Recommendation : 



An international legal regime is needed that will 

 provide protection for the petroleum explorer in 

 waters seaward from the 200 meter isobath. A 

 regime that the panel believes to be satisfactory is 

 described in detail in the report of the Interna- 

 tional Panel. 



C. Technology and Research 



The U.S. petroleum industry has developed a 

 unique and successful technology for working at 

 sea, and future development of this technology is 

 continuing. Major advances in our ability to 

 develop our marine petroleum resources do not 

 appear to be dependent on developments outside 

 the industry. Technology developed by Federal 

 agencies for their own purposes (such as the 

 Navy's satelUte navigation system) can be of 

 supplementary value to offshore oil and gas 

 operations. 



Recommendation : 



The timely release and interchange of technolog- 

 ical and research data between the Federal Govern- 

 ment and the petroleum industry should be 

 improved. A committee of appropriate agency and 

 industry representatives should be formed to 

 determine the most expeditious means for release 

 and dissemination of such information. 



D. Environmental Data and Forecasts 



Environmental data related to sea conditions 

 and weather are obviously important to marine 

 petroleum operations, and to all others working in 

 the oceans. Studies of historical conditions, the 

 inter-relation between sea and air, and future 

 forecasts are of particular importance. The increas- 

 ing number of production platforms for offshore 

 oil and gas provide an important basis for synoptic 

 studies of sea and air conditions and should be 

 utilized wherever practical. Eventual control of 

 major storms could be of considerable value to 

 petroleum production operations in the Gulf of 

 Mexico, as well as to all others operating at sea in 

 this area and off the Atlantic seaboard. 



Recommendation : 



The study of unportant sea-state and weather 

 characteristics, such as directional waveheight and 



frequency spectra, wave data in severe storms, and 

 large storm recurrence characteristics, should be 

 accelerated. Forecast needs include wind, wave 

 and sea-state predictions, and storm-track predic- 

 tions. Studies in the control of major storms 

 should continue. 



E. Mapping and Surveys 



A broad understanding of the surface topog- 

 raphy of our continental margins and the nature of 

 the overlying water mass are important to industry 

 in its search for oil and gas accumulations, to the 

 Federal and State governments in their admin- 

 istration of marine resources, and to science 

 >and the general pubUc in increasing our 

 understanding of these offshore areas. Bathymetric 

 and navigation charts provided by government are 

 of value in most work done in the oceans. 



Recommendation : 



The navigation charts traditionally prepared by the 

 Government should continue to be updated on a 

 timely basis. In addition, the general bathymetric 

 mapping of the adjacent continental shelves, 

 slopes, and rises by the Federal Government 

 should continue as at present or at greater levels of 

 activity. 



It appears that reconnaissance geologic studies 

 of our continental margins are actively being 

 pursued by industry. Surveys and studies directed 

 toward finding undiscovered petroleum resources 

 are being adequately handled at present by indus- 

 try. However, because of the competitive nature of 

 petroleum exploration, the high cost of working at 

 sea, and the large investments under present lease 

 acquisition procedures, the data collected by 

 industry will be added to public knowledge very 

 slowly. 



Recommendation : 



Broad reconnaissance geological studies of our 

 continental margins, supported- by the Federal 

 Government, should continue in order to add to 

 scientific knowledge and to provide a knowledge- 

 able basis for administering resource development. 

 The Government should not support or undertake 

 detailed surveys or other studies which industry is 

 already equipped and willing to do at its own 

 expense. 



VIM 88 



