This paper deals with the major known petroleum regions of Asia, also the fields of Southern Europe, such as Rumania and Russian Caucasia, which are geographically related to Asiatic districts east of the Caspian Sea. Consideration is given to future prospects, rather than to a review of the past. Geological conditions are set forth briefly and industrial and political matters are touched upon in so far as they have a bearing upon future developments and may affect American participation in them. Such facts as may indicate the relative importance of the oil regions are cited, and events of recent history are reviewed which show the reasons for the failure of Americans to become established in these countries. The oil regions will, so far as possible, be grouped geological y into provinces, and the extent of these provinces defined by reference to political subdivisions. By grouping into the stratigraphic and structural provinces as shown by the heavy lines on the accompanying map (Plate 19), the areas are indicated in which there is a continuity of conditions, such as major lines of folding and general similarity of formations, but not, of course, a continuity of oil accumulations. The map, however, aims to indicate roughly the lines along which future oil fields are most likely to be developed. The lines connecting developed oil regions do not represent continuous single anticlines, but in some cases groups of folds or other structural conditions favorable to oil accumulation, also areas of similar stratigraphy.

The writer has spent a number of years recently in both the Far East and the Near East, having visited many of the regions discussed, conferred with government geologists and others associated with American or British companies, fresh from the study of some of the more important oil districts, and has also had some experience with negotiations for oriental oil lands. The following discussion is built upon such sources of information as those mentioned and upon a certain amount of personal knowledge, more largely than upon a search of petroleum literature. Dependence has been placed upon reliable oil journals for recent events. It is admitted that others, especially English geologists, have much more detailed information upon the fields discussed, but the writer feels that the conclusi ns expressed are sufficiently justified by the information in his possession.