The discovery of commercially recoverable oil on the Kenai Peninsula by Richfield in 1957, coupled with the prior oil and gas discoveries made by the Navy in and adjacent to Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 in Northern Alaska, and the subsequent opening to public leasing of Interior Department lands east of the Reserve have caused the oil companies to renew their interest in Alaska.

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A general review of Alaska indicates that there are nine potentially productive areas in the newest of the forty-nine states. The Cook Inlet area, which includes the Kenai Peninsula, is receiving the most active interest. Additional areas of interest are the Gulf of Alaska area which includes the now abandoned Katalla field, the Shelikof Strait area in which wells with shows of oil and gas have been drilled, and the North Coast area which contains Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4 and adjacent lands. As yet no wells have been drilled in the Bristol Bay, Bethel, Yukon-Koyukuk and Upper Yukon areas; however, each is believed to contain favorable structures and sediments. The Copper River basin, in which one well has been drilled, is also included as a potential oil area.

The entire geological section from Precambrian to Recent is represented in Alaska. Numerous seeps have been reported in most of the potentially productive areas. In addition, oil and/or gas shows have been reported in the majority of the wells drilled in Alaska.

The geological section in each area is discussed briefly and a review is made of exploration to date.

The market and supply outlook for Alaska and the west coast of the United States is examined in order to illustrate the importance of Alaska as a potential source of crude oil for the west coast market.

A brief review is presented of the logistic problems encountered in Alaska, including transportation facilities, weather conditions, etc.

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