In the British North Sea five confirmed major gas discoveries have been made. Gas is being produced from two fields, and two other discoveries are being linked to land. The basal Permian (Rotliegende) sandstone is the main reservoir; the Triassic Bunter is of secondary importance. Oil shows have been reported but no economic discovery of liquid hydrocarbon has been made, despite the drilling of about 100 exploration wells.

In the Norwegian and Danish sectors oil shows have been found in more westerly wells, but no economic discoveries have been reported. In Dutch offshore waters the first tests have been drilled on attractive structures, but, in contrast to the adjoining land areas, poor reservoir conditions are reported.

Interest is being extended to more westerly parts of the European continental shelf, particularly the Irish Sea area, where major thicknesses of Mesozoic and Tertiary sediments are likely to be present in narrow basins between Paleozoic high-standing areas.

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