New Field Discovery Rates in Lower 48 States

Thomas J. Woods, Robert Hugman, Harry Vidas

Through 1982, AAPG reported new field discovery rates. In 1985, a paper demonstrated that through 1975 the AAPG survey of new field discoveries had significantly underreported the larger new field discoveries. This presentation updates the new field discovery data reported in that paper and extends the data through the mid-1980s.

Regional details of the new field discoveries, including an explicit breakout of discoveries below 15,000 ft, are reported. The extent to which the observed relative stabilization in new field discoveries per wildcat reflects regional shifts in exploration activity is discussed. Finally, the rate of reserve growth reflected in the passage of particular fields through the AAPG field size categories is discussed.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91022©1989 AAPG Annual Convention, April 23-26, 1989, San Antonio, Texas.