Drilling Footage Research Articles

North American Drilling Activity in 1968

Total drilling activity in North America in 1968 amounted to 37,444 wells and 169,232,679 ft of hole compared with 38,183 wells (FOOTNOTE 4) and 162,924,271 ft4 of hole reported in 1967. This represents a decrease of 2% in number of wells but an increase of 4% in total footage drilled. Canada and Mexico showed increases in both total wells and footage. The United States experienced a decline in the number of wells drilled but an increase in drilled footage. Exploratory drilling in Canada and Mexico showed increases in both wells and footage, whereas in the United States, the number of wells declined and total footage increased. Actual figures for exploratory wells, with corresponding 1967 values in parentheses, are: Canada, 1,609 wells (1,448) and 7,543,693 ft (6,420,367); Mexico, 138 wells (135) and 1,331,996 ft (1,295,160); United States, 8,879 wells (9,059) and 50,958,038 ft (49,124,222). A total of 1,785 exploratory wells out of a total of 10,626 were found to be capable of hydrocarbon production. This gives a North American of about 1:6 (16.8%) compared with 1:5 (19.4%) in 1967. Canadian exploration success was stable at 28.2%, the same as in 1967. Mexican exploratory discoveries resulted in an increase in success pe centage from 23.7 in 1967 to 27.5 in 1968. In the United States, the percentage of successful exploratory wells decreased from 17.6 in 1967 to 14.6 in 1968. This is the lowest success percentage since these statistics were first compiled in 1946. The continued downturn in exploratory drilling and discovery ratio in the United States must, however, be weighed against the fact that 2 of the discovery wells found fields on Alaska's north slope which, in terms of our total hydrocarbon reserves, will possibly be more significant than any other discoveries in the history of this survey. Reserve estimates made by the committee indicate that, excluding the 2 discoveries on Alaska's north slope, the United States exploration effort found somewhat less than 1 billion bbl of oil and just under 6 trillion cu ft of gas. These volumes are approximately the same as in 1967 and were found with fewer, but deeper, exploratory wells. The determination of whether the industry in the United States during 1968 experienced one of its worst years (based on percentage) or one of its best (based on volume of hydrocarbons found) must be left to individual judgment.

Developments in Eastern Canada in 1958

In Southwestern Ontario during 1958, both exploratory and development drilling decreased slightly from that of 1957. During the year, 99 exploratory wells and 255 development wells were completed. Although there was a marked decline in activity on land, off-shore drilling on Lake Erie increased by more than 75% over the previous year. Natural gas production increased by 7% over 1957 to 15,500,000 MCF, and oil production increased 24% to 778,341 bbls., This is the highest since the year 1907, when more than 779,000 bbls. were produced. Six significant discoveries were made in the district during 1958, one each in Kent, Lambton, and Huron counties, and 3 off-shore in Lake Erie. In the remainder of Eastern Canada (Quebec and the Maritime Provinces), activity continued at a high level. Eighteen exploratory wells were completed, a decrease from 27 in 1957, but total drilled footage was up slightly over the year. There was a marked shift in locus of exploratory activity from Quebec to the Maritime Provinces, particularly Prince Edward Island, but no oil or gas discoveries were made.

Developments in Michigan in 1954

In Michigan during 1954 exploratory and development drilling again registered a small decline compared with the 1953 figures. There were 253 exploratory completions this year against 283 exploratory completions in 1953. The development-well completions total of 312 was 20 completions less than the 1953 figure of 332. Of the 253 exploratory wells: 231 were dry and 22 were successful, resulting in 10 new-field discoveries, 1 new-pool discovery, 5 deeper-pool discoveries, and 6 new extensions. The major concentration of development and exploratory effort continues to be directed toward the finding and developing of new reserves in the Central Basin and the Southwestern areas of Michigan. Southeastern Michigan continues to be the scene of considerable exploratory and development effort with the Trenton and Niagara formations as the objectives. Total footage drilled in 1954 was 1,511,906 feet compared with the 1953 total drilled footage figure of 1,785,256 feet. Oil production in Michigan showed a small decline: 12,028,059 barrels were produced compared with 12,284,510 barrels produced in 1953. The average daily production for Michigan in 1954 was 32,954 barrels or about ½ per cent of the daily national total. Gas production showed a considerable decline, with 5,698,175 MCF being produced compared with 7,084,616 MCF in 1953. Core-drill work showed a slight rise, with 80 permits issued in 1954, compared with 47 permits in 1953. These figures are comparable with 556 permits issued in 1951, a peak year for core-drill activity. Geophysical work was limited to the gravity meter, no seismograph work being reported during the year. Eight different companies engaged in gravity-meter work, covering parts of Southeast, Southwestern, and Western Michigan. Subsurface geology continues to be the most successful exploration method used in Michigan. In 1954 unsuccessful new-field wildcats numbered 180; of these, 170 were located on subsurface geology, 8 on gravity meter, 1 reported to be located on seismic information, and 1 on non-technical information. The lease inventories of 14 major and independent oil companies operating in Michigan showed 1,348,937 undeveloped acres under lease on December 31, 1954, a 31.8 per cent drop compared with the 1,977,688 undeveloped acres under lease by the same 14 companies, December 31, 1953.