Interest in the petroleum possibilities of Alaska, especially southern Alaska, showed a marked increase in 1952. The United States Navy's program in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 and adjacent public lands continued to be the only petroleum exploration program in Alaska utilizing drilling, geological, and geophysical methods. Three seismic crews and three geologic parties were in the field; the four test wells drilled included one gas well and another possible gas well. The Barrow gas field is the only producing oil or gas field in Alaska. Gas is being produced for use by the Naval base at Point Barrow.

Field investigations in southern Alaska by three oil companies totaled about 13 party-months. United States Geological Survey field parties were active in three areas. Leasing activities in southern and interior Alaska were brisk, and several local petroleum exploration companies were formed.