Developments in California in 1944

Previous annual drilling records were exceeded through completion of 2,084 wells, 82 per cent of which were producers of oil or gas. This is an increase of 655 or 45.8 per cent over the number completed in 1943 as given in the report by Albert I. Gregersen and William W. Porter II a year ago. In all, 316 exploratory wells were completed, including 232 wildcats, 25 new pool tests and 59 outposts. Thirty-two (13.8 per cent) of the wildcats, nine (36 per cent) of the new pool tests, and thirty-one (52.5 per cent) of the outposts found production of oil or gas. These successful exploratory wells, 72 in all, or 22.8 per cent of all exploratory wells, had a total rated initial production of 16,035 barrels daily of oil and 96,316 MCF daily of gas (not including gas produced with oil). Completions in old oil pools numbered 1,396 and had a rated initial production of 330,410 barrels daily, a per well average of 237 barrels daily. Total production of oil was 311,771,000 barrels, an average of 854,167 barrels daily during 1944 compared with 778,597 barrels daily average during 1943. Total footage of exploratory drilling completed was 1,440,520 feet (273 miles) classified as follows: 1,066,750 feet of wildcats, 79,665 feet of new pool tests, and 294,105 feet of outpost wells.