Developments in South Texas in 1972

Abstract

Drilling activity was up in South Texas for 1972 to 1,777 wells compared with 1,656 in 1971. Exploratory drilling was 12.6% successful, down from 14.8% in 1971. Development drilling was 76.3% successful also down from 78.5% in 1971. Geophysical activity continued to drop and was 4% below 1971. Oligocene-Miocene and Eocene seismic activity increased but was offset by the drop in the Jurassic-Cretaceous effort. The Paleozoic and offshore trends had no seismic activity. The first economic Paleozoic gas discovery was in the Pennsylvanian and should spur further exploration. The older Paleozoic and Jurassic trends each had 3 deeper dry holes, and the Jurassic had another well drilling at year end. The Cretaceous-trend shallow San Miguel (Upper Cretaceous) play continued with 2 new discoveries. A new Sligo (Lower Cretaceous) limestone discovery continued the exploratory interest in that part of the trend. Wilcox gas discoveries in Duval and Karnes Counties were important in the Eocene trend. A pair of Vicksburg gas discoveries in Hidalgo County and a Frio oil discovery in Nueces County kept up activity in the Oligocene-Miocene.