Drilling in East Texas decreased slightly in 1950; 1,056 wells were drilled in the district. Field-well completions totaling 887 are 3.27 per cent below the 1949 total. Exploratory-well completions totaling 169 are 6.11 per cent below the 1949 total.

Twenty-two new-field and new-pool discoveries were drilled; 14 of the 22 were considered new-field discoveries; 4 were shallow-pool discoveries; 4 were deeper-pool discoveries; and the remainder of the 169 exploratory tests were dry holes. Fifteen new oil and 7 new gas reservoirs were found. These developments include new production from formations as follows: Woodbine 8, sub-Clarksville 3, Buda 3, Rodessa 2, and one each from the Paluxy, Pettit, Hill, upper Glen Rose, Goodland, and Nacatoch. Although some of the fields appear to be of moderate size, none can be considered a major discovery. New producing zones were discovered in the Tennessee Colony, Red Lake, Ham-Gossett, Walter Fair, Carthage, Yantis, and Pine Mills fields.

Accumulated production for this district has reached a total of 3,755,121,600 barrels. Of this total, 2,779,877,357 barrels have been produced from the East Texas field.

The district's total production for the year was slightly higher than in 1949, being 143,534,100 barrels as compared with 141,241,000 barrels.

Approximately 576,700 acres were leased during the year at an average price of $9.50 per acre.

Geophysical exploration crew weeks increased 5.6 per cent over 1949, for a total of 773 crew weeks confined to 31 counties.