This report includes 38 parishes in south Louisiana. Industry drilled 1,578 wells in 1981, an increase of 13.5% over 1980. The total footage drilled exceeds 18 million ft with a per well average depth of 11,568 ft. Wildcat wells numbered 319, other exploratory wells numbered 318, and development wells numbered 941. The successful completion rate includes the following: 8% for wildcat wells, 33% for other exploratory tests, and 54% for development wells. Wildcat wells discovered 26 new fields, 7 more than in 1980. This number includes 10 new fields in the Miocene trend, 7 in the Oligocene Frio-Hackberry trend, and 5 in the Tuscaloosa trend.

Leasing activity totaled 1,766,536 acres, an 18% increase over 1980. This is the highest level since 1961, when over 2 million acres were leased. Rapides, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Calcasieu, and Lafourche Parishes led the district in total acres leased.

Geophysical activity increased in 1981 to 1,734 crew-weeks, the highest level since 1965. This compares with 1,656 crew-weeks in 1980. Seismic crews were most active in Plaquemines, Terrebonne, St. Tammany, and Livingston Parishes.

Three carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery projects were initiated in onshore south Louisiana fields in 1980: Paradis field in St. Charles Parish, Bay St. Elaine field in Terrebonne Parish, and Right Hand Creek field in Beauregard Parish.