Developments in west-central Texas in 1951

Production of oil was increased from 25,752,000 barrels in 1950 to 29,562,214 during 1951. In all 2,637 tests were drilled in District 7-B, resulting in the successful completion of 1,255 wells. Of the successful tests, 167 were exploratory discoveries. Sixty-seven new fields were discovered as compared with 58 in 1950. The greatest number of discoveries were in Stonewall, Haskell, and Throckmorton counties. The majority of important discoveries were in Stonewall County. The Katz Strawn sand field in northeastern Stonewall is the leading discovery of 1951 in west-central Texas. Sixteen counties of the 24 county area recorded new-field discoveries during 1951. Approximately 40 per cent of the discoveries in west-central Texas during 1951 were in Strawn sediments. Geophysical activity continued to decline during 1951. Total crew weeks decreased 55 per cent. Leasing activity was greatest in Taylor, Coleman, and Callahan counties, to play the Strawn sand trends of Runnels and Coleman counties.