For the 14th straight year, exploration for Middle Silurian Niagaran reefs formed the forefront of Michigan's oil and gas activity. Reef exploration was concentrated in the northern part of the Southern Peninsula along the reef trend as well as in south-central and southeastern Michigan. Total well completions in 1982 exceeded the record-breaking tally of 1981.

Exploration resulted in 88 new discoveries, 74% of which were new Niagaran reef reservoirs. A central basin deep play, begun in 1981, continued at a steady pace, but the results of drilling were somewhat disappointing.

Exploratory drilling amounted to 2,088,433 ft and development drilling amounted to 1,758,535 ft compared with 1,766,593 ft of exploratory and 1,255,759 ft of development drilling in 1981. Facility or service well drilling amounted to 130,545 ft.

Oil and gas production declined slightly again in 1982. Preliminary figures show that Michigan produced 31,674,000 bbl of oil (including condensate) and 143,774 mmcf of gas.