In Michigan during 1952 both the drilling activity in general and the oil and gas production continued to decline. Exploratory drilling registered a sharp decline, dropping 19.5 per cent under the number of exploratory completions in 1951. Of the 293 exploratory wells drilled, 33 were successful, resulting in the discovery of 9 new oil fields and 2 new gas fields, and the drilling of 12 successful outpost wells. Ten new producing zones were found in eight fields; two of these fields each found two new producing zones. Of the 11 new-field discoveries none is yet of major importance from a standpoint of proved reserves; however, several are of some geological significance.

Wells completed in 1952 were 704, a decrease of 42 under the 1951 figure of 746. Total footage drilled was 1,828,531 feet, a 4.3 per cent decline under total footage drilled in 1951. Wildcat footage at 637,796 was down 15.5 per cent under the 1951 figure.

Oil production for 1952 was 13,251,464 barrels, a decrease of 4.8 per cent under the 1951 production figure. Gas production continued to decline also, with a new low of 8,677,737 MCF produced in 1952.

Core-drill activity for 1952 showed a sharp decline, with 223 permits issued compared with 556 permits for 1951. Gravity-meter work showed a big increase, with approximately 5 different companies participating in this work during the year. This big increase in this type of work is partly due to the Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company's Salina gas discovery, the Sylvester G. Ringel No. 1, drilled in St. Clair County, the location of which was made on the basis of gravity-meter work. Most of this work has been confined to the eastern and southeastern part of the state.

Lease inventories of 14 major oil companies operating in Michigan showed a small gain for 1952 over those held by the same companies in 1951.