storms as hurricanes is of potential value to all 

 operators, as is research on measuring and predic- 

 ting sea-state conditions. Control of traffic at sea 

 has successfully been worked out in the past by 

 the various users and the Government. These 

 efforts should continue as marine traffic continues 

 to increase. 



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 at present or at greater levels of 

 activity. 



The study of important sea-state and weather 

 characteristics, such as wave height and frequency 

 spectra, wave data, severe storms, and large stormy 

 recurrence characteristics, should be accelerated. 

 Forecast needs include wind, wave, and sea-state 

 predictions. Studies in the control and dissipation 

 of major storms should continue. 



Exchanges of potentially useful data between 

 both Goverimient and the industry has been 

 accomplished in the past, but only very poorly. 

 This may be due in part to the complexity of 

 organizations in both groups, but a means for 

 jointly improving this exchange should be studied 

 further. While most of the industry's technology is 

 developed "in-house," Federal technology devel- 

 oped for other purposes can sometimes be of 

 value. An example is the Navy's Transit satellite 

 navigation system, now available for non-military 

 uses. Hopefully, additional satellites can soon be 

 put aloft to allow more frequent and more 

 accurate navigational fixes. 



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 dissemi- 

 nation of such information. 



An important aspect of Federal and State 

 administration has been the general reluctance by 



Government to set aside offshore areas for exclu- 

 sive single-use purposes. In most instances the 

 successful future development of our offshore 

 resources will be best served by employing the 

 multiple-use approach, but in some cases the 

 single-use approach will be appropriate. In most 

 cases there is actually little need for single-use 

 restrictions; continuing technological advances 

 have increasingly made multiple-use applications 

 not only practical but desirable. 



The geological mapping and research tradition- 

 ally carried out on land by the Geological Survey 

 has always been of value to the petroleum industry 

 as well as to the Federal Government. This tradi- 

 tional role is more difficult to define in the 

 offshore areas. The Geological Survey has carefully 

 avoided doing extensive geophysical work or drill- 

 ing in sedimentary basins on lands, where the oil 

 industry concentrates its efforts. However, this is 

 the only feasible way that geological studies can be 

 conducted offshore. The reaction within industry 

 to such studies appears to be mixed— favored by 

 some, opposed by others, very broad scale only, 

 moderately broad scale acceptable, surficial de- 

 posits only, etc.— but all agree that detailed expen- 

 sive surveys by Government should not be under- 

 taken as long as leases are let only by competitive 

 sealed bids. Proprietary geological knowledge be- 

 comes of great importance and value to companies 

 in preparing for such lease sales and it is for this 

 reason that many companies object to Federal 

 surveys offshore. 



In any case, expensive reconnaissance geological 

 studies of even tlie deep-water parts of our conti- 

 nental margins have been and are actively being 

 pursued by the industry, and it is unlikely that 

 similar broad-scale surveys by the Federal Govern- 

 ment would accelerate development of our marine 

 petroleum resources. However, such studies are of 

 great value to basic science and may also aid in 

 efficient administration of these resources. Public 

 funds should not be used to undertake surveys or 

 studies which industry is willing to do, already 

 equipped to do, capable of doing, or has already 

 done at its own expense. 



Recommendation : 



Broad reconnaissance geological studies of our 

 continental margins, supported by the Federal 

 Government, should continue in order to add to 



VII-221 



