ABSTRACT
In 1945, the north and west-central Texas areas contributed 125 discoveries, including successful wildcats, extensions of proved areas, outposts, and deepenings in proved areas. This is comparable with 104 discoveries in 1944.
Twenty-two hundred and forty tests were drilled in 1945, resulting in 1,227 productive wells and 1,013 failures, representing an increase of 28 per cent in drilling activity.
Total oil production in 1945 was approximately 54,283,064 barrels compared with 54,100,000 in 1944, or an increase of 183,064 barrels. Wichita County was the leading producer with 12,179,440 barrels.
The most important developments were (1) Sivell’s Bend area in northern Cooke County, in the southeast extension of the Marietta Basin province, where numerous Strawn sandstones were found productive, (2) central Montague County, in the Fort Worth Basin province, where prolific Bend conglomerates indicate a major northwest extension of the Hildreth field, and (3) Harrold area, Wilbarger County, in the Electra Arch province, where Canyon, Strawn, and Ellenburger limestones are productive in the National pool.
The Ellenburger formation was accountable for 10 discoveries in 1945, suggesting that its importance as a producing formation may be on the upgrade. No estimate of its known reserves, however, can be made at this time. Cisco sandstones also continued in prominence. Mississippian limestone definitely declined in prominence.
The most successful methods of exploration continued to be subsurface and seismograph. Many of the shallow discoveries were the result of mapping on shallow markers, and shallow exploration will in all probability continue to play an important role in future exploration.
