Stronger interest in and knowledge of future energy trends and petroleum's part therein are needed for the appraisal of rate and timing of development of offshore resources, because of the significant role that offshore operations will have to play in satisfying the future demand for petroleum.

Total energy requirements are expected to more than double in the next 20 years and oil's share of the total is expected to remain at about 50% level. A minimum of about 400 billion bbl of new reserves must be added in the next 20 years to satisfy cumulative production requirements and provide an adequate base for estimated production in the terminal year of outlook period. The writer speculates that the contribution required from offshore areas might represent as much as 25% of the free world requirements and amount to at least 100 billion bbl.

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