Energy Information Administration
January 2009 Monthly Energy Review

Note: Information about data precision and revisions.

Posted: January 26, 2009
Next Update: Last week of February 2009

Table 5.2. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploratory and Development Wells


YearWells Drilled, Exploratory, Crude Oil
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Exploratory, Natural Gas
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Exploratory, Dry
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Exploratory, Total
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Development, Crude Oil
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Development, Natural Gas
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Development, Dry
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Development, Total
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Total, Crude Oil
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Total, Natural Gas
(Number of Wells)
Wells Drilled, Total, Dry
(Number of Wells)
Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Dry Wells Drilled, Total
(Number of Wells)
Total Footage Drilled
(Thousand Feet)
1973 January58605386567214593301510779519868216611426
1973 February52614115246433933361372695454747189610108
1973 March53694315537934253801598846494811215111027
1973 April28823674776514642911406679546658188310005
1973 May51964546018405023551697891598809229811845
1973 June63854776258524583441654915543821227911253
1973 July451125306878125033651680857615895236711474
1973 August739360176790559742119239786901022269013108
1973 September551035026608434713591673898574861233311402
1973 October491105517108475843971828896694948253812569
1973 November61945016568505224051777911616906243312089
1973 December541025897457684883851641822590974238611917
1973 Total642106759527661952558664368197591016769331032027420138223
1974 January56844906308536023771832909686867246212015
1974 February54874866278294583101597883545796222410950
1974 March7098492660100755940319691077657895262912805
1974 April61110532703107651442320131137624955271613188
1974 May771205707671114484458205611916041028282313147
1974 June8897556741114149839120301229595947277112441
1974 July801056087931173499507217912536041115297213830
1974 August81816177791129473444204612105541061282512701
1974 September631085907611020461484196510835691074272612661
1974 October851196228261196514527223712816331149306313803
1974 November65946448031040432454192611055261098272912600
1974 December79876267921210454505216912895411131296113233
1974 Total8591190683388821278859485283240191364771381211632901153374
1975 January84966248041231517515226313156131139306714871
1975 February818145361598645840818521067539861246712309
1975 March94915727571220443456211913145341028287614234
1975 April83955517291250492482222413335871033295314177
1975 May851135437411267521500228813526341043302914727
1975 June801045397231354569542246514346731081318814458
1975 July811286238321369603526249814507311149333015308
1975 August931335958211452705599275615458381194357716012
1975 September69946117741427694649277014967881260354415826
1975 October901136898921630729685304417208421374393617310
1975 November691096388161361564599252414306731237334015024
1975 December73916918551419584556255914926751247341416238
1975 Total9821248712993591596668796517293621694881271364638721180494
1976 January921276798981617739637299317098661316389117592
1976 February1001105237331188581522229112886911045302414050
1976 March901245968101405584574256314957081170337315622
1976 April791165387331389543591252314686591129325614925
1976 May841045016891301604563246813857081064315714206
1976 June901335357581453648588268915437811123344715326
1976 July841085267181259687549249513437951075321314884
1976 August1051125487651476852554288215819641102364716098
1976 September921085747741390758580272814828661154350215861
1976 October781075937781457708645281015358151238358816635
1976 November1041115727871292735592261913968461164340615852
1976 December88865877611375624591259014637101178335115931
1976 Total10861346677292041660280636986316511768894091375840855186982
1977 January110815497401278766540258413888471089332415984
1977 February9599480674125068351724501345782997312415151
1977 March9213756679515618776423080165310141208387518474
1977 April971275277511422772620281415198991147356516900
1977 May1031175868061493829660298215969461246378817788
1977 June10615457083015709386303138167610921200396818439
1977 July7713059380014449006552999152110301248379917473
1977 August100147590837159810407473385169811871337422219866
1977 September9413968291515359316403106162910701322402118590
1977 October102136716954152810307103268163011661426422220081
1977 November10715069595214588756913024156510251386397618439
1977 December8113172994114449336503027152510641379396818681
1977 Total1164154872839995175811057477023585718745121221498545852215866
1978 January8114265387613499346932976143010761346385218307
1978 February931185377481089743494232611828611031307415356
1978 March8814462986113639316452939145110751274380019422
1978 April10616062489016799826803341178511421304423120358
1978 May115155624894158910277183334170411821342422820148
1978 June110149645904165511027633520176512511408442420520
1978 July99144699942146310717063240156212151405418219687
1978 August95151678924161312028443659170813531522458321396
1978 September95141689925148311608023445157813011491437020789
1978 October1031907651058176012388053803186314281570486122741
1978 November96131701928154711607453452164312911446438020431
1978 December90146721957142010926913203151012381412416019514
1978 Total11711771796510907180101264285863923819181144131655150145238669
1979 January83131572786125912066553120134213371227390619289
1979 February84120471675106779752623901151917997306515993
1979 March11316452780412629506652877137511141192368118870
1979 April9514953077412929685722832138711171102360617655
1979 May78153561792159211056893386167012581250417819723
1979 June113177603893162611586753459173913351278435219892
1979 July118151612881174711356683550186512861280443119790
1979 August103156712971184512688023915194814241514488622630
1979 September127159679965178711437713701191413021450466621004
1979 October1402147321086217313689364477231315821668556324856
1979 November1311627141007188411668443894201513281558490122389
1979 December1361717241031199610838593938213212541583496922707
1979 Total13211907743710665195301334786624153920851152541609952204244798
1980 January1401637241027238014078804667252015701604569425545
1980 February137174614925205010867203856218712601334478121741
1980 March143151617911223511427724149237812931389506023602
1980 April137175629941230411338294266244113081458520723962
1980 May130127683940245011999544603258013261637554325179
1980 June1411907571088268414059965085282515951753617327592
1980 July13718577210942806131310355154294314981807624827438
1980 August16315583911572841140011275368300415551966652527962
1980 September16920684512202809142610965331297816321941655128792
1980 October14821784512103073142511565654322116422001686429832
1980 November14918583811722735123110815047288414161919621927194
1980 December18317191812722815119510585068299813661976634028104
1980 Total177720999081129573118215362117045824832959174612078571205316943
1981 January221211101414463619179012916700384020012305814635429
1981 February17917981211702863121210215096304213911833626628509
1981 March21019191413153339132211885849354915132102716432721
1981 April18421591913183299135911725830348315742091714832470
1981 May22522595114013427146513066198365216902257759934359
1981 June223209101514473535148213286345375816912343779234737
1981 July236206107115133604144013566400384016462427791335355
1981 August235236114416153694158014526726392918162596834137266
1981 September222238110715673569157913606508379118172467807536153
1981 October236210116816143394164414076445363018542575805936771
1981 November226191111215293304141813076029353016092419755833922
1981 December254211117316383589143713656391384316482538802937762
1981 Total2651252212400175734123617728155537451743887202502795392090415454
1982 January248221117616453697173514796911394519562655855639664
1982 February18417694413042914143711515502309816132095680632571
1982 March26722199014783628154213516521389517632341799938303
1982 April22816894413403386138512816052361415532225739233512
1982 May18217787912383084142711345645326616042013688331304
1982 June21318788812882816139811705384302915852058667229885
1982 July17118491612712961131912925572313215032208684329640
1982 August20216894113113096140413145814329815722255712531111
1982 September18415790112422776133212095317296014892110655928651
1982 October20215792912882857128412265367305914412155665529234
1982 November17616183411712815126912365320299114302070649127233
1982 December17915695812932959139612175572313815522175686529091
1982 Total2437213311307158773702216943150726903739459190762637984914380569
1983 January18615595112923363131313005976354914682251726830337
1983 February1701487261044244998610864521261911341812556524293
1983 March1681467831097277496211704906294211081953600326405
1983 April1731266499482446781975420226199071624515022744
1983 May153146799109825748431004442127279891803551924135
1983 June1571258441126281495811144886297110831958601224213
1983 July1731268551154298999811875174316211242042632825392
1983 August17213391012153321124212845847349313752194706227766
1983 September17212993612373150117711765503332213062112674027268
1983 October19813595512883235133813685941343314732323722929903
1983 November16511194612223229121812975744339413292243696629317
1983 December14212384911142975125111795405311713742028651928236
1983 Total2030160510206138413533613079141496256437366146842435576405320179
1984 January214138101513673252128213245858346614202339722532566
1984 February19514483511743162116910315362335713131866653629011
1984 March21515176511313172101510805267338711661845639829612
1984 April1509974399230369369894961318610351732595326468
1984 May19712885711823432127411525858362914022009704031080
1984 June188131110514243627141313476387381515442452781132499
1984 July184152107814143674131412926280385814662370769432574
1984 August184121111314183651148115016633383516022614805133635
1984 September21012693212683363137512535991357315012185725930304
1984 October15013299512773476151111856172362616432180744932781
1984 November18010891712053463157112206254364316792137745931807
1984 December1429896612063389146911896047353115672155725331656
1984 Total2209152811321150584069715810145637107042906173382588486128373993
1985 January16612989511903029126311495441319513922044663131012
1985 February164118686968256911608694598273312781555556626135
1985 March17510576310433007118111295317318212861892636029096
1985 April125110760995284399711004940296811071860593526816
1985 May149114706969270391810234644285210321729561325749
1985 June1191107179462832106810164916295111781733586224972
1985 July1378880210272920117611025198305712641904622526210
1985 August1669081810743079119711465422324512871964649627650
1985 September11669744929270211619824845281812301726577424629
1985 October132837149292889123110145134302113141728606325802
1985 November93885727532412872798408225059601370483521447
1985 December1389677710112596900929442527349961706543624891
1985 Total168012008954118343358113124122575896235261143242121170796314409
1986 January20311779111113183101310245220338611301815633127524
1986 February142865587862306724753378324488101311456922094
1986 March113795947862273728790379123868071384457721078
1986 April108624826521761642634303718697041116368917190
1986 May7750433560122748551622281304535949278812869
1986 June6852357477106550947720511133561834252811153
1986 July816737752598855455220941069621929261911498
1986 August586037148999454952320661052609894255511008
1986 September4567316428101156451020851056631826251310906
1986 October5251378481111869147922881170742857276912112
1986 November6158409528109963446221951160692871272311779
1986 December76485016251104709512232511807571013295013614
1986 Total1084797556774481812978027232331631921385991279940611182825
1987 January9269433594119465646223121286725895290613665
1987 February6265316443110960039020991171665706254211584
1987 March6060365485100659341420131066653779249811660
1987 April656336849699847648119551063539849245111433
1987 May7259361492114645949120961218518852258811983
1987 June7254374500121152247022031283576844270312045
1987 July8453405542138357055925121467623964305413452
1987 August7580433588148765556527071562735998329514383
1987 September87585026471419679564266215067371066330914993
1987 October81765306871539812645299616208881175368316674
1987 November9462463619144464652026101538708983322914945
1987 December82575026411348672554257414307291056321515713
1987 Total926756505267341528473406115287391621080961116735473162530
1988 January8862381531127062751624131358689897294414672
1988 February7456332462121162442422591285680756272113514
1988 March6766379512121060242622381277668805275013748
1988 April9259383534116549043620911257549819262512754
1988 May5367400520125453049422781307597894279812798
1988 June7960384523121761148223101296671866283313120
1988 July7170402543104161447121261112684873266913040
1988 August6653428547107866846722131144721895276012748
1988 September74553785079147614712146988816849265312905
1988 October81724606139147844782176995856938278913245
1988 November54663825027627413581861816807740236311648
1988 December56614025197557793851919811840787243812327
1988 Total855747471163131279178315408260301364685781011932343156519
1989 January57673274517697173291815826784656226611243
1989 February4852242342530607224136157865946617038822
1989 March4653296395652628311159169868160719869643
1989 April64522914078205783891787884630680219410369
1989 May38473133988426053361783880652649218110070
1989 June40513053967806923751847820743680224310638
1989 July50573104178217683791968871825689238511026
1989 August56673234469268524082186982919731263212045
1989 September66643574877848303952009850894752249611956
1989 October43624135188788894172184921951830270212899
1989 November53663815009058263762107958892757260712702
1989 December46683764909168243632103962892739259313033
1989 Total6077063934524796238816430222741102309522823627988134446
1990 January58723474779378553442136995927691261313789
1990 February43572363368017082961805844765532214111227
1990 March60702483788577033181878917773566225611956
1990 April70632804137816443161741851707596215411237
1990 May57592523688138093451967870868597233511980
1990 June62652994268638713592093925936658251912144
1990 July637132145592196437922649841035700271912929
1990 August91843024771018975458245111091059760292813483
1990 September63593054271029961408239810921020713282513152
1990 October838436853512611093465281913441177833335415305
1990 November7254333459124483048725611316884820302013806
1990 December5674357487117188339424481227957751293514247
1990 Total7788123648523811696102964569265611247411108821731799155253
1991 January7862252392120486032023841282922572277613456
1991 February5864258380110669736221651164761620254512569
1991 March6446269379109777536022321161821629261113127
1991 April6658262386105571636421351121774626252112642
1991 May4953230332101169534620521060748576238411431
1991 June57512523608947503792023951801631238311664
1991 July70483124308948273922113964875704254312453
1991 August54462973979357753572067989821654246411981
1991 September40512473388277203421889867771589222710624
1991 October46542883889507803962126996834684251412058
1991 November45522693667526193261697797671595206310588
1991 December46632493587446623271733790725576209110759
1991 Total67364831854506114698876427124616121429524745629122143353
1992 January59441952987596042731636818648468193410052
1992 February4442163249616537246139966057940916488547
1992 March3741197275724506287151776154748417929370
1992 April5238222312651405264132070344348616328637
1992 May4331222296649440301139069247152316868849
1992 June5449180283637500266140369154944616868852
1992 July5938251348693540262149575257851318439383
1992 August5643227326649608333159070565156019169722
1992 September42322122867746783061758816710518204410627
1992 October51521922957759003231998826952515229311713
1992 November42541682646918283051824733882473208811205
1992 December32491522337999262892014831975441224711772
1992 Total571513238134658417747234551934489887985583622809118731
1993 January49511482486439162681827692967416207510994
1993 February32571612505869012451732618958406198210635
1993 March35451762566469112521809681956428206511052
1993 April55421822795936242881505648666470178410350
1993 May45491622566056563641625650705526188110177
1993 June48482123086466863071639694734519194710616
1993 July46462113036996123901701745658601200410588
1993 August35502122977546953121761789745524205810897
1993 September49512083087177483691834766799577214211298
1993 October48692173347678423181927815911535226112174
1993 November50562193257227633081793772819527211812155
1993 December47452203126957933111799742838531211112086
1993 Total539609232834768073914737322095286129756606024428133024
1994 January58641853076266892191534684753404184111439
1994 February3043124197524606186131655464931015139162
1994 March34681582605426392181399576707376165910163
1994 April5958156273493621220133455267937616079594
1994 May4853189290467681195134351573438416339591
1994 June63722133484856562351376548728448172410085
1994 July4672187305446699248139349277143516989897
1994 August47652213336017522861639648817507197210653
1994 September47741833045698262561651616900439195510498
1994 October46591872926338432751751679902462204311457
1994 November61722183515507832331566611855451191711005
1994 December56792193545646852461495620764465184910569
1994 Total595779224036146500848028171779770959259505721411124113
1995 January63581883095567341981488619792386179710846
1995 February5260141253545679230145459773937117079955
1995 March4950141240594648193143564369833416759696
1995 April4932148229553534209129660256635715258898
1995 May4236158236663515220139870555137816349347
1995 June4939155243673526267146672256542217099464
1995 July4446181271654501252140769854743316789530
1995 August4344166253684589246151972763341217729606
1995 September46541972976327052421579678759439187610106
1995 October4438198280633711244158867774944218689890
1995 November4657181284561620228140960767740916939516
1995 December4343169255597650235148264069340417379736
1995 Total570557202331507345741227641752179157969478720671116590
1996 January55541612705746872611522629741422179210734
1996 February4639122207580621212141362666033416209282
1996 March4136150227604624214144264566036416699716
1996 April3239151222623619223146565565837416879423
1996 May39621822837236412261590762703408187310036
1996 June4152165258628629234149166968139917499866
1996 July39631832857026822411625741745424191010324
1996 August45491922867787402711789823789463207511755
1996 September3736146219621701240156265873738617819992
1996 October42451752627668382891893808883464215511357
1996 November36431762557348212531808770864429206311631
1996 December36581522467897642511804825822403205011855
1996 Total489576195530208122836729151940486118943487022424125971
1997 January43641532607468082761830789872429209011984
1997 February36361552277718072851863807843440209011982
1997 March34401382128248222621908858862400212012322
1997 April48511592588397442871870887795446212812548
1997 May43401672509528162852053995856452230313156
1997 June45401742599438873352165988927509242414080
1997 July524915525696992236122521021971516250813705
1997 August34291802439369623502248970991530249113803
1997 September4054213307933107033123349731124544264114679
1997 October3347238318950113732624139831184564273115010
1997 November455818128485696232921479011020510243113883
1997 December38531952868349373132084872990508237014062
1997 Total4915612108316010553108743740251671104411435584828327161215
1998 January53461492488439133202076896959469232413452
1998 February32391251967248162741814756855399201012427
1998 March38291251927368082591803774837384199512573
1998 April30431201937178432651825747886385201812116
1998 May25381742376388313001769663869474200611813
1998 June35491562406528972821831687946438207111895
1998 July315114923163699627919116671047428214212252
1998 August205412319757698826818325961042391202911233
1998 September2554113192536101121617635611065329195510414
1998 October1756137210445109324917874621149386199711173
1998 November1250114176395867231149340791734516699009
1998 December957100166331881217142934093831715958690
1998 Total32756615852478722910944316021333755611510474523811137048
1999 January165081147274846176129629089625714438395
1999 February164657119273732136114128977819312606779
1999 March144061115273739161117328777922212887190
1999 April103399142288671172113129870427112737080
1999 May194385147302769159123032181224413777403
1999 June153199145370808192137038583929115157768
1999 July204390153397849188143441789227815877512
1999 August124510916641411102271751426115533619179120
1999 September194711017642311472401810442119435019869438
1999 October1765125207492128922620075091354351221410737
1999 November1956135210554128423120695731340366227910895
1999 December1966106191478109025218204971156358201110276
1999 Total19656511571918453811334236018232473411899351720150102594
2000 January1949118186558112020718855771169325207110677
2000 February2057104181505114319018385251200294201910089
2000 March2560106191569121720319895941277309218011253
2000 April2041101162551107923418645711120335202610295
2000 May2545118188643124125021346681286368232211181
2000 June2949107185673133824022517021387347243611909
2000 July2545106176677144125923777021486365255312137
2000 August2555142222721174531427807461800456300213993
2000 September3268101201676158920024657081657301266612784
2000 October2665123214796165623626888221721359290214154
2000 November206099179667136922522616871429324244012481
2000 December2263108193662134022622286841403334242112994
2000 Total28865713332278769816278278426760798616935411729038143947
2001 January2280120222725151524324837471595363270514008
2001 February3375117225646133520721886791410324241313237
2001 March2859104191739157221125227671631315271314285
2001 April2977153259712155022424867411627377274514419
2001 May3287158277806175426328238381841421310015892
2001 June33109149291775198226630238082091415331415893
2001 July33104176313740196223629387732066412325116099
2001 August32106159297762214528331907942251442348717059
2001 September2693146265663188422527726891977371303714921
2001 October35108164307761204325630607962151420336717031
2001 November2388143254589171321225146121801355276814029
2001 December2760125212534145819921915611518324240312751
2001 Total353104617143113845220913282532190880521959453935303179624
2002 January1483110207560145519822135741538308242013179
2002 February178798202444130616619164611393264211811116
2002 March257194190474125318019074991324274209711255
2002 April274597169503122819419255301273291209410866
2002 May2565110200512137019420765371435304227611839
2002 June2862101191589146420522586171526306244911929
2002 July235597175616144421822786391499315245312281
2002 August1776115208590155524723926071631362260013229
2002 September1771104192490131521920245071386323221611933
2002 October1595127237617142922322696321524350250613084
2002 November257094189583131019620896081380290227812016
2002 December2263124209491125319519395131316319214811914
2002 Total25584312712369646916382243525286672417225370627655144640
2003 January2748110185570130219020625971350300224712379
2003 February324176149487116217918285191203255197711178
2003 March265888172571134917720975971407265226913192
2003 April186997184641150522423706591574321255414598
2003 May226793182687158221924887091649312267014602
2003 June357192198674168322425817091754316277914876
2003 July35103129267695174421826577301847347292415228
2003 August3486111231703195225029057372038361313616656
2003 September32118106256745183825128347771956357309016305
2003 October27114139280660205327329866872167412326616759
2003 November35103117255563168920124535981792318270815144
2003 December26113127266681173720726257071850334289115640
2003 Total34999112852625767719596261329886802620587389832511176557
2004 January27104107238585151219722946121616304253214711
2004 February2513968232593149316022466181632228247813888
2004 March30121137288660173219225846901853329287216678
2004 April3612092248673167521925677091795311281515646
2004 May37124105266707180623627497441930341301517096
2004 June28132111271719193419728507472066308312117486
2004 July33170113316711191820428337442088317314917360
2004 August34122122278783212124431488172243366342618572
2004 September38163112313805211526731878432278379350018962
2004 October40160147347727205025930357672210406338218457
2004 November29149103281662183223427286911981337300916978
2004 December29148114292665188823527886942036349307916978
2004 Total386165213313370829022075264433009867623728397536379202813
2005 January45118119282674184622427447191964343302617209
2005 February44152126322702183018327157461982309303717209
2005 March40189101330774195725229848142146353331419115
2005 April34153121308769207823730848032231358339219565
2005 May49221115385833211425532028822335370358619919
2005 June39194121354878224229734179172436418377021020
2005 July39155108302867220127633449062356384364519973
2005 August42193145380908248629436889502679439406822173
2005 September47148102297865241625835389122564360383520117
2005 October56179118353887230527134629432484389381620965
2005 November44190150384862222727233619062417422374520262
2005 December36196105337848199126231028842188367343919686
2005 Total5152087143140339866256933081386401038127780451242673237214
2006 January65176953369522267307352610172443402386221910
2006 February51192112355852219226933139032384381366820559
2006 March4220996347955245630637179972665402406423649
2006 April44167128339950221229934619942379427380021796
2006 May6121113841010182409271369810792620409410823801
2006 June7821713943411062571336401311842788475444725102
2006 July3722313439411052332301373811422555435413222889
2006 August6227714248110802854317425111423131459473226300
2006 September5722613942210492553289389111062779428431324665
2006 October6125012944010902674336410011512924465454026002
2006 November6028511946410792466338388311392751457434725427
2006 December3525115644210392314273362610742565429406823509
2006 Total65326841527486412275293003642452171292831984516950081285609
2007 January592741224559772253295352510362527417398023821
2007 February62242100404893207724732179552319347362122989
2007 March663131174969902298294358210562611411407825965
2007 April602981284869472143250334010072441378382624272
2007 May5833115354210342370309371310922701462425527085
2007 June8429011849210712555274390011552845392439226524
2007 July8333513355110232424311375811062759444430927168
2007 August6632212351110512688359409811173010482460929002
2007 September803021415239582462280370010382764421422326449
2007 October7936715960511322698339416912113065498477429383
2007 November6333818959010322523291384610952861480443627955
2007 December6330312749310432275268358611062578395407927205
2007 Total82337151610614812151287663517444341297432481512750582317818
2008 January8529914552911402320275373512252619420426426434
2008 February8529310047811722197274364312572490374412125512
2008 March7826713748211732293310377612512560447425827024
2008 April7421514243112762311310389713502526452432827858
2008 May10623312446313242443305407214302676429453528988
2008 June6625314546413702522322421414362775467467829506
2008 July8226114348613612630323431414432891466480029912
2008 August8426515750614152775347453714993040504504331870
2008 September9925615651115072722350457916062978506509032012
2008 October10125115450615202686344455016212937498505631768
2008 November9324115248615432574341445816362815493494431050
2008 December8522813945214262366308410015112594447455228692
2008 Total103830621694579416227298393809498751726532901550355669350626