Developments in Arizona, western New Mexico, and northern New Mexico in 1954

Four hundred eleven wells were drilled in northern and western New Mexico in 1954, making total footage of 1,726,922, or an average of 4,202 feet per well. This is a decrease of 62 per cent as compared with 1953 in number of wells drilled. Fifty-six of the wells drilled, with a total footage of 270,583, were wildcat wells. This is a decrease of 9 per cent in number of wildcat wells, but an increase of 699 total footage over 1953. Ten of the wildcat wells were successful in 1954, as compared with twenty-three in 1953. Eighteen per cent of the wildcats drilled were successful. Arizona drilling was limited to six wildcats, with a total footage of 27,757. Two were successful. Production of natural gas showed an increase of 49,607 MMCF. The San Juan basin produced 146,518 MMCF in 1954 as compared with 96,911 MMCF in 1953. Oil production increased from 716,424 barrels in 1953 to 1,034,784 barrels in 1954.