Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1946

Abstract

The 684 Completions in 1946 in South Louisiana showed an increase of 11.54 per cent over 1945. Seventy-nine (11.55 per cent) were wildcats, 15 (19 per cent) of which discovered new fields, including Queen Bess Island, Jefferson Parish, a 1945-46 year-end discovery not included in 1945 data. Of the new fields, 8 are oil, 2 are dry gas, and 5 are gas-condensate. Four of the new oil fields are in Beauregard Parish. On old producing structures, 513 new wells were completed and 92 old wells were plugged back from other formations or drilled deeper. Eighty-seven (94.57 percent) of the work-overs were successful, 7 of which discovered new sands. Seventy-five of the new wells were drilled as field wildcats, 22 (29.3 per cent) of which resulted in the discovery of new sands or field extensions, distributed in more than 30 different fields, and 46 were dry holes. Seventy-five per cent of the development wells were successful, with 113 dry and abandoned. In 1946, the Week's Island field, Iberia Parish, was reclassified from a gas-distillate field to an oil field. A major westward extension of Tuscaloosa sand production resulted from the Union Producing Company's Belgard No. 1 completion in Big Island field, Rapides Parish. Deep-drilling conditions of South Louisiana attracted wide attention when the world's record for deep production was established in Week's Island field where the Shell Oil Company completed Smith No. 1 through perforations at 13,763-13,778 feet.