Exploratory drilling early in 1953 led to the opening of the largest Oriskany sand gas pool discovered to date in north-central Pennsylvania, the Benezette pool in southeastern Elk County. This pool is part of the Benezette-Driftwood field, the Driftwood end in southwestern Cameron County having been discovered late in 1951. Two other discoveries of minor significance were made in 1953, one at the Oriskany horizon in western Clearfield County and the other in the Medina sand in southeastern Erie County. One hundred and ninety deep wells (Lower Devonian or deeper) were completed in 1953, as compared with 153 in 1952. Of these, 134 were gas wells, 7 were drilled for gas storage, and 49 were dry holes. Twenty-five of the deep wells can be classified as exploratory. Of these, only three were successful. The total number of shallow wells drilled was practically the same as in 1952. The oil production in 1953 is estimated at 10,627,000 barrels, as compared with 11,179,000 barrels in 1952. Gas production was 98.3 billion cubic feet as compared with 94.8 billion cubic feet in 1952.

Major drilling activity in Pennsylvania during 1953 centered on the Benezette-Driftwood development in southeastern Elk and southwestern Cameron counties. One hundred and twenty-four producing wells and 16 dry holes were drilled. The proved area at the end of the year included about 20,900 acres. The total production already amounted to 45.4 billion cubic feet of gas and the field was producing at a rate slightly in excess of 300 million cubic feet per day at the close of the year. The Leidy gas field in Clinton County, discovered early in 1950, was nearly exhausted at the end of 1953. It had produced about 89.5 billion cubic feet of gas from approximately 10,500 acres. The Pine dome in northwestern Clearfield County was tested sufficiently to indicate that the major part of it will p obably not be proved productive. Two Oriskany sand tests in the plateau region of northeastern Pennsylvania were dry. One unsuccessful Cambro-Ordovician test was completed in the closely folded Appalachians in southeastern Clinton County.