The CSD District 20 report includes Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In Maryland 3 gas storage wells were drilled in the Accident field. Natural gas production declined 19% from that of 1975. Total new footage drilled was 23,363 for the 3 wells.

In Ohio, 1,772 new wells were drilled in 1976. Of these, 816 were gas wells, 213 oil wells, 743 combination oil and gas wells, and 164 dry holes. Of the new wells drilled, 162 were exploratory. A total of 1,630 wells was drilled to the Silurian "Clinton-Medina" sandstone; 1,534 were productive. A total of 165 wells was drilled to the Mississippian Berea Sandstone; 144 were productive. The 1976 oil production had a value of $117,654,907 and the gas produced was valued at $90,511,605. Total new footage drilled was 7,675,114.

Pennsylvania's drilling activity decreased in 1976 from that of 1975 by 34% in exploratory drilling and 8% in development drilling. The number of gas wells drilled decreased 11% (637 in 1975 to 565 in 1976), and oil wells drilled decreased 7% (686 in 1975 to 640 in 1976). A total of 1,229 new wells was drilled and 33 wells were deepened. Crude oil production decreased 8% and gas production increased 6% from that of 1975. There were 10 gas discoveries and 7 oil discoveries. Seismic activity was down from 50 crew-weeks in 1975 to 40 crew-weeks in 1976. Footage drilled in new and deepened wells was 2,930,367 and in gas storage wells 11,254 for a total of 2,941,621.

In Virginia, 8 wells were drilled, of which 5 were development and 3 exploratory, representing a decrease of 78% from the 1975 total. Of the 8 wells, 4 were gas, and 4 dry. Natural gas production increased 3.2% and oil production decreased 10.2% in comparison to the 1975 production. Total footage drilled amounted to 43,454, a decrease of 74% from that of 1975.

There was a modest increase (2.1%) in total well completions in West Virginia from 1975 to 1976. However, during 1975 the figure for total completions was inflated by several very active gas-storage programs. If miscellaneous completions (storage, injection, stratigraphic tests) are omitted from each year's total, activity to produce oil or gas increased 16.6% last year. Exploratory completions registered a similar increase (13.1%) and concentrated on Upper Devonian Benson and deeper than Benson exploration in north-central counties, and on Pocono and Greenbrier exploration in the center of the state. Scattered Devonian shale and Silurian tests also were drilled. Glenville was the most active gas field, Griffithsville the most active oil field, and Granny Creek-Stockly the most active enhanced-recovery project. Total footage drilled was 2,824,186, up 500,951 ft, or 21.6%, from last year. An additional 103,821 ft was drilled in 49 wells completed for gas injection, storage, and as stratigraphic tests. Oil production (2,425,000 bbl) decreased 2.2%, and gas production (153,322 MMcf) increased 1.4%. The major disappointment of the year was the announcement by Exxon that their 1975 Cambrian gas discovery had begun making water and was shut in. This was followed by completion of Exxon's fifth basement well, a dry hole in Wood County.