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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PrTD1Ugwhr0ouLLV9GITh0OSdFMRkV9jii84JZA85cYvvZazRELiOcHpy5dAAiQq
 3QUfP72AuNwTQ+iWv5uBQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000038079-04-000076.txt : 20040922
<SEC-HEADER>0000038079-04-000076.hdr.sgml : 20040922
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040922164217
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000038079-04-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040920
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040922
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040922

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hornsby Shelby Ray
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001301775

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13515
		FILM NUMBER:		041041476

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		303-812-1400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 BROADWAY, SUITE 2200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOREST OIL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000038079
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				250484900
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 BROADWAY, SUITE 2200
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3038121400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 BROADWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2200
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Forest Oil CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20040819

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FOREST OIL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000038079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOREST OIL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hornsby Shelby Ray</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1600 BROADWAY, SUITE 2200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller - Operations Acctg.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option becomes exercisable in four equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Roberta L. Louis, attorney-in-fact  For: Shelby Ray Hornsby</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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