Developments in West Coast area in 1954

Washington: One non-commercial new-field gas discovery; seven new-field wildcats abandoned: 21,004 feet drilled. Oregon: One new-field wildcat abandoned; 3,684 feet drilled. California: Six hundred and thirty-two exploratory wells with a total footage of 2,939,336 were drilled in California during 1954. This is an increase of 2.8 per cent in the number of wells and 4.3 per cent in total exploratory footage over 1953. Exploration was 14.4 per cent and 17.4 per cent successful as to wells and footage, respectively. This is a slight drop from comparable figures for 1953 of 15.9 per cent and 17.7 per cent. Discovery record: 10 fields, 5 oil and 5 gas; 40 pools, 37 oil and 3 gas. Approximate production in 1954; crude oil 355.8 million barrels, down 2.5 per cent from the 1953 high; natural gas liquids, 30.8 million barrels; natural gas, 468.5 billion cubic feet (includes gas from dry gas fields and residue gas from oil fields). Basement was reached in 68 unsuccessful exploratory holes. There were 79 active exploratory holes at year end.