Oil and Gas Developments in North Mid-Continent in 1982

Abstract

In Kansas, completions reported in 1982 reached an all-time high of 9,166 wells. This is an increase of 34% over the 6,865 wells reported in 1981. Part of the increase can be attributed to the large carry-over of 1981 wells. Exploration and development drilling of oil reservoirs continued to dominate, with 4,108 oil completions compared to 810 gas completions. Both were up 33% from the 1981 figures. Total footage drilled came to 29,614,751. The average well depth was 3,221 ft, 219 ft less than the 1981 average well depth of 3,440 ft. The drop was more evident in exploratory holes, which averaged 3,770 ft or 293 ft shallower than in 1981. The average development well was 3,065 ft, off 195 ft. Exploratory drilling resulted in 245 discoveries, of which 197 were oil and 48 ga . Approximately 23% of all holes were exploratory, 75% were development, and 2% were stratigraphic and miscellaneous tests. The success rate for all classes of exploratory wells increased from 21% in 1981 to 26% in 1982, while the success rate of development wells remained about the same at 65%. The overall success rate of all wells drilled for oil or gas in Kansas in 1982 was 55%. Drilling operations in Nebraska declined 25% from a record high of 607 tests in 1981 to 453 in 1982. Over the same period, exploratory tests were off only 10%. There were 42 oil and 3 gas discoveries in 1982. All were classified as new-field wildcats. Total footage amounted to 2,059,439, off 31% from 1981. Consequently, the average well depth was 4,537 ft, or 373 ft shallower than in 1981. The overall success rate for oil and gas wells was up slightly to 43.9%. In Missouri, drilling activity continued its upward trend with 469 tests, up 18% from 1981. Total footage increased a surprising 39%, from 133,531 to 186,385 ft. The average well depth in 1982 was 397 ft. Much of the drilling in the state continued to be along the western border, although recent activities in western Illinois are spurring interest in the pre-Mississippian rocks in northeastern Missouri.