other methods. This shows an increase of 1642 wells on artificial lift over Jan. 1, 1935. The average daily salt-water production is estimated at 42,700 bbl. from 2327 wells—an increase of 1201 wells over the year of 1935. The field is now drilled to an average density of one well to 5.85 acres. Average bottom-hole pressure has dropped from 1193 Ib. to 1168 lb., approximately 1 lb. drop for each 6,600,000 bbl. of oil produced. During the month of December 1936, the estimated daily average production of illegal oil had dropped from 20,500 bbl. in December 1935 to 7500 bbl. The commercial gas production is of minor importance in the East Texas field, and figures for the amount of gas taken from the field are not available at the present time. Talco Field, Titus and Franklin Counties.—The discovery well was drilled by Housh, Thompson et al. on the C. M. Carr tract and completed in March 1936, as a pumping well making 552 bbl. per day of 24' gravity oil. This well was first completed at a total depth of 4208 ft., the top of the sand being 4190 ft. Later it was deepened to 4260 ft., which increased the production from 552 to 725 bbl. per day. This field is producing

Jan 1, 1937

By H. B. Fuqua, B. E. Thompson

For a very brief description of the North Texas area and the general geological features with which it is associated, the reader is referred to the summary for 1935. As in previous years, the authors have been unable to undertakc the almost impossible task of isolating statistics for the hundreds of productive "spots" which are included within the generally productive areas of the several counties. However, pools that appear to be definitely isolated—as, for example, the Foard County production and the new pool recently developed southeast of Gainesville in Cooke County—are covered separately. During the year 1936, both routine development in proven or scmi-proven areas and exploratory drilling showed a decrease over the year 1935, there having been a total of 1453 wells drilled in the district during 1936, as compared to 1619 in 1935. It is also of interest to note that abandonments exceeded completions in 1936. Developments during 1936 While a number of local productive spots were found in Wilbarger, Archer and Wichita Counties, and numerous minor local extensions to older producing areas were developed in practically all the producing countics in the district, only two discoveries of sufficient importance to justify special mention were made. Anderson and Kerr No. 1 Bruhlmeyer, about two miles southeast of Gainesville in Cooke County, was completed in April, at a total depth of 2014 ft., for an initial production of 315 bbl. daily from a sand of Pennsylvanian (Canyon) age. Development has been rapid and the field is about drilled up. During November the 100 wells in the field averaged about 40 bbl daily. The structure appears to be a small fold associated with the northeast flank of the main uplift, which extends in a northwest-southeast direction across Cooke and Montague Counties.

Jan 1, 1937

By Harry H. Nowlan

A heavy development campaign progressed during the year 1936 in South Texas1, following up important discoveries made in 1935. Oil and gas wells completed during the year were 1473 against 704 in 1935. The drilling program reached its peak of operations in June in consequence of offset requirements made necessary principally in Duval County in the Seven Sisters, Loma Novio, Lopez and Cole fields. There were six new fields discovered during 1936 as follows: Rhode in McMullen County; Peters, El Mesquite and North Kohler in Duval County; Wood in Starr County and Colorado in Jim Hogg County. No discovery of unusual consequence was made during the year. The pools mentioned above are simply in the primary stages of development. The most intensive exploratory work during the year was in Duval, Webb and Zapata Counties. Considerable activity also prevailed in Starr and Brooks Counties. Much significance is attached to the California Company's discovery in the Alta Mesa field in Brooks County, which is considered to be a deep-seated salt dome. The Comitas field, in Zapata County, developed some surprisingly good production in a shallow sand at 900 ft. and is being followed by a heavy wildcat campaign throughout that area in search of like production. In Starr County an active wildcat campaign is in progress in a continued effort to find new fields northwest of the Sam Fordyce field, in Hidalgo County. This play continues in a northerly direction through Starr and Jim Hogg Counties. New Fields Rhode.—The Rhode field, in southeastern McMullen County, was opened in May by the Magnolia Petroleum Co. with a gas well in the Whitsett (Upper Jackson) sand at a depth of 1810 to 1822 ft., this test is located in the southeast corner of sec. 86 on the Rhode ranch. Four gas wells have been completed, proving up a gas area of 1000 acres, more or less. Development will be slow because of lack of market for the gas.

Jan 1, 1937

By T. C. Craig

During the year 1936, there were 654 oil wells drilled in the Texas Panhandle, with a total daily initial production of 256,049 bbl. Although 74 more wells were drilled than in the previous year, the total initial production lacked 109,303 bbl. to equal that of 1935. The explanation is that during 1935 most of the drilling was in the granite-wash area, which is much more prolific than the dolomite, in which the major development was done during 1936. Twenty-one oil wells were drilled deeper, increasing their potential 3683 bbl. The total daily oil potentid of the field Dec. 31, 1936, as determined by the Texas Railroad Commission, was 834,888 bbl., with a daily allowable production of 71,335 bbl. No overall field decline in production is recognized by the Texas Railroad Commission. A well is tested upon completion to determine its potential production. If the well is then shot with nitroglycerin or is treated with

Jan 1, 1937

By H. W. Imholz

This report covers most of the counties in North Central Texas in which oil is being produced in commercial quantities. The exceptions are McCulloch and Runnels, which were omitted because the production is small and the detailed information necessary for a report is not available to the writer. Complete information was not available regarding the number of wells drilled in this district during the year. The writer wishes to thank Mr. T. F. Petty, of the Humble Oil and Refining Co., Wichita Falls, Texas, for information used in compiling Table 2.

Jan 1, 1937