Although the demand for petroleum continues to increase as the availability of alternative energy sources lags, exploratory activities are not increasing accordingly. Exploratory wells, geophysical crew months, and acreage holdings all indicate that global exploration is not increasing and the resultant new discoveries of oil and gas required to supply the world's needs in the 1980s and 1990s are declining.

There must be an immediate acceleration in exploration in all sedimentary basins: intensely drilled, moderately explored, partially explored, and essentially unexplored basins. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of future commercial potential may be found in basins which are productive today. Terms for exploring frontier areas should reflect costs, including research for technologic advances, and risks, which are very high in the harsh environment areas.

For there to be acceleration in exploration, dedication is required not only of geoscientists and private companies, but also of governments in order that coordinated, effective, and equitable working relations among the various groups can be achieved.