THE MINERAL INDUSTRY OF TEXAS 685 
 
exceeded $200 million. Petroleum continued to be the principal contributor
to the State's mineral production value by accounting for 62.9% of the total.
Natural gas and natural gas liquids contributed 19.7% and 10.0% respectively
of the State total. 
 Trends and Developments.—Texas received a favorable decision in the
boundary dispute with Louisiana over the oil rich lands of the Sabine River.
Judge Robert Van Pelt, special master appointed in the case by the U.S. Supreme
Court, recognized the Texas claim to a boundary in the middle of the Sabine
River, Sabine Lake, and Sabine Pass. 
 The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) increased the market demand factor (MDF)
for crude oil allowables to 100% in April, the first time in 24 years. An
MDF of 100% was then promulgated for the ensuing months in 1972. Record high
crude oil production of 3.65 million barrels per day was attained in May.
By yearend reserve crude oil producing capability was virtually nonexistent.
The MDF for some fields was reduced by the RRC because of gas flaring that
occurred. In October, the RRC called a hearing to obtain information pertaining
to the establishment of priorities for gas supply curtailments. 
 For the first time, American Oil Co. Amoco imported North African crude
oil for use at its Texas City refinery. An 
official stated that the company was unable to obtain sufficient domestic
crude oil feedstock to operate the refinery at capacity. 
 As a result of legal actions initiated by the City of El Paso and the Texas
Air Control Board, American Smelting and Refining Co. (ASARCO) was ordered
to control emission of heavy metal particles from its lead smelter at El
Paso. In what may be a precedent setting action for the metals industry,
the City of El Paso, the Texas Air Control Board, and ASARCO entered into
a consent decree. The decree calls for ASARCO to make penalty payments to
the City of El Paso, and the State of Texas, and to pay for detection and
treatment of children in the area of ASARCO's smelter who are found to have
elevated lead level concentrations in their blood. 
 A large secondary recovery project was started in the North Cross Unit of
the Crossett field, about 50 miles south of Odessa. Planned operation includes
the injection of 20 million cubic feet of carbon dixoide (C02) per day into
the Devonian age oil productive reservoir for 10 years and then initiate
a water injection pro. gram. 
 Continued pressures on sulfur prices because of increased supplies of recovered
sulfur from "sour" oil and gas resulted in the shutdown of additional Frasch
operations. Duval Corp. discontinued operations at Fort Stockton and moved
the 12 boilers 
 
Table 4.—Worktime and injury experience in the mineral industries 
Year and industry 
Average 
men 
working 
daily 
Days 
active 
Man- 
days 
worked 
(thou- 
sands) 
Man- 
hours 
worked 
(thou- 
sands) 
Number of 
injuries 
 
Fatal Nonfatal 
Injury rates per million man-hours 
 
Fre- Severity quency 
1971: 
 
 Coal             
 
 Metal            
 
 Nonmetal         
 
Sand and gravel     
 
Stone            
 
 Total          1972:2 
 
Coal             
 
Metal            
 
Nonmetal         
 
Sand and gravel     
 
Stone             
 
 Total           
173 
1,635 
1,982 
1,932 
4,311 
246 
277 
267 
259 
300 
 43 
453 
530 
500 
1,294 
 341 
3,646 
4,358 
4,736 
11,104 
-- 9-- 40-- 139-- 1202 233 
 26.43 NA 10.97 452 31.90 681 25.34 758 21.16 2,314 
 
10,033 
281 
' 2,819 
24,185 
2 541 
22.45 NA 
 
NA 
815 
1,585 
1,480 
3,840 
NA 
258 
278 
260 
292 
NA 
210 
441 
385 
1,122 
NA 
1,749 
3,662 
3,565 
9,738 
 NA NA -- 49 -- 105 2 88 3 225 
 NA NA 
28.01 1,02628.67 84625.24 5,53723.41 3,150 
 
NA 
NA 
NA 
NA 
NA NA 
NA NA 
 NA Not available. 
 ' Data do not add to total shown because of independent rounding. 
 2 In 1971 and earlier years, estimates were made of injury and employment
data for those active operators who did not file reports; however, no estimates
were made for active operators who did not report in 1972. Tabulations were
made from data in file as of July 1, 1973 and are preliminary.