The need to find new resources has caused a boom in exploration in Europe that continued to gather momentum in 1982. The exploration of new areas has culminated in rank new-field wildcat discoveries throughout Europe. The Mesozoic discoveries of offshore Norway dominate the scene; there large structures are still to be found and the success rate is very high. In northwestern Europe, the high level of delineation drilling accounts for the high success rates in producing basins. However, there have been some notable new play successes also in these areas, the result of exploration for deeper and more subtle objectives. This area is at peak (North Sea) or past peak (continental northwestern Europe) production of the large Mesozoic oil fields discovered in the 1960s and 1970s There is an upturn in the demand for gas and a resumption of exploration for gas. An increase in the level of exploration for the Tertiary and little explored Mesozoic oil plays of the Mediterranean region will ensure an increase in the momentum of development and production of these resources.