ABSTRACT
Washington: Five new-field wildcats abandoned; 32,338 ft. drilled.
Oregon: One new-field wildcat abandoned; 12,880 ft. drilled.
California: Six hundred three exploratory wells were drilled in California during 1956 with a total footage of 3,033,954. This is a decrease of 7.4% in the number of wells and 9.3% in total exploratory footage under 1955. Exploration was 18.6% and 21% successful as to wells and footage, respectively, compared with 15% and 17.3% in 1955. Discovery record: 6 fields—4 oil and 2 gas; 56 pools—45 oil and 11 gas. Approximate production in 1956—crude oil 350.8 million bbls., down 1.1% from 1955; natural-gas liquids, 30.4 million bbls.; natural gas, 487.8 billion CF (includes gas from dry gas fields and residue gas from oil fields.) Basement was reached in 39 unsuccessful exploratory holes. There were 72 active exploratory holes at the end of the year.
