Significant Exploratory Developments of 1953

Abstract

The results of wildcatting in the United States' active oil frontiers of 1953 demonstrated that the current optimistic predictions for those big, sparsely tested areas are not just wishful thinking. During 1953, exploratory thinking was further broadened and brightened by the completion of oil or gas-producing wildcats across the country. Some of these discoveries were in the wide-open spaces, others hugged or were within areas of big production; some were completed as significant producers, others made only small wells but afforded concrete evidence of the potentialities of a hitherto unproductive area or formation. • None of these wildcat discoveries opened what can yet be recognized as an exceptionally large reserve. It will take development drilling during the next few years to determine how much oil and gas was found. But, regardless of the final tally, the discoveries resulting from last year's unprecedented reaching out and down into the unknown have stimulated further exploratory efforts that will lead to more major oil and gas fields.