Petroleum production in Africa in 1951 again reached a new all-time high of 16,915,259 barrels. Egypt, the principal producer, actually showed a small decline but this was more than compensated by increases in French Morocco and Algeria. Drilling was carried on during the year in Algeria Egypt French Equatorial Africa, Madagascar, French Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Uganda. Total footage drilled during the year was 547,241 feet. More than half of this was in Morocco. Next in order came Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia. Exploratory drilling was only about 1 per cent successful. On the other hand, development drilling was 76 per cent successful. Twenty-two drilling rigs were operating at the close of the year.

Geological and geophysical exploration for petroleum also reached an all-time high in 1951 with active work in progress in Algeria, Angola, Cameroun, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanganyika, Tunisia, and Uganda. Work in party months was approximately as follows: surface geology--161+; seismograph--147; gravity--96+; telluric--35; structure drill--14; magnetometer--11+. The most extensive operations were in Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria, French Morocco, French Equatorial Africa, and Ethiopia.

Highlights in the year's exploration history are the recovery of 32° API oil from a drill-stem test in French Equatorial Africa, the spudding of the first deep wells in Nigeria and Madagascar, the discovery of additional productive Paleozoic areas in Morocco, and the extensive exploratory campaigns in Tunisia and Algeria.