Drilling in East Texas continued to increase for the year 1949. Field well completions totaling 924 are 21.4 per cent above the 1948 total. Completed wildcats totaling 188 are 22 per cent above the 1948 total. Nineteen new-field and new-pool discoveries were drilled; 14 of these were considered successful new-field wildcats; 3 were shallower-pool discoveries; 2 were deeper-pool discoveries; and the remainder of the 188 exploratory tests were dry holes. Most of the discoveries were from the Eagle Ford (includes sub-Clarksville), Paluxy, Rodessa, or Pettit. Although several of the new fields appear to be of moderate size, none appears to be a major discovery. Both fault and basin discoveries were made in 1949.

New producing zones were located in Stewards Mill, Collinsville, East Sherman, Opelika, and South Tyler fields.

There was an increase of 63 per cent in drilling in the East Texas field. The 1949 production amounted to 141,241,000 barrels, or a decrease of 33,289,000 due to tighter proration schedules.

Approximately 487,500 acres were leased during the year at an average price of $7.20 per acre.

Geophysical exploration work amounted to a total of 732 weeks for a decline of 16.5 per cent.