In 1944, the north and west-central Texas area contributed 75 discoveries or successful completions in new pay zones in areas already productive, and 29 extensions of proved fields. This is comparable with 52 new discoveries and 40 extensions in 1943. Included with the 1944 discoveries are 5 gas wells.

In 1944, 1,750 were drilled in the area. Of these, approximately 350 were wildcats. This is comparable with 1,483 wells drilled, including approximately 400 wildcats, in 1943, and indicates an 18 per cent increase in drilling activity for the year. The 1944 completions included 850 oil wells, 18 gas wells, and 882 dry holes.

Approximately 54,100,000 barrels of oil were produced in north and west-central Texas in 1944, as compared with 50,287,000 barrels in 1943. Wichita County again was the leading producer with 13,200,000 barrels during 1944, as compared with 14,575,000 barrels during 1943.

Probably the most important developments in the district in 1944 were: the extension of the thick Bend (or Caddo) conglomerate "pay" in the Hildreth pool of Montague County; the discovery of three Strawn sand pools in the Woodbine field of east-central Cooke County; the discovery of a new Strawn limestone pool underlying the shallower lower Cisco limestone pool in the Bateman field in King County; the discovery of a new Cisco sand pool northeast of Electra, Wichita County, Texas.

Five Ordovician dolomite or limestone discoveries were made in the area during 1944; a number of tests were drilled into or through this series.

Several additional Mississippian limestone discoveries during 1944 added appreciably to the reserves of the area. Some of these discoveries were under old producing pools; a few were in wildcat territory, although none indicated production over an appreciable area.

Of the 104 discoveries and extensions found in 1944, there were: 18 from shallow Cisco sands, 5 from Cisco limestones; 1 from a Canyon sand, 2 from Canyon limestones; 30 from Strawn sands, 3 from Strawn limestones; 32 from Bend limestones, conglomerates, and sands (including 28 from the "Caddo," and 4 from the Marble Falls); 8 from the Mississippian limestone; and 5 from the Ordovician limestone, dolomite, and sandy dolomite.

According to the available information, the discovery methods responsible for the new producing areas and extensions are as follows: 1 surface geology, 64 subsurface geology, 20 seismograph, 1 core drill, 6 drilling obligation, and 12 a combination of two or more methods. Seismograph and subsurface mapping continue to be the most effective methods of exploration in this district. At the end of the year there were 11 seismograph crews, 1 gravity-meter crew, 2 magnetometers, and 2 core drills working in the area.

Despite the fact the production for the area as a whole showed an increase during 1944 over 1943 and 1942, new reserves discovered are apparently less than half of the oil produced during the year.