Developments in Southeastern States in 1968

Abstract

Drilling operations in the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi declined slightly from 764 wells in 1967 to 726 wells in 1968, a decrease of 5%. Of the total completions 410 were exploratory tests which resulted in 28 discoveries. Development drilling maintained a moderate pace with 161 successful wells out of a total of 316 drilled. Deep drilling in the Jurassic trend of Mississippi and Alabama continued to increase sharply in 1968. The most significant developments were a rich gas-condensate discovery from the Norphlet Formation in Escambia County, Alabama, extending Jurassic production 90 mi southeast, and the discovery of several excellent Smackover fields in Clarke and Wayne Counties, Mississippi. The Eocene Wilcox trend of southwestern Mississippi continued to dominate the drilling statistics with 66% of all the wells drilled in the southeastern states. A notable increase in geophysical activity was registered in 1968 resulting largely from a sharp increase in seismic work in the Alabama portion of the Jurassic trend. Exploration is expected to continue at an active pace in the southeastern states in 1969 with the Jurassic and Wilcox trends being the most active.