The year 1964 was one of renewed activity and interest in North Dakota oil exploration and development with highly significant increases in both wildcatting and development drilling. Indications are that this trend is continuing into 1965, with activity levels the highest since 1958.

At the beginning of 1965, North Dakota official figures showed 2,065 oil wells and 28 gas wells producing from 103 oil pools and two gas fields.

A new center of drilling interest continues in Billings County with development of dual-completion wells from productive Tyler (Pennsylvanian) and Madison (Mississippian) zones. Deeper exploration for Devonian objectives is underway in McKenzie County, spurred by good wells with attractive economic considerations.

In the shallower north-central North Dakota areas, exploration and development of numerous stratigraphic sequences in Mississippian sections encourage continuing efforts in the vicinity of prolific producing areas. Sherwood field (Madison-Mississippian) has undergone its third significant re-definition and extension development since discovery in 1957. Other discoveries from the same zone have been made, and the hunt for other stratigraphic fields in the Mission Canyon remains a prime factor in North Dakota exploration. Attractive wells in the City of Mohall and Mouse River Park fields have been developed.

Several major lease acquisition programs reminiscent of earlier North Dakota Williston basin days were conducted in Golden Valley, Morton, Grant, Stark, and Sioux Counties, notably by Amerada and Pure, indicating extension of exploratory interest into untested areas. An awakening of renewed exploratory interest in some of North Dakota's "east-side" counties is under way.

A prime factor in North Dakota's oil picture has been, and is, the enlightened and favorable regulatory environment. Adequate markets and transportation facilities, with reasonably good crude oil prices, prevail and make North Dakota competitive with other oil- and gas-producing areas. Dual-completion prospects, moderate lease prices, sensible well spacing, and good well productivities, together with rapid penetration rates and nominal drilling costs, create attractive economic climates for oil operators; North Dakota will remain near the top of the exploration and development ledger in the coming months as a good place to do business and to look for oil and gas.

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