In 1949, 956 wells were drilled in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Of this number, 261 or 27.3 per cent were classified as exploratory wells and 695 or 72.7 per cent as field development wells. The number of exploratory wells more than doubled those in 1948.

Of the 261 exploratory wells, 93 or 35.2 per cent were successful. The number of exploratory wells with their success percentage follows: new-field wildcats 133--26.3 per cent successful; new-pool wildcats 28--50.0 per cent successful; shallow-pool tests 2--50 per cent successful; deeper-pool tests 10--20 per cent successful; outposts 88--46.5 per cent successful.

Of the 695 development wells, 528 or 76 per cent were successful and 167 were failures.

There was a 19.0 per cent increase in number of wells drilled in 1949 with 956 as compared with 803 in 1948. These figures include only new holes drilled and do not include work-overs in shallower sands.

The 35 new-field discoveries include 18 oil fields, 11 condensate fields, and 6 gas fields. Of this number, 13 were completed off shore.

Thirty-two of the new-field discoveries were credited to the seismograph, two to subsurface and seismograph, and one unknown.

There were several dry holes which added knowledge of stratigraphy.

Seismograph operations decreased considerably during the last half of the year with only 2,537 crew weeks reported for the year.

Leasing decreased approximately 50 per cent from 1948 with about 1,527,292 acres taken. The most active area was along the Miocene trend.

Drilling declined considerably during the summer but became active again during the fall months.