Three hundred sixty-one wells were drilled in Mexico in 1965 compared with 631 wells drilled in 1964. Of the 361 wells drilled, 139 were exploratory wells of which 99 were classified as new-field wildcats, compared with 109 exploratory wells and 58 new-field wildcats drilled in 1964, an increase of 12.7% in the overall exploratory effort. Of the 99 new-field wildcats drilled, 15 discovered new oil and gas fields, a discovery ratio of 15.1%.

Exploration activities:
Seventeen surface geological parties, 21 seismic crews, 4 gravity-meter parties, 1 magnetometer party: total, 43 exploratory crews (compared with 39 which operated during 964, an increase of 11%).

Annual oil production:
132,141,018 bbls., an increase of 2,637,516 bbls. from 1964.

Annual gas production:
493,147,350 Mcf., an increase of 8,158,861 Mcf.

Reserves:
Proved reserves of oil and gas equivalent as of January 1, 1966: 5,077 million bbls. (5,000 cu. ft. = 1 bbl. oil).

Reserves were 149 million bbls. Less than 1965 because of the increase in exploratory wells and a marked decrease in development wells, particularly on structures where the discovery well was drilled but no confirmation or development wells were yet drilled.

Drilling activities:
Wells drilled, 361, exploratory wells, 139, new-field wildcats, 99, new oil- and gas-field discoveries, 15. Total footage during 1965: 2,992,661. Average depth drilled in new-field wildcats: 8,549 ft.

Discovery methods:
Eleven new fields were located by seismology, 3 new fields by subsurface geology and seismology, and 1 new field by surface geology and seismology.