After many years of nearly complete quiescence, scientific prospecting for oil and gas in Washington and Oregon entered a period of accelerated activity during the war, which activity will probably continue for several years.

The area of interest included several non-contiguous districts in a region 400 miles long and 100 miles wide, covering most of western Washington and Oregon. Operators have carried out extensive projects of surface mapping and seismograph work in one or more of these districts and more than 15 wildcat wells were drilled or are drilling. No commercial production has been developed but some encouraging showings of oil and gas have been reported and much of new geological information has been obtained.

A brief outline of the geology of western Washington and Oregon is presented and an attempt is made to evaluate the prospects of this territory in light of the data obtained in the current exploration cycle.

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