A decrease in the number of geothermal wells and the total footage drilled during 1982 reflected the deteriorating national economy and severe cutbacks in federal assistance for the exploration and development of geothermal resources; however, several significant achievements were recorded by the geothermal industry. The total number of geothermal wells drilled in 1982 decreased to 79 from 99 wells in 1981 while the total footage drilled in 1982 decreased to 559,326-feet, as compared to 676,127-feet in 1981. An increase in average depth of the wells from 6,830-feet in 1981 to 7,080-feet in 1982 indicated that operators are having to drill deeper in their efforts to extend the productive limits of proven geothermal reservoirs. Of the 79 geothermal wells completed during 1982, about 8096, i.e., 63 wells which accounted for 9096 of the total footage were drilled in California