Obstacle: Basins Maturing
The impact of high rig activity is muted in mature basins by decreased potential for large field discoveries.
Largest fields typically discovered early in a basin’s life
Even in times of high activity or technological change, basin potential diminishes
- Amid increasing field discoveries in Oklahoma 1950 - 1980, the average field size decreased 50%
- Number of discoveries also decreases as a field matures
- Only 10 discoveries 1990 - 98 in Oklahoma