A decrease in operating and exploration costs prompted a rise in drilling, leasing, and geophysical activity in the south Louisiana onshore region in 1984. However, because of a persistent gas surplus and uncertain oil prices, operators adopted a conservative strategy for reserve replacement that included an increase in development drilling, an acceleration of enhanced oil recovery projects, and a concentration of extension and exploration drilling in the established Miocene and Oligocene trends.

Operators drilled 1,447 wells in 1984, an increase of 15% over the 1,230 wells drilled in 1983. Total footage also rose from 13,453,752 to 15,324,733 ft. Oil companies drilled 245 wildcats, 302 other exploratory tests, and 900 development wells (development drilling increasing 18%). Seven newfield discovery wells were completed in 1984, of which 4 produced from Wilcox (Eocene) sandstones, 2 were perforated in the Oligocene, and 1 well was completed in the Austin Chalk (Cretaceous). There were 36 significant extensions, of which 33 found production in rocks of Miocene and Oligocene age.

Leasing activity increased 10% to 885,903 ac. This level is far below that of 1980, 1981, and 1982 when more than 1 million ac were leased each year. Leasing activity was heaviest in Lafourche, St. Tammany, Vermilion, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes.

Geophysical activity also had a slight increase of 4% in 1984. A total of 1,259 crew-weeks of seismic shooting was recorded as compared to 1,212 crew-weeks in 1983. Cameron, St. Martin, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, and Vermilion Parishes recorded the highest levels of geophysical activity.