Developments in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico in 1943

Abstract

The West Texas-southeastern New Mexico district includes 46 counties in West Texas and 6 counties in southeastern New Mexico, and includes the following features: East platform, Midland basin, Central Basin platform, Delaware basin, South plains, and a part of the Edwards plateau. A regional map shows new discoveries, important exploratory drilling wells and their relationship to existing fields. Tables list all fields of the district, including names, locations, and producing formations in the 142 pools in West Texas and 52 in southeastern New Mexico. The totals of 902 wells drilled in West Texas and 260 in New Mexico in 1943 are comparable with the totals of 1,320 and 339, respectively, in 1942, and were the lowest totals during the past 6 years. The drop in total completions was somewhat offset by a decided expansion of deeper drilling. The 111 West Texas wildcats resulted in 17 new discoveries, representing a success of 15.32 per cent, while in New Mexico 37 wildcats found 6 new pools representing 16.22 per cent exploratory success. Total pipe-line runs in est Texas of 98,070,000 barrels were 17,040,000 barrels more than in 1942, while in New Mexico total runs of 38,047,000 exceeded those of 1942 by 6,550,000 barrels. Active drilling operations per week for West Texas averaged 210 of which 37 were exploratory, while in New Mexico of 79 wells, 21 were exploratory. The lowest development rate was in January, and the highest in December. This upswing in drilling was largely the result of rearrangement of present pipe lines plus prospects for a decided increase of outlet capacity by two major pipe lines under construction to the Mid-Continent and eastern markets plus response on the part of the industry to the vital war demands for increased production of oil. Of 17 new discoveries in West Texas only 9 were of outstanding importance: 4 were Ellenburger finds, 1 Silurian, 3 in the deep Permian, and only 1 in the upper Permian. This distribution reflects the results of deeper drilling which featured the year's activity and gave the Central Basin platform added prominence in respect to Permian and pre-Permian reserves. A large flow of gas encountered in Devonian chert in an exploratory well in Winkler County furnished the only new productive zone discovered in the district. Major extensions involved the northern part of the Slaughter pool in Cochran and Hockley counties, Fullerton and Embar pools in Andrews County, and the Barnhart field in Reagan County. There was no important extension in New Mexico. Of the 111 wildcats drilled in West Texas, the 54 of outstanding importance included 15 which tested the Ellenburger (Ordovician), and an equal number the Clear Fork (Permian). At the close of the year there were 45 important wildcats drilling in West Texas and 10 in southeastern New Mexico. Geophysical crews of all types in West Texas increased from 25 units in January to 35 in December; of these, seismographs and gravimeters predominated with 20 units and 11 units, respectively, at the close of the year. A total of 6 units in New Mexico reflected no increase during the period. The trend of geophysical operations was definitely toward mapping of the deeper formations and expansion into frontier areas. No proposed change in the nomenclature was advanced during the year. The Lovington sand of the San Andres formation (Permian) and the Canas and Joyita members of the Yeso formation (Permian) were described and defined. The trend in exploration and development was definitely toward deeper testing of the lower Permian and exploration of the pre-Permian, particularly the Ellenburger. Fifteen geological and development papers were published. End_Page 806------------------------------