Petroleum Developments in Mexico in 1959

Abstract

Four hundred forty-one wells were drilled in Mexico during 1959 as compared with 379 drilled the preceding year. The average depth per well was increased to 7,035 ft. as compared with an average of 6,958 ft. per well during 1958. During the year of 1959, 133 wells were classified as exploratory holes, of which 82 were new-field wildcats, resulting in the discovery of 11 new gas and oil fields. Other exploratory holes were classified as follows: 9 new-pool wildcats, 9 deeper-pool tests, 8 shallower-pool tests, and 25 extension wells; 31 of these exploratory holes were completed as producers. Of the total number of wells, 298 were successful. The new fields discovered were located as follows: 1 in the Eocene trend in Northeast Mexico, 5 in Cretaceous and Jurassic limestones and calcarenites in the Tampico Embayment, and 5 new fields in Miocene sands in the Isthmus and Tabasco region, one of which is an off-shore prospect. The main exploratory effort, as in previous years, was concentrated along the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico where all the producing fields are located; however, seismic work in Baja California and gravity work in the Yucatan Peninsula and Northeastern Chihuahua were continued. One test was drilled to the Cretaceous in Northeast Mexico, and 5 tests were drilled to explore the productivity of the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous formations in the Tampico Embayment. In the Veracruz Embayment, as in the past year, drilling activities decreased considerably as only 4 wells were drilled in search of oil: 2 were drilled to the Middle Cretaceous, as yet unproductive in this area and 2 to the Eocene and Oligocene. Crude oil and distillate production in 1959 was 105,758,473 bbls., an increase of 9.5% over the previous year. Total gas production was 329,363,504 MCF, an increase of 79.7% over 1958.