The Louisiana Gulf Coast region consists of the southern 38 parishes of Louisiana and the 16 continental shelf areas extending out to the 600-ft water depth.

Total drilling operations in 1971 declined 11% from 1970. Exploratory drilling showed an increase of 20% in number of wells, from near a doubling of offshore exploratory tests drilled. In 1971, development drilling dropped 21% from 1970.

A total of 36 new-field discoveries was made in 1971, 19 onshore and 17 offshore. Additional offshore discoveries have been made but as wells are being held suspended and data not released, they are not included in this report. Large new reserves have been added offshore as a result of initial drilling on the 116 tracts bought in the 1970 West Gulf sale.

Numerous new pool and extension discoveries represented the major additions to reserves in the onshore area.

Geophysical activity was up onshore by 15% and down 24% offshore.

There were 12 Louisiana state sales which netted the state $12,499,388, and one federal drainage sale which took in $96,491,023. The East Gulf sale scheduled for December 1971 was cancelled.