This is the 49th consecutive annual report on drilling activity for the United States. Canadian drilling data have been included with these annual reports since 1948; Mexico provided data for the period 1948-1980.

For 1984, Canada showed a 37.6% increase in total wells drilled (9,763 wells) and a 33.9% increase in the amount of footage drilled (35,879,635 ft). The 115 new-field wildcat discoveries represented a success of 35.7%. Of these discoveries, 59 were in Alberta, 29 were in Saskatchewan, and 10 were in British Columbia. New-field and new-pool wildcats accounted for 41.6% of the 1,752 exploratory discoveries. In Canada, 59.3% of the 2,953 exploratory wells drilled were successful.

In the United States, total drilling activity during 1984 increased 7.2% (84,183 wells), and footage drilled increased 6.9% (66,980 mi) compared with 1983. There were 880 new-field discoveries--a 22.7% decrease from 1983. The ratio of new-field dry holes to producers was 5.92:1, and the success rate was 14.5%.

Estimates of ultimate reserves reported as discovered in 1983 and 1984 in the United States are being reviewed by the Joint Task Group on Statistical Integrity. Results of this study will be published in a later issue of the Bulletin.