There have been many new developments in the North Sea during the last seven years since gas was first discovered in the B.P. West Sole field. First, half a dozen other gas-fields have been found and a large quantity of methane has already been piped to Britain. Secondly, oil has been discovered in the northern part of the North Sea between Scotland and Scandinavia. One may well ask why this large source of energy was not discovered many years ago. The reasons are much the same as applied to the gas discovery; the North Sea 10 years ago was not a very good prospect from a geological point of view, and in any case the techniques of exploration and production in offshore areas were not adequate until recently, especially in a place such as the North Sea wher severe storms and tidal streams make operations difficult and hazardous.