Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1945

Abstract

Development in the Louisiana Gulf Coast area in 1945 continued at the rapid pace set in 1944. There were 12 new fields brought in, only one less than last year. Increases were made in field extensions and new sands discovered in old fields. There were 29 extensions, or 47 per cent over 1944, and 38 new sands, or 58 per cent over last year. Geophysical exploration has gone forward at the same high rate as in recent years. New discoveries continue to be at great depth. Of the twelve new fields, all but one of the discovery wells were below 8,000 feet, nearly half were below 10,000 feet, and one discovered oil at 13,520 feet, the deepest production in the world. These, as during 1944, are predominantly oil rather than gas-distillate fields. No attempt is made to estimate reserves of each, though several are of major size. The total reserve added by new fields, exclusive of additions to existing reserves by extension or new sands, is probably in excess of 48 million barrels. Wildcat wells were 25 per cent successful, with a total of 67, of which 51 were dry and 16 productive. Twelve of these successful tests are credited with discovering the new fields for 1945, while 4 are more accurately classed as field extensions. During 1945, 615 wells were drilled, as compared with 492 in 1944, of which 189, or 39 per cent, were dry. There were 107,379,429 barrels of oil produced during the year.