Developments in East-Central States in 1964

Abstract

Both exploratory activity and oil production declined in the east-central States during 1964. Oil production totaled 101.5 million bbls. for the four States of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, down 4.1 million bbls. from 1963. An increase in Kentucky did not offset losses in the other States. There were 1,222 exploratory wells, a decrease of 146 wells, or 10.7 per cent, from 1963. In Tennessee, only 25 exploratory test wells were completed in 1964. One extension well was completed as an oil well and the remainder were dry. Total exploratory footage was a little more than 19,000 feet. Oil production in Kentucky amounted to 19,772,000 bbls., an increase of almost one million bbls. above 1963 production. Gas production reached an all-time peak of 75,911,800 Mcf because western Kentucky doubled its output as a result of increases in Muhlenberg and Hopkins Counties. Total drilling activity decreased by about 300 wells. Hopkins County maintained its leadership with 254 completions. In Indiana, 585 wells were drilled, 158 fewer than in 1963. Oil production during the year is estimated to be 11,516,000 bbls., or 385,000 bbls. less than in 1963. Most drilling took place in counties in the southwestern part of the State, where reservoirs of Late Mississippian and Pennsylvanian ages of the Illinois basin have long been mainstays of Indiana production. Exploration programs were initiated in the eastern part of the State along the Cincinnati arch where objective reservoirs are in sediments of Ordovician and Cambrian ages. In Illinois there were 1,577 new oil and gas tests, a decrease of 16 per cent from 1963. Of 428 wildcat wells drilled, 5.9 per cent were successful. Five new oil fields, 1 new gas field, 27 extensions to fields, and 10 new reservoirs in old fields were discovered during the year. Reservoirs in Pennsylvanian sediments accounted for 2 of the discoveries, Mississippian for 33, Devonian for 1, Silurian for 6, and Trenton for 1. Production for 1964 was 70,168,000 bbls. of oil, a decline of 4,628,000 bbls. (6 per cent) from 1963. The Lower Ordovician and Cambrian sediments in the deep part of the Illinois basin include thousands of cubic miles of essentially untested marine sediments which remain for future exploration.