All east-central states showed a decrease in permits issued, depths drilled, and production in 1986 compared with 1985.

In Illinois, the Geological Survey processed reports on 2,446 oil and gas tests, 971 of which listed 1986 completion dates. These included 618 exploratory tests and 1,828 development tests. Exploratory tests were 11.5% successful; development tests had a success rate of 70.8%. Four new fields (3 gas, 1 oil) and 34 new pay zones in known fields were reported in 1986, as were 75 wells with initial production of 100 BOPD or more. The highest initial production was 432 BOPD from a McClosky well in Jasper County. Twenty-seven tests were reported drilled to a depth of 4,500 ft or more. The deepest was an 8,729-ft well that tested the Knox Dolomite (Ordovician) in Saline County. Drilling is expected to remain stable or increase slightly during 1987. Crude oil production was 27.2 million bbl n 1986, down 10.2% from 1985. Commercial natural gas production for 1986 is estimated at 1,216 mmcf.

A drastic downturn in drilling activity occurred in Indiana during 1986. Not surprisingly, the depressed price that resulted from excess worldwide production of crude oil severely affected both drilling and production in such large stripper areas as the Illinois basin. Excluding 29 service wells drilled in 1985 and 38 service wells drilled in 1986, drilling declined 38% from 824 holes in 1985 to 510 holes in 1986, a decrease of 314 holes. There were 151 fewer exploratory holes and 163 fewer development holes drilled in 1986 than in 1985.

Indiana production for 1986 was 4,758,609 bbl, a decrease of 409,126 bbl from 1985. The average price per barrel in 1986 was only $14.31, slightly more than half of the average price per barrel in 1985.

Drilling activity in Kentucky suffered a significant decline in 1986. The number of drilling permits for the year dropped to 2,413, compared to 6,143 in 1985. In addition, 1,209 of the permits issued in 1985 were allowed to expire in 1986 without any drilling attempted. Oil production amounted to 6,472,262 bbl, a decrease of 1,312,072 bbl from 1985. Additional demands for natural gas resulted in an increase of 7,069,128 mcf from 1985 production. Total gas production in 1986 was 80,195,328 mcf. In 1986, 613 exploratory wells were drilled, resulting in the discovery of 27 new fields and pools, 18 deeper pools, 13 shallower pools, and 102 extensions of existing pools. Total footage drilled during the year was 2,809,967 ft, with an average well depth of 1,356 ft.

In Tennessee, exploration activity was down in 1986, due to the uncertainty of oil and gas prices. A total of 248 permits were issued in 1986, compared to 336 in 1985, a 26% decline. This is the lowest permit activity since 1976, when 180 permits were approved.