Drilling in the Eastern Interior basin increased 20 per cent and oil production decreased 4.4 per cent in 1944. The increase in drilling followed the change in the well-spacing rules in Supplementary Order No. 5, dated April 19, 1944, to Petroleum Administrative Order No. 11. This permitted the drilling of 1 well in 10 acres to any formation above the base of the Aux Vases formation regardless of depth, and 1 well in 20 acres to any formation between the base of the Aux Vases and the base of the Fredonia. There was little deep testing in 1944.

Production in Kentucky of 9,621,000 barrels of oil in 1944 was the highest annual production yet recorded for that state, an increase of 22 per cent over that of 1943. Illinois production in 1944 was down 6 per cent from that of 1943 and Indiana production was down 4 per cent.

Drilling in 1945 is expected to continue at nearly the same rate as in 1944, with continued discovery of new pools and extensions.