--> Abstract: 25 Years of New York State Gas Production and Development, 1970-1994, by E. B. Shyer; #90954 (1995).

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Abstract: 25 Years of New York State Gas Production and Development, 1970-1994

Eric B. Shyer

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Mineral Resources is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry and receiving operators' annual well production reports. Production year 1970 had 627 active gas wells with reported production of 3 billion cubic feet by New York State operators. Ten years later in 1980, production had more than tripled to 15.5 billion cubic feet and reported active gas wells increased to 1,966. During 1990, reported gas production was 25 billion cubic feet from 5,536 active gas wells. The average production per gas well in 1970 was 4,773 thousand cubic feet. Average gas production per well peaked in 1978 with a reported production of 14 billion cubic feet by 1,431 active gas wells which averaged 9,821 thousa d cubic feet per well. By 1994 the average production per well had decreased to 3,800 thousand cubic feet, a decrease of approximately 60%. The decrease in average well production is more a reflection of the majority of older wells reaching the lower end of their decline curve than a decrease in overall per well production.

The number of completed gas wells increased following the rising price of gas. In 1970 gas was $0.30 per thousand cubic feet. By 1984 the price per thousand cubic feet had peaked at $4. After 1984 the price of gas started to decline while the number of active gas wells continued to increase.

Sharp increases in gas production for certain counties such as Steuben in 1972 and 1973 and Chautauqua in 1980-83 reflects the discoveries of new fields such as Adrian Reef and Bass Island, respectively. The Stagecoach Field discovered in 1989 in Tioga County is the newest high producing field in New York State.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90954©1995 AAPG Eastern Section, Schenectady, New York