Three structural downwarps along the Oregon coast and at least one on the Washington coast provide data on seaward basin development and stratigraphic units. When these units are projected offshore from both States, a tentative framework of a regional north-south basis can be postulated. The offshore basin may be 350 miles long and at least 50 miles wide and should contain marine sedimentary rocks from middle Eocene through Pliocene. The aggregate thickness of these rocks probably is in excess of 20,000 feet.

Attention was first drawn to the oil and gas possibilities off Oregon and Washington in 1960 when Shell Oil Company made application for all of the State of Oregon's tidal and submerged lands. The Shell application, though unsuccessful, provided the interest for initiation of offshore studies by other companies. Since 1960, 13 major oil companies have conducted offshore geological and geophysical studies off both states. Eleven of these companies paid over $35 million in lease bonuses for federal OCS tracts off both states. Six blocks adjacent to Oregon brought $27,768,772.24 for 425,433 acres, and 5 blocks next to Washington brought $7,764,928.40 for 155,420 acres. Union Oil Company of California paid $376.00 per acre for an Oregon tract for the highest bid of the sale.

It is anticipated that during the summer of 1965, 3-6 deep exploratory tests will be drilled off Oregon and Washington. Standard Oil Company and Union Oil Company, in a joint operation, and Shell Oil Company have announced plans for offshore Oregon tests and Pan American, as operator for Superior and Atlantic, is expected to drill off Washington. The coming summer will be one of the most important yet for oil and gas exploration in Oregon and Washington.

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