Abstract
Alaska petroleum exploration activity during 1973 continued at about the same low level as in the previous 2 years. Of the 11 exploratory wells, 8 were drilled in the Cook Inlet region and 3 in the Arctic North Slope region. One of the Cook Inlet tests resulted in a new deep-pool oil discovery. Federal oil and gas lease acreage continued to decline. State oil and gas lease acreage increased 5.3% as a result of 2 competitive lease sales held in the Cook Inlet region. Combined geologic and geophysical field activity increased 5% over the previous year. Geophysical activity increased in the Arctic North Slope and Gulf of Alaska offshore regions in anticipation of federal, native, and/or state lands becoming available for leasing in the near future. Development drilling during 1973 continued at about the same low level as in 1972. A total of 21 development wells was drilled, 12 in the Cook Inlet region and 9 in the Arctic North Slope region. Oil and gas production at 73,139,415 bbl and 224,507 MMcf respectively was virtually unchanged from the previous year.
