This special publication no. 4 of the European Association of Petroleum Geoscientists and Engineers is devoted to some recent developments in the petroleum geology of France. Most of the papers have been presented either as oral or poster communications at the special session "Hydrocarbons of France" of the EAEG - EAPG Paris Conference (June, 92). A few additional papers have been added for their thematic interest, such as recent advances in sequence stratigraphy and structural geology applied to exploration of oil and gas in complex areas. Synthetic papers are also presented, covering most of the French sedimentary basins including a few oversea French agreements and territories.