In Michigan during 1954 exploratory and development drilling again registered a small decline compared with the 1953 figures. There were 253 exploratory completions this year against 283 exploratory completions in 1953. The development-well completions total of 312 was 20 completions less than the 1953 figure of 332. Of the 253 exploratory wells: 231 were dry and 22 were successful, resulting in 10 new-field discoveries, 1 new-pool discovery, 5 deeper-pool discoveries, and 6 new extensions.

The major concentration of development and exploratory effort continues to be directed toward the finding and developing of new reserves in the Central Basin and the Southwestern areas of Michigan. Southeastern Michigan continues to be the scene of considerable exploratory and development effort with the Trenton and Niagara formations as the objectives.

Total footage drilled in 1954 was 1,511,906 feet compared with the 1953 total drilled footage figure of 1,785,256 feet.

Oil production in Michigan showed a small decline: 12,028,059 barrels were produced compared with 12,284,510 barrels produced in 1953. The average daily production for Michigan in 1954 was 32,954 barrels or about ½ per cent of the daily national total. Gas production showed a considerable decline, with 5,698,175 MCF being produced compared with 7,084,616 MCF in 1953.

Core-drill work showed a slight rise, with 80 permits issued in 1954, compared with 47 permits in 1953. These figures are comparable with 556 permits issued in 1951, a peak year for core-drill activity.

Geophysical work was limited to the gravity meter, no seismograph work being reported during the year. Eight different companies engaged in gravity-meter work, covering parts of Southeast, Southwestern, and Western Michigan.

Subsurface geology continues to be the most successful exploration method used in Michigan. In 1954 unsuccessful new-field wildcats numbered 180; of these, 170 were located on subsurface geology, 8 on gravity meter, 1 reported to be located on seismic information, and 1 on non-technical information.

The lease inventories of 14 major and independent oil companies operating in Michigan showed 1,348,937 undeveloped acres under lease on December 31, 1954, a 31.8 per cent drop compared with the 1,977,688 undeveloped acres under lease by the same 14 companies, December 31, 1953.