site via canal and sunk in a few rreters of water. There, sediments with low 

 bearing strengths could support the weight of the drilling structure and drill 

 string. 



By 1937 the industry had moved into the open Gulf of Mexico. The first 

 offshore well was located 1.5 km (1 mi) offshore and about 16 km (3.6 mi) east 

 of the mouth of Lake Calcasieu (Gusey and Maturgo, 1972). This location was 

 less than 9 km (5.4 mi) from the East Cove area of the Sabine NWR. 



In Louisiana, there was drilling and production on the lands that became 

 the Sabine Refuge more than three yr before the area was formally acquired 

 (Jemison, 1966). According to refuge records, two wells were drilled and were 

 in production by April 1936. After the refuge was acquired, drilling did not 

 begin again until after World War II. To date, more than 25 wells have been 

 drilled, though only about 7 are currently producing. 



On the Delta Refuge, activities associated with exploration began in late 

 1940, and the first drilling took place in 1941. By April of 1942, three wells 

 had been drilled and more were planned. Since then, more than 200 wells have 

 been drilled on the refuge and more than half of them are currently in produc- 

 tion. 



In Texas, oil and gas production proceeded in the coastal region. In 

 January 1940, the first well as drilled on the Aransas NWR (McNulty, 1966). 

 Here, nearly all of the development took place in upland areas, and to date 

 there have been more than 60 wells drilled, the most recent in 1977. Nearly 

 half of these wells are currently producing. 



Oil and gas activity predates refuge creation of both the Brazoria and 

 San Bernard Refuges. The first well was drilled on Brazoria Refuge land in 

 1952. There have been at least 15 wells drilled on the property, though only 

 3 have been drilled since the land became a refuge. None of these wells, 

 however, are currently productive. 



On San Bernard Refuge land, the first recorded well was drilled in 1936. 

 There have been at least 18 wells drilled on the San Bernard Refuge, though 

 only 3 have been undertaken since the area was purchased. All the latter wells 

 have been dry, and today there is no production on this refuge. 



On some refuges, the oil and gas activities are extensive. On the Aransas 

 Refuge there are many producing wells; yet the casual visitor is unaware of 

 this activity. Only by driving in the refuge interior does one see evidence 

 of oil and gas operations. Even then, the impression is that the effects are 

 minor. The Delta Refuge, however, is criss-crossed with canals, pipelines, 

 and flowlines; numerous wellsites and production facilities are scattered 

 thourghout the refuge. The maze and extent of canals is apparent, and one 



