This review covers 45 countries or provinces of Africa, excluding Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan.

Surface exploration decreased considerably to 39.8 party-months of which surface geology was 30.5, seismograph 289.0, gravimeter 31.7, magnetometer 23.1, photogeology 18.0, and structural drilling 0.5.

Exploratory drilling fell again from 134 to 112 wildcats with 32.1% success, the same ratio as in 1972. New-field discoveries were reported in Angola, Cameroun, Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, and Zaire. A total of 27 unsuccessful wildcats was drilled in 8 other countries.

Development drilling amounted to 263 wells in Angola, Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, and Zaire, with an 84.4% success ratio. Total footage drilled was 3,285,946 (1,000,562 m). Average well depth was 8,763 ft (2,670 m), compared to 8,522 ft (2,598 m) in 1972. At year-end 44 rigs were operating.

Total annual oil production increased 15% from 763.5 to 878.3 million bbl, with an average rate of 2.4 million BOPD. Production in Nigeria rose 13%, Angola 15%, Gabon 23%, and Congo production, with the development of the Emeraude field partly complete, increased 6-fold to over 14 million bbl. Total annual gas production was up 20% to 761,260 MMcf (2,085 MMCFD).