ABSTRACT
In 1960, 729 holes were drilled in the Arizona and western New Mexico District. This represents a decrease of 15.1% from the 1959 total of 977 holes. Of the 1960 total, 129 were exploratory that resulted in 44 successful discoveries and extensions. As a result this district enjoyed a success ratio of 34.1%.
The majority of exploratory drilling was directed toward extending previously discovered pools in the deeper part of the San Juan basin. Here the petroleum geologist was best utilized and as a result the success ratios were abnormally high. In the Lucero basin of west-central New Mexico and the Black Mesa basin of northeastern Arizona, surface exploration continued to be the primary tool and resulted in at least one new-field discovery in a new pay zone.
Future exploration will be directed toward investigation of the Cretaceous rocks in the shallower parts of the San Juan basin and the Paleozoic rocks of the Black Mesa and Lucero basins.
There were 13,133,237 bbls. of oil, 373,811,159 MCF of gas, and 1,484,166 bbls. of condensate produced in the Arizona and western New Mexico District in 1960.
