Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1953

Abstract

Africa reached new highs both in petroleum production and in petroleum exploration activity in 1953. Production for the year was 18,031,047 barrels, an increase of a half million barrels over the previous record attained last year. Particularly noteworthy was the increase in Algeria to a total of 643,000 barrels, nearly double last year's production. Egypt, French Morocco, and Algeria continued to be the only producing countries although Tunisia has closed-in gas production awaiting pipeline facilities, and development drilling for gas production was under way in French Cameroun. Principal wildcat discoveries of the year are oil and gas in the Akata well in Nigeria, gas in the Bomono area in Cameroun (French Mandate), shows of light oil in the Cacoba well in Angola, and the discovery of the Bled Khatara field in French Morocco. A total of 634,000 feet of exploratory and development drilling was carried out during the year, exceeding all previous years, and 34 rigs were in operation at year's end. Ninety-four exploratory and 70 development wells were drilled in Africa during the year. Exploratory drilling was 4% successful and development drilling was 68% successful. Active petroleum exploration was carried on in the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Belgian Congo, Cameroun, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Libya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, British Somaliland, Sudan, Tanganyika, Tunisia, Union of South Africa, and Zanzibar. Marked increases were shown over last year in almost all lines of geological and geophysical exploration. Work in party-months was essentially as follows: surface geology, 519; seismograph, 227; gravity, 112; magnetometer, 31; structure drill, 56; electrical prospecting, 5½.