Production - Domestic - Oil and Gas Development West Virginia during 1939

The discovery of prolific oil wells in old territory hitherto regarded as doubtful, if not worthless, and the rapid extension of a gas pool opened late in 1938 were the most interesting petroleum features in West Virginia during 1939. Oil activity in general was slow because of crude prices that were still fairly low at the end of the year, although substantially increased above those in January. Fewer oil wells were completed, but the average results were better than in 1938. Fewer gas wells, also, were completed, with greatly lessened average initial production. Many old oil and gas wells were abandoned, so that the total number of active wells has not changed appreciably. The account of operations, as gathered from trade journals and other sources, shows that 561 new wells were drilled, resulting in 101 new oil wells with 2261 bbl. of daily initial production; 366 new gas wells with 602,400,000 cu. ft. of daily open flow; and 94 dry holes. Besides these new wells, 61 old wells were drilled to deeper sands, with 12 bbl. and 13,328,000 cn. ft. of added production. On the new wells the oil average was 22.38 bbl. per well per day; and the gas average was 1,645,900 cu. ft. per well per day; the ratio of dry holes to completions was 16.76 per cent. From an exploratory standpoint one partly discredited oil area was revived by good new production, and another small oil pool may have been opened. Some of the results in gas exploration will require more drilling for true appraisal. It is certain, though, that one very considerable gas field in the sands of Mississippian age has been proved; and there is a probability of six new pools in the Middle Devonian shale. In the Oriskany sand (L. Dev.) the Elk-Poca pool has been extended considerably farther northwest into Jackson County; and farther north in Jackson County two widely separated wells, which may be pool openers, have been successfully completed. On the other hand, several important wildcats in various counties have been dry. Stratigraphically lower, some additional wells have been completed in the Newburg sand (Sil.) and one small producer has been completed in the Clinton sand (Sil.), the importance of which can scarcely be overestimated, because no Clinton production has previously been found in the state, although at least seven wells have been drilled through the sand.