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'On-the-Ground Advice'

A Perspective on Venturing Abroad

By LOUISE S. DURHAM
EXPLORER Correspondent

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For the record: ... year's major discoveries from around the world.

Top Predictions: ... technologies and trends

The accidental internationalist: How one U.S. oil company challenges and rewards of international exploration.

West Africa: ... poised to become major players in the world oil arena

Top chart, domestic U.S. field size discovered by time (pre-1936, 1936-1950, etc.) and, bottom, international field size discovered by decade. Also shown are the median and 95th percentile of that distribution with time. Field size statistics are in sets of 400 discoveries. The top figure illustrates declining domestic exploration success rates, while the bottom chart shows relative international success.