ABSTRACT
The area covered by this report includes the trends along which production is established from the downdip Wilcox and the Cockfield of Eocene age, the Marginulina-Frio section of Oligocene age, and the undifferentiated Miocene. Exploratory activities during 1942 covered all parts of this large province but were concentrated along the Wilcox trend in Texas and the Miocene in Louisiana. Geophysical exploration, chiefly seismograph and gravity meter, has had probably its most intensive use in the district. Drilling activities declined, however, as was to be anticipated, wildcat drilling falling to 164 operations in 1942, as compared with 189 in 1941, and field drilling declining from 1,433 to 800 wells. The over-all quality of new discoveries, which decreased from 30 in 1941 to 22 in 1942, was distinctly unfavorable, only three being regarded as having first class possibilities. As has been the case in recent years, extensions, new sands, and routine development in proved fields have furnished more new reserves than the discoveries.
