This review presents the 1976 petroleum developments in 6 countries, of which 5 are hydrocarbon producers. At year end, the total area covered by petroleum rights was 2,920,000 sq km, an increase of 9.2% compared with 1975. Most of these rights (85%) were located on land, 9% were on the shelf, and 6% in deep water.

Onshore and offshore seismic activity decreased (-13%) in all the countries except Morocco and Sudan. Reconnaissance geophysical surveys (gravity) took place in Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan and (air-magnetometer) in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Field geologic activity remained at a low level. Wildcat drilling activity was at about the same level as in 1975, with 87 wildcats drilled for a total of about 270,000 m. A good exploratory success rate was obtained (25%) with 22 discoveries: 10 in Libya, 6 in Egypt, 2 in Tunisia, 1 in Algeria, and 1 in Morocco; in addition, 2 gas discoveries in Sudan seem to be non-commercial at present. Half of the discoveries are located offshore and 19 are oil, 2 gas, and 1 oil and gas.

Development drilling decreased 25% since 1975, with 204 wells and 327,000 m drilled.

Oil production in North Africa, with a daily average of 3,347,000 b/d increased by 21.4% since 1975 (2,757,000 b/d). Crude production rose in all the countries under review except Tunisia. During 1976, 7 new fields were put on stream--2 in Algeria, 1 in Egypt, and 4 in Libya. Only fragmental information is available for gas production in North Africa which is estimated at about 400 Bcf or a daily average of 1,100 MMcf. One gas field came into production in Egypt (Abu al Gharadiq, 12,000 MCFGD) and 1 in Morocco (Mechra bel Ksiri, 1,355 MCFGD).