Exploratory drilling in Oklahoma decreased 15% from 1962 while development drilling remained essentially unchanged. In all, 3,405 wells of both types were drilled. The percentage of successful drilling ventures has steadily increased in the past few years from 58.3% in 1959 to 69.4% in 1963. The success ratio for new-field wildcats in 1963 was 22.2%, 57 discoveries out of 256 drilled. More careful geological analysis of prospects, improved drilling and completion techniques, and close scrutiny by management account for the high discovery rate.

The Anadarko basin and its northeastern and eastern shelf areas continued to have the largest percentage of drilling success. Forty-two per cent of all 1963 discoveries were in this province, including 30 new fields. Mississippian limestones are the principal reservoir rocks.

Ten new gas fields were found in the Arkoma basin in 1963, substantially increasing the reserves of natural gas. Pipeline construction is expected to stimulate exploration in that province.

Oklahoma's oil and gas production was up slightly over 1962, 1% and 2%, respectively.