Wells drilled during 1949 in Arkansas and North Louisiana totaled 1,804, seven less than in 1948 when 1,811 wells were drilled. The 1948 total was 35 per cent greater than 1947.

There were 193 wildcats drilled in 1949; of this total, 81 were drilled in Arkansas and 112 in North Louisiana. In 1948, 220 were drilled; of this number 106 were in Arkansas and 114 in North Louisiana. There were 203 producers completed in Arkansas and 1,120 in North Louisiana for 1949. In 1948, 144 producers were completed in Arkansas and 1,173 in North Louisiana.

In Arkansas, 7 new fields were discovered. Of these, 4 were new oil fields, 2 were new gas fields, and one was a distillate field. In addition, 4 new oil zones in oil fields were added. No new gas or distillate-producing zones were discovered.

In North Louisiana, 8 new oil fields, 1 new gas field, and 2 new distillate fields were discovered. Seven new oil zones, 4 new gas zones, and 4 new distillate zones were added to existing fields. New fields and new producing zones in old fields totaled 37 for the area in 1949. There were 33 in 1948.

Geophysical activity in Arkansas totaled 592 crew weeks, of which the seismograph contributed 397 weeks, the gravity meter 72 weeks, the magnetometer 47 weeks, and the core drill 76 weeks. In North Louisiana, crew weeks totaled 1,245, of which 916 were contributed by the seismograph, 271 by the gravity meter, and 58 by the core drill. No magnetometer crews were reported in North Louisiana. In the area, total crew weeks of geophysical activity were 2,010 in 1948; this is comparable with 1,837 in 1949.

The Seventeenth Annual Field Trip Guide Book on the "Cretaceous of Austin, Texas, Area" was published by the Shreveport Geological Society.