The Louisiana Gulf Coast includes the 38 southern parishes of Louisiana and 16 continental shelf areas offshore. Oil and gas are produced from strata ranging in age from Cretaceous to Pleistocene.

There were 2,283 exploratory and development wells drilled in 1969, a decrease of 9% from the previous year. Of the exploratory wells, 20% were successful.

Discovery of 21 new fields (17 onshore and 4 offshore) was made in 1969. The most important are Lake Verret, Assumption Parish; Wyandotte, St. Mary Parish; North Coulee Hippolyte, Calcasieu Parish; and Block 65 and Block 54, South Pass area. The most significant of the new pools and extensions were at Woodlawn, Jefferson Davis Parish; South Black Bayou, Cameron Parish; Grand Bayou, Assumption Parish; Block 71, West Cameron area; and Block 276 and Block 175, Eugene Island area.

Geophysical activity declined offshore from the previous year, but was approximately the same as the previous year onshore. In 1969, 10 state lease sales and 2 federal offshore drainage sales were held.