THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF TEXAS 
753 
 
make up underproduction from poor wells on the same lease. Suspension of
the gas-oil ratio tests permitted operators to produce extra casinghead gas
under temporary high oil allowables without being penalized for the excess
gas. 
 
 Carbon Black.—Carbon black was recovered from natural gas and natural
gas liquids at 18 plants in 13 counties. There were three channel plants,
14 furnace plants, and one combination channel-furnace plant. The plants
consumed 42,869 million cubic feet of gas and 240.3 million gallons of hydrocarbon
liquids in producing 1,214.3 million pounds of carbon black. Annual capacity
of the Borger carbon black plant of J. M. Huber Corp. was being expanded
by 30 million pounds, with completion scheduled for 1968. 
 
 Coal (Lignite).—Lignite was mined in two counties, Milam and Harrison,
by two producers. The 1967 output decreased. Most of the lignite was used
as fuel for electric power generation; a substantial amount was processed
into activated carbon. 
 
 Helium.—Helium production comprised Grade A helium (purity 99.995
percent) produced for consumer sale, and crude helium (purity 50 to 80 percent)
produced for the Government's conservation program. 
 Grade A helium was produced at two plants owned and operated by the Federal
Bureau of Mines. The plants, located at Amarillo and Exell, produced a combined
total of 334.5 million cubic feet. An additional 1.4 million cubic feet of
helium, purified in a privately owned plant at Amarillo, was obtained in
crude form from private sources. Thus, the total Grade A helium production
was 335.9 million cubic feet, having a value of $9.9 million. This compares
with the 1966 production of 364.1 million cubic feet. 
 Crude helium for the Government's long-range helium conservation program
was recovered at two privately bwned and operated plants. The plants, both
owned by Phillips Petroleum Co. and located at Dumas and in Hansford County,
produced 977.6 million cubic feet during the year, a slight decrease from
the 1,030.5 million cubic feet produced in 1966. The total output was purchased
by the Bureau of Mines for storage in a partially depleted 
underground natural gas reservoir in the Cliffside gasfield near Amarillo.
When needed, the crude helium will be withdrawn from the reservoir, purified,
and sold. 
 Natural Gas.—Texas retained its rank as the leading natural gas producing
State. Principal gas-producing counties in the order of value were Potter,
Kleberg, Brazoria, Nueces, and Jim Wells. 
 Industrial uses accounted for 50 percent of the production, field use for
25 percent, electric utilities for 17 percent, residential use for 5 percent,
commercial use for 2 percent, with the remainder for carbon black or to storage.

 An important development in the gas industry included the world's deepest
production record which was established in the Gomez-Ellenburger gasfield,
10 miles north of Fort Stockton in Pecos County, where Humble Oil & Refining
Co. completed 11 Wilbanks, Titus County School Land Survey 1, A—3175.
Production was reported from perforations at 21,883 to 22,610 feet. Proved
reserves at depths below 20,000 feet total 4 trillion cubic feet. 
 Mobil Oil Corp. completed a new discovery gas well 8 miles off Matagorda
Island in Blocks 481—L and 487—L. Daily output was 3.7 million
cubic feet of gas and 30 barrels of liquids through perforations at 7,000
feet. Three more wells were completed to confirm the discovery. A multipay
gas discovery was made by E. Allday and J. P. Owens with completion of No.
1 
0. H. Acorn in Chambers County of southeast Texas. The well gauged 31 million
cubic feet on open flow from an 8-foot section of Nodosaria sand at 11,202
feet, with a second prolific showing below 12,400 feet being investigated.
One of the largest gas wells in the Delaware Basin of West Texas was completed
by Sinclair Oil & Gas Co. Open flow potential of 435 million cubic feet
was reported on the No. 1 Absher Unit lease in the Lockridge field, Ward
County. Sinclair, the operator, reported production from selective perforations
between 19,074 and 19,862 feet. 
 A sulfur-rich gas discovery was made on the West Shelf of the Smackover
trend with completion of the No. 1 A. C. Bryant, 3 miles southeast of Streetman
in Freestone County. An apparent new gasfield was discovered 3 miles off
Mustang Is-