Wells drilled during 1948 in Arkansas and North Louisiana totaled 1,811. In 1947, 1,343 wells were drilled. This is a 35 per cent increase in drilling activity. The 1947 total was 34 per cent greater than in 1946.

There were 220 wildcats drilled in 1948; of this total, 106 were drilled in Arkansas and 114 in north Louisiana. In 1947, 237 were drilled; of this number, 76 were in Arkansas and 161 in North Louisiana. The decrease in wildcatting in 1948 was 7½ per cent. For the past several years the percentage increase in wildcatting and total wells drilled have been approximately the same. Much of the increase in total wells drilled in 1948 was due to heavy drilling in old shallow fields such as the Caddo field in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, which increased form 306 producing wells drilled in 1947 to 718 wells in 1948.

In Arkansas 4 new oil fields were discovered. No new gas or distillate fields were found. In addition 7 new oil zones in old fields were added. No new gas or distillate producing zones were discovered.

In North Louisiana 3 new oil fields, 1 new distillate field, and 4 new gas fields were discovered. Three new oil zones, 9 new distillate zones, and 2 new gas zones were added to existing fields. New fields and new producing zones in old fields totaled 33 for the are in 1948. There were 35 in 1947.

Geophysical activity in Arkansas totaled 774 crew weeks, of which the seismograph contributed 426 weeks, the gravity meter 109 weeks, the magnetometer 112 weeks, and the core drill 127 weeks. In North Louisiana crew weeks totaled 1,236, of which 953 were contribute by the seismograph, 216 by the gravity meter, and 67 by the core drill. There were no magnetometer crews reported in North Louisiana. In the area total crew weeks of geophysical activity were 1,986 in 1947; this is comparable with 2,010 in 1948.