In the states of the Southeastern District--Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi--1,169 geophysical and core-drill crew weeks worked in 1951. This was a decline of 185½ crew weeks from the total for 1950. The total number of wildcat wells increased from 169 in 1950 to 175 in 1951, and the number of development wells from 211 to 261. This increased exploratory effort resulted in the discovery of 15 new fields, 9 new pools, and 2 salt domes. Total oil and distillate production for the year was 41,561,000 barrels. Gas production was 159,419 MMCF in Mississippi, with a small unrecorded amount from both Alabama and Florida.

Twenty-eight wildcat wells were drilled in Alabama in 1951, with no new-field discoveries and one field extension. A total of 18 development wells were completed as producers and 11 as dry holes. Yearly production of 1,031,000 barrels of oil brought the cumulative total to 3,705,000 barrels. The geophysical and core-drill crew weeks totaled 311, an increase of 125 over the 1950 figure.

Drilling activity in Florida dropped to the lowest point since 1942, with only 3 wildcat wells drilled, a decrease of 66.6 per cent from 1950. No development wells were completed in Florida in 1951. The yearly production of crude oil was 597,000 barrels, bringing the cumulative total to 2,151,-000 barrels. Only 46 geophysical and core-drill crew weeks were worked, a decrease of 18 from 1950.

In Georgia no wildcat wells were drilled in 1951 and no crew weeks were worked by geophysical or core-drill crews.

In Mississippi 175 wildcats were drilled, resulting in the finding of 15 new fields, 9 new pools, and 2 salt domes. Development wells totaled 202, 74 being completed as dry holes. The yearly production of 39,933,000 barrels of oil and distillate increased the cumulative to 329,490,860 barrels. A total of 159,419 MMCF gas was produced, with total cumulative of 572,509 MMCF. Geophysical and core-drill activity continued in decline with but 812 crew weeks worked, a loss of 290½ weeks from the 1950 figure.