Leasing and seismic acquisition, 2 of the 3 principal indicators of oil and gas activity, rose slightly in onshore south Louisiana in 1988 as a result of oil price stabilization in 1987 and 1988. Upstream operations intensified, and there was a proportional increase in new-field wildcat drilling as well as a waxing of exploratory activity in the riskier Eocene and Cretaceous trends.

Drilling activity decreased 12% from 792 wells in 1987 to 696 wells in 1988. This drop was largely at the expense of development wells, as a similar number of new-field wildcat and other exploratory tests were drilled during both years. Operators drilled 74 new-field wildcats, 93 other exploratory wells, and 529 development wells in 1988. Overall success rate fell from 59% to 51% due to the decreased emphasis in development drilling. Five out of 7 new-field discoveries were completed in Eocene rocks, perhaps signaling a release of capital monies to exploratory drilling. Twenty-seven significant extensions were drilled in 1988, with 6, 14, 3, and 4 successful tests in Miocene, Oligocene, Eocene, and Cretaceous sediments, respectively.

Land acquisition rose (22%) for the first time since 1981 from 260,000 ac leased in 1987 to 336,136 ac leased in 1988. The preferred leasing sites were Vermilion, East Feliciana, Terrebonne, Cameron, and Acadia Parishes.

Geophysical prospecting expanded for the first time since 1981, climbing 36% from 281 crew-weeks in 1987 to 436 crew-weeks in 1988. Favored locales were Terrebonne, Calcasieu, Cameron, Lafourche, Plaquemines, and Vermilion Parishes.