Large gas reserves have been proved in West Texas and southeast New Mexico. The three most important areas are: (1) the East Lea County "high," in Lea County, New Mexico, where approximately 250 square miles have been shown to be productive by scattered wells; (2) the Big Lake field in Reagan County, Texas, where nine wells below 8,000 feet have a possible potential of 370 million cubic feet of gas per day; and (3) the Hobbs field in northern Lea County, New Mexico, where two gas "pays" above the main oil-producing horizon have shown large reserves of good quality gas, and where more than 30 million cubic feet of gas is produced daily from the lowest "pay" with the oil. Besides these three main areas, nine others of less importance are discussed. In spite of the large gas reserves, very little gas is being withdrawn for commercial purposes. This is because of the great distance of the fields from centers of large consumption. Recently a gas pipe line has been completed from the East Lea County "high" to Bisbee, Arizona, and to Cananea, Mexico, and gas supplied to smelters in those places.

As far as possible, the writers have tried to avoid repetition of information already published. Several of the West Texas and southeast New Mexico fields have been previously described in connection with their oil production. Reference is made in footnotes to these papers for detailed geologic description.