Oil and Gas Developments in North Mid-Continent in 1973

Crude-oil production in Kansas during 1973 (66,227,391 bbl) dropped 10.2% below the 1972 level. Double that amount (136,077,943 bbl) was refined in the state. Natural-gas production (902,189,763 Mcf) increased only 0.4%. Drilling decreased 14% from the 1972 figure, with 2,114 holes reported; 47.5% of the holes drilled for oil or gas were successful. Panoma Gas area, in southwestern Kansas, had 186 gas-well completions. A significant discovery was made in the Kansas part of the Salina basin. Nebraska, with 161 holes had 45% fewer well completions in 1973 than in 1972. Drilling was concentrated again in the Denver basin, and 42.6% of the development wells were successful. Six field discoveries and expansion of an old Hitchcock County field highlighted Nebraska drilling. Missouri's Forest City basin was the main exploration target in that state, but tests were dry. Iowa drilling activity was limited to 208 holes drilled by gas-storage companies. No tests were drilled for oil or gas in Minnesota and Wisconsin.