Oil discoveries were recorded in 1961 in Colombia, Libya, the Sahara, Turkey, Iran, Gabon, Australia, India, and the Philippines. A significant gas discovery was reported from New Zealand. Exploration was underway in Peru, Ireland, England, the Spanish Sahara, Greece, Somalia, Australia, Southwest Africa, Bechuanaland, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Sardinia, Sudan, Tunisia, Niger Republic, Yeman, Portuguese Timor, and many of the Middle East countries. Argentina was the scene of both exploration and development drilling on a large scale. A significant development was the first export of oil from Libya, where exploration concessions were first granted in 1955. Various concession areas were surrendered after substantial exploration expenditure in the Gulf of Paria, Nigeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Dhofar, and Portuguese Guinea. Individual operators withdrew from Turkey and Argentina. Exploration operations ceased outside the producing areas in Iraq. Offshore acreage acquisitions or applications were announced in Turkey, Nigeria, France, Israel, Tunisia, Libya, Burma, Honduras, and Trinidad. First marine offshore drilling on the African continental slope was underway off Gabon; offshore drilling occurred also off the southern Netherlands, in the Persian Gulf, and Sicily. Many new American operators were either active in foreign areas or had applied for concessions. Russian, French, Italian, and Rumanian technicians appeared for the first time in several new areas. Up until November 1, when summarized, the really outstanding exploration development of 1961 as that it became more truly world-wide than ever before.

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